The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen is a ripping adventure story which feels like a medieval tale except for the occasional references to plastic surgery, Harry Potter and mascara. For a debut, it is skilfully handled. 
This, the first of a trilogy, is a dystopian society, post-something [an un-named event] which caused people to feel their homeland [an un-named country] in The Crossing [across an ocean, as a boat was lost] to their new land of the Tearling [on an unspecified continent]. Behind them they left science, books, medicine, education, art, television, you name it they left it behind. They fight with knives and swords.
Into this context is thrown a 19-year old girl, raised in secrecy by an elderly couple in rural seclusion. She must become queen of her mother’s nation or it will be lost to the evil ruler of the neighbouring state. Kelsea Glynn had a studious childhood, learning history, mathematics, languages, and how to trap and skin a rabbit. She reads a book a day [including The Lord of the Rings], not something your usual heroine does. Add treachery, slavery, corruption, prostitution, child exploitation, and all sorts of other dastardly deeds, and you will see why this is a page turner. Kelsea, the girl-turned-Queen is thrown into the middle of this and expected to fail. But she doesn’t.
There is more to this than just a thriller, the world of the Tearling has been meticulously constructed by Erika Johansen with its own history, myths and customs. It has the makings of a classic fantasy series.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK
Click the title to read my reviews of the other Tearling books by Erika Johansen:-
BENEATH THE KEEP [#PREQUEL TEARLING]
THE INVASION OF THE TEARLING [#2 TEARLING]
THE FATE OF THE TEARLING [#3 TEARLING]
If you like this, try:-
‘The Magicians’ by Lev Grossman #1TheMagiciansTrilogy
‘The Ship’ by Antonia Honeywell
‘In Ark’ by Lisa Devaney
And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen via @SandraDanby http://wp.me/p2ZHJe-19P
SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS 
Pingback: #BookReview ‘The Magician’s Land’ by Lev Grossman @leverus #fantasy #magic | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘The Cardturner’ by Louis Sachar #YA #family | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth #YA #fantasy | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane’ by Suzanne Collins #fantasy #adventure | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘The Fate of the Tearling’ by Erika Johansen #fantasy #Tearling | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘The Invasion of the Tearling’ by Erika Johansen #fantasy #Tearling | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘Beneath the Keep’ by Erika Johansen #fantasy #Tearling | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘Gregor the Overlander’ by Suzanne Collins #fantasy #adventure | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘The Fair Fight’ by @Anna_F_writes #historical | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘In Ark’ by @lisadevaney #clifi #climatechange #scifi | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
I’m editing a fantasy series right now, there are some similarities to your summary in broad terms — young man destined to rule but doesn’t know it, neighbouring country taking over, run by despot etc —but otherwise it’s a different tale. I think it’s interesting to see what people can do with fantasy. A bit like romance, it’s not my preferred genre, but if I read a good one eg Tolkien, Pullman, C S Lewis, I am quite entranced. So I think it’s nice to find good new creative authors who manage to produce new and different fantasy tales.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantasy is not my first choice either but you are right, a well-written story transcends genre labels. SD
LikeLike
I am often bored by this genre as it is so often evocative of the two masters – JK and JRR! This one sounds original. I will consider it. Thanks for a heartfelt review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean, but this is better than the rest out there. It’s not literary, but is a well-researched, thoughful read, 🙂 SD
LikeLike
This is a lovely addition to my TBR list. Thank you very much, Sandra.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me know what you think of it. 🙂 SD
LikeLike
I’m not usually a fan of fantasy novels, but this is intriguing! Kelsea sounds like a fantastic heroine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is, I’m not a regular fantasy reader too but I will read this series. 🙂 SD
LikeLike