The Queen of the Tearling Series - Erika Johansen

Quite a lot of time has passed since I actually read this series. I did intend to write up a review immediately after I'd finished it, but I actually think waiting was a good thing. I read the three books back-to-back, and very quickly, as you do when you're really into a series. And I absolutely loved it... except for the very end. If I'd written a review immediately, I would have been so wrapped up in the very end that I would have done it a disservice. Because really, I loved the plot, I loved the characters, and I loved the entire world that Johansen created. Everything came together to make for a fantastic trilogy; one of the best I've ever read. It helps having a strong heroine like Kelsea to drive the story forward, and I couldn't help but respond to her complexity. That she was supported by such a strong cast of other characters only elevated the book in my eyes, and I love how the author took so much care to plan every detail. Every plot point and every scene made sense in the wider story, and it has been a long time since I saw that level of attention to detail in fiction.

Fantasy fiction is right up my street, and this was a really great story to fall into. In hindsight, I still don't really like the ending, but it definitely didn't ruin the series for me as a whole. I can see exactly what the author was trying to do by pushing the plot in that direction; it just wasn't to my taste. However, altogether I loved the series so, so much, and I wish I could read it all over again for the first time.

Rating: ✫✫✫✫✫

✼

Kelsea Raleigh has been raised in exile, since the death of her mother put her life in danger. As she turns nineteen, Kelsea finds herself being escorted back to the Tear kingdom by the Queen's Guard, a group of fiercely loyal soldiers whose sole purpose is to see Kelsea ascend her rightful throne. Cautious and insecure, Kelsea is unconvinced that she can lead the kingdom. But when she arrives at the Keep, what she sees gives her the determination she needs to step up.

But Kelsea soon learns that every action comes with consequences, and that enemies are everywhere; not least the Red Queen, a sorceress and the tyrannical ruler of Mortmesne, a neighbouring kingdom. But Kelsea has a weapon. She carries with her the Tearling sapphire, a powerful jewel that unleashes magic when she most needs it. But while she learns who she can really trust, can Kelsea dodge the dangers of ruling a broken kingdom long enough to learn to control it?

*spoiler alert*

The World

I remember the first time I started reading the first book in this series. I struggled with the long-winded narrative, and it took me a while to get to grips with the story. The second time I picked up this book, I enjoyed it a lot more. It is a little hard to follow at first, but once you get to grips with the way the story is being told, it sets up the plot well. This is such a complex world, and the detail that Johansen puts into the story means that there has to be a certain amount of time put in for the world to be established, and especially for Kelsea's character to be established.

One thing that I did think went a long way to establishing this world was the collection of chapter headings; small tidbits from imaginary history books and bits and pieces that really add an extra dimension to the story. I loved these little quirks, and they added so much more depth to this imaginary kingdom.

If you'd asked me before I read this series, I don't think I would have necessarily said that fantasy was a genre that I enjoyed to read. These books changed that completely. I loved the sheer detail of this story; it really envelopes you and draws you in. The Tearling is a kingdom that needs a Queen, and Kelsea is the rightful heir to the throne. But then you throw in the Regent, and the Red Queen, and you realise that it isn't quite that simple. There are so many complications within the kingdom that it is actually a very tumultuous world that you enter into as the reader, and Kelsea manages this well as a heroine. It does help to have the many supporting characters as well, such as Lazarus, Pen, and even Father Tyler and Andalie. I also find that the political and war sides of the story are quite easy to read, which was a surprise to me. Although a key part of fiction such as this, these scenes tend to be the driest. Johansen wrote these in the same way as the rest of the story - with a lot of description and emotion, so that we're still invested in what is happening. The Tearling is imagined in such a way that it is believable, both in its ideals and in its faults. With every page, I fell more in love with the world and with what Kelsea wanted to do to the kingdom.

What makes this story more complicated is that we also see the history of the Tearling, and how it came to be. This runs parallel to the main storyline through Kelsea's mind. She has moments of fugue, where she finds herself as somebody else, living a life that she didn't know existed. We later discover that what she is seeing is the past; a past that is essential to the future that she now lives in. I was initially very dubious about this side-story. I could see the logic behind it, but I just didn't think it added as much to the story as it should have. However, the further it developed, and the closer the connection became between this and Kelsea's storyline, the more I became engrossed in it. Don't get me wrong, I always preferred reading about Kelsea and the Keep, but I began to see the extra dimension that these stories added to the plot as a whole. 

The whole world of the Tearling is one that I've grown to love, and I think the details of this larger world make the story what it is. Kelsea's story and development wouldn't be as powerful and addictive without such a strongly imagined fantasy world for her to exist within. I'm full of nothing but praise for the world Johansen created.

The Story

Book 1: The Queen of the Tearling

I absolutely adored the story behind the books, as I've said above. The Queen of the Tearling does a really fantastic job of establishing Kelsea's world, and her character. I also love the way that Johansen structured the book, because it really helped drive the plot forward. There are separate books within the novel, and they all emphasise different sections of the plot.

Book I focused on getting Kelsea to the Keep, introducing the Fetch, and familiarising the reader with the circumstances of Kelsea's right to the throne. It was also the perfect opportunity for the importance of Lazarus's character to be established. I loved the whole setup of Kelsea arriving at the Keep. It's quite long, and I think it could easily have gone wrong and been very dull. However the balance between description and action is perfect. There is a lot of backstory plugged into the first book, but it's not overwhelming at all. It's done so carefully that it's just intriguing to the reader, and every detail is significant. We're really prepared for Kelsea to arrive at the Keep, and when she commits her first act as the rightful Queen, we are able to understand the magnitude of her actions. The burning of the cages for the shipment is so significant, not only because of the act itself, but because it represents Kelsea asserting her authority as Queen for the first time. She proves herself strong and able, despite being vulnerable and unsure for the entire journey to the Keep. As the Mace says to her, while offering her a flaming torch:

"The first page in your history, Lady. Make it good."

Book II was Kelsea in the Keep, finding her feet and realising the full extent of the enemies she faces. I really liked the scene of Kelsea's coronation, where she is stabbed but is determined to keep going. It's such a pivotal moment; Kelsea is determined to show that she will not go down without a fight.  This book ends with Kelsea trusting her instincts and choosing to take action. Andalie cuts her hair off, and with it goes her naivety and reluctance to trust her instinct on regal responsibilities.

Book III of The Queen of the Tearling follows Kelsea's actions, and the reactions of the Queen's Guard when they realise that her instincts have proved unexpectedly right; the book closes with Kelsea earning the loyalty of her Guard, and her people. I loved this novel because there is just so much development from beginning, when Kelsea is whisked away by the Guard, to this end. Kelsea grows so much through the course of this story, and she consequently changes the kingdom as well. Her people and her Guard warm to her based on her actions, and what's most impressive to me as the reader is that this progression feels entirely natural. The author crafted the entire plot in a way that makes every single plot progression logical. It's incredibly hard to do this as it is, but in such an intricate world as this, I thought the story was written to perfection. Every detail made sense, and at the end of the story, you can see exactly why Kelsea has managed to gain the loyalty of her Guard, and her kingdom. The Guard start to look to her for orders, instead of relying on the Mace. This is a huge turning point that really provides closure on the first novel, and also sets up the story well for the second.

"You win your people or you lose your throne."

Barty told Kelsea that this was the key to running the kingdom, and I think it's a real undercurrent to the entire book. The Fetch even leaves his compliments with the Regent's head on a pike on the lawn for Kelsea to find. This is a sign of approval; a sign that to the Fetch, she has proved herself as a true queen. I loved the warm feeling that I felt at the end of this story. It was a feeling of pride, and that indicated to me just how much I had invested in Kelsea, and in the Tearling. It was the perfect ending to the book, and, through Kelsea's declaration that her name should be Glynn instead of Raleigh, she comes full circle. She started the book under the care of Barty and Carlin; she finishes by publicly adopting their name. Everything about the plot was neat and well-structured, but also incredibly engaging, exciting, and detailed. I loved everything about The Queen of the Tearling, and it quickly became one of my favourite books.

Rating: ⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟

Book 2: The Invasion of the Tearling

In comparison to the first novel, The Invasion of the Tearling is very different. The structure is set up in a similar way, with different books within the novel, but I don't think these are as noticeably significant this time around. Rather, they're just quite neat for breaking up the story into manageable chunks instead of having symbolic significance. However there is a clear reason why this doesn't work in the same way: this book is dealing with two very different storylines which aren't running along the same time-scale. It makes sense to discuss this book instead in terms of these two separate stories.

I continued to love Kelsea's story. I fell in love with her character and her world in the first instalment, and this remained throughout the course of the second. While the first book was about introducing Kelsea and the Tearling, the second book explores what has already been established. We see deeper interactions between the Queen and her Guards, and we see her change as she faces harsher challenges. It was essentially everything you would want and expect from the middle book of a trilogy. It isn't all about the explosive scenes; it's about the exploration of the characters, and moving the plot onwards ready for the dramatic conclusion in the final book. 

What is most striking about Kelsea's story is the way she changes so dramatically. We see the alignment with Lily in the parallel story, but there is also Kelsea's harshness that develops in response to various events. She grows a lot crueller, and a lot more aggressive, which comes as a huge surprise from the Kelsea we see in the first book. I'm quite surprised that I didn't mind seeing this side of Kelsea. In some scenes I found her to overreact, but it's just another test for her; another way for her to learn how to be an effective queen. When Lazarus tells Aisa:

"Pain only disables the weak"

I feel that this sums up the entirety of Kelsea's side of the story in The Invasion of the Tearling. Things are changing, and Kelsea is toughening up in the process. However, toughening up does not necessarily mean being hard; it means being able to endure the bad and come out better on the other side. I think this is actually the lesson that Kelsea learns over the course of the wider story, and this sets her up perfectly for the challenges she is due to face in the final book of the series.

