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The best fantasy book series to escape into new worlds

A Novel of the Tearling

Beneath the Keep

The much-anticipated stand-alone prequel to the bestselling Queen of the Tearling trilogy . . . 
A decadent kingdom . . . a descent into darkness . . . alliances forged under fire . . . a prophecy that will change the course of history . . . 
 
'A suspenseful, multi-layered tale' Cassandra Clare 'A must-read for fans of the Tearling!' Helene Wecker 'Dark and timely' Kim Harrison 
 
The Tearling has reverted to feudalism, a far cry from the utopia it was founded to be. As the gap between rich and poor widens and famine threatens the land, sparking unrest, rumours of a prophecy begin to spread: a great hope, a True Queen who will rise up and save the kingdom. 
 
But rumours will not help Lazarus, a man raised to kill in the brutal clandestine underworld of the Creche, nor Aislinn, a farm girl who must reckon with her own role in the growing rebellion. 
 
And in the Keep, the crown princess, Elyssa, finds herself torn between duty to the throne and the lure of a group of fierce idealists who promise radical change. But Elyssa must choose quickly, before a nefarious witch and her shadowy master use dark magic to decide for her. 
 
It is only a matter of time before all three will be called into the service of something bigger than they have ever imagined: the fight for a better world.

A suspenseful, multi-layered tale of how the sparks of revolution are kindled, and of those who strive to ignite them.

CASSANDRA CLARE, No.1 New York Times bestselling author

A page-turning prequel that fans of the Queen of the Tearling series are sure to love . . . Dark and timely, Beneath the Keep is a study in delicious contrasts with political intrigue set against gritty survival, of excess born in bone-chilling deprivation, of high values falling to shocking, base desires. And, of course, magic struggling to rise over cruel, brute force.

KIM HARRISON, bestselling author of The Hollows series

A many-layered tale of intrigue and revolution . . . adds new depth - and not a few surprises - to Erika Johansen's acclaimed Tearling trilogy. The prequel deftly sets the stage for Queen Kelsea's reign, as factions jockey for power over the throne and an uprising gathers in the shadows. A must-read for fans of the Tearling!

HELENE WECKER, bestselling author of The Golem and the Jinni

An impressive feat . . . a spellbinding prequel that works just as well as a standalone . . . the steadily building tension carries the story forward. New and old fans alike are sure to be taken in.

ERIKA JOHANSEN grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She went to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania before attending the celebrated Iowa Writers Workshop, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree. She eventually became an attorney but she never stopped writing. Her debut was the international bestseller, The Queen of the Tearling - the first novel in a remarkable sequence. This was followed by the acclaimed The Invasion of the Tearling, The Fate of the Tearling and a prequel, Beneath the Keep. Erika now lives in England. 
 
 
 
Author photo (c) Victoria Webb

The much-anticipated stand-alone prequel to the bestselling Queen of the Tearling trilogy . . . 
A decadent kingdom . . . a descent into darkness . . . alliances forged under fire . . . a prophecy that will change the course of history . . . 
 
'A suspenseful, multi-layered tale' Cassandra Clare, 'A must-read for fans of the Tearling!' Helene Wecker, 'Dark and timely' Kim Harrison 
 
 The Tearling has reverted to feudalism, a far cry from the utopia it was founded to be. As the gap between rich and poor widens and famine threatens the land, sparking unrest, rumours of a prophecy begin to spread: a great hope, a True Queen who will rise up and save the kingdom. 
 
 But rumours will not help Lazarus, a man raised to kill in the brutal clandestine underworld of the Creche, nor Aislinn, a farm girl who must reckon with her own role in the growing rebellion. 
 
And in the Keep, the crown princess, Elyssa, finds herself torn between duty to the throne and the lure of a group of fierce idealists who promise radical change. But Elyssa must choose quickly, before a nefarious witch and her shadowy master use dark magic to decide for her. 
 
It is only a matter of time before all three will be called into the service of something bigger than they have ever imagined: the fight for a better world.

(The Tearling Trilogy 3)

The Fate of the Tearling

The breathtaking concluding volume in Erika Johansen's thrilling, acclaimed and internationally bestselling 'Tearling' trilogy.

An unputdownable, epic conclusion filled with unexpected twists. You’ll want to cancel all plans as this gripping adventure is easy to swallow in one sitting.

Fantasy fans will flock to this electrifying conclusion to the best-selling Tearling trilogy.

Kelsea flourishes alongside the other female characters at the center of the novel: These are powerful, determined women who work hard to accomplish their goals even as their mistakes haunt them. Johansen doesn’t punish them for these mistakes; she allows them to grow, leading to a well-earned ending.

A thrilling conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.

