Monday Review: Plenilune By Jennifer Freitag

1.  Title, Author, and Cover

 Plenilune

By Jennifer Freitag

2.  Genre and Reading Level

Planetary Fantasy / Epic Fantasy

Due to violence and other content, I’d say this book is for at least college-age and up.

3.  My Summary

Margaret Coventry knows she must leave her home in England find a husband after scandal strikes her family, but she never dreamed a suitor would find her or just how far from home he would take her.

Rupert de la Mare is ruthless in claiming whatever he wants, and, right now, he wants a bride so he can be named Overlord of Plenilune.  However, his choice may be more bring him more trouble than he bargained for.

A fox waits alone and ignored in a cellar, but his presence cannot be ignored forever.

Plenilune is a proud world, full of mighty people.  Now it needs an Overlord, as darkness and war hover on its horizon.  Can Margaret, a woman from another world, bring Plenilune the hope and leader its people truly need?

4.  My Opinion (With a rating)

6 Stars

What a beautiful piece of literature!

With lush descriptions, powerful characters, and an incredibly unique plot, Plenilune is certainly a memorable read, and only a few minor details prevented me from giving it an elusive seventh star.  Although the story is quite long, I felt like a bit more information would have been helpful, especially about Margaret’s life in England.  When I started the book, I couldn’t help but feel like I was starting to read the second book in a series without fully grasping what was going on.  Margaret was leaving home and a pushy mother after a scandal caused by her cousin, but I felt like a few more details about Margaret’s home life would have been helpful.  In addition, the book included a bit more swearing than I was comfortable with.

Still all of the characters were masterfully drawn into a fully-developed world with powerful prose.  Each character truly seemed to spring vibrantly from the pages.  Margaret in particular is intriguing.  Although kidnapped, she is not a damsel in distress.  Although stubborn, she is not invincible.  Margaret is a profound jumble of determination, refinement, pride, tenacity, vulnerability, and reserve.  Despite being dragged to a world vastly different from her own, she is able to adapt and discovers a real home, completely unlike the house she was raised in.  The man who thrusts her into the world of Plenilune is just as complex as her, although even more flawed.  Rupert de la Mare is uncompromising and domineering but self-conscious, desperate to claim what he desires, but unwilling to accept something he has not won.  When Rupert chooses Margaret for his bride, their personalities and wills clash in a flurry of sparks.  The main characters are all incredibly real and flawed as they live life to the fullest.  Even the minor characters are vividly drawn.  One of my favorite characters in the story is Dammerung, but his story is full of secrets and surprises which I will let you discover for yourself.

The text’s strikingly constructed language is powerful like steel, and the all the characters sparkle with life.  The story also includes many allusions to Christian ideas and themes, but I wanted a bit more of this scriptural element and less of the swearing and blunt violence.  Still, the overall combination of the language, the plot, and the characters of Plenilune unite to create a gorgeous and stunning story.  I absolutely loved reading this book!

5.  Who would love this book?

I believe this book would be perfect for lovers of fantasy.  The world of Plenilune is a character itself, and the adventure is outstanding.