[eARC Review] The Queen of Tearling by Erika Johansen
Friday, July 11, 2014Title: The Queen of Tearling
Author: Erika Johansen
Series: The Queen of Tearling #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Release Date: July 8th 2014
Publisher: Harper
Source: eARC received from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review
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On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.
Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.
But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.
The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.
Fantasy book can bet very hit and miss for me because I do not read it as much as I should. So when I saw that The Queen of Tearling was getting all kinds of buzz, and it was an adult read, which I need to read more of, I knew I had to pick it up and review it. And i am so glad I did because this book was perfection.
Since I have not read a lot Adult reads lately, I knew going into this book was going to be a interesting feat because I knew the writing would be more complex and the story itself would be more in depth and since it was Fantasy i knew that the details would be amazing therefore I knew that I would need to take my time with this read. And I was right. I read this book at a much slower pace than usual and I savored every word because the writing was absolutely to die for. The vivid descriptions and the characters interactions made for an amazing adventure and I loved every second.
Kelsea is our protagonist and she was a great character to read because although she did not grow up in a kingdom and everyone around her thought she was weak and would not last as their Queen, she proved them wrong. She grew to be a very fierce and independent character throughout the book. I also loved how we not only got to see through Kelsea's eyes but also through many different characters who made this book as amazing as it was. I think I loved this book so much not only because of the character but because of the world. I felt so connected with this world that although had some elements of our own, was still extremely different. I loved the setting and how much it affected the characters throughout the book.
Overall The Queen of Tearling was an amazing read. I seriously cannot say a bad word about it and would recommend it to everyone who not only loves fantasy but great writing as well. This is a perfect book for those young adults who want to stretch into the Adult Fiction world because Kelsea is only 19.This book is so perfect for so many readers to discover this amazing book and it talented author. I cannot say how much I loved this book, I have no more words.
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