The Queen of the Tearling Book Summary

In a dystopian future, young Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn is determined to reclaim her deceased mother's throne and restore her war-torn kingdom. Armed with a mysterious blue sapphire and a heart full of courage, she faces treachery, an enigmatic enemy known as the Red Queen, and a populace that has long since turned against their royal heritage. As Kelsea navigates the complexities of power and responsibility, she discovers her true potential and the dark secrets of her lineage. But can she outsmart her foes and save her people before it's too late? 'The Queen of the Tearling' is a tale of resilience, fate, and the unyielding strength of a young queen.

By Erika Johansen

Published: 2015

""To be a queen, you must be brave. To be brave, you must take risks. And to take risks, you must believe in something greater than yourself.""

Book Review of The Queen of the Tearling

A #1 Indie Next Pick and LibraryReads Selection Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler—and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. 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. This book will be a beautifully designed package with illustrated endpapers, a map of the Tearling, and a ribbon marker.

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"To be a queen, you must be brave. To be brave, you must take risks. And to take risks, you must believe in something greater than yourself."

The Queen of the Tearling

By Erika Johansen