Scan barcode
kayu99's review against another edition
5.0
I loved getting to see the backstory of many of the characters, especially Elyssa and Mace. Knowing what Brenna did to Elyssa makes me think that Kelsea treated her unfairly when they finally met. I hope that in another book, Erika Johansen talks about Carlin and what she was doing during all those years that she was unaccounted for.
ashila_hanim's review against another edition
5.0
I've noticed the change of the title.
(Before) The Prophecy of the Tearling
(After) Beneath the Keep
(Before) The Prophecy of the Tearling
(After) Beneath the Keep
dscholl's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story but it has so many contradictions to Queen of the Tearling trilogy. Some things are small, like the the Mace was when he joined the Queens Guard. The prequel puts his age at 20, while in the trilogy he says he joined when he was 15. Another inaccuracy was Kelsea’s scar. In this she gets it from an assassins blade, in the trilogy it’s a burn. Also, Elyssa is described as being vain and simple throughout the whole trilogy, but we see a vastly different side to her in the prequel, which is nice, but everyone acts in the trilogy like she was always that way, not that there was a change.
In addition, the Mort invasion should have been mentioned in the prequel if we follow the timeline correctly. And Elyssa wasn’t the one to decide to put Kelsea in hiding or to put her in the care of Barty and Carlin, that was the Mace and Carroll. These little discrepancies really bothered me. I enjoyed the prequel and the trilogy, but keeping continuity is really important.
In addition, the Mort invasion should have been mentioned in the prequel if we follow the timeline correctly. And Elyssa wasn’t the one to decide to put Kelsea in hiding or to put her in the care of Barty and Carlin, that was the Mace and Carroll. These little discrepancies really bothered me. I enjoyed the prequel and the trilogy, but keeping continuity is really important.
katherine8_9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
maxdmillian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
chickadee2's review against another edition
4.0
Prequel to the tearling trilogy following the story of the queen’s mother and the rise of Arlin thorn and Mace (Lazarus). There was another story going on involving the rebellion in the arvoth which seemed kind of pointless since they didn’t accomplish anything and all died.
meganmreads's review against another edition
4.0
I read the Tearling trilogy last year and really enjoyed it. When I saw this new prequel was coming out, I knew I needed to read it! Beneath the Keep took place before the events of book 1 that I’m sure many of us were curious about, like Kelsea’s mother and the people who took her in and hid her. I loved getting to know these characters and finding out what happened with Queen Elyssa in great detail.
The great thing about this prequel is that it covers enough about the world and William Tear that I don’t think you’d need to have read the trilogy to understand anything that was happening. I didn’t feel like I needed to reread the trilogy to remember anyone and that was a huge relief. I tend to forget details and I’m so glad I could just jump in and not feel lost.
I definitely recommend this one. If you’re new to the series, it’s a good first book to pick up to introduce yourself to the world. If you’ve read the trilogy, then this one is a nice story that puts you back into the world when you want more, but don’t want to reread. This book bridges the gap and it covers the one piece of time that the trilogy didn’t quite go.
The great thing about this prequel is that it covers enough about the world and William Tear that I don’t think you’d need to have read the trilogy to understand anything that was happening. I didn’t feel like I needed to reread the trilogy to remember anyone and that was a huge relief. I tend to forget details and I’m so glad I could just jump in and not feel lost.
I definitely recommend this one. If you’re new to the series, it’s a good first book to pick up to introduce yourself to the world. If you’ve read the trilogy, then this one is a nice story that puts you back into the world when you want more, but don’t want to reread. This book bridges the gap and it covers the one piece of time that the trilogy didn’t quite go.
msseviereads's review against another edition
3.0
Love this series -- so thrilled to find this prequel and I really was thrilled to read this book.
But... it had been so long since I had read the others ones, I was really lost with characters and plot line -- so that took a while which was frustrating for me as a reader.
But... it had been so long since I had read the others ones, I was really lost with characters and plot line -- so that took a while which was frustrating for me as a reader.
sorceressreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
wow. I'm simply speechless. Erika Johansen never disappoint!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Drug use, and Murder
Minor: Trafficking, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, and Slavery
eccentricoldladyinthemaking's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot