Book Review: The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

These days it's tough to find a compelling, not-so-angsty, plot-not-romance-driven YA or NA novel. How do I know this? It's a constant battle for my tween daughter who actively seeks out these types of books and is often disappointed.



Erika Johansen has managed to craft a brilliant world, not so different from our own but different enough to give readers cause to bend the rules of our reality. The Queen of the Tearling was a revelation that continued with the sequel, The Invasion of the Tearling, and concluded in The Fate of the Tearling.

It was easy to draw connections and find the same shortcomings in our society, especially the themes of human trafficking/slave trading, drugs, and politico-theological struggles. While the lessons are simple and age old, they are delivered in a palatable manner behind the main character, Kelsea whose growth is both believable and tempered.

Don't miss out on this series - it leaves Hunger Games, Divergent, and the like in the dust.