My Review:⭐️⭐⭐⭐.5/ 5 stars

How have I never heard of this series (The Queen of the Tearling) until reading this prequel? This book blew me out of the water. This book tells the story of a feudal society called the Tearling - where the rich and poor are at each other's throats due the drought and unfair treatment of the farmers on the lands. There is a prophecy that the True Queen will come one day and save the people/kingdom. Elyssa is the crown princess and she has more socialist leanings due to being tutored by Lady Glynn (a secret Blue Horizon, the resistance against the church/feudal society). Her mother, Queen Arla the Just, is ruthless and rules with an iron fist - Elyssa finds herself constantly struggling to follow in the steps of her mother or do what’s the best for the people. Enter a mysterious witch, Breonna, and her master -who try to use their sorcery to persuade the queen to relinquish the crown sapphires. Will Elyssa stop them and not allow herself to be a victim herself? The story also tells the stories of Lazarus,a fighter from the Creche (underground), and Aislinn, local farmer’s daughter. This book had so many layers and the brutal world that Johansen created is so vivid and detailed. Some of the violence was a turn off, but easy to understand why it was included to show how terribly cruel the “noble” people in the Tearling were. I need to go read the sequels immediately. Has anyone else read this series?

Note: There are a LOT of trigger warnings - child prostitution, rape, violence against women and children that will put this fantasy novel out of the YA realm.

Thank you to Dutton Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

US Pub Date: February 2, 2021