Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater is the Brave sequel we've all be waiting for, and we're lucky enough to get it in the form of a YA novel!
This book follows Princess Merida of Dunbroch several years after the events of the movie. She's just come home from a year of traveling, when she discovers a deity outside the castle, preparing to bring ruin to her home and family. The god of ruin states that her family is not changing, and therefore, they're a source of rot that must be removed for the sake of new growth. Determined to stop him, Merida makes a deal: give her one year to change her family. If she succeeds, the god of ruin will spare them; if she fails, they'll all suffer the natural consequences. But the god of ruin requires that she must see his work of ruin--it's purpose and results--during that year too.
With a whole year, Merida sets about changing her family: her stubborn mother, her relaxed father, and each of her triplet brothers. As she does so, she's not sure what worries her more: that she might not be able to save her family, or that she might not like change as much as she thought she did.

This story is full of magic, lore, and culture that mix together to create a delightful novel. The settings are lush and beautiful, and the characterization of Merida is spot on. As a fan of this character, I was happy to see her well-represented but also given a chance to grow and experiences new things as she grows and matures. I also love that the author gave the triplets their own unique, differentiating personalities. We also see a bit of a backstory for Queen Elinor that opens our eyes--and Merida's--to why she is the way she is, and it also adds to the story and world-building in a way that feels natural.
I also loved that as I read this story so focused on growth, rot, and change, that I actually became self-reflective and began to ask myself about the way I may be changing or not changing, and what steps, like Merida, I might take to continue to grow rather than stagnate. The story did this is a way that was quiet and imperceptible, and not preachy in any way.
The only part I didn't like was the open-ended, ambiguous last-page, but to avoid spoilers, I won't go into detail.
If you love Princess Merida, are a fan of Maggie Stiefvater, or are just looking for a fun new read, give Bravely a try!

*Arc provided by Disney Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review."

When I found out Maggie Stiefvater was writing a Merida book I knew I had to read it. Merida was the first Disney Princess I could relate to and getting to find out about her life post curse wasn't something I was going to pass up.

The premise of this book is Merida has one year to change the fate of her entire family and Donbroch or see everything destroyed by the God Feradach. She must venture to 3 other kingdoms in order to assist her family in the change it needs to save itself. Along the way Merida learns more about each of her family members and herself. It's a great story about growing up, and how sometimes we think we know people, but we really have no idea. It's a story of how sometimes the smallest thing can change a person's way of thinking.

If you loved the movie I think you'll enjoy this book as it stays very true as everyone's personalities stay true to their movie counterparts.

I am a redhead who loved Disney (90s baby) so this was always going to be a must have for my personal shelf and the library. It is lovely when books live up to expectations. Anyone who loved the movie will love this! High rec for all libraries!

Bravely was so much fun to read. It brought me back to my one of my favorite Disney princesses. I always did wonder what happened to her after her mother turned into a bear. I was surprised to find out that not everything was changed in fact. If this was made into a movie, I would for sure go see it.

"Some storms make a lot of noise but move no rooftops."

Brave was never really my favorite Disney movie (it's good and all, but it doesn't have a ton of rewatch value for me personally), but as soon as I saw Maggie Stiefvater's name attached to this, I knew I was going to need it. She just has a way of writing that draws you in so deeply, that feels so magical and fantastic and still so down to Earth and real somehow, that she's easily one of my favorite authors.

And this book truly did not disappoint.

Merida is back after her travels that we saw in the movie, but life has fallen pretty stagnant upon her return. Then late one night, she hears a quiet, persistent knock - but when she opens the door, nobody is there. Or so it seems. Enter two gods: one who wants to lay ruin to the area and one who is the only person that can intervene and maybe save them all instead.

Now she has to embark on a year long journey to try and bring life back into her family, her friends, her kingdom - all on her own. The catch is that she can tell nobody, get no outside help.

The story that progresses from there is such a comforting read. Which might sound a bit weird, given that a god wants to possibly kill her family, but over the year Merida learns so much about who every member of her family truly is, what they want, and even more importantly, what they need. Which is the whole moral of this book in the end: that often what you want as a person is not what you truly need to grow.

