The Queen Of The Tearling (The Tearling Trilogy, #1)

An exceptional middle-fantasy debut, keyed to a New Adult audience.

Kelsea is an unremarkable orphaned girl, long kept hidden in nearly complete isolation. And she is about to ascend to a throne she never asked for. The kingdom her mother left her is in shambles. Her people are pinned under the thumb of a particularly vile neighboring kingdom, who they’ve long been forced to pay tribute to in the form of live slaves culled via lottery. Her immediate desire is to end this practice, but the cost to her—and her people—may be higher than any of them can pay. And there are magical forces at work that are far beyond her understanding…

We have here a solidly constructed story with competent execution, meted out via well-honed and effective prose. While this isn’t the sort of pretty writing that prompts one to pause and write down quotes, it does facilitate steady, unhindered pacing. Johansen’s emotional conveyance is visceral and her descriptions are evocative. The story itself reminds me of the YA book Graceling, but with more worldbuilding depth and a protagonist I was able to find far more endearing.

Character growth-wise, there’s plenty to be had in Kelsea. She isn’t ignorant or incompetent, but inexperienced, uncertain, and ill-equipped. All the attempted preparation for her taking on a leadership role is clearly not enough, considering what she faces. (I particularly enjoyed seeing the young queen reassess her own educationally ingrained biases when confronted with the reality that was previously only a concept.) You have to feel for her. Kelsea has inherited a dumpster fire of a kingdom, fraught with decadence and corruption. But despite poor self-esteem, and the low expectations most seem to have of her, she possesses a determination to far exceed her mother’s impotent reign.

Bottom line? This new young queen is far out of her depth. But she’s quick to adapt, and isn’t without some intensely interesting allies…

I will certainly be reading on in the series!

The Queen of the Tearling, by Erika Johansen

About the Story
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.
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

To do what is right, or to do what you're told?

The Story:
We meet 19-year-old Kelsea, who has been hidden away for her childhood, rigorously trained to become queen. The Queen of Tearlings has a excellent plotline - I had no idea what was coming, before it came - and the suspension of belief was absolute; with layers and layers of small clues dotted throughout the novel.

The Characters:
I was in love with Kelsea by the end of chapter one. She is strong, funny, commanding, and even better - she's not a hottie with a DD chest. We love her for who she is, and see glimpses of what she might become.
Fetch - uhmahguh - need more of this guy. I swear he was only in about two or three chapters, but I'm sold. Give us more, Johansen!
There were also some great protagonists in The Queen's Guard; Mace and Pen, in particular. The point being, I felt something for every character in this book. Whether it was hate for the Uncle and Red Queen, or friendship, or heartbreak.

The World:
The setting was crystal clear. I enjoyed a few references from the 'olden times', such as Rowling. A medieval vibe, with horses, swords, and rich Vs. poor. There was detail, without going overboard.

Readability:
Hooked from the start. The Author has managed to introduce us to new characters, a new fantasy world, and several different plot threads, without forsaking the flow of the story. This is rare to find, and I immensely enjoyed reading a story where I could be taken away, safe in the hands of Erika Johansen. A minor quibble is that there wasn't really a wrap up of what the Red Queen might do. There was a scene with her, where she was indecisive about waging war.
If the Authors intention was for us to wonder, then she has achieved it.

The copy is professional and well-crafted.

Final Verdict:
Ready for the sequel. This story ticked all the boxes for me.

Favourite Quote:
Kelsea narrowed her eyes. "What the hell did you think I was doing out there in the woods all these years?"
"Playing with dolls, Lady. Putting up your hair. Trying on dresses, perhaps."
"Do I look like a girl's girl to you, Lazarus?"