ERIKA JOHANSEN © Victoria Webb
“The Queen of the Tearling is about a young woman who has been raised to think about the impact of her actions, not just on herself and her nearest and dearest, but on everyone. Sometimes we simply have to take care of each other: neighbors, strangers, even enemies. This is the only way for a community to succeed. My heroine, Kelsea, is often confused about the “right” thing to do, but when she acts, she consistently tries to choose what’s right for her kingdom as a whole, rather than for herself. If even a tiny fraction of the energy that individuals currently expend on self could be redirected toward the community, I think it would be an extraordinary thing to see.”
Queen of the Tearling
On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.
Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.
But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend . . . if she can survive.
… and to give you a few insights into this year’s nominated authors, we’ve asked them all a few questions…
Tell us one of your early favourite fantasy novels?
Stephen King’s The Eyes of the Dragon. I rarely hear this one talked about in conversations about his books, but I read it when I was ten and thought it was a near-perfect fantasy novel. Nothing’s changed.
What fantasy novel was a real game changer, shifting the way you thought about epic fiction?
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I’d never seen fantasy that consisted mostly of people talking in rooms, fantasy powered by character development rather than plot. As a reader, I found it far more compelling than the elf-filled, action-packed kind.
What do you like to see on fantasy novel cover art? What puts you off?
I don’t read much fantasy, but I do like a cover that actually relates to the book. A lot of times cover art seems designed to either be pretty, or to shock the eye, but certainly has nothing to do with content, and that drives me crazy.
What classic fantasy themes always get your interest on the cover or in the write up of a new book? Any pet hates?
Nothing in particular grabs me; I usually go by word of mouth. But I tend to avoid fantasy covers that show cleavage, if only because it suggests that the book has no other selling point.
What’s the next big thing you’d like to see in epic fantasy fiction?
I would like to see fantasy incorporate more elements of horror fiction. Meaning, I would love to see a rise in dark fantasy that can truly scare me. Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, as well as a number of his short stories, managed to mesh the two genres beautifully, but I’m not holding my breath for another Bradbury. Rest in peace, Ray.
Erika Johansen grew up and lives in the San Francisco Bay area. She went to Swarthmore College, earned an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and eventually became an attorney, but she never stopped writing.