The really interesting side to this book is obviously the introduction of Lily Mayhew, and her story. If I'm brutally honest, I really didn't like Lily's story at first. I actually didn't like it for quite a while. Although looking back, this wasn't necessarily a reflection on the story; it was more that I loved reading about Kelsea so much that it felt like a chore to be diverted from her world for a while. However, it did grow on me, and I ended up really enjoying reading about an environment that was connected, yet totally different. Lily's life gave a lot of insight into Kelsea's world - it's just a shame that it takes a little while for it to be clear what this insight is. I did immediately pick up on Jonathan's name, which proved to be significant. One of my favourite quotes comes from Lily's story. She is told to:

"Picture a world where there are no rich and poor. No luxury, but everyone is fed and clothed and educated and card for. God controls nothing. Books aren't forbidden. Women aren't the lower class. The color of your skin, the circumstances of your birth, these things don't matter. Kindness and humanity are everything. There are no guns, no surveillance, no drugs, no debt, and greed holds no sway at all."

Lily can't imagine it, and Kelsea can't either. They are worlds apart, yet the same problems lie at the root of these worlds. When William Tear appears soon after to Lily, it's a huge moment. A huge moment. The introduction of Tear, a man who we know to have had enormous influence in Kelsea's world, really sets the bar high for the rest of the plot. Later on, when Kelsea feels that she can reach through and become Lily, the whole story feels very uneasy. I can see now that this is clearly foreshadowing for the future plot progression. It's an interesting move to have connected Kelsea and Lily through Kelsea's fugues. I'll admit that I wasn't entirely convinced by it, and it was very confusing as the reader to read about how Kelsea was becoming like Lily in her appearance. However, it really intrigued me! I was eager to see why this was, and I found that it really helped with the development of Kelsea's character. 

The ending of this book was, in my opinion, just the right level of drama for the series as a whole. It was a cliffhanger that made me so eager to continue with the story, but it was a natural move for Kelsea to make. It didn't take away from the integrity of her character, and the entire book built up to that moment so that it made perfect sense that events had run this course. I'm not sure if Kelsea sacrificing herself with be a popular plot move with every reader, but I loved it. It had a sense of impending doom that I felt was perfect for that moment in the story.

Rating: ⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟

Book 3: The Fate of the Tearling

So we arrive at the grand finale. The final book in the series: The Fate of the Tearling.

This instalment opens with the Fetch and Row Finn (the dark thing, as he is known up until this point). I really liked that the final book opened with something different, and we finally get an idea of what has been going on with the Fetch. This was really satisfying, and I think this scene probably was done at the right time. This was the beginning of the end. Up until this point in the series, the reader has been given snippets of information about the Tearling's past. However, I also feel that the reader has been kept very much in the dark about what these snippets of information mean. This scene set the groundwork for a whole book full of answers. The beginning of the end.

As with The Invasion of the Tearling, I was most keen to read about Kelsea, although I did miss her interactions with the Mace and Pen, and the rest of the people in the Keep. But it was an interesting change to see the Red Queen's story, and see the world from her perspective. It really changed the reader's view of the Tearling and Mortmesne, and the interactions between the two queens were very cleverly done. I wasn't sure if it was going to work having both strong characters in close proximity at the beginning of the third book, but it was done very carefully, which meant it worked very well.

On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Mace trying to control Kelsea's kingdom in her absence. In regards to the plot, I felt this was the perfect move; to remove Kelsea from the situation and place the Mace in charge. Not only do we see Kelsea's interaction with the Red Queen, which was a development which worked really well, but we also are able to see how great a ruler Kelsea is by her absence. The Mace would be a perfectly good Regent. He would be fair and keep things working in an orderly fashion. But ultimately, what makes Kelsea a great ruler is the careful combination of her morality and her humanity. The Mace doesn't have the same emotional response to situations. The situation within the book where we see the Mace take over is such a significant moment. We might have considered the Mace to be a great leader. However, when he is thrust into this position, we can see that perhaps Kelsea is a true ruler after all.

"But the people of the Tearling did not love the Mace, only feared him, and fear was not nearly so dangerous."

✼

The pivotal moment of the book for me - the moment where I really realised what the story was building up to - was when Kelsea asked Simon:

"If you had the chance to go back into history and correct a great evil, would you do so?"

And I found it really exciting! I could see that the connections with the past were now coming into play, and I knew that the ending was going to be dramatic. This was emphasised when the Red Queen died. When she was no longer a threat to Kelsea, I knew that a bigger force was in motion, and I couldn't help but anticipate what that was going to be. 

Nonetheless, before we reach the end of the book, another key moment for me was when Kelsea was reunite with Lazarus. It absolutely broke my heart to see how much he cared for an respected her. This rapidly turned to feeling betrayed by him when the reader discovers that Elyssa was still alive. I was shocked. A note I made at the time of reading even stated: 'I feel personally betrayed by the Mace.' Yet it's just another test for Kelsea on her journey. She recognises that Barty and Carlin were wonderful parents, despite Elyssa being related by blood.

"The circumstances of your birth don't matter. Kindness and humanity are everything."

And again, the story comes full circle. It's a very clever author to connect minor events so carefully and so meaningfully. Looking back through my notes having had some time to digest the series, I can see just how clever Johansen has been. Utterly and completely. Everything has been planned and crafted to make sense. There is a lot of foreshadowing, and there are lots of moments that are meaningful, even if you don't see them initially. I always find a much deeper connection with a series like this, where everything has been so well structured. I found The Fate of the Tearling to be no different to the other books: a pleasure to read.

As with The Invasion of the Tearling, there was a parallel story running alongside that of Kelsea's. This time it was about Katie, a friend of Jonathan Tear's - William Tear's son. I immediately connected with Katie far more than with Lily. Admittedly, this was probably because I was more open to reading about Katie; Lily's story gradually made me realise that it was actually really useful to read about an important side-plot. However, it also helped that we had the introduction of Row Finn and the Fetch. This was a majorly intriguing plot point, and I felt anticipation every time they were mentioned. I was really keen to see just what had gone wrong with the world William Tear had worked so hard to create.

The stories of Kelsea and Katie, as well as Lily, came together right at the very end in a controversial course of events. I found the ending utterly heartbreaking, for a whole multitude of reasons. I'm actually very disappointed with it, but not because I just don't like it. I completely understand why Johansen decided to conclude the series in this way, and I don't think it was even necessarily bad. I do wish that the ending had been confined to Kelsea's time, but that is a personal preference. I fell in love with her world in particular, so I think I would have enjoyed to see things resolved, in some way, in that world as well. But in terms of the plot, I can see that Johansen spent a lot of time and care to build up to this ending. And it did make a lot of sense for me to see it end this way. The problem I did have with this, however, was that Johansen completely destroyed the care she had taken to build up to this ending. And she did this in just a few paragraphs. 

As with so many other series, Johansen looked for a way to make her ideal ending happen. And in doing so, she forced it too much. All that time taken to establish such wonderful characters, and she creates a way for Lazarus and Pen - arguably the two best characters in the series - to die in a single paragraph, rendering them ultimately insignificant. I just feel like it's the whole Finnick Odair, Mockingjay situation all over again. You cannot treat your characters this way unless you have a very good reason for it. You can't spend so long establishing characters for your reader, just to remove them to fit a mould of the 'perfect ending'. Find another way that will not ruin the integrity of your characters and your plot. Then, for the Pen of the new world to have another girlfriend; it was absolutely heartbreaking. It's one thing to ruin the world you've spent three books establishing; it's quite another to do it in such a callous way. The idea behind the ending made sense to me, but I felt that the execution of it did it a complete and utter disservice. It was rushed, and felt forced in a way that wasn't necessarily logical. I found that the only saving grace was the kind face of Carlin coming back for Kelsea's comfort.

In the first half of the book, Kelsea thinks to herself:

"Maybe utopia is beyond us.

But no, she didn't believe that."

Utopia wasn't beyond Kelsea; wasn't beyond the Tearling. Utopia was just different to what they expected. The subtle hints throughout the series, and the way Johansen set up this to be the ending from the very beginning was very clever, and very thought-provoking. I just wish she hadn't destroyed her characters and destroyed this intricate world in order to get to that stage.

Rating: ⍟⍟⍟⍟

✼

Looking back at the overall plot, inclusive of all books, I absolutely love it. This series has really brought me round to fantasy, and I would now really like to read more of the genre in the future. And yes, I really didn't think the ending was as good as it could have been, and that did let the series down slightly, but it was so nearly there that I'm inclined to forgive it. There were clear stories through each book as well which I think is so important. So many series focus on the story as a whole, and don't really consider how each instalment stands up individually. I hate that feeling when you finish a series, and you can't even distinguish between the books; trying to work out what happened in which book isn't ideal. This series really didn't have that problem. The first book sets Kelsea up as the Queen, and  all of the action is geared towards her be able to grow into the role, despite her initial uncertainties. The second book introduces a new storyline - Lily's. However, the main storyline focuses on Kelsea's development as monarch. Her relationships deepen and she learns a lot more about her kingdom, and what it takes to rule it. This is a classic middle book, in essence, and it counter-balances the new plot revolving around Lily Mayhew well. It also sets up the final book really well; a book which is about closure, redemption, and humanity.

I preferred the side of Kelsea, so I wasn't as invested in the stories of Lily and Katie. However, I did grow to enjoy them the further I got. As a reader, once I began to see the connections to Kelsea's world, it made me more intrigued. It made more and more sense the deeper I got into the books. However, the characters that I really loved lived in the Tearling, so I naturally leaned towards that plotline. That was the world I cared about, which is probably why I wasn't so keen on the ending...

It's nice to reflect on a series and appreciate that every plot point, and every scene, added to the overall story. The plot progressed rapidly yet naturally throughout the whole series, and every aspect, looking back, was included for a particular reason. I think it's so rare for that to be the case, so I'm very impressed. I think Johansen really needs some credit for crafting this book so beautifully. The structure is very strong, and every detail has been considered carefully before being included in the story. Every single detail has relevance, and given the intricacies of the story, this must have been so difficult to achieve. This was a world I loved, yes; but it is also a world that was incredibly well written, which made it that much more inviting.