I don't want to give away the twist at the end, but Maggie manages to pull of this beautifully cyclical moment that makes you want to dive right back in and read the entire thing over again, or makes you ache and wish that we could have a sequel to this book to see what will happen next. I'm pretty sure, unfortunately, that this is meant to be a standalone, but... as someone who went into this book not incredibly drawn in by Merida's story, for it to have left me aching for more says a lot.

Maggie Stiefvater can do no wrong, I swear. This was so beautifully written, full of so, so much Celtic lore and culture. Disney could not have trusted a book about Merida and DunBroch to a better author, I swear. With her History major focusing on Scottish history, Maggie was born to write a book like this, and her true passion and knowledge shines through on every page.

BRAVELY is an imaginative and enthralling YA fantasy that takes place several years after the end of Brave. Merida has completed her travels and returned home for the holidays, when she uncovers something dangerous - DunBroch is being threatened by the gods, specifically by Feradach, a being particularly concerned with balance and ready to destroy everything Merida holds dear due its stagnation.

Merida uses a little luck to enter into a bargain with Feradach - she now has a year to prove that DunBroch can change. As she sets out to accomplish what seems like the impossible, she journeys to three other kingdoms to experience their lives. The journeys are sure to change DunBroch - and hopefully the plans of a god.

What I loved: This was a really enthralling story, and I loved the way the gods were presented and crafted, as well as the way that Merida fiercely cares for her family. There are some intriguing themes around change and the power and importance of change that are conveyed throughout the story. Change is really inevitable, and the story embraces it as something to be lauded.

Merida and her family are all really well characterized here with tidbits fans will know and love, but expanded into full characters. Merida's brothers particularly begin to develop in the story, and it was great getting to know them better. Merida herself is still figuring out her life, protecting her family, and forging ahead, bravely.

The world-building and mythology were really fantastic, and it was great to get to experience the other kingdoms with Merida. The story unfolds well through Merida's journey, and it was easy to get caught up in it all.

What left me wanting more: I really just wanted more, as the ending was a bit open. I still loved it, but I just want a sequel to see what happens next (this is a standalone though, but I can dream!).

Final verdict: Enthralling and imaginative, BRAVELY features compelling characters and fantastic world-building to craft a great sequel to the movie, Brave.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

super good book!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an e-arc. in exchange for an honest review!

Sadly, this is a DNF for me. Nothing is really standing out for me with the characters or plot and I am bored out of my mind. I am very appreciative for the ARC though

I received a digital arc from the publisher via Netgalley though all thoughts are my own.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint.

The setting is some years after the events that took place in the movie adaptation and I loved being back in this world with all of the characters that I grew to love.

Merida has recently returned from a journey just in time for Christmas though she is feeling restless and saddened that her heart sister Leezie is about the tie the knot and leave the house. When she hears a knock at the door late at night, she decides to answer it and has no idea just how much her world is about to change.

She finds herself making a bargain with two Gods that she will change her loved ones to be able to save them as well as her home or have to accept that if there's no change, destruction will happen. It will take a lot of determination with some help along the way to hopefully make enough changes to satisfy the bargain and save her loved ones from ruin.

Full of adventure, a dash of humor, danger, the lure of the Highlands and a touch of magic, it was such an enchanting read and I loved it from beginning to end. Her brothers were quite the handful and yet some of the most loyal people you would want on your side and full of surprises.

I highly recommend checking out this book and would happily read another book set in this world!

Trigger warnings: mentions of destruction, death

(Review written by my 11-year-old daughter.)

4.5 stars

***MINISCULE SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST CHAPTERISH***

Bravely is an overall good book. There was really good character development, and at the start when it introduced the two gods, I understood.

This book made me feel like I was in the book with all of the characters (and I guess stalking Merida?)

