
The Queen of the Tearling, Book 1
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Compelling, mature fantasy has intrigue, adventure.
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What's the Story?
THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING is 19-year-old Kelsea, whose mother died when Kelsea was still an infant. Hidden far from the capital and raised by two of her mother's courtiers in secret, the day has finally come when Kelsea must return to the place of her birth and take her rightful place on the throne. When she arrives she finds a corrupt and crumbling government led by her uncle as regent, and he'll stop at nothing to get rid of Kelsea and take the throne for his own, once and for all. Complicating matters is the dark witch who rules a neighboring kingdom, and who exacts an annual tribute from Tearling in the form of a shipment of people to be sold into slavery. Kelsea needs and wants to make a lot of changes to the way Tearling functions, but will she be able to inspire the loyalty and trust of the people she'll need to change things for the better?
Is It Any Good?
This is a promising and compelling start to a fantasy series set in a far future in which a lot of technology and knowledge has been lost, giving it a medieval feel. Author Erika Johansen has created a vivid, detailed, and richly imagined world that's easy to get to know and to picture in your mind. A real strength lies in the colorful characters and developing relationships, especially between Kelsea and the Mace. Funny banter, serious discussions, palace intrigue, and exciting adventure keep the pages turning. The open ending and the preview of the next installment will have fans eager to continue the story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Queen of the Tearling. Is it too much? Does it make a difference if it's in the fantasy realm or the real world?
What about all the mentions of sexual violence? Do they have a point, like to advance the story or develop characters?
Is the use of strong language realistic? Is it a big deal?
Book Details
- Author: Erika Johansen
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Courage , Curiosity , Humility , Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harper
- Publication date: April 14, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 18 - 18
- Number of pages: 464
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: January 25, 2023
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