The Characters

There are so many storylines going on at any one time, that it's actually quite refreshing to flick between them all. Each character was strong and endearing, and I really think that helped. In such a complex and intricate world, I often find that many authors would be unable to make so many characters who are different, but who have incredible depth to them. This was never an issue in this series. Every single character was established with a lot of detail, so they all had a purpose within the story. I also can't seem to think of a single character who didn't have a good level of development throughout the series. This went a long way to making the series so enjoyable; having characters who are interesting and relatable and who make the plot more believable. To put so many in one trilogy was impressive, and I think it really took the series to another level.

Kelsea

"Do I look like a girl's girl to you, Lazarus?"

What I love about Kelsea is that she is not your average girl. She's fiery and very different to what the people of the Tearling expect her to be. I also like that she is not just a pretty girl; quite the opposite, in fact. However what I love most about Kelsea is the way that she grows throughout the series. She starts off as a very naïve girl who isn't sure that she will ever be able to rule a kingdom. However, she doesn't remain this way for long. By the end of the first book alone, she has made decisions that have had enormous consequences, and she has grown into a selfless and confident ruler.

I've said it already, but a crucial part of Kelsea's character is her humanity. The way she cares is what sets her apart as a ruler, and I think this is really played upon throughout the series. The decision to burn the cages for the shipment is made based on her empathy for her people, as is her decision to sacrifice herself at the end of The Invasion of the Tearling. I think that's what makes her such an endearing heroine. She's strong, but she also has vulnerability. This is especially noticeable during the second book, where she grows hard and cruel in the eyes of others. This was a really interesting character development, because as a reader it often felt like she was growing too far away from who she truly was. Yet she learns how much of this hardness to keep in order to thrive, whilst not sacrificing her softer side. 

I loved reading about Kelsea, and I don't think the series would have been as enjoyable without her as a heroine, exactly as she was. I think the way she was written was beautiful, as it really showed the light and darkness in her personality. Her growth throughout the series also reflected the major plot points; she learnt and developed from every action and I like that her character was built around the structure of the plot. It really felt like she belonged in this world, and thrived in it. I just think she made the story exactly what it is, and what it needed to be.

Lazarus/The Mace

I cannot even begin to describe how much I love Lazarus. He is definitely my favourite character, and by quite a margin. Known as the Mace, Lazarus is one of the first characters we meet, and he sets himself up immediately as charismatic, no-nonsense, and powerful. Blunt and savage, but very fair, and a wonderful support for Kelsea. He's the person she trusts the most, and she leans on him for support and advice, particularly in the first half of the series. Lazarus clearly admires Kelsea, but he doesn't treat her as anything more or less than an equal. He's just absolutely wonderful.

The really interesting part of the Mace's character is that we actually know relatively little about him. Little snippets of his past are revealed throughout the series, but these are nothing compared to the amount of detail we are given about other characters. Normally I would really dislike this fact, but in the case of Lazarus I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. He's naturally secretive, putting his job as Queen's Guard above all else. This demeanour speaks volumes about his personality as it is, and I quite like that remains largely a mystery.

On the other hand, his relationship with Kelsea is very clear to see, and it is something really beautiful. When Kelsea asks him if he is her father, he says:

"No, Lady, I wish I was."

That would have been too perfect. But I think I actually like it better that he is just a 'stand-in father'. Their relationship suits them as it is, and I think they actually have a stronger bond because they aren't related. There is a scene within the first half of The Fate of the Tearling, where Aisa comments on just how much Lazarus is suffering from the Queen's absence:

"the Captain might be suffering even more than Pen."

Their reunion on Kelsea's return absolutely killed me. The sheer love and respect that Lazarus clearly has for Kelsea is evident in that moment, and I think the relationship between them was written beautifully. It is so understated. They never talk openly about their relationship, but you can see the care and mutual respect between them through the way they rely on each other. This was my favourite pairing throughout the series. The Mace deserved so much better than the ending he was given...

Pen

Another person who deserved so much better was Pen, Kelsea's closest guard.

"Here's the man I should have fallen in love with."

Ahhh, Pen. Pen reminds me a lot of the time like a little lost puppy. He's absolutely adorable, of course. Although they never really have anything to do with each other, Pen and the Fetch are in a little love triangle with Kelsea. Pen loves Kelsea, but Kelsea loves the Fetch. The Fetch remains a mystery, and so we never really know what is going to happen there. In some ways, Pen can never compare to the Fetch. In other ways, he's far superior. In the first book, Pen is very much a loyal friend, who we don't really come to know too well. However, in The Invasion of the Tearling, his relationship with Kelsea is allowed to develop.

Pen is the sweetest man to ever grace the Tearling with his presence. I especially loved the scene where Lazarus called Pen out on his feelings for Kelsea. Kelsea is changing, and her Guard aren't quite sure why. When Lazarus asks if this has drawn Pen's attention, he replies with:

"I never cared which face she wore."

