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kd_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s been years since I read the series but I feel like this one was much darker. Some of it felt overdone. I really did enjoy Mace’s storyline and overall I thought it was a good addition to the realm.
smallanticapitalist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Genocide, Murder, Child abuse, Classism, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
jenneyrebecca's review against another edition
5.0
SO GOOD! I was head over heels for the first three books, and this one didn’t disappoint. Like the first three, I wish this one weren’t so gruesome, but I managed. The revelations were delicious and I was happy to see it was an origin story not just for the Mace but also for Kelsea.
leo_the_first's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed feelings about this one. Great addition to the Tearling trilogy, but has some part that feel inconsistent with the ending of that trilogy.
jolovestoread's review against another edition
Lost interest. Nothing wrong with the book, I just never prioritise it.
krisglomb's review against another edition
4.0
If you like the trilogy, you’ll like the prequel. It has the same pitfalls and strengths as the books. The characters are strong. You could tell how much the author liked her Mace character in the trilogy and this book is all about his becoming.
However, much like in the trilogy, there is a huge emphasis in the “dark side” of society. Because this book goes to an even “darker” place, some of the imagery and situations she creates feel more gratuitous and for shock value than they do to instill any thoughtful reflection/compassion/genuine horror. (Lots and lots of child/baby prostitution and images of it).
Further, her female relationships in this are…bad. Some of the characters feel a little ret-conned and then some that we get to meet have abilities/powers we don’t see at all later. I liked some of the added world building with the Almont and the Blue Horizon, and I also felt like there was genuine tension between characters and in various situations which can be hard to do in prequels.
Overall, definitely only for people who LOVED the series. (And it doesn’t end at all like the trilogy does…if you’re worried or scared).
However, much like in the trilogy, there is a huge emphasis in the “dark side” of society. Because this book goes to an even “darker” place, some of the imagery and situations she creates feel more gratuitous and for shock value than they do to instill any thoughtful reflection/compassion/genuine horror. (Lots and lots of child/baby prostitution and images of it).
Further, her female relationships in this are…bad. Some of the characters feel a little ret-conned and then some that we get to meet have abilities/powers we don’t see at all later. I liked some of the added world building with the Almont and the Blue Horizon, and I also felt like there was genuine tension between characters and in various situations which can be hard to do in prequels.
Overall, definitely only for people who LOVED the series. (And it doesn’t end at all like the trilogy does…if you’re worried or scared).
caitlintrutt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I'm sorry but I can't with dark fantasy. I'm not sure if I can't with dark fantasy *right now* or I can't with dark fantasy *ever again* but I'm going to stop trying. I thought this would be an exception because I adore the Tearling trilogy so much, but no. Much of the plot takes place in the Creche, which is literally the underworld of the capital city of the Tearling. The story also includes Elyssa, who is the Crown Princess of the Tearling, and I would have been interested to learn more about her backstory, but there's a lot of murder and prostitution and abuse of power in this story and that's the part that I just don't want to force myself to read right now. I think I need a nice long course of comfort reading. In this case, it's definitely me, not the book. It's well-constructed and the characters are engaging, but I'm putting it aside.
emmabussolotta's review against another edition
3.0
I'm very conflicted over this book. I loved the Tearling trilogy, so when I heard we were getting a prequel involving my favorite character, I was over the moon. I waited months for this book and now I'm not sure how to feel?
There are two ways I can review this book:
1. As a standalone, almost unrelated to the series. Looking at it this way, I'd give this book 4 stars. By itself, this is a good standalone fantasy novel, but this leads to the second option.
2. As the actual prequel to Queen of the Tearling. When I look at it like this, I get angry. This book changes actual canonical information (Ex. Kelsea's father being Gareth, not Mhurn. Also, wasn't it mentioned Mace was 15 when he joined the Guard? Wasn't Carroll described to be much older than the rest of the Guard?). Gareth wasn't even mentioned in the Tearling Trilogy, and when Mhurn was revealed to be Kelsea's father, I was shocked. There were no hints in the Fate of the Tearling that Kelsea's father could be anyone other than Mhurn. Basically, parts of this book devalue the Tearling trilogy and if someone read this prequel before the trilogy, they would be completely misinformed.
So, there is something very frustrating about this novel, and I feel like if the Tearling trilogy had more need for a prequel, it would have been better. I think Erika Johansen should have followed the Trilogy's canon, and I would have been less upset.
Anyway, three stars because I love Christian/Lazarus/Mace.
There are two ways I can review this book:
1. As a standalone, almost unrelated to the series. Looking at it this way, I'd give this book 4 stars. By itself, this is a good standalone fantasy novel, but this leads to the second option.
2. As the actual prequel to Queen of the Tearling. When I look at it like this, I get angry. This book changes actual canonical information (Ex. Kelsea's father being Gareth, not Mhurn. Also, wasn't it mentioned Mace was 15 when he joined the Guard? Wasn't Carroll described to be much older than the rest of the Guard?). Gareth wasn't even mentioned in the Tearling Trilogy, and when Mhurn was revealed to be Kelsea's father, I was shocked. There were no hints in the Fate of the Tearling that Kelsea's father could be anyone other than Mhurn. Basically, parts of this book devalue the Tearling trilogy and if someone read this prequel before the trilogy, they would be completely misinformed.
So, there is something very frustrating about this novel, and I feel like if the Tearling trilogy had more need for a prequel, it would have been better. I think Erika Johansen should have followed the Trilogy's canon, and I would have been less upset.
Anyway, three stars because I love Christian/Lazarus/Mace.