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As much as Merida loves her family and her peaceful kingdom of DunBroch, she’s frustrated by its sluggish day-to-day life. Years have passed since her last adventure facing a beastly curse. She’s ready for something new — a purpose, a challenge even. She just never expected to find adventure in the form of a deadly ultimatum.
Feradach, a supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, appears on Christmas Eve, intent on demolishing DunBroch. It’s only the intervention of the Cailleach, the ancient entity of creation, that gives Merida a second chance. If she can convince her family to change within the year, DunBroch will be spared. If not, DunBroch and everyone in it will suffer eternal consequences.
Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of journeys to other kingdoms in an attempt to inspire change within her father, King Fergus; her mother, Queen Elinor; and her mischievous triplet brothers. But in her attempts to save those she loves, Merida forgets the one Clan member who needes change the most — herself.
As much as I’ve always adored Scottish lore, Brave was never a movie that really resonated with me. However, I’ve enjoyed Maggie Stiefvater’s writing in the past, so I decided to give Bravely a try. It surprised me in a good way, though I suspect it will take a unique audience to fully appreciate the story for its lyrical, classic fairytale-esque style and meandering pace.
Stiefvater chooses to tackle a topic I’ve only ever seen addressed in self-help books. Societies need to grow and change: staying the same, being comfortable, can be damaging to people and the places they live. It’s a unique — if uncomfortable — message that readers explore alongside Merida.
Overall, fans of the movie may be disappointed by the book. The characters, especially the triplets, feel almost indistinguishable from the movie — though not entirely in a bad way. However, any reader able to see Bravely as something new may find themselves enjoying the book and Stiefvater’s take on Scottish mythology.
Rated: Moderate, for violence featuring some darker themes and one particular more graphic scene where a character witnesses a natural disaster that leads to a fire that consumes a castle and traps many victims inside. The destruction and rebirth of a village is viewed as a time-lapse through its takeover, illnesses, rebellion, and slavery. People are stabbed. Characters kiss. No profanity.