I lost it at that point. The concern he shows for Kelsea in every action is admirable, and you just root for him to get a happy ending. It's a dismal moment for Pen when Kelsea is gone in the final book, but thankfully he manages to get his act together. He manages to break my heart all over again when Kelsea returns, though:

"I love you, Lady. I think I've loved you ever since you asked if you could help put up that damned tent. But while you were gone, I discovered that I cannot love you and be a Queen's Guard, all at once."

Poor, tortured Pen. The thing that really disappoints me is that there was no closure on the relationship between Kelsea and Pen. One minute he decides that he needs to keep his distance, the next moment he'd dead. Great. And then all of a sudden we're in a different world and he has another girlfriend. There's absolutely no closure at all for him, and I find it really upsetting. This character had three books worth of development and beautiful moments with Kelsea for it all to end in nothing. The worst part? There's no logic behind this ending for Pen. I can kind of see how it might work for Lazarus to have no closure; he's a very mysterious character and he lived for his job as a Queen's Guard. Pen was so much more than that, and it almost feels like there was no point in him telling Kelsea he was going to stay away if the next moment, he's dead anyway. It made parts of his story feel fairly pointless, and I really didn't like that at all. There are very few elements of this story that aren't entirely satisfying, and this is one of them. For all he went through, Pen should have had closure. This didn't need to be a happy ending, it just needed to be logical, to provide closure.

The Fetch

So we arrive at the other main feature of the love triangle. 

I started out really loving the Fetch. He is witty, charismatic and engaging from the very first moment we meet him, and you can see exactly why Kelsea falls for him. It's difficult to get a cocky character right, and I think the Fetch has a perfect balance to his personality. The scene where we first meet him, where he plays cards with Kelsea and is candid with her, is a really great introduction to him. It really sets us his playful character, and it sets the precedent for the rest of the book that he is watching over Kelsea. When he is revealed to have been watching Kelsea burn the cages for the shipment, I thought that was a great move. He is kind of like a guardian, watching over Kelsea from a distance and willing her to succeed. Every time I saw the two interact, it left me wanting more. The Fetch demands respect, and his praise is clearly valuable to Kelsea. He also clearly admires Kelsea from the very start, and I was keen to see how this relationship would develop.

"I've waited a long time for you, Tear Queen. Longer than you can imagine."

There is obviously a mysterious side to the Fetch's character, which does add to his appeal. There are little snippets of information fed to the reader throughout the first two books that keep the intrigue up. When the Regent dies in The Queen of the Tearling, he sees the Fetch's real face and is outwardly surprised:

"But you're dead."

"Only on the inside."
"Is it magic?"

"The darkest kind, false prince."

It's all just so intriguing. In the second book, the Fetch is just as captivating in his character, although his interactions with Kelsea are far more scarce. He learns of Kelsea's visions, but instead of being surprised, he asks if Kelsea has seen a girl with red hair. It's maddening to have no idea what is going on! However, I think the suspense worked very well in the context of these books. As the reader doesn't see the Fetch regularly in scenes, it isn't too much suspense. By the time we receive more information about the situation at the beginning of The Fate of the Tearling, it's the right moment. The suspense could easily have been too much. However, the snippets of information and the build up are balanced perfectly, and I thought it worked really well.

It's quite something to see the fall of the Fetch in Kelsea's esteem. When she sees the truth of him and what he has done, she no longer admires him. I was actually really disappointed by this, as I'd loved the Fetch throughout the entire series! I suppose it says something about the mystery of him; perhaps the reason Kelsea liked him so much was because he had secrets. Pen, on the other hand, was an open book, and so, although super sweet, wasn't too exciting. The Fetch fell from grace, but you could see from his reactions that he accepted that this was inevitable. He grew from Gavin to become the Fetch; he became a better person over time. But he was always going to be seen as Gavin in Kelsea's eyes, and that was too much for her. I thought this was a very clever plot point. The whole story of the Tearling was set up for a huge fall, and the Fetch was the total embodiment of this. He represented the mistakes that were made. I was really sad to see him fall so much from grace, but I do think it was very symbolic, and I think the way his character was written throughout the entire series was really clever.

The Red Queen

The Red Queen of Mortmesne is a very intriguing character. She really does not want her real history to be known, and the reader spends a long time waiting to find out why. This series really is a slow burner in so many ways; the longer you read it, the more you get out of it.

The Red Queen changes a lot, especially over the course of the last book. Her interactions with Kelsea bring out her humanity, and I think that says just as much about Kelsea as the Red Queen. Kelsea's final decision not to punish the Red Queen unnecessarily show how far she herself has come, and it was a surprisingly touching moment when Kelsea has mercy on her.

"She could not go unpunished, Kelsea's mind insisted, not forever. But Kelsea didn't want to see her brutalized either."

If you'd have told me at the very beginning of the series that the relationship between Kelsea and the Red Queen would reach it's ending in this way, I would never have believed you. But it made a lot of sense in the confines of the wider plot. The Red Queen has a startling amount of character development from the first book to the last, and I thought it was a really clever move to take her story in an unexpected and untraditional way for a villain of the fantasy genre.

The Regent

The Regent is the fake villain; the warm-up act for the Red Queen and Row Finn. I thought he was a fantastic character to have opposing Kelsea in The Queen of the Tearling. He was arrogant, rude, and very immature. The exact opposite of Kelsea. He was a wonderful villain while the reader was getting used to the Tearling world, and his character (and the death of his character) served a purpose. The Regent existed to exaggerate Kelsea's right to the throne, through the very fact that he was undeserving of it. His death solidified Kelsea's status as queen, and I think it's very clear exactly why the Regent existed in this fictional world.

Mhurn

Although part of the Queen's Guard, Mhurn was a very unlikable character from the off. Weak-willed, and quite dull. I'm quite surprised that I agreed with Kelsea's decision to execute him. She did him a kindness by putting him out of his misery. It was a fantastic plot twist for the reader to later discover that he was actually Kelsea's father. It was very bittersweet; Kelsea finally finds out where she comes from, but has to live with the fact that she was responsible for his death. It was a little bit heartbreaking, and I never really expected myself to feel like that for Mhurn.

Asia

"Don't let your past govern your future."

Coryn says this to Aisa following her troubled history with her father, and I think this sums up the entire cast of characters. Aisa is the youngest notable character, and so she has the chance to make life what she wants. She can avoid the mistakes of the other characters; mistakes that have set them on bad paths. Mhurn with his reliance on drugs, Lazarus with his dreadful childhood, and Elyssa with her vanity. 

I was very surprised when she chose to pursue her loyalty for the queen instead of following the Caden.

"It had not been an easy decision, for she felt a great deal of loyalty to these four men. But her loyalty to the Queen was stronger, and she knew that the Queen would have wanted Father Tyler back safe in the Keep."

Aisa proved herself unexpectedly loyal, and I think this loyalty showed her courage and her morality. She chose to support the queen, and her strength of mind was commendable to the very end. When she died in the same battle as Pen and Lazarus, I was actually very upset. I really wasn't expecting to be, as I had never really liked her particularly as a character. She was clearly a grower. I think she really reflected that innocence that every character had once had. Kelsea was forced to grow out of her innocence, and this hasn't always served her well. The Fetch was misguided and so is doomed to live his life forever. The Red Queen was corrupted by her sad past. Aisa could easily have been negatively affected by her troubled upbringing, but she proves that courage can pull you through these miseries. She deserved to survive, if nobody else, and I hope she found a new life in the new world that Kelsea created.

Elyssa

Thinking of Elyssa still makes me feel personally betrayed by the Mace. But when Elyssa is revealed to be alive, I think it's a pivotal moment for Kelsea. She realises how much better off she has been, and she begins to see that she should never have idolised her mother after all. When Elyssa praises Kelsea's beauty over anything else, Kelsea feels ashamed that her plainness ever bothered her; for she has come to realise that there are far more important attributes for a woman to have. I felt so proud at this point! 

"You are a selfish woman, and careless, and stupid. You should never have had the fate of others in your hands. I believe that I am a better person for having been raised by Barty and Carlin, for never having known you. I want no part of you at all."

Go, girl.

"Blood did not make Elyssa a better mother, nor had it made Mhurn a father; he had knifed her in the back. Kelsea felt far closer to Barty and Carlin, even to Mace, than she veer had to her own parents."

✼

I think that's what makes this set of characters so wonderful; every single one serves a purpose. The Regent was created to establish Kelsea effectively as Queen for the rest of the series. Elyssa is brought back in the final book to show just how much Kelsea has grown and matured as a young woman. Aisa exists to show the mistakes that many characters in this world have made, and to learn from them. No character is unnecessary, and I think that's a really effective aspect to this series. The characters appear when they are vital to the plot progression, and they disappear when they are no longer needed by our heroine. It would be so easy to create a cast of characters just to make the story interesting; but it is far more effective that each character serves a purpose, and actually means something. It makes the whole story feel so much deeper when I look back at it. 

The sheer development of all the characters is also impressive. Even minor characters such as Javel, Ewen and Thorne play their parts well. Javel grows from a weak-willed drunk into a man determined to do the right thing. Ewen pushes his boundaries and becomes a Queen's Guard, saving Kelsea's life in the final book. No character is left to fend for themselves - Johansen has made sure to look after every single one, and guide them through the story.

I could easily discuss the characters of Katie and Lily just as much as all the characters above. However, although I think they have incredibly interesting stories, I feel the Tearling world is the most important here. These characters fight to make the world a better place, and it is with these characters that my heart lies. The characters are all written fantastically, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every storyline, and seeing how each character progressed and interacted with such an interesting world.

Themes

I've already written a huge amount for this series already, but there are still a few areas that I think need to be touched upon. There are some really powerful and emotional themes that carry this series forward that deserve attention. I've included the ones I consider to be the most important below.

