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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
EDIT: I was lucky to thrift the whole series in mint condition a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t wait to reread it. The review still stands — it’s one of the best and most unique fantasy series I’ve read. For some reason, I’ve managed to forget all the major reveals and remember only small tidbits of information so it didn’t even feel like a reread.
4.75/5.00 stars. The Queen of the Tearling trilogy is one of my favorite series - I have loved it since page one, and The Fate of the Tearling was the most brilliant book of the three. I cannot rate it 5 stars, because I, like many others, was disappointed by the final chapter. Although it is absolutely logical and understandable and natural, and I might have done the same if it was my story, I did not like the ending at all - it felt anticlimactic, unfair to many favorite characters, and completely and utterly depressing.
Aside from the very end, I enjoyed every page, every passage, every word. Erika Johansen's writing differs greatly from other authors - hers are the only books I have had to look words up in in a very, very long time. She does not incorporate overused literary devices in her storytelling; her figures of speech are refreshingly creative.
Although the utopia dreamt by one man but not executed quite thoroughly enough was a very interesting plot point, I found the discussion regarding politics, religion, corruption and violence, as well as their synergy, the most fascinating in this story. All in all, this is a very beautifully written, imaginative and original story, full of strong, intelligent, flawed characters, exhilarating action sequences, a little bit of horror, some uncomfortable events, and a disappointing ending where you did not quite get the closure you expected to get. So, a very realistic story, basically.
4.75/5.00 stars. The Queen of the Tearling trilogy is one of my favorite series - I have loved it since page one, and The Fate of the Tearling was the most brilliant book of the three. I cannot rate it 5 stars, because I, like many others, was disappointed by the final chapter. Although it is absolutely logical and understandable and natural, and I might have done the same if it was my story, I did not like the ending at all - it felt anticlimactic, unfair to many favorite characters, and completely and utterly depressing.
Aside from the very end, I enjoyed every page, every passage, every word. Erika Johansen's writing differs greatly from other authors - hers are the only books I have had to look words up in in a very, very long time. She does not incorporate overused literary devices in her storytelling; her figures of speech are refreshingly creative.
Although the utopia dreamt by one man but not executed quite thoroughly enough was a very interesting plot point, I found the discussion regarding politics, religion, corruption and violence, as well as their synergy, the most fascinating in this story. All in all, this is a very beautifully written, imaginative and original story, full of strong, intelligent, flawed characters, exhilarating action sequences, a little bit of horror, some uncomfortable events, and a disappointing ending where you did not quite get the closure you expected to get. So, a very realistic story, basically.
I loved 98% of this book, which is why I gave it 4 stars. I loved the first two books so much. This series is amazing and really draws you in. I've reread the first two books several times because I enjoyed them so much and there's something so unique about the world that Erika Johansen has built.
I'm pretty mad about that ending though. I was tempted to give 2 stars because of it. The Tearling deserved better. I'm too mad to write a real review, so this is all you're getting. I'll read whatever other books she comes out with because I love her writing, but they better get the endings they deserve.
I'm pretty mad about that ending though. I was tempted to give 2 stars because of it. The Tearling deserved better. I'm too mad to write a real review, so this is all you're getting. I'll read whatever other books she comes out with because I love her writing, but they better get the endings they deserve.
Good God. this is beautiful. maddening. impossible. terrible. perfect. so man feelings. Oh how I wanted MORE for Kelsea, and yet, maybe she will have it, beyond where we can see. but I wanted to see it so badly, even with the end. the change in one character was really hard to believe.
I suppose I can be disappointed with the end and in awe of the art of it all at once. she was a hero in the end, but we didn't get to see her triumph.
I suppose I can be disappointed with the end and in awe of the art of it all at once. she was a hero in the end, but we didn't get to see her triumph.
I loved this series so much, and the first 90 percent of the book blew me away. The ending was a bit unexpected. Johansen covers a ton of plot in this one and really wraps up everything. But, so many characters covering so much distance and time leaves a few holes in a few of the lines.
Spoilers ahead: you could argue that no self-respecting heroine could save her kingdom without a lot of sacrifice, but I am emotionally crushed at how this one ended. It was devastating. And also a little too "magic and time travel fix everything," for my taste, even if Kelsea had to sacrifice her entire life as she knew it to accomplish it.
It's also hard to swallow because readers just spent three books following these characters and their lives, and now they essentially no longer exist, even if the true blue horizon was achieved.
And now it's all gone. I loved these books, and the series really just kept getting better and better. Great stories and symbolism and I love the message, but boy, was this a tough ending.
Spoilers ahead: you could argue that no self-respecting heroine could save her kingdom without a lot of sacrifice, but I am emotionally crushed at how this one ended. It was devastating. And also a little too "magic and time travel fix everything," for my taste, even if Kelsea had to sacrifice her entire life as she knew it to accomplish it.
It's also hard to swallow because readers just spent three books following these characters and their lives, and now they essentially no longer exist, even if the true blue horizon was achieved.
And now it's all gone. I loved these books, and the series really just kept getting better and better. Great stories and symbolism and I love the message, but boy, was this a tough ending.
A good finish! There was some weirdness, and I found the end, well ... not at all what I was expecting. But I liked it. I liked it a lot.
What. A. Mess. And such a disappointment after the promise of the first book in this trilogy. I thought the second book was weaker, but this one... I'm only giving it two stars because ... um ... I'm not sure why. Maybe because somehow I was still interested enough in the characters to want to know what happened. But then I wished I hadn't. I agree with everyone howling about the ending - such a cop-out. I suppose it was meant to be some great sacrifice, but by the time you get there you no longer really care. Overall summary of the series: great start, lots of good ideas, but it seemed that the author didn't have the confidence to stay focussed on a good character and ended up introducing so many bells and whistles and red herrings that she lost the plot.
Bad bad bad ending to at great series. I feel like the author wrote herself into a corner and then made this ending to get herself out. Very disappointing to a great series.
I enjoyed this book, the series really, right until the end. And then blah. Excitement and suspense and then blah.
Oh yeah well errr wow what an ending! Since the possibility of time travel was brought up I figured it was going to feature in the conclusion but the actual end just blew me away. There was a price to pay indeed but what a price, what a burden and yet still a hopeful ending!
I loved it this seemed such a perfect way to end the series. I'm low key here for any future Kelsea books set in a library in the Tearling! Just saying I do love a good Libra adventure! I don't think I could have anticipated the end and I will go back and read it again as I did rush it a bit because I just needed to find iut how it ended.
Loved the series, love Kelsea and the whole cast of characters and I will absolutely be here for future works by the author set in or not set in the Tearling!
I loved it this seemed such a perfect way to end the series. I'm low key here for any future Kelsea books set in a library in the Tearling! Just saying I do love a good Libra adventure! I don't think I could have anticipated the end and I will go back and read it again as I did rush it a bit because I just needed to find iut how it ended.
Loved the series, love Kelsea and the whole cast of characters and I will absolutely be here for future works by the author set in or not set in the Tearling!
I am deeply unsatisfied with the ending of this book. Everything was AMAZING until the last chapter where everything just... fell flat. I still love this series a lot but the ending was, sadly, really disappointing in my opinion.