Erika Johansen’s The Invasion of the Tearling is the second book in the Queen of the Tearling series. Kelsea’s attempt to stop the human trafficking of her people to Mortmesne predictably enraged the Red Queen. Mortmesne has begun an invasion of the Tearling and Mortmesne’s superior technology and manpower puts the odds in their favor. In order to save her people from the onslaught, Kelsea has begun an evacuation of the villages in the path of the invasion. Unfortunately, her plan isn’t without wholes and is met with opposition. Meanwhile, her responsibilities as Queen only increase. As she searches for a way to save her kingdom, she discovers a connection to a woman from before the Crossing.
Kelsea faces a lot of obstacles in this installment. While Kelsea’s dangerous mix of passion, recklessness and anger was inherit since day one, it never got her in trouble. Her bold actions earned her the approval of her kingdom and those who knew her apathetic mother. In this installment, her characteristics cause her more harm than good. She acts without considering the consequences, putting her at odds with her Guard and her magic is disconcerting to the people around her. Kelsea’s anger flares up quickly and violently attacks those around her, causing her to lose allies. In this installment, Kelsea also gains a deep desire to be treated like an adult. In her hormonal strive for adulthood, she finds herself facing many temptations. When confronted with advice, she often chooses to ignore it. As a rift grows between her and her friends, she begins to dance with the dark side. The Invasion of the Tearling was a decent read. Like The Queen of the Tearling, the pacing in this book starts off very slow. The pacing is also weighed down by heavy description that can be unnecessary at times. The pacing picks up as minor plots begin to develop, weaving together on a backdrop of an invasion. It is the minor side-plots that drive the story, as the plot lacks action and the main plot of the invasion is often pushed to the side. Once again, Erika Johansen provides a heated climax that makes you want to read the next book. Invasion of the Tearling also does and amazing job explaining the Crossing. The Queen of the Tearling neglected to explain the Crossing, and therefore, made it hard to truly grasp the history of these people. Through Lily Mayhew, a Pre-Crossing woman, we finally get to learn about the world’s history. Lily’s story cements the novel’s timeline somewhere in the distant future and connects it to our world. One should be warned that Lily’s story is an emotional one that includes sensitive topics like rape and abuse. This is not a book for those who can’t stomach these topics. I give this 511 page book 4 stars.
Queen of the Tearling Series
Several hundred years ago immigrants from America, Britain, and other countries crossed into the New World in the infamous event that is cleverly named the Crossing. They brought culture, customs and technology to the land and years later, several kingdoms formed in the previously uninhabited New World. Countries like Tearling, Cadare, and Mortmesne are ruled by a feudal system and, in time, the Red Queen of Mortmesne conquered nearly all of the New World. Any country that is not officially conquered is paying dues to the Red Queen