Blog Tour: The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

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The Invasion of the Tearling
The Queen of the Tearling #2
Author: Erika Johansen
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Released: June 9th 2015
Review Source: Harper

With each passing day, Kelsea Glynn is growing into her new responsibilities as Queen of the Tearling. By stopping the shipments of slaves to the neighboring kingdom of Mortmesne, she crossed the Red Queen, a brutal ruler whose power derives from dark magic, who is sending her fearsome army into the Tearling to take what is hers. And nothing can stop the invasion.

But as the Mort army draws ever closer, Kelsea develops a mysterious connection to a time before the Crossing, and she finds herself relying on a strange and possibly dangerous ally: a woman named Lily, fighting for her life in a world where being female can feel like a crime. The fate of the Tearling —and that of Kelsea’s own soul—may rest with Lily and her story, but Kelsea may not have enough time to find out.

First of all, can we talk about the cover? This cover of The Invasion of the Tearling speaks for itself. Look at it! There is a queen over-looking at a place that is burning. If you’ve read the first book, then you know there is an invasion the new queen of the tearling needs to prepare for. If you think about it, it seems that the invasion has occurred but unfortunately this queen has fled. That is why she is overlooking at this place that is burning. It may also be that this queen has invaded a place and has left it to burn? Yes? Well you will have to read the book to find out what it means.

If you’ve read my review for the first novel of this series, The Queen of the Tearling, then you know I’d enjoyed it to pieces. Unlike the first novel, once I read the last page to this novel, well, I was rather not quite sure how to process what I had just read. The Invasion of the Tearling has taken a strange turn, so prepare to be surprised.

As I mentioned before, the first book left off right when the new queen needs to come up with ways to be prepare of an invasion. Kelsea is this new queen. She is trying to come up with ways to defeat the Mort Army. Unfortunately, her new army is not well equipped for this. The only thing that is going right for Kelsea is that she has been able to slow down the Mort. Everything else is out of control. Kelsea is even being disturbed by an evil power that is not letting her do much. To say the least, Kelsea is not only fighting for her kingdom, but she is fighting for control over herself. She is having dreams of a woman named Lily Mayhew - a woman married to an important man but is also abused.

Lily Mayhew? Well, we are not told why she is important. We are not sure what’s the reason behind Kelsea’s dreams about her. It was rather strange having to read about her. About her life. Not sure where her story is leading to. Not sure if Kelsea’s dreams will help her conquer the fight against the Mort and the evil Red Queen. Like her story, this book will leave you with thousand of unanswered questions.

Overall, The Invasion of the Tearling is rather a slow torturous adventure. One that will leave you with many questions. It is also quite graphical. There is so many sensitive topics, like rape, assaults and well, blood-and-violence, language… Although its horrifying, I cannot wait to learn more about Kelsea and her mystery father. I would like to know if she will be able to conquer the Mort and the Red Queen. I just need to know.

Book News: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen Now on Paperback!

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING

By

Erika Johansen

Now available in Trade Paperback!

A #1 Indie Next Pick

A LibraryReads Top 10 Title

Film rights acquired by Warner Bros.

Foreign rights sold in twenty countries

“Call it The Hunger Games of Thrones. . . . An addictive and enjoyable adventure. . . . The Tear is just as easy to get sucked into as Westeros or Hogwarts or Panem.”

—USA Today

“Spectacular . . . sure to entertain readers everywhere.”

—Wall Street Journal

“An exciting fantasy tale.”

—Buzzfeed

“Impossible to put down.”

—Glamour

When you first sit down to read Erika Johansen’s debut novel THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING (Harper Paperbacks; ISBN 13: 9780062290380; $12.99/$15.99 Can.; Trade Paperback; on-sale: 4/14/ 2015), book one in an epic series, you believe this coming of age tale about a nineteen-year-old girl and her quest to take back her family’s kingdom takes place in Medieval Europe.  But what you are really experiencing is the future – the twenty-fourth century to be exact. 

At the point where this book begins, after three hundred years of no technology, including

electricity, society has re-evolved to the point of the late Middle Ages. Four nations have a well-defined relationship: one has set itself up as a colonial power and the other three largely pay it tribute. Into a society that has reverted to its own root problems (enormous economic disparity, widespread drug addiction, failed education and lack of gainful employment), comes the young and idealistic Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, ready to take over the kingdom of The Tearling, and dead set on reviving democracy.  But

first she will face powerful opposition from the Regent, who has no intention of loosening hold of his power; the Red Queen, who rules neighboring Mortmesne with the aid of dark magic; and from within the ranks of Kelsea’s own Royal Guard.

The inspiration for this series came to Johansen in 2007 after attending Iowa Writers’ Workshop and beginning her second year of law school, “One evening I had that rare sort of dream that you remember perfectly upon waking, that stays with you: a single image in my head of a group of people in boats, leaving a broken land and disappearing over the horizon toward an uncertain future.  I firmly believe that humanity’s problems have never changed deep down. They just wear new costumes. So I decided to write about an idealistic monarch trying to do good in that land I saw over the horizon: a lawless land still tormented by most of the problems of our current society. That was the basic idea of the Crossing: by the late 21st century, America would become such a terrible place to be poor that those who wanted a better world, even those with children, would be willing to pile themselves into boats and throw themselves onto the mercy of the ocean rather than remaining.”

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING was a major acquisition for Harper, and at this writing rights have been sold into over 20 countries. Warner Brothers acquired the film rights in conjunction with Harry Potter producer, David Heyman, and Emma Watson is attached to star.

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING and the next books in Johansen’s series introduce readers to a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns with full blown magic; it is a magnificent debut, a feat of epic world-building, and one of the most original works of fiction to come around in years.

Book Review: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

The Queen of the Tearling
The Queen of the Tearling #1
Author: Erika Johansen
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Fantasy | Magic
Released: July 8th 2014
Review Source: HarperCollins

On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.

The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.

I love Emma Watson. I do. When I read she is set to star in The Queen of the Tearling I jumped on board. It was a satisfying read. A book filled with magic and adventure. A great debut and perfect for the big screen. I can definitely see Emma as Queen Kelsea!

The Queen of the Tearling is about a young princess who has been hidden all her life for her own protection. As her ninetieth birthday approach and the fact that her mother, the queen is dead, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn is set on a journey to return to the land that she is to reign. Ready or not, Princess Kelsea will soon be queen and will learn that ruling takes dedication and willingness to fight and die for a nation.

The Queen of the Tearling took me a while to read. Not because it wasn’t good, but at times I asked myself many questions. I was confused at times and I had to re-read previous chapters. During her journey, Princess Kelsea confronted many controversies and faced danger. I learned to respect her and even though she thought she was not ready to be queen, Princess Kelsea was well raised by her foster parents. She was ready to rule her nation.

The story reminded me so much of one of my favorite series, Fire and Thorn. It was enjoyable reading a book similar. I understand why Emma would sign up for such role and honestly, I cannot wait for the movie. A must read novel of magic, adventure but also a book of destiny and survival. I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers along with Alice of Wonderland and Fire and Thorn fans.