I really slept on this book the first time through. I enjoyed it, but my review didn't speak to how much the series was going to stick with me, though some of that is the sequels landing the punch well.
To recap, Queen of the Tearling is a fantasy book (and series) that follows a teenager who has been hiding her whole life who ascends to the throne when she turns 19. A bunch of people want her dead, and even the people who don't want her dead aren't that enthusiastic about keeping her alive.
But she wins them over.
The book and series have some nice quirks and twists that let them be something different than the genre they occupy. On their own, those things can be a bit of a hook that pulls you in.
But the gimmick is never really the point.
It's like saying Harry Potter is about a magic school. It is, but it also isn't. Really you're growing with the character. You're seeing as they make connections and build a family that they didn't have.
Queen of the Tearling has some similar elements, though not quite as highly emphasized. The orphan in this book had people who cared for her. And while she's clearly the chosen one, she doesn't have the same gall HP does.
Instead, you have a female lead character who can't get by on charm. She has to get by on her intelligence. Basically, this is Hermione's book. The Queen of the Tearling even loves books.
The overarching theme for book 1 at least is kindness. Not being a pushover. But kindness. Kindness to the less fortunate. Kindness to those who've made mistakes but show a potential for change.
it's been a few years, so I don't remember all the details. I just know that the kindness is going to pay off as the series goes along.
But for now, I'm happy that I got to revisit this one as my brain continues to recharge from the spring semester.
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