Reviews

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

butterflymilkweed's review against another edition

4.25

In "The Invasion of the Tearling," Erika Johansen continues the epic tale she began in "The Queen of the Tearling," delving deeper into the intricacies of power, sacrifice, and the consequences of one's actions. Building upon the foundation laid in the first installment, Johansen expands the world of the Tearling and further develops its compelling cast of characters.

At the heart of the novel is Kelsea Glynn, now firmly established as Queen of the Tearling. However, her struggles are far from over as she faces the daunting task of defending her kingdom against the relentless forces of the Red Queen of Mortmesne. Johansen deftly portrays Kelsea's internal conflict as she grapples with the weight of leadership and the moral ambiguity of war.

Supporting characters such as the enigmatic Fetch and the loyal Lazarus continue to play integral roles in the narrative, their own arcs intertwining with Kelsea's in unexpected ways. Johansen further explores their motivations and backgrounds, adding layers of complexity to their characters and deepening the reader's investment in their fates.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its exploration of the consequences of power. As Kelsea makes difficult decisions in the face of war, the ripple effects of her actions reverberate throughout the Tearling and beyond. Johansen masterfully weaves together political intrigue, personal drama, and elements of magic to create a gripping narrative that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

The world-building in "The Invasion of the Tearling" is as rich and immersive as ever, with Johansen expanding upon the mythology of the Tearling and introducing new realms and cultures. From the desolate landscapes of Mortmesne to the hidden depths of the Tearling's own history, the novel is filled with vivid imagery and tantalizing glimpses of a larger world waiting to be explored.

While the pacing occasionally falters, particularly in the middle sections of the book, the strength of Johansen's storytelling ultimately carries the reader through. As the novel builds towards its climactic conclusion, the stakes are higher than ever, and the emotional payoff is equally powerful.

In conclusion, "The Invasion of the Tearling" is a worthy successor to its predecessor, expanding upon the themes and characters introduced in "The Queen of the Tearling" while forging its own path forward. Johansen's deft prose and skillful world-building make for an engaging and thought-provoking read that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. If you're a fan of epic fantasy that challenges the conventions of the genre, look no further than "The Invasion of the Tearling."

gabbylaw22's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

laurasauras's review against another edition

4.0

I should have reread the first book.
I made the mistake of thinking that all the events would be recapped, and decided that whitling down my enormous "to-read" pile was more important than rehashing an old book. But I missed so much, and the discoveries that I could tell were built up well just didn't have the same impact.
The thing I enjoyed about this book is that the protagonist and Queen is very capable. She's trying to correct the wrongs of the rulers before her and sticks to a firm moral code, but she's not naive, and she's a good ruler. I also found that the flashbacks were handled very well, and they broke up the main story nicely.

morgainlafeye's review against another edition

5.0

this book was so surprisingly good, its one of those that grabs you and you keep thinking back to it later when talking with your friends.

they_planet's review against another edition

3.0

WARNING: This book contains a lot of triggering material, like graphic homophobia, graphic rape, abuse, pedophilia, self-harm, body issues, and more.

I did finish this book, in about 24 hours, but I did not enjoy it much. Along with the triggering material that seemed slapped in the book just because it could be, to give it a more ‘gritty’ and ‘dark’ tone, the writing which couldn’t seem to pick a style, the main character who spent more time being horny and self-obsessed than thinking through her actions, and characters that couldn’t seem to decide their own personality, the book felt like it was long and dark for the sake of being long and dark.

To be entirely honest I only found the strength to finish the book to spite the DNF-ers who used their whole reviews to complain about the “Tumblr morals” and “preaching tones”.

I will still read the last book in the series, as I am no coward and crave a feeling of completeness.

katie_l21's review against another edition

5.0

I have no words to express my love of this series.

shannonoliviaax's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

tishywishy's review against another edition

4.0

Usually the middle book tends to be oversaturated with details and not enough action and there is definitely a lot packed in here but the action was giving details bang for its buck. I really enjoyed the development of Kelsey's character and those surrounding her.

I have mixed feelings about the 'crossing' - it feels really awkward and I feel a bit tossed when the narrators change. It's not enough to deter me from reading book 3 but hoping it's a bit smoother and well concluded.

blamy's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

4.0

chloetaida's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25