Summary from Goodreads: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.
This book will be a beautifully designed package with illustrated endpapers, a map of the Tearling, and a ribbon marker.
My Review:
What I Liked:
Plot. Johansen crafted a unique fantasy novel. I was left wanting answers and that means I will be reading the rest of the series.
World Building. Johnansen started off this new world with a bang. It has interesting magic elements that hopefully will become clearer in the upcoming novels. Plus, I loved how the novel is very medieval but has the added twist of being set in a apocalyptic future.
Writing Style. The main aspect, besides the world building, that made me enjoy the novel was Johansen's writing style.
Characters. Johansen was able to create some unique and interesting characters. I grew to like the main character, Kelsea, while the side characters were one of my favorite aspects.
What I Disliked:
Kelsea. I struggled to connect with the main character, Kelsea in the start of the novel, some of her inner thoughts seemed juvenile for her age. But by the end of the book I felt that her character showed great developed and I grew to like her.
Multiple Point of Views. The novel had multiple POVS, around four or five of them. I liked some of them, like Father Taylor, and The Fetch (a great and mysterious characters), and others. However, I did feel like the novel could have done without some of the character's POVS.
I recommend checking out this intense and interesting fantasy series.
My Rating:
4 Stars Out of 5 Stars
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