Review: The Queen of the Tearling

To kickstart the reviews, I'm going to start with this fabulous book that I just finished reading.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Pages: 434
Genre: Mature YA - Fantasy/Sci Fi
Rating: 4/5

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. 

Review:

At first glance, the synopsis of this novel bears an uncanny resemblance to something along Game of Thrones. The protagonist, Kelsea, reminded me (and I'm sure many others) of the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, and prior to picking up the book and actually reading it, I was expecting this store to echo the path of a hero's journey to reclaim the Iron Throne. Or in this case, the throne made of silver. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case. Yes, Kelsea, similarly to Daenerys, is on a quest to reclaim the throne that belongs to her. But unlike Daenerys, her obstacles that she must overcome arrive once she takes the throne, not during her journey to reach it. 

All in all, this was an unusual story. I had read previously that this was a slow read, and in some ways it was, while in others it didn't. For one, I found this novel incredibly gripping and difficult to put down. At times I was not reading it, my mind would unconsciously drift towards thinking what would happen next. And when I would pick up the book next, I was not disappointed. Johansen has a peculiar way of telling her story. While many stories start off slow and then pick up the pace, this book progresses along at the same rate. Yes, it can be defined as slow, but not in a bad manner. And it was not until completion of the book did I realize why Johansen did so.

World building. Johansen has crafted a world unlike one I had ever read before. Kelsea's world takes place during the 24th century, so it can be characterized as dystopian. But this is not your typical dystopian Earth, in which children are given up as tributes or people are genetic mutations. No, this is one that takes place after the "Crossing", which is yet to be specified what exactly it is. All traces of the modern world we live in have vanished, and humankind have reverted to a more medieval style of living, hence the Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings parallel. All is not lost, however. Johansen subtly hints to parts of our world, such as Kelsea's love for books, including Harry Potter and the Hobbit, as well as vices such as morphine addiction. I found the clash of these two time periods very interesting, and I'm hoping to see Johansen build upon this surreal world she conjured. 

For a book to be good, of course there has to be solid characters. And this definitely was not a let down. At first, I found Kelsea sort of like a Mary-Sue character. She is taken from her home of hiding and her foster parents and expected to take the reign, while being surrounded by nothing except her Queen's Guard (ie: pure testosterone). She learns that the Red Queen from a neighboring kingdom wants her own land, the titular Tearling. In addition, she discovers that her uncle, who occupies her throne, keeps the Red Queen from invading the Tearling by selling women as slaves to her. Kelsea must find ways to stop this, as well as learn of those around her and understand herself in order to fulfill her duty as rightful queen. Through this, her character strengthens and separates her from many other fictional heroines. Kelsea is headstrong and determined, not without a bit of sass. 

There are many other characters too. For one, there is the Mace, or Lazarus (interesting name I must say), who seems to have a dark past, but does not speak of it. He made a vow to Kelsea's mother to protect her, and never leads her side. My personal favorite is the Fetch, who's a mysterious thief and vagabond who strikes an unusual alliance with Kelsea. He is tall, dark, and handsome, my weakness. But not only that, but he carries around an aura of danger and secretiveness, and is an enigma in himself. And, last but not least, the Red Queen. Even though she only briefly appears in this first novel, her character leaves an impression. With a mix of blood and dark magic, there is more than what meets the eye of her and she will definitely become a pivotal character in the series.   

So, in the end, this was an excellent novel. With an intriguing plot, well developed characters, and an unusual world, it certainly stood out. I would recommend it to those who love fantasy novels and are looking for a more mature YA novel. Or if anyone else wants to branch out of their comfort zone, this would be a great book to try. Can't wait for the sequel, Invasion of the Tearling!