Johansen has consistently taken huge narrative risks with this series, which started as a traditional fantasy and then began incorporating glimpses of a dystopian alternate world... richly developed characters who are never boring black and white, and villains who are as fascinating as the heroes . . . outstanding.

Genuinely subversive: social commentary in the guise of supernatural adventure.

Johansen creates her most sweeping vision of Kelsea and her world yet . . . political machinations and explosive revelations . . . the stunning ending makes a bold statement about sacrifice and rebirth. Astonishing.

Kelsea Glynn returns as this unforgettable trilogy full of magic and adventure is drawn to a thrilling close. 
 
Since ascending to the throne, Kelsea Glynn has grown into a powerful monarch and a visionary leader. 
 
But in her quest to end corruption and restore justice within the Tearling, she has made many enemies. Chief amongst them is the evil and feared Red Queen, who now holds Kelsea – and her magical sapphires – captive in her castle in Mortmesne, a deal brokered to protect the Tearling from a Mort invasion. 
 
But the Tearling needs its Queen, and the Mace, head of Kelsea’s personal guards, will not rest until he and his men rescue their sovereign from her prison. 
 
Now it is time for the fate of Queen Kelsea – and the Tearling itself – to be revealed . . .

(The Tearling Trilogy 2)

The Invasion of the Tearling

The breathtaking sequel to the international bestseller The Queen of the Tearling - that was hailed by the Daily Mail as 'like Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games meets Pulp Fiction' . . .

With each passing day, Kelsea Glynn is growing into her new responsibilities as Queen of the Tearling. By stopping the shipments of slaves to the neighbouring kingdom of Mortmesne, she crossed the Red Queen, a brutal ruler whose power derives from dark magic, who is sending her fearsome army into the Tearling to take what is hers. And nothing can stop the invasion. 
But as the Mort army draws ever closer, Kelsea develops a mysterious connection to a time before the Crossing, and she finds herself relying on a strange and possibly dangerous ally: a woman named Lily, fighting for her life in a world where being female can feel like a crime. The fate of the Tearling – and that of Kelsea’s own soul – may rest with Lily and her story, but Kelsea may not have enough time to find out. 
In this dazzling sequel to her bestselling debut The Queen of the Tearling, Erika Johansen brings back favourite characters, including the Mace and the Red Queen, and introduces unforgettable new players, adding exciting layers to her multidimensional tale of magic, mystery and a fierce young heroine.

Builds to a no-holds-barred, pulsating climax . . . Johansen juggles fantasy, sci-fi and weighty issues of good and evil with brilliant ease, and leaves us eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

An intoxicating brew of dystopian fiction, high fantasy, science fiction, and a bit of horror — and in The Invasion of the Tearling, Johansen takes those elements and turns them up to eleven, making for a thrilling and thought-provoking read that takes this trilogy to even greater heights.

BUZZFEED '5 great books to read in August'

A dazzling and gripping follow up. . . . Expertly combining modern and medieval themes, Johansen ratchets up suspense as she weaves a magical story that crosses time . . . one of the most original and well-written series in recent memory.

Meet the next Katniss Everdeen. If you missed last year’s The Queen of the Tearling, run, don’t walk, to get it.

Get caught up with Kelsea, a heroine so badass, Emma Watson’s already signed up to play her.

(The Tearling Trilogy 1)

The Queen Of The Tearling

Combining the sinuous drama of Game of Thrones, the narrative drive of The Hunger Games and a brilliantly imagined and engaging young central protagonist, The Queen of the Tearling is the thrilling opening chapter in a dazzling, daringly original new fantasy adventure.

I couldn’t put the bloody thing down. It would be fair to say I became obsessed with the role and the book

Did you love The Hunger Games? Partial to an episode of Game of Thrones? Then you’re going to want to dive straight in to this new fantasy . . . brilliantly imagined and captivatingly written

An assured and confident debut . . . featuring a strong female lead and a well-realised far-future post-apocalyptic world

Like Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games meets Pulp Fiction

Destined to be a fantasy classic. Johansen’s writing is assured, confident and thrilling. I can’t wait for the next book.

AMY McCULLOCH, author of The Oathbreaker’s Shadow

Enjoyable, fast-paced read.  Kelsea is a strong female lead...and she heads a list of well-drawn characters who feature in some haunting, tear-jerking moments that leave you desperate to read the next instalment...A top summer read.

This book worked on me with all the subtle power of an addiction: by the time I realized I was hooked, it was far too late to stop.

Erika Johansen does not disappoint. Hers is a debut that shines bright like the magic in her book . . . exciting and fuelled by adventure – this is what all fantasy novels should be like

The Queen of the Tearling is a gripping read with an enchanting heroine. Erika Johansen has created a wonderful world and I can’t wait to read more.

A fast-paced and original fantasy, written with a confident and accomplished style, with plenty of intrigue and mystery.

ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY, author of the bestselling ‘Shadows of the Apt’

A page-turner full of adventure, sorcery, swords, and politics - not to mention a clever heroine with guts and conviction to spare. The Queen of the Tearling kept me up way past my bedtime and left me wanting more!

HELENE WECKER, author of The Golem and the Jinni

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret after her mother – a monarch as vain as she was foolish – was murdered for ruining her kingdom. 
 
For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea’s uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea’s nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother’s guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding... 
 
And so begins her journey back to her kingdom’s heart, to claim the throne, win the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother’s legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. 
 
But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

Erika Johansen

An irresistible alternative history, Johansen's THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS invites readers to indulge in the darkness that simmers below the glittering surface of a universally beloved fairy tale - The Nutcracker. Delectably perverse and lushly written, Johansen's reimagining will be devoured by fans of Tim Burton and readers of Katherine Arden. The perfect gothic treat for a cold winter's day.

The Kingdom of Sweets is a deliciously dark fairy tale that transports one to a world of magic, fantasy and family intrigue. Erika Johansen has written one of the most wonderfully original novels I've ever read, a story so imaginative, so filled with dangerous beauty, that you will never forget it.

Fantasy, history, and horror make an incredible confection in The Kingdom of Sweets, a terrifying and sugary take on The Nutcracker that you'll devour as quickly as you can.

The Kingdom of Sweets drags you headfirst into its world of horror and whimsy, where the lines between reality, dream, and nightmare are far thinner and more porous than you think. Dark, twisty, and delicious, Johansen will keep you guessing until the curtain falls.

In this gripping reimagining of the holiday classic, Erika Johansen shatters the sugar plum surface of the original Nutcracker to plunge deep into the shadows beneath . . . entwines love and hate, jealousy and pity, vengeance and forgiveness so tightly, it's impossible to decide which twin to root for . . . gives readers the gift of a compelling and richly imagined story that will keep them turning pages until the last, fully realized twist.

Captures the whimsical nature of Tchaikovsky&rsquo;s ballet, whilst at the same time exploring a more sinister thread . . . dark in spirit and gothic in its atmosphere, this is The Nutcracker as you&rsquo;ve never known it.

The famous Christmas ballet takes a sinister turn in Johansen&rsquo;s spooky retelling . . . It would be a simple thing to take the outlines of The Nutcracker ballet and make it grim, but Johansen is doing a lot of delicate character work here, primarily around envy, social limitations on women&rsquo;s choices, and accountability. The world beyond the candy fantasy is satisfyingly creepy but also an effective landscape for exploring what happens when you ignore the rotten core of your deepest desires. An eerie and sophisticated dark fantasy.

The Queen of the Tearling series was so impactful for me as a fantasy fan that I&rsquo;ll gladly read anything Erika Johansen chooses to write afterward. That The Kingdom of Sweets is a dark Nutcracker retelling is just the icing on the cake.

If you watch The Nutcracker every year and say to yourself, 'This would make a seriously creepy novel,' you're not alone. And now we've got one. Twin sisters Clara and Natasha are cursed to be divided, one the privileged favoUrite and one cast aside and ignored. That is, until their powerful godfather brings them a magical nutcracker that grants the girls entry into the Kingdom of Sweets. That's where the journey toward their destiny really begins.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, "The 20 Best Books of Fall 2023"

Johansen transforms a beloved holiday classic into a dark tale of vengeance . . . Fans of artistically influenced, realistic historical fiction wrapped in moral allegory will relish Natasha's Nutcracker-adjacent narrative.

In this stand-alone novel, Johansen writes a beautifully twisted version of The Nutcracker, exploring the nature of revenge and its costs in horror-tinged fantasy. Recommend to fans of V.E. Schwab and Hannah Whitten.

'Delectably perverse and lushly written . . . the perfect gothic treat for a cold winter's day.' KATY HAYS, author of The Cloisters 
 
'Dark in spirit and gothic in its atmosphere, this is The Nutcracker as you’ve never known it.' CULTUREFLY 
 
Light and dark - this is the destiny placed upon Natasha and Clara, the birthright bestowed on them by their godfather, the mysterious sorcerer Drosselmeyer. Clara, the favourite, grows into beauty and ease, while Natasha is cursed to live in her sister's shadow. But one fateful Christmas Eve, Natasha gets her chance at revenge. For Drosselmeyer has returned and brought with him the Nutcracker, an enchanted present which offers entry to a deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets. 
 
In this land of snow and sugar, Natasha is presented with a power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is also a giver of gifts . . . and a maker of dread-filled bargains. As Natasha uncovers the dark destiny laid before her birth, she must reckon with powers both earthly and magical . . . and decide to which world she truly belongs.

Erika Johansen

Praise for The Kingdom of Sweets

An irresistible alternative history