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rbielbs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Ah, the Tearling. I loved this series regardless of its flaws and this book did not disappoint. The Mace’s backstory was all I needed but the rest of the stories intertwined were equally as good. Can’t wait for more Tearling.
Ah, the Tearling. I loved this series regardless of its flaws and this book did not disappoint. The Mace’s backstory was all I needed but the rest of the stories intertwined were equally as good. Can’t wait for more Tearling.
chemicallykat's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5
I enjoyed this - I liked seeing how the world developed before the main trilogy, I liked the darker tone… but I guess I’m a little hung up on certain aspects?
The gratuitous use of SA seemed to be a bit much at times. It was often thrown in to show us how bad a character was. You can use methods other than SA to show us a character is bad or evil. And it really doesn’t need to be described, especially when there are kids involved??
Idk overall this just made me a little sad. Poor Elyssa :(
I enjoyed this - I liked seeing how the world developed before the main trilogy, I liked the darker tone… but I guess I’m a little hung up on certain aspects?
The gratuitous use of SA seemed to be a bit much at times. It was often thrown in to show us how bad a character was. You can use methods other than SA to show us a character is bad or evil. And it really doesn’t need to be described, especially when there are kids involved??
Idk overall this just made me a little sad. Poor Elyssa :(
hobbes199's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @is 34%
Content warning:
Rape: female, male, child
Child sexual exploitation
Drug abuse
Overdose
I was approached by Random House to review this prequel as they'd seen my review of the first in the series on netgalley. I'd loved that book, but it's follow ups left me cold.
I was hopeful for this, but ultimately could not continue.
Scenes of rape, threats of rape or child exploitation feature in almost every chapter and it's merciless. And also bloody lazy. It seems that the only thing Johansen can conjure up for her characters to either threaten, commit or suffer is sexual assault.
She also seems to relish in repeating certain aspects of the abuse: the fact a girl working in a brothel is only 9 years old is mentioned twice within several pages, as well as the repeated recount of two characters standing as 4 Yr olds, naked and scared as they are sold on.
Johansen's obsession with the nasty and grim actually backfires in a major way. Not only will this be flung away by many unprepared for the content (it seriously needs a CW at the beginning) but it's boring AF. Any shock, hatred, or disgust you feel is diminished by the fifth occurance, and totally destroyed by the twentieth. (Bare in mind I dnf'd at 34%...just over a third through)
I get that the narrative is that it's so awful that the hero rising up to save the day becomes more effective, but Christ... There's a 1000 better ways to do it than this.
I'd like to say there's some good in this, but it's a genuine struggle to find it amongst the ick.
Content warning:
Rape: female, male, child
Child sexual exploitation
Drug abuse
Overdose
I was approached by Random House to review this prequel as they'd seen my review of the first in the series on netgalley. I'd loved that book, but it's follow ups left me cold.
I was hopeful for this, but ultimately could not continue.
Scenes of rape, threats of rape or child exploitation feature in almost every chapter and it's merciless. And also bloody lazy. It seems that the only thing Johansen can conjure up for her characters to either threaten, commit or suffer is sexual assault.
She also seems to relish in repeating certain aspects of the abuse: the fact a girl working in a brothel is only 9 years old is mentioned twice within several pages, as well as the repeated recount of two characters standing as 4 Yr olds, naked and scared as they are sold on.
Johansen's obsession with the nasty and grim actually backfires in a major way. Not only will this be flung away by many unprepared for the content (it seriously needs a CW at the beginning) but it's boring AF. Any shock, hatred, or disgust you feel is diminished by the fifth occurance, and totally destroyed by the twentieth. (Bare in mind I dnf'd at 34%...just over a third through)
I get that the narrative is that it's so awful that the hero rising up to save the day becomes more effective, but Christ... There's a 1000 better ways to do it than this.
I'd like to say there's some good in this, but it's a genuine struggle to find it amongst the ick.
lexiedm14's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5.
I really enjoyed this prequel. I was nervous going into this thinking that it would not live up to the expectations of the original trilogy but this book did not disappoint.
I would recommend reading the trilogy before reading the prequel because a big part of the series is the mystery surrounding the past, particularly that of Elyssa, Kelsea’s mom. Much of Kelsea’s development is based on what little we know of her mother and in this novel we can see how Elyssa became the vain queen she was known as. Plus, it will spoil some of the plot twists.
This prequel did a tremendous job at expanding upon the Tearling world by providing more history and backstory to the characters of the original trilogy. It helped me fall back in love with this world and it tied up some of the loose strands that we never got resolved in the third book.
If you were a fan of the first three books, you will definitely love this one.
I really enjoyed this prequel. I was nervous going into this thinking that it would not live up to the expectations of the original trilogy but this book did not disappoint.
I would recommend reading the trilogy before reading the prequel because a big part of the series is the mystery surrounding the past, particularly that of Elyssa, Kelsea’s mom. Much of Kelsea’s development is based on what little we know of her mother and in this novel we can see how Elyssa became the vain queen she was known as. Plus, it will spoil some of the plot twists.
This prequel did a tremendous job at expanding upon the Tearling world by providing more history and backstory to the characters of the original trilogy. It helped me fall back in love with this world and it tied up some of the loose strands that we never got resolved in the third book.
If you were a fan of the first three books, you will definitely love this one.
sanadw's review against another edition
5.0
Received an ARC from NetGalley Thank you!
This did not disappoint. The prequel and origin story reminded me why I liked the series to begin with.
This did not disappoint. The prequel and origin story reminded me why I liked the series to begin with.
oracle_of_madness's review against another edition
5.0
Although I haven't read the rest of The Tearling books, I do not believe it is necessary to enjoy this fabulous prequel. This story is steeped in interesting culture and political intrigue and I found it absolutely fascinating. I could barely put it down to sleep last night. I recommend this for fans of fantasy, particularly in a unique world with dynamic characters.
baconk14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
danvsc's review against another edition
4.0
This took me such a long time to read. Not because it was slow or boring, but because June has been such a busy month for me in regards to work and life in general.
Beneath the Keep is a standalone/prequel to the Tearling trilogy. We follow a set of characters in the Tearling world, set around 19-20 years before the original trilogy and see how some of the characters we know from the trilogy.
It was interesting to learn more about the Tearling world and to also get a reunion with some of my favorite characters from the trilogy. I just love this world so much and will probably read any book that revolves around Tearling. It's dark, grim, politically intriguing and at times morbid, but with some shivers of light to it. It's a complex world that I can't wait to see more from!
Beneath the Keep is a standalone/prequel to the Tearling trilogy. We follow a set of characters in the Tearling world, set around 19-20 years before the original trilogy and see how some of the characters we know from the trilogy.
It was interesting to learn more about the Tearling world and to also get a reunion with some of my favorite characters from the trilogy. I just love this world so much and will probably read any book that revolves around Tearling. It's dark, grim, politically intriguing and at times morbid, but with some shivers of light to it. It's a complex world that I can't wait to see more from!