OVERALL

7/10

WHAT IS IT ABOUT

Kelsea does not want to be queen, but she’s always known that it is her duty to ascend the throne once she is nineteen.

When that day comes, a group of grumpy Queen Guards show up and take her away from her comfortable foster parents’ house to the capital city. On the way, they encounter assassins, attractive thugs (according to Kelsea, anyway), and bond over these incidents. As Kelsea arrives the city, she learns that her kingdom is broken to the core, a powerful enemy waiting to tear it apart, and it is up to her to fix everything.

There is magic, of course.

VERDICT

Queen of the Tearling is definitely worth checking out. It is the usual Chosen One fantasy but told through a creative storyline.

*Minor spoilers ahead

WHAT’S GOOD

The loyalty of Kelsea’s guards – these men are hardcore protectors despite their initial clash with Kelsea as well as their intolerable habits. A big part of this book focuses on building Kelsea’s relationship with her guards, and I’m not complaining. Their dynamic is what makes this story unique.

And Pen, hmm… is there something you want to tell us regarding Kelsea?

Mace is awesome. He stands out from the Guard as a mentor to Kelsea; and while they disagree on multiple occasions, Kelsea craves his approval and Mace would throw himself in front of whatever people throw at Kelsea to protect her. If Kelsea does something stupid, you can count on Mace to call her out anytime.

The villain – the Red Queen is Kelsea’s most dangerous enemy, she is powerful and can allegedly crush the kingdom of Tear into pieces in two seconds. However, as we explore her POVs, we see her weaknesses and deep fears, which makes her character extremely intriguing.

Kelsea’s little crush on a thief boss – there is no romance in this book, but Kelsea’s nineteen-year-old heart does flutter for someone older than her and is kind of an outlaw. Following her thoughts, we all can tell this is a phase she will outgrow, but Kelsea’s struggle to act like a classy adult every time this man is around is relatable and hilarious to read about.

Kelsea’s actions have consequences. This is perhaps one of the best things about this story. Kelsea has the one trait that defines pretty much all fantasy heroines: she is stubborn. As Queen, she has to learn about the magic of her (very confusing) magical sapphires, please the church, pretend to like the nobles, etc.

She goes in confident and brave; she refuses to listen to people with more experience and has her nose up in the air with her principles, and while it looks cool for a while, Kelsea soon sees that stubbornness has its cost.

WHAT’S CONFUSING

The magic system – as of now, Kelsea’s sapphires remain a mystery. And while Kelsea ends up using them to save the day, it’s one of those things that you just know a second book will be needed for an explanation.

Kelsea tends to focus a lot on her appearance – not something that will bother you, but her inner monologues about her own looks come up more often than necessary.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Content warning: Some profanity.