While working at Shared Worlds Creative
Writing camp this past summer, the staff asked us to sort through the hundreds
of free books donated by various publishers to give to the kids at the end of
the two weeks. It’s not surprising of course that I was drawn to a few or
several of the titles I sorted. Particularly those with pretty covers. This was
one of those books with pretty covers that I decided to give it a go. I mean,
we didn’t have to hand the books over until the two weeks were up. Plenty of
time to read a few books. So what did I think of this one in particular? Let’s
find out.
The
Plot: 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. (Summary according to Goodreads)
Characters:
In my perusal of reviews on this book in Goodreads, I find that many of the
more critical reviews point to the main character as this books main failing.
Personally I don’t see the hatred she gets. Kelsea has her faults but she is on
a constant learning curve throughout the book. She is insecure but who wouldn’t
be with so much responsibility placed on their shoulders. She, like many YA
heroines, thinks that she is plain but she acknowledges her other strengths. And
I appreciated that she could stand on her own as a character with no romantic
subplot. I found myself rooting for her at every turn. The characters around
her are strong as well and varied. I particularly like Mace, her body guard, and
the enigmatic leader of an outlaw band, Fetch. Her villains were less
interesting but the real fun of the story is watching Kelsea deal with
complicated politics and her kingdom rather than the villains themselves.
The
Good Points: I appreciate that there is no romantic subplot in this book. I
really do. A lot of people say that you can’t market a book without romance to
Young adult, which is stupid. When I was a teenager, I often longed for a book
when a girl MC could just be a girl and kick ass on her own merit. The plot of
this book also stands out as it focuses on the complexities of ruling a kingdom
and making tough decisions. It reminded me of Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae
Carson in a lot of ways, another book I really enjoy. Over all, I think the
plot was the strongest part of the experience.
The
Bad Points: The villains, as stated earlier, are a little typical of
fantasy novels, but they don’t hurt the book too much. The plot can be slow at
parts and its heroine, according to reviews, seems polarizing. You either love
her or you hate her. Personally I liked her though. I do think that this book
had the potential to be larger and more ambitious but it stopped short of being
completely extraordinary.
Even if Queen of Tearling isn’t
unforgettable, its certainly enjoyable on the whole. Check it out if you enjoy
YA Fantasy and want to see a girl star in something without romance for a
change.
Final
Rating: 4/5 Stars
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