Review: The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Synopsis:

The thrilling conclusion to the New York Timesbestselling Tearling trilogy.

In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch. As she has come into her own as the Queen of the Tearling, the headstrong, visionary leader has also transformed her realm. In her quest to end corruption and restore justice, she has made many enemies—including the evil Red Queen, her fiercest rival, who has set her armies against the Tear.

To protect her people from a devastating invasion, Kelsea did the unthinkable—she gave herself and her magical sapphires to her enemy—and named the Mace, the trusted head of her personal guards, regent in her place. But the Mace will not rest until he and his men rescue their sovereign, imprisoned in Mortmesne.

Now, as the suspenseful endgame begins, the fate of Queen Kelsea—and the Tearling itself—will finally be revealed.

My Review:

In this epic conclusion to the Queen of the Tearling series, lines will be crossed and questions will be answered.

Seeing no other option to stop the invasion of her kingdom, Kelsea sacrifices the one thing she knows the Red Queen wants-herself.

Kelsea is transported to Demesne, where she continues to have visions of the Tearling just after the crossing. We learn more about the Fetch and the Orphan. Who they were and where they came from and how they are tied in with the Tearling and the Red Queen.

More background is given on the how and why of so many questions. There are many surprises and twists that are shocking.

A rollercoaster ride of emotions, The Fate of the Tearling is one of the best conclusions to a series that I have read so far. This series is a must read. Believe me, you don't want to miss it!

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Review: The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Synopsis: 

In this riveting sequel to the national bestsellerThe Queen of the Tearling, the evil kingdom of Mortmesne invades the Tearling, with dire consequences for Kelsea and her realm.

With each passing day, Kelsea Glynn is growing into her new responsibilities as Queen of the Tearling. By stopping the shipments of slaves to the neighboring kingdom of Mortmesne, she crossed the Red Queen, a brutal ruler whose power derives from dark magic, who is sending her fearsome army into the Tearling to take what is hers. And nothing can stop the invasion.

But as the Mort army draws ever closer, Kelsea develops a mysterious connection to a time before the Crossing, and she finds herself relying on a strange and possibly dangerous ally: a woman named Lily, fighting for her life in a world where being female can feel like a crime. The fate of the Tearling —and that of Kelsea’s own soul—may rest with Lily and her story, but Kelsea may not have enough time to find out.

In this dazzling sequel, Erika Johansen brings back favorite characters, including the Mace and the Red Queen, and introduces unforgettable new players, adding exciting layers to her multidimensional tale of magic, mystery, and a fierce young heroine. 

My Review:

In this stunning sequel to Queen of the Tearling, Kelsea faces the consequences of stopping the transport of slaves to the Red Queen in Mortmesne.

The Mort Army is planning an invasion and as they prepare to cross into the Tearling, Kelsea begins to have visions of a woman named Lily who lived in the pre-crossing error. Kelsea is convinced these visions are the key to protecting her kingdom and stopping the Mort invasion.

Even more heart pounding than its predecessor,  The Invasion of the Tearling takes the reader on a journey back to the time before the crossing and answers questions about all Kelsea's family, how the Tearling came to be and who the Red Queen may be.

We learn more about the Mace and new characters who play a big role in the story are introduced. A smashing follow up that leaves you hanging on until the last page then has you needing to know what happens next!

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Review: Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Synopsis: 

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.

My Review:


Born to rule a kingdom she knows nothing about, Kelsea is raised in exile. On her nineteenth birthday, she must journey back to New London and claim her mother's throne as her own. Hunted by assassins hired by the Red Queen of Mortmesne who wants her dead at all costs, Kelsea must decide who to trust and what she has to sacrifice to save her kingdom.

A thrilling, epic journey showing one young woman's courage to do what is right and not what is easy. The world building and character development in this book blew my mind. Kelsea is a strong, yet naive woman thrust into ruling a kingdom she knows little about. All she has is herself and her Queens Guard.

The Tearling is a vast land of varying landscapes. From forests to deserts, it is a magical world held under the threat of invasion from Mortmesne.

A definite must read for lovers of fantasy, Queen of the Tearling is an epic adventure you won't want to miss.

You can buy your copy at the following retailers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBooks

Kobo