Religion and Faith

It doesn't take a genius to work out that Kelsea is an atheist. However, religion plays a major part in this series of books. The Holy Father, and the whole of the Church, have a powerful sway in the kingdom, and Father Tyler in particular comes to be a very prominent character.

What I think it is really important to note is that, although Kelsea may have no desire to have affiliation with the Church, she has a huge amount of respect for Father Tyler. This is because Father Tyler doesn't just preach about his religion; he preaches about faith. Kelsea clearly admires how much faith Father Tyler has, not just in his beliefs, but in other people. I really believe that faith is a key component of this book, and I think it's part of Kelsea's growth as a character. She goes from having little faith in anyone, to trusting those close to her, and trusting herself. It's also important to point out that Father Tyler is the person who brings the crown back to Kelsea. Her faith in Father Tyler was well-placed; fitting, as he is the person who got her to really trust.

Knowledge

"Whenever she had a problem to consider, she invariably found herself in the library, for it was easier to think when she was surrounded by books."

It's very clear throughout the whole series that Kelsea really appreciates knowledge and education, and this is why she is used to relying on books. When she doesn't have access to books in the Keep, she is outwardly upset, and she is clearly invested in the idea of introducing a printing press. 

I think possibly the best moment to read about following this theme was when the Mace comes around to the idea of books.

"Kelsea stared at him, genuinely surprised.

'They're good, these stories,' Mace continued, his cheeks stained with light colour. 'They teach the pain of others.'

'Empathy. Carlin always said it was the great value of fiction, to put us inside the minds of strangers.'"

Knowledge is definitely power to the characters of this series, and I really liked this undercurrent. The Mace coming to appreciate the books that Kelsea is so fond of indicates just how important they truly are. This resonated throughout Katie's sub-plot as well:

"Katie had once asked Ms. Ziv how many books there were, and Ms. Ziv had told her in a hushed voice that there were nearly twenty thousand. She had clearly meant for Katie to be impressed, but Katie wasn't. She went through two or three books a week. If that held true for her lifetime, she would have enough to read, but what if she didn't like most of them? What if the ones she hadn't read yet were checked out by other people?"

It's really lovely to read about characters who value education so much. I loved the continuous nods to the importance of knowledge, learning and especially reading. It gave the series so much more warmth in my eyes.

Fresh Starts

The most important theme across this series is about fresh starts, and the idea that history repeats itself. Kelsea's decision right at the end of the series is the perfect example of this. This book is about the mistakes people make, and why, and then how they deal with the consequences. Kelsea spends the three books seeing the problems that are at the heart of the Tearling, and makes the ultimate decision to make a change; to give a fresh start for the kingdom, and for the world. She makes a sacrifice, just as Lily and William Tear did, with the hope of a better outcome. Kelsea says it herself to Lazarus in The Invasion of the Tearling, when he tells her it isn't good to dwell on the past:

"And yet sometimes the answer to the future lies in the past, Lazarus."

At the very beginning of the first book, Kelsea muses over something Carlin had once told her; that history was everything, for it was in man's nature to make the same mistakes over and over. Later, Father Tyler knows the same:

"Tyler knew that history was everything. The future was only the disasters of the past, waiting to happen anew."

Carlin and Father Tyler are arguably the two wisest characters in the series, which I don't think is accidental. With all their wisdom, they preach about how crucial it is to learn from the past, and this definitely resonates throughout the books. These examples are part of a longer string of foreshadowing that is weaved throughout the whole plot. Looking back through the books, you can see it a lot more clearly; there are moments and ideas that hint at this consistently. At the very end of the series, when it is decision time for Kelsea, Tear says to her:

"The past controls the future; is that not why you're here?"

The reason that Kelsea has been linked to Lily and Katie is so that she can understand what must be done. By seeing what has happened in the past, and what consequences have come of this, she is able to make a decision that will not backfire. This is actually a very thought-provoking theme, and by being scattered throughout the series, it gives the story, as well as Kelsea's final decision, a lot more depth.

The Verdict

"I put my trust in fiction"

I couldn't give this series anything other than a five star rating. I often find that with trilogies similar to this, there is one instalment that lets the others down, or there are parts of the plot that don't really seem to have enough substance to them. I thought all three of these books were outstanding. The world that the author created was one that was so easy to get lost in, and the plot was so carefully thought out that every single detail made sense to me, and to the story. This attention to detail was really brought to life by a whole cast of characters who were unique, endearing, and who really demonstrated the Tearling in all its glory.

This being said, I didn't really think the ending was as great as it could have been. I would have liked to see Kelsea improve the world she lived in, instead of change it completely. It was the Tearling that I fell in love with, and I really felt like the action should have reached a conclusion in this world too. That is just my personal opinion, however. I can see exactly why Johansen decided to take the story in this direction, and I do think that it worked on the level she wanted it to. There was so much detail in the series that built up to this specific ending that I do think it worked. I just didn't find it satisfying enough given how much time I'd invested in the characters and their kingdom.

However, I can move past this because the rest of the series is so great. It really moved me, and I will definitely be delving back into this series in the future.