Title The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1)
Author Erika Johansen
Description from Amazon
Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler—and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her.
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.
Initial Thoughts
This book has been on my TBR for years. It sounded so cool and I started it in February. Yes, February of 2019. It is now January 2020 and I am just now able to write a review.
One Thing I Liked
- The setting. I thought the world of the Tear was interesting. It was unique and mysterious.
Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About
- No romance. This was a chunky book and there were plenty of characters, yet, there was literally no romance. Not even romance in the story of Kelsea’s parents. Literally nothing.
- Plot. I thought the plot was incredibly dull. Most of the book was just day to day life for Kelsea. There wasn’t much to the over-arching story and it was boring.
Series Value
I would not continue with this series. I thought this book was terribly boring and most of the characters annoyed me.
Final Thoughts
It took me almost 11 months to finish this book. Mostly because I couldn’t get into the story. I really did not enjoy it and I can honestly say it was a disappointment.
⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
- Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen – if my scathing review above didn’t turn you off of this series, give the next book a try. Who knows? Maybe it will get better. If it does, please let me know!
- The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owens – unfortunately, this is another book that I didn’t love but it gave me similar vibes to The Queen of the Tearling. The post-apocalyptic settings were similar as well as the main characters.
Books Over Everything 