CHARACTERS I LIKED

Merida - 9/10. She wasn't my favourite character, but I didn't see any flaws. I liked how she had something special with each of her brothers, and when she recalled memories I felt like I had experienced it too. But at the start when she chases Feredach through the forest, I thought that she should have been more careful, but at the same time thankful that she chased him, or else DunBroch probably would have been destroyed.

Leezie/Lezzie - 10/10. I LOVED LEZZIE!!!!!!! She was so funny, and I loved where she was trying to use apple peels or something to find her future husband. If I had to deal with Lezzie in real life and maintain her though, that might have been a different story. Good as a friend though, always supporting Merida and helping her. And Lezzie's magic stuff where she just kept doing random weird things that were supposedly "magic" or "foretold the future", that was great too.

Fergus - 6/10. He wasn't really annoying, but I thought that his name could have been less like Feredach's, because at first I kept mistaking Fergus for Feredach. I don't really have any comments about him, besides that he wasn't my favourite but I didn't hate him either.

Elinor - 6/10. She was good for Merida to argue with and so on as the book went on, but same with Fergus, I didn't really have any opinions on her.

Triplets - 5/10. They were fine, but not my favourite. I never could remember who was who and who had which personality, though.

Caililagtch or something - 6/10. I don't really have any opinions on her. She existed. I did find her one eye weird though.

Feredach - 8/10. I liked him, but I don't think he was the best. Don't really have any strong opinions on him. I liked his lines, though.

That's all. Here's a few notes: I liked how the triplet's names were so simaliar, but then I didn't at the same time because I never knew who was who. There were a few errors that were just words used wrong, and one sentence (that I can't remember now) I had to read about 10 times to figure it out even though it had no grammar errors.

I liked this book, and I think everyone should read it, though maybe watch the Brave movie first!

Thank you to NetGalley, Maggie Stiefvater, and my mom for letting me read this book for free in exchange for an honest review! #Bravely #NetGalley

Absolutely loved this continuation of Merida’s story! Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater isn’t a retelling of Disney’s Brave, but a continuation, picking up a few years after the events of the movie. Merida is stuck, not changing, and so is the rest of Castle Dunbroch. They are comfortable in their routines, living their lives in a bubble, ignoring the outside world around them. Then the god of ruin comes to bring change, but a timely knock on the kitchen door sends Merida out in time to stop him. Striking a deal to save her family and home, the story follows Merida’s journey over the course of a year.

Merida is exactly as I remembered. Feisty, stubborn, and refusing to marry. Can’t say I blame her, she is still young and wants to marry for love as her parents did, not for alliance. Merida’s journey over the year is born of desperation and that leaks out and adds urgency to the plot. Merida has to show the god of ruin that her and her family, that Dunbroch itself, can change. That they all still matter to the world. The stories and legends surrounding what the god of ruin can do haunt her dreams and urge her on her journeys.

I loved her interactions with each of the triplets. Merida has traveled before, learning different customs and things along the way, but has always left her brothers behind. This time, she encourages her family to allow her to visit three different kingdoms ad take a different brother to each. It was interesting seeing how the brothers adapted to different situations. I loved Merida’s relationship with her family in the movie, and it comes out in the story strong.

But her family and kingdom aren’t the only ones that need to change. Merida herself must as well. I loved taking this journey with her. Just as Merida must prove herself to the god of ruin, their bargain says he needs to show her his magic as well. I loved this addition to the story. Seeing him through Merida’s eyes, she believes he is a monster at first, but gradually sees what ruin brings. The dynamic between them is interesting, and I loved the snippets we get from the god of ruin’s POV.

