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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Starts slow, but picks up a few chapters in. By the end, I was wishing book #3 was already out! This one fixes a lot of the "problems" from book 1 as well...
This continues the excellent story, and more if the intricacies and oddities are explained, introducing a few new characters that are all engaging, a good follow up.
Spoiler
THEY CROSSED THROUGH TIME? WTF?!?
I'll still finish the series...
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Writing: 1/1
Plot: 0.75/1
Characters: 1/1
Misc. (dialogue, pace, setting): 0.75/1
Enjoyment: 0.75/1
= 4.25⭐️
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Reread:
Stars: 5
First Read:
Stars: 5
Wow....um....it was so GOOD!! Ahhhhh! I NEED THE 3RD ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 10th-12th 2015
Stars: 5
First Read:
Stars: 5
Wow....um....it was so GOOD!! Ahhhhh! I NEED THE 3RD ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 10th-12th 2015
In which we learn some identities (sort of), wars are waged (sort of), magics occur (sort of) and our good Queen Kelsea proves herself to be a thoroughly modern monarch in a (sort) medieval world.
Invasion picks up where the previous book left off, with an army threatening the Tearling and Kelsea at a loss for how to save her people and stay true to her beliefs of ruling over a free and fair land. In the greater scheme of things, not much happens. An army moves slowly, and this sets the pace for the book. Everything is character-based, so love them or hate them you're stuck with them. No sweeping epic battles here, except perhaps those of words and wills.
Queen Kelsea once again is a character I neither overly like or dislike. She is far more nuanced than your usual YA heroine. She isn't universally loved or vehemently hated by those around her. There's no epic romance, and beyond further hints at a teenage crush she's very much in control of what she wants. She's allowed to remain flawed, although her sudden penchant for anger could be quite frustrating to understand.
We come to know the Red Queen a little better here too; she is still more of a cliche, but not slavishly so. She she feels fear, she can be hurt, and slowly her mental state begins to show that she's all too aware of this.
There's been more hints that "magic" does exist in this future/alternate reality, and some of this comes via flashbacks experienced by Kelsea. These explain to us more about how the Tearling came to be through the eyes of an American woman called Lily. The gradual unfolding of how she and Kelsea are connected across the years is an intriguing new addition to the plot and hopefully will pay off rather than become an over-complicated device.
An enjoyable next chapter in the Tearling saga, but again it feels like it's all just set up for some big reveal. Fingers crossed the last book can tie up the loose ends now that everyone is well established in the vast and impressively described world.
Invasion picks up where the previous book left off, with an army threatening the Tearling and Kelsea at a loss for how to save her people and stay true to her beliefs of ruling over a free and fair land. In the greater scheme of things, not much happens. An army moves slowly, and this sets the pace for the book. Everything is character-based, so love them or hate them you're stuck with them. No sweeping epic battles here, except perhaps those of words and wills.
Queen Kelsea once again is a character I neither overly like or dislike. She is far more nuanced than your usual YA heroine. She isn't universally loved or vehemently hated by those around her. There's no epic romance, and beyond further hints at a teenage crush she's very much in control of what she wants. She's allowed to remain flawed, although her sudden penchant for anger could be quite frustrating to understand.
We come to know the Red Queen a little better here too; she is still more of a cliche, but not slavishly so. She she feels fear, she can be hurt, and slowly her mental state begins to show that she's all too aware of this.
There's been more hints that "magic" does exist in this future/alternate reality, and some of this comes via flashbacks experienced by Kelsea. These explain to us more about how the Tearling came to be through the eyes of an American woman called Lily. The gradual unfolding of how she and Kelsea are connected across the years is an intriguing new addition to the plot and hopefully will pay off rather than become an over-complicated device.
An enjoyable next chapter in the Tearling saga, but again it feels like it's all just set up for some big reveal. Fingers crossed the last book can tie up the loose ends now that everyone is well established in the vast and impressively described world.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.15*. The stakes were through the roof in this one, both with Kelsea's and Lily's timeline. The last hundred pages had me in a grip. Initially the glimpses into Lily's life felt out of sync with the story, but this storyline developed unexpectedly, and ultimately felt important to the theme of the past shaping the present. There a lot of questions I had during book 1, mainly regarding the Crossing and how the new world came to be, and they were answered here through Lily, so we got a fuller and richer first hand-account of that period instead of it being revealed as exposition. The slow revelation of what the Crossing really was was exciting. The political and social landscape that Lily and co left behind them was chilling to read, particularly drawing parallels to what is happening in America in the present. I like what was done with Kelsea's character--she is well rounded and there was a lot of growth, particularly in learning to temper her anger and skirting cruelty, drawing parallels with both the Red Queen and her mother. The side characters I liked as well, especially the Mace and his relationship with Kelsea. The writing is engaging and done well. Can't wait to see how this is resolved in book 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Body horror, Pedophilia, Self harm, War
Minor: Racism
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes