The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Title: The Queen of the Tearling
Author: Erika Johansen
Page Count: 448
Rating: A
Keywords: Magic, Monarchy, War, Politics
Genre: Fantasy
Narrators: Katherine Kellgren
Duration: 14 hours and 30 minutes
Younger Readers: Not for young children. Language is present throughout. Sex and prostitutes are often mentioned as well as rape. Torture is another theme.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

An untested young princess must claim her throne, learn to become a queen, and combat a malevolent sorceress in an epic battle between light and darkness in this spectacular debut—the first novel in a trilogy.

Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past . . . or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.

Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen's Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.

Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the entire kingdom into turmoil—and unleashing the Red Queen's vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen's Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as "the Fetch."

Kelsea's quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals, and treacherous battles, Kelsea's journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend . . . or destroy her.


My Review:


I listened to this audiobook right after finishing Stalking Jack the Ripper while I was in Ireland and England. It got me through long train rides, cab rides, and two flights without succumbing to total boredom. There were even points where I would stay up late listening to it at night after touring castles, cathedrals, and museums all day. With how tired I was, this was definitely an addicting read.

I enjoyed that rather than being set in the past, this book was actually set in the future where society has regressed. Doctors are rare and culture is now similar to medieval Europe. Even books are rare. This interesting twist made me want to hear more about the Crossing and what could have possibly happened. I truly hope this is explored further in the future.

Kelsea can be a bit stubborn at times and irritating, but I enjoyed her character overall. She grows on you as the story progresses. While her strong will and life story are perfectly aligned with most fantasy books, she did have her unique points. Rather than the traditional petite and gorgeous characters that populate fiction, she is described as being quite average in terms of weight and appearance. At times she focuses far too much on this. Harping needlessly on what she perceives as her "lacking" physical traits may have been a bit of an annoyance while I was listening, but it can also serve as a refreshing trait for those wanting a new character type.

Like with most fantasies I've read, this book is heavily involved with politics. Because I was listening to this story rather than reading a physical copy, I did become lost at times. Names and locations all blend together at the start. As time goes on they become easier to pick out and remember. Secondary characters and court drama are strong throughout the book.

Two components that were not as prominent would be magic and love. Magic is hinted at throughout this installment, but not as a main point. With how it was developed and presented I would guess it will be more relevant in future books. However, I am not sure if the love aspect will ever be present. Kelsea has one potential interest but whether or not this will ever develop is difficult to tell.

Katherine's reading was delightful. I especially love how she was able to give each character such a unique voice that perfectly matched their personalities. I listened between the 1.5x and 2x speeds throughout.

This was a solid fantasy novel and great introduction to a series. I cannot wait to see if book two is as amazing. Definitely check this one out if you are into fantasy, dark storylines, and political intrigue. If you are somewhat leery of heavy fantasy themes, you will be fine with this book. It fits well into the genre without having some of the heaviness associated with more traditional tomes of the genre.


Slight Spoiler:

I definitely fangirled over the J.K. Rowling and J. R. R. Tolkien references.