The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

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.

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The Review

I don't really know how I missed this title when it was first published in 2014, but I'm very glad I found it after all. This is pretty much my favorite kind of story; lots of political intrigue, assassins and a pretty bad-ass heroine against whom the odds are stacked monumentally high. I will say that while this is technically a fantasy, I wouldn't call it an epic. Had I gone into this story expecting to be taken on a Tolkien-esque adventure I think I would have stopped reading at the half-way point. That being said, this is an interesting story that has its own breed of high adventure, deadly consequences for each decision and continuous surprises. I loved Kelsea and related quite a bit to her. She isn't your typical queen; her strength isn't loud and in your face, she has self-esteem issues and struggles to find an identity that is not one borne from her paternity. I really, really enjoyed this book and make no apologies. Is this one of the best books ever written? No, but it is a great time and I loved every minute in this world. Would I take this with me if I was stranded on an island? Quite possibly.