Happy Saturday guys!
Today I'm happy to share a new review for this week's Saturday Pages, and one book I got thanks to the giveaway I won from Rachel from Fiktshun on the Review Pile Challenge December giveaway.
It was one of the books in my Alyssa Recommends list and after reading Layla's review for it on The Midnight Garden, Wendy's recommendation, I finally decided to give it a try despite the previous mixed reviews from my bloggy canaries, so it is my January AR book!
And since I made the Alyssa Recommends books one of my categories in the 105 Challenge, this one is the first one for that category!
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of those books that I was utterly intrigued about since I saw the summary, but given the mixed reviews from many of my canaries, some very positive and other very negative, so I just couldn't decide whether to read it or not.
Then I saw another review that simply made me excited for it, won a giveaway and decided to choose this one as one of the books, and not only that, this was also one of my Alyssa Recommends books!
As soon as I started this book I realized that I was intrigued and within the first two chapters I was well and truly hooked. Kelsea was a character that I couldn't help both frowning at and rooting for her all through the book. She had self esteem issues which were complex and well developed, she was taught to rely on her brain and not to care about her physical looks, but she still wishes she was more like her mother, the beautiful Queen. But her will to do what's right, to try and fight for her people and then her absolute love for books completely conquered me!
The world building was both intriguing and maddening, we get hints and pieces of history before each chapter and we get snippets of information now and then, but it's like working ona gigantic puzzle being given the right pieces but not knowing what the final image will look like. We are given enough information to know that there's certain dystopian-ness to it, but it's also very clearly fantasy, so it seems like a very interesting mix of genres.
Kelsea was hidden for most of her life, knowing she had to train to become a queen when the time came but she was kept in the dark about her mother's past, the current going-on's in the kingdom and even her own parentage. Then her Queen's Guard arrive to take her to be crowned, if she can survive that long. And there starts the adventure, with attacks on her life, trying to prove herself worthy of being called Queen, and discovering that she can have unexpected allies, like a half Mort woman that will become her Seer and the Father of Thieves and the Queen's Guard, not only by duty to the institution but to herself as Queen.
There's murder, betrayal, abuse, missuse of power and a wonderful analysis of the need for religion and how history seems to repeat itself, with or without our knowledge of said history. A fantastic and fascinating book that I enjoyed loads, very much deserving of 4 to 4.5 stars. Now I cannot wait to find out more in the sequel!!
View all my reviews
Today I'm happy to share a new review for this week's Saturday Pages, and one book I got thanks to the giveaway I won from Rachel from Fiktshun on the Review Pile Challenge December giveaway.
It was one of the books in my Alyssa Recommends list and after reading Layla's review for it on The Midnight Garden, Wendy's recommendation, I finally decided to give it a try despite the previous mixed reviews from my bloggy canaries, so it is my January AR book!
And since I made the Alyssa Recommends books one of my categories in the 105 Challenge, this one is the first one for that category!
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika JohansenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of those books that I was utterly intrigued about since I saw the summary, but given the mixed reviews from many of my canaries, some very positive and other very negative, so I just couldn't decide whether to read it or not.
Then I saw another review that simply made me excited for it, won a giveaway and decided to choose this one as one of the books, and not only that, this was also one of my Alyssa Recommends books!
As soon as I started this book I realized that I was intrigued and within the first two chapters I was well and truly hooked. Kelsea was a character that I couldn't help both frowning at and rooting for her all through the book. She had self esteem issues which were complex and well developed, she was taught to rely on her brain and not to care about her physical looks, but she still wishes she was more like her mother, the beautiful Queen. But her will to do what's right, to try and fight for her people and then her absolute love for books completely conquered me!
The world building was both intriguing and maddening, we get hints and pieces of history before each chapter and we get snippets of information now and then, but it's like working ona gigantic puzzle being given the right pieces but not knowing what the final image will look like. We are given enough information to know that there's certain dystopian-ness to it, but it's also very clearly fantasy, so it seems like a very interesting mix of genres.
Kelsea was hidden for most of her life, knowing she had to train to become a queen when the time came but she was kept in the dark about her mother's past, the current going-on's in the kingdom and even her own parentage. Then her Queen's Guard arrive to take her to be crowned, if she can survive that long. And there starts the adventure, with attacks on her life, trying to prove herself worthy of being called Queen, and discovering that she can have unexpected allies, like a half Mort woman that will become her Seer and the Father of Thieves and the Queen's Guard, not only by duty to the institution but to herself as Queen.
There's murder, betrayal, abuse, missuse of power and a wonderful analysis of the need for religion and how history seems to repeat itself, with or without our knowledge of said history. A fantastic and fascinating book that I enjoyed loads, very much deserving of 4 to 4.5 stars. Now I cannot wait to find out more in the sequel!!
View all my reviews
I'm glad that despite the mixed reviews you had a great time with the book. I didn't know it but you made me intrigued. thanks!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you'll check it out Melliane! It might not be a book for everyone, but it worked for me!
DeleteStop it stop it, you make me want to buy this book right now!
ReplyDeleteBUY IT! BUT IIIIT!! =D *pushes book on Eileen*
DeleteI just added this to my TBR list after reading your review. I'm so glad you ended up liking it! It makes me more excited to read the book. My best friend over at My Friends Are Fiction recommended it to me a while back, but I had forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me about it and for your great review!
ReplyDeleteThank you Regina! I hope you'll read it and like it! Let me know if you do! =D
DeleteOoh, this book looks really good! I think I'll get a little frustrated, but it'll be worth it. I'll add it to my TBR right now! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll give it a try, Victoria! Thank you!
DeleteI am so glad to hear that you enjoyed this. Both P.E. and I have been somewhat apprehensive because although the synopsis sounds amazing the reviews have been less than.. I'll be sure to go into this one an open mind.
ReplyDelete-Mari
I can understand the reticence Mari! It took me a very enthusiastic review that mentioned something I knew I'd love to push me over to read it. It's not a book for everyone, but I hope you'll like it!
DeleteI knwo what do you mean about being hesitant. This book received glowing 5 stars and damnign 1 stars all over the place, and I feel like I want it and I feel like I don't want it. But you, Pili, my dear - your enthusiasm is dangerous and contagious, and I am drooling over this book now.I mean murder and misuse of power and politics? I want me some o' that!
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
*grins* Sorry not sorry, Faye! I think it miiiight be something you'll like, so... *pushes books* READ IT!!
DeleteAmazing review! I have heard of the book before, but never really paid much attention to it. I definitely will be looking into it further!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you'll check it out, Nori! It's got many mixed reviews but it really worked for me!
DeleteLove the sound of this novel, it sounds like a healthy message for relying on her brain. I like the sound of the book and have had it on my shelves, just need to pick it up! Great review Pili.
ReplyDeleteOh, if you have it there in your shelves, I highly insist that you give it a try Jeann, and see if it's your cup of tea!
DeleteYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY ANOTHER WIN FOR EPIC RECS/PILI PUSHING/ALYSSA RECOMMENDS! January was our best month, I think :D So glad you enjoyed this one! Good luck with the Invasion request - I'm doing the pretzel!
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous week, Pili :)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
YES!!! I think this was absolutely our best month so far!!
DeleteThank you for pretzeling for Invasion for me, I do hope I'll get approved!
I NEED THIS BOOK IN MY LIFE! Everyone's been talking about it so I HAVE to read it haha Great review!
ReplyDeleteYES YOU DO! I hope you'll like it!
DeleteHMPH. I am mad at you for enjoying this book Pili, lol. <3 I hated it so much :p I wish I could say I get why you loved it, but I don't. Hmph. But I do like that we have different taste in some books :D Thank you for sharing your thoughts and being honest sweetie. <3 You are awesome :)
ReplyDeleteYOU are awesome Carina sweetie! We usually have very similar taste but I guess we need to disagree at some point! *hugs*
DeleteI really, really need to read this one!! I have the galley, which I got last year. Next month, I swear!! :-P
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
I hope you'll get to it, Kate! I cannot wait to hear what you think!
DeleteI'm so glad you ended up loving it. See, I am the black sheep for sure!
ReplyDeleteYou're not the only one, Carina and Jessica didn't like it at all! I feel like this is one of those very hate or love books out there! Nevermind that, you're one of my most trusted canaries, Kristen!
DeleteI have this one on my kindle except I've been hesitant to read it because of the mixed reviews--also, I heard it's a rather heavy YA--almost NA? Not too sure now lol
ReplyDeleteNot YA, this one is clearly adult, one of those crossovers, Melanie.
DeleteI had problems with this book, but those problems were all based on overt similarities it had to other books I'd read. So I still liked it. Even though I didn't want to. And I requested an ARC of the book 2, and was excited to get it. SO CONFLICTED, lol. Anyway, I'm glad you really liked it (despite the, yes, maddening world-building). Great review, Pili!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessica! I cannot wait to hear what you think of book 2! I requested it but I was declined so... I'll have to wait for release date!
DeleteI love the tittle of this book and the summary, but I never read a review until now.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed it. It sounds really good. I hope I can give it a chance, soon!
Great review, Pili!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT Lis!! I do hope you'll read it and love it!
Delete