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A review by booksbythewindow
The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2023/03/15/the-queens-of-innis-lear/
Summary: The Queens of Innis Lear follows multiple perspectives throughout its narrative, with the main focus on being the five characters from the younger generation, coming into their inheritances imminently: Gaela, Regan, and Elia, the three daughters of the King of Innis Lear, and Ban and Rory, the sons of the Earl of Errigal. The narrative explores the fall out of the King’s decision to test his daughters in order to see which should be the new Queen of Innis Lear, leading to a cascade of political and familial tensions that threaten to destroy not only his family but the whole island of Innis Lear.
Overall Thoughts: The Queens of Innis Lear is a book that I absolutely loved, from the characters, to the writing, to the plot. I was completely absorbed to the point that I found it hard to put down, and it is a narrative that has stuck in my mind since I finished. I knew that I was going to enjoy The Queens of Innis Lear from the opening chapter, with Gratton’s writing immediately drawing me in. I enjoyed the atmospheric, dream-like tone of the writing, particularly when describing much of the magic in Innis Lear. However, it was the characters which had me unable to put this book down as, even with the characters I did not enjoy or like as much, I still felt incredibly invested in what would happen to them. I particularly enjoyed the nuanced and complicated relationships between the siblings in The Queens of Innis Lear, with the pain and hurt from many of those familial breakdowns bringing the strongest emotion out of me.
Summary: The Queens of Innis Lear follows multiple perspectives throughout its narrative, with the main focus on being the five characters from the younger generation, coming into their inheritances imminently: Gaela, Regan, and Elia, the three daughters of the King of Innis Lear, and Ban and Rory, the sons of the Earl of Errigal. The narrative explores the fall out of the King’s decision to test his daughters in order to see which should be the new Queen of Innis Lear, leading to a cascade of political and familial tensions that threaten to destroy not only his family but the whole island of Innis Lear.
Overall Thoughts: The Queens of Innis Lear is a book that I absolutely loved, from the characters, to the writing, to the plot. I was completely absorbed to the point that I found it hard to put down, and it is a narrative that has stuck in my mind since I finished. I knew that I was going to enjoy The Queens of Innis Lear from the opening chapter, with Gratton’s writing immediately drawing me in. I enjoyed the atmospheric, dream-like tone of the writing, particularly when describing much of the magic in Innis Lear. However, it was the characters which had me unable to put this book down as, even with the characters I did not enjoy or like as much, I still felt incredibly invested in what would happen to them. I particularly enjoyed the nuanced and complicated relationships between the siblings in The Queens of Innis Lear, with the pain and hurt from many of those familial breakdowns bringing the strongest emotion out of me.