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.