The story is unveiled through letters Maresi writes to her sisters at the Abbey.

But they are even more afraid of the ńador, a cruel governor who is raising taxes, and his soldiers, who are known to rape women from the village. The people of her village are skeptical of how literacy can help them, and they are afraid of change. She doesn't expect, however, to be met with so much resistance. She has big dreams of improving their lives through education. She wants to open a school in her village and teach girls to read and write. This book sees Maresi going back home to Rovas after her time living and learning at the Red Abbey. I can now say fairly confidently that this is the end of the trilogy, though I would love to see more books set in this world. Naondel, the second book but actually a prequel, gives us the rich and terrible backstory of the world and the Red Abbey. Maresi, the first book, is a strange introduction to the Red Abbey- a safe haven for women in a world ruled by cruel men.

These Finnish imports are beautiful, dark, ugly novels about women trying to survive in a world run by tyrants who wish to use them and make them powerless.

If my review of Naondel (still my favourite of the trilogy) didn't convince you to read this series, then I doubt I can say anything more here. This has to be one of the most underrated fantasy series ever written. But I am learning new things here, things that are not written in books.

Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff