I love fantasy novels about reluctant monarchs trying to save their kingdoms when the odds are stacked against them. It's a popular but perilous setup to enjoy reading, because while there are some fabulous books and series built on that idea, there are also a lot of them that are trashy, formulaic, badly written, and (in this reader's opinion) not worth the time it takes to read them.
So I was a little bit nervous when I picked up a copy of The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen, worried by the thought of another disappointing variation on the theme of "struggling monarch." It was a completely unnecessary concern though, and in no time at all I was sucked into a dangerous world of power struggles and conspiracies, traitors, a kingdom in need of a ruler to repair the damage done by her predecessors, and a 19-year-old girl trying to prove her mettle on the throne.
Kelsea, the only daughter of the Tearling's last queen, has been raised in secret by a former court historian and a former member of the Queen's Guard. Far from castle and court, Kelsea learns survival and outdoor skills, protocol and comportment, harnessing her emotions to make fair and rational decisions, and the history of what will one day be her kingdom. But there are large, intentional gaps in her education, namely the history of her mother's rule. So when on her 19th birthday the Queen's Guard arrive to take Kelsea to the capitol city to be crowned, she's in for something of a shock at the state of the kingdom. Poor to begin with, it's been essentially bled dry by the Regent, the Church, frivolous nobility and the looming shadow of the kingdom of Mortmense, with which Kelsea's mother made a terrible agreement to spare her kingdom.
Before she can even begin to sort out what needs fixing first, Kelsea needs to earn the trust and respect of her Guard, the love of her people, and the approval of a mysterious outlaw known only as the Fetch. But in doing so she sets her kingdom on the path to war with Mortmense, a war which they have absolutely no chance of winning.
Johansen has created a troubled, hopeful, believable world in which there will be an awful lot of mess before things truly begin to improve. but I'm very eager to see how Kelsea and her Queen's Guard make their next move, especially given the immensely enjoyable character dynamics between them. Even though she's the queen, Kelsea is still young and inexperienced. That being the case, and with few people she can trust, her Captain of the Guard is an important adviser and sounding board. But that relationship sometimes interferes with the orders that Kelsea gives, which created some real tension in an otherwise close dynamic. I also have a feeling that Pen will become an increasingly important player in the Queen's Guard.
I'm also very curious about the Fetch, who was an important but fairly minor character in the grand scheme of the book. His relationship with Kelsea is intriguing, and it's obvious that he's playing his own game, but his interests coincide neatly with Kelsea's. For now, at least. There is a lot more to his story and his place in the kingdom than is made apparent, and I truly want to know more!
My only real gripe with the story itself is that we never find out details about the Crossing. there are implications, small pockets of information and references to it, but despite ample opportunity (in a history lesson during Kelsea's childhood, for example) the reader is never completely clued in on the entire story. I found that immensely frustrating, and hope that perhaps it will be addressed in the next installment. Better late than never, after all.
While royal, Kelsea is neither beautiful nor petite. I loved that about her character, and the fact was mentioned more than once by other characters. The Fetch's remark on the subject actually made me wince, but Kelsea accepts her looks and, even if her disappointment is palpable, focuses on more important issues. The subject of her weight is also brought up in a manner that I thought could have been handled better, by emphasizing the effect of arms training and exercise on a person's figure instead of just eating less to lose weight. But I think the idea of a plain queen with a sturdy figure trumps my quibbling over body image approach in one scene. From Johansen's descriptions of Kelsea's plainness though, I'm completely unsold on the idea of Emma Watson playing the queen in a planned film version of the story.
If you're a fan of Tamora Pierce or of Kristen Britain's Green Rider books, you'll want to mark July 8th on your calendar. That's the release date for The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen, and your local independent bookstore can help you pre-order a copy now. Which you should really do, because this is a book worth reading.
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