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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I feel as if this series became more and more nonsensical as it went on. While I still cared about the deeply flawed characters, I couldn’t help but feel like so much of the plot and character development didn’t matter at all in the end. Essentially, the ending invalidated everything that came before it. Almost all the more fantastical elements of the book had no explanation (no real world-building or rules), even by the end of the books, which was an odd choice for a novel discussing so much “logic” and “reason.” Unfortunately, so much hypocrisy, hatred, idealism and conflicting elements badly muddled character arcs and the plot. While I could have accepted morally gray characters who grew and learned, most of the characters in this book felt flat and stubbornly defiant of any real change to their character (especially concerning thoughts or beliefs). Overall, a very disappointing book and ending to this series.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wish I hadn't waited so long to read this book after finishing book 2. There is so much detail in this series that I think I would need to re-read it more than once to catch everything. I find the concept of the series to be really fascinating. It blends past and present in a way that really makes you think. The series as a whole is a 10/10 for me. I would absolutely read it again.
I am immensely grateful to have read this series. It has shown a complexity in its world and characters' depth and morality that really feels like a game changer. This book is a bittersweet conclusion, and oddly enough, while I COULD imagine it ending in other ways, I am satisfied with this ending, and I understand Johansen's message(s).
This is one of those rare series that I dare to call flawless, book after book. I gave the first book 4 stars, but I won't change it at all. I'm simply glad and floored that the troublesome questions I had in book 1 were explored and/or answered in such mind-blowing ways.
Johansen's writing suited this story perfectly, and I am continually in awe of her ability to spin this story out as deftly as she has, to even fathom everything weaving together and around each other in these pages. I realized that her kind of storytelling is how I aspire to write. Therefore, great thanks to Erika Johansen for giving us this story.
This is one of those rare series that I dare to call flawless, book after book. I gave the first book 4 stars, but I won't change it at all. I'm simply glad and floored that the troublesome questions I had in book 1 were explored and/or answered in such mind-blowing ways.
Johansen's writing suited this story perfectly, and I am continually in awe of her ability to spin this story out as deftly as she has, to even fathom everything weaving together and around each other in these pages. I realized that her kind of storytelling is how I aspire to write. Therefore, great thanks to Erika Johansen for giving us this story.
Our protagonist Kelsea sets out on a dangerous and thrilling journey to amend the wrongs she did or let happen. After the violent but optimistic Queen of the Tearling, and the harsh Invasion of the Tearling, I wasn't able to guess whether she would succeed and what she would wreck in the process. Which was, of course, the best reason to read until the end.
The political and social messages are bit heavy-handed but that's about the only negative I would say about the series.
I would gladly read it again at least a few times.
The political and social messages are bit heavy-handed but that's about the only negative I would say about the series.
I would gladly read it again at least a few times.
If I was reviewing this book before the last few chapters, 5-stars all the way. It was full of surprises and I couldn’t wait to see how it all tied together in the end. But the ending was rushed, disappointing, and just broke me. It tore the characters you grew to love away from you with hardly an explanation and honestly, made the entire trilogy seem a bit pointless in the end.
Lazy ending, but the characters are just so cool; I would have given this book two starts otherwise.
*3.5
Talk about a disappointing ending. I absolutely adored the first two books in this series. I even loved about 85% of this book, but that ending... WHAT?! It was one of the pet peeves that I have about endings of books. It was so anticlimactic and left so many loose ends. I just don’t understand all of that amazing build up, just to end it like that. I was prepared to give this 5 stars, but the ending ruined it for me.
Talk about a disappointing ending. I absolutely adored the first two books in this series. I even loved about 85% of this book, but that ending... WHAT?! It was one of the pet peeves that I have about endings of books. It was so anticlimactic and left so many loose ends. I just don’t understand all of that amazing build up, just to end it like that. I was prepared to give this 5 stars, but the ending ruined it for me.
Well, Erika Johansen gets points for taking risks in her writing, that's for sure. I always think the risk fantasy authors run with world-building is that the appropriate amount of time and care needs to be given to authentic development from beginning to end. I'm not sure the right amount of time and care was given to this third volume to keep the overall story balanced. While reading the last 1/4 of the book, I could have sworn chapters were missing (they weren't)...with the delayed pub date, I almost wonder if Johansen was rushed with her ending. In the (literal) end, however, I was left wanting more, which I think is a mark of a good story.
I would like to thank the publisher, Harper (HarperCollins), for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank the publisher, Harper (HarperCollins), for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
So many questions left unsolved! And the ending .... so much for closure
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The finale to Erika Johansen's Tearling trilogy is a fitting conclusion to a great fantasy storyline. Queen Kelsey's road from captivity to finally solving the mysteries that led to all the woes of her land since William Tear led the crossing centuries past. Kelsey's trips back in time, started in the first novel with just the barest hints, expanded dramatically in the second, now dominate the story, finally reveal how and why Tear's utopia failed leading to the troubled land it is. Johansen masterfully crafted the tale from the beginning. The final epilogue, the last chapter, after Kelsey has finally won, is both heartwarming, and bittersweet. Johansen is a gifted fantasy author. I look forward to future efforts.