Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 448
Published: 2015
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s 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.
This book will be a beautifully designed package with illustrated endpapers, a map of the Tearling, and a ribbon marker.”
My Review:
It was ok, just ok.
It had an interesting genre blend – a bit dystopian, a bit fantastical, and all with a historical feel to it (difficult to wrap your head around, I know). And it had some exciting moments, but the majority tended to drag along. I wanted to like the protagonist but I found her sometimes hard to relate to. I just didn’t quite feel invested in her plight. There were other characters that I felt should have been given more depth.
There isn’t a lot for me to say about this one because, honestly, it’s one of those that I read and kind of forgot most of it three books later. It wasn’t terrible and I did like the writing, so I would possibly try reading something else from the author. But this story in particular just didn’t have any wow or pizzazz to keep me engaged. I don’t think I’ll be picking up the next in the series.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links that I may earn a small commission from with no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclaimer here. Thank you for your support 🙂
Shop online while supporting local bookstores:
Their mission is to help support local, independent bookstores while still offering readers the e-commerce experience. This is a great way to easily get the books you crave while supporting other fabulous members of our bookish community!
Have you read this book?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I love a good book discussion. 🙂
Leave a Reply