Reviews

The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

david_hasz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

jnishi's review against another edition

2.0

DNF But gave it 2 stars because the writing is beautiful, truly, truly beautiful. But it is sooo slow! the pace is like trudging throw slow drying cement, albeit very beautiful, poetic cement. I really wanted to love this and make it work but I just couldn't get more than 30% into it. I had to force myself to pick up the book and read and no one should read that way if they have a choice. I really REALLY wanted to love this book and I tried so hard because I love Shakespeare and Lear and the fantasy genre and I was all for badass women fighting it out for the throne. But it was too slow moving for me. I hope to one day pick it up again, when I have more time and my to-read pile is not so large and full of shiny new books. Just not today.

laura_mayfair's review

3.0

There was much to love here with the beautiful prose and rich character development. The pacing was slower than I would have liked. The multiple points of view could be disengaging because they were so frequent.

Still, the magic system and world building were fascinating and I loved the diverse characters.

with_discipline's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

annatherbook's review against another edition

4.0

This is more of a 4.75 rating. Im really cilflicted. This was by all means a great book. The plot, characters, setting, writing. It had magic and loss. Love, greif and wind. But it was not easy to get through. I don't know why it took me so long to finnish it. It was everything I love in a story. Tragic, heartfelt and magical. It was breathtakingly atmospheric and still it took me more than a moth to read.

I love this book!

fantasynovel's review

3.0

I'm finally, finally, FINALLY done with this book!!! It was so boring!!!!!!! The only chapters I cared about were Gaela's and Regan's, and they had the fewest of anybody. This book took me a literal week to read, and I'm so glad it's finally over. The prose was beautiful, but at what cost??? The sense of relief I felt when I closed it was unprecedented. Thank GOD I'm done.

chloetaida's review

Wasn't drawn into the story, and wasn't feeling it. Might have simply been not in a reading mood im unsure.

annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition

4.0

Where do I start my review, how do I describe this book? I don't think I've ever needed this long to actually finish a book, not because I didn't enjoy reading the book, not because I wasn't enchanted, or into the book, but simply because the book never stops being intimidating. Time after time I discovered that picking the book back up was the hardest part, because once I was reading I was enjoying everything this book has to offer.

The book is written in an almost Shakespearian language. The sentences are complicated, long and contain words I've never encountered in my life. I've heard from English natives it's already a challenge for them, you can imagine the challenge it was for me. Much slower than I'm used to I made my way through this story, but I did end up falling in love with it.

The multiple points of views, the detailed descriptions of everything, make it easy to connect to almost every character presented. I can't simply pinpoint any favorites, because they all had so much to offer, were rich and very real, with their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure if I'd say there were too many words, too many descriptions. I think I'd go with the writing style suiting the story.

The story was enchanting, magical, filled with intrige, political alliances, backstabbing and everything Shakespeare is known for. Maybe, maybe I should read more Shakespeare, because I really loved this story and how it unfolded, slowly, but clearly leading exactly to where it had to end.

It was an amazing reading experience and I wouldn't have wanted to miss it!

rockwrengj's review

4.0

Interesting book. The story and setting are very unique, and it was very satisfying to have main characters of color in a fantasy book. It was a very good story, but I found it slow. Slow enough to considered putting it aside. By the last quarter of the book I found myself dissecting scenes for what could have been left out without damaging the story or plot-line.

erawebuilt's review

4.0

exquisite, evocative prose brought down by some honestly too slow pacing, but similarly bolstered by the time it takes to so meticulously lay out its characters. the three daughters, in particular, are all varied and memorable and nuanced. if you can tolerate the slow pace, it's a rewarding read with a vividly realized setting.