Overall, if you can’t tell, I loved Bravely. It’s an exciting adventure. The desperation to stop the god of ruin drives Merida, but it is all she learns throughout the year about her family and her home that truly makes this story great. If you enjoy fairy tales, historical fiction, and of course Merida herself, I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on the final copy. All opinions are my own.
While Brave is one of the Disney/Pixar films I’m less familiar with and have watched fewer times than others (I am intrigued to do a rewatch!), Merida nonetheless stands out as a fierce heroine among her Disney Princess peers, without being too “not like other girls.” So, I was intrigued at what Maggie Stiefvater would do with this spin-off/sequel novel, Bravely. And while I had little concept for what it would be about, I ended up really liking the results.
The focus on Merida’s relationships with her family is something that has always stood out in the film, but her relationship with her mother was the dominant one. So it’s only natural for other media to step in to do more work in this world. Merida and Elinor’s bond gets more layers, but I liked seeing more of the other members of her family, as each of them are part of the quest she must undertake. I particularly liked the fleshing-out of her triplet younger brothers and giving them individual issues to navigate, as they felt like such a one-dimensional unit in the film, primarily for the sake of comic relief.
And while I’ve never read Maggie Stiefvater before (she’s one of those authors whose books I fleetingly considered, but never heard much from friends and trusted reviewers to motivate me to pick them up), but her writing is great. She conveys the sense of Scottish culture, folklore, and magic that was so unique about Brave, but on a deeper, textual level. From the world building for the various kingdoms Merida travels to, to the conveying of the magic and the gods, it’s a beautifully rendered story that gives you similar vibes to those I vaguely remember from the film.
Pacing wise, it does feel a bit uneven. The inciting incident happens fairly quickly, and Merida’s varied adventures provide excitement for the most part. It does slow down at certain points, but it ultimately feels worth it.
This book is a treat for anyone who is even a casual fan of Disney/Pixar and Brave. It’s a worthy sequel from a writer who is in tune with the canon narrative and the reasons for fans’ connection with it.

I love the story of Merida. She is one of my favorite Disney characters, so a book was well warranted. They couldn't. have picked a better author. she seamlessly blends this backstory with what we already knew. Highly recommended to anyone who loved the movie or wants to read it before watching the movie.

Maggie Stiefvater whisks readers away to long ago Scotland in Bravely, a novel continuation of the Pixar movie Brave. As a longtime fan of Brave, I was both ecstatic and apprehensive about a novel continuation. The same conundrums that put fear in the hearts of readers as their favorite books are adapted into films persists when beloved films are continued in book form. But I had nothing to fear– Bravely perfectly encapsulates the characters, setting, and heart of Brave while providing a gorgeous and thought provoking new storyline.
There are two kinds of people: those that seek out magic, and those that magic seeks out. Merida has always believed herself to be the latter. But when a late night knock draws her into the night, she stumbles into a life changing bargain.
One princess. Two gods. Three voyages. Four seasons.
Merida finds herself face to face, or rather face to ankle, with the god of ruin. Witty banter, classic Merida arguing, and one goddess of renewal later, Merida strikes a bargain to save DunBroch: she’ll change the castle, and everyone in it, to avoid ruin. Within twenty-four hours, she finds herself striking another bargain with a potentially dangerous clan that could, maybe, possibly help her with the changes she has in store. Or, it could invite ruin in faster.
Stiefvater’s gorgeous writing and expert storytelling set the stage for this epic YA novel that is incredibly engrossing. The philosophical concepts of death and renewal, change, and the bittersweet quality of growing up are all thought provoking individually, but packaged together create a beautiful tapestry of a story that stays with the reader long after the final page is turned.
Though every aspect of this book is wonderful, the character development is a large part of what makes it so un-put-down-able. As Merida tries to encourage change within each of her family members, readers have the opportunity to know those characters more deeply than the original film inspiration material provided. The humor and heart that lace the dialogue between Merida and Fergus, her father, is especially endearing. Merida’s interactions with her family are delightful, perfectly capturing sibling relationships and how they change over time. The difficult transition from childhood to adulthood, and teaching your parents to see you as an adult, was so well done. Merida’s love for her family shines through each interaction she has with them, even when she’s frustrated beyond measure. This makes every moment spent with Merida engaging.
Stiefvater weaves magical realism into the plot so beautifully that every moment feels organic, whether Merida is riding her horse and practicing archery or conversing with a god. Considering every word in a novel is a deliberate choice with the author guiding the reader specifically, any moment in a novel that feels organic shows the mastery of the writer. Bravely would be an ideal text to examine in a class for how to incorporate just the right amount of magical realism.
Every moment of this novel was a treat to read. I can’t recommend it enough. It will be staying with me, and I need everyone to go read it immediately so I have someone to discuss it with.
Bravely would be a next great read for fans of V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
Bravely will be available May 3, 2022. Thank you to author Maggie Stiefvater, NetGalley, and Disney Publishing Worldwide for an advanced copy such that I could write this review.

I really loved the movie and wanted to love the book, but it felt very much like the movie all over again. Meet redheaded girl, girl is almost forced i to marriage, girl goes on a long journey, girl comes home. I couldnt really get into the story

Can Merida change her fate once again?

Merida has only been home for a short while after traveling, but she is already itching for another adventure. When she hears a knocking sound, she goes outside to investigate and finds a man outside, but he's not a man at all. He is Feradach, the god of ruin, and he plans to destroy DunBroch and everyone who lives there. Merida pleads with him, hoping to change DunBroch's fate, and she is granted a chance to do so by the Cailleach, an ancient god of creation. Merida is given one year to change everyone in her family in order to save DunBroch. EVERYONE must change, or Merida will be unsuccessful in saving her kingdom. Merida visits neighbouring kingdoms to experience how they live and inspire change in her family. Can Merida change the fate of DunBroch, or will she lose everything and everyone she has ever loved?
I have been so excited to read Bravely, and it was well worth the wait! I was instantly captivated by the story and I was rooting for Merida every second of the way. The author did an amazing job of describing the beautiful DunBroch and the characters were perfectly written. This felt like a true sequel to Brave and I could actually picture it being a movie! The narrator of the audiobook portrayed Merida and the other characters perfectly. I was pleased to read that Merida hadn't lost any of her sass, sarcasm, or general badassery. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves Disney or YA fantasy novels!

Loved this story of Merida! The family dynamics were delightful, entertaining, and as real families are, a struggle at times. It was such a pleasure to go on this adventure with Merida and her various friends and family members. The gods were entertaining and fun to get to know, as well. I would say that this story was more aimed at middle-grade than at a YA audience, but I loved it all the same.

This was so entertaining! A YA novel set after Disney’s Brave movie written by one of my favorite authors was an easy YES for me!

I loved how this story unfolded, the ancient deities, the bargains, the adventures, this book was incredibly immersive!

This felt like highibg a favorite story. It was heartwarming, a little sad at times, adventurous, and full of strength! It left me with a lot of the same feelings i have after reading some of my favorite YA novels.

Merida has a year to save her family and along the way she learns more about herself, about love, about loyalty and family! I adored that this family felt so real, just like in any family hurt exists and coincides with love. Merida has to figure out how to navigate those familial bonds and allow the members of her family to be who they are while she also grows into who she is!

Bravely was an amazing read! Maggie Stiefvater wrote a story that truly portrayed the story of Merida in a whole new way! At first, I was nervous this book would be the retelling of the movie "Brave". I was sadly mistaken when I fell in love. From the first chapter, you are taken on an adventure through the world of brave. You fall in love with the characters all over again and truly get to know each character even further than we did in the movie. I would recommend this book to any fan of the movie "Brave" or Disney in general.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

“Later, as the snow began to fall on the shortest night of the year, as Merida went to the kitchen to get some fresh bread, as she stood there, looking in the fire and remembering, she heard a knock.” ― Maggie Stiefvater

This book made me cry in a very specific fairytale way. This is one of those books that I went into not knowing what to expect, but then it slapped me in the face with a lesson that I desperately needed to hear. I really enjoyed the expansion of characters that we know and love from the movie, like Queen Elinor, King Fergus, and the triplets (Hubert, Hamish, and Harris) and the wonderful new characters (and gods *eye emoji*) that we got to know along the journey. The ending? Ripped my poor little heart out. OW.

I would recommend this to any fans of the movie, Celtic mythology, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.