Book Review – The Fate Of The Tearling

by Erika Johansen (Bantam Press) ISBN: 9780593073148

After being taken prisoner and having her army eviscerated by the Red Queen, Kelsey Raleigh is hardly in a position to sympathise with her fiercest enemy. But with a greater force threatening both of their kingdoms, the two queens must reconsider their alliances.

Once again, Kelsey finds herself sifting through the rubble of the Tearling’s history for guidance, and failure has a greater cost than ever before. The fate of her entire reality hangs in the balance.

The thrilling conclusion to The Queen of the Tearling series is Erika Johansen’s best piece of writing to date. As always, Kelsey’s narrative is utterly enthralling, and her journey back to the Keep demonstrates her strength and resolve as never before. It’s worth reading the entire series simply to experience her development from a mousy teenager into a fierce monarch with a strong sense of her own power.

Johansen’s take on the high fantasy genre is invigorating, her storytelling sharp and spellbinding. However, her tendency to lose all sense of pace towards her novels’ conclusions, resulting in anticlimactic endings ridden with plot holes, is disappointing. Overall, though, The Fate of the Tearling is well worth a read, perfect for anyone needing an emergency exit from reality.

Amy Bouwer
3.5/5

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