Waiting On Wednesday: The Queen of Tearling by Erika Johansen
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming book releases that we're excited about! It's a fun way to share with others the books that you're eagerly awaiting to be released and you are excited about. This week's pre-publication that "I-Can't-Wait-To-Read" selection is:
The Queen of the Tearling
The Queen of the Tearling #1
by Erika Johansen
Expected publication: July 8th 2014
by Harper
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 could say I want to read this book because of all the hype it's getting, but that wouldn't really be true, other than it helped me discover it sooner rather than later. Simply put, it sounds pretty amazing. Before starting Book Swoon, I use to read great door stopper books, epic, adult fantasy books that spanned sometime 3, 5, 7 books or more. I loved being immersed into truly epic worlds, worlds that can an do fill that many books in a series. I love strong heroines of course and heroes, and amazing world-building. Magic, and journeys of self discovery. Villains and bad guys, and characters who overlap both. Anyways, I'm ready to read something epic- I'm hoping Erika Johansen's debut book will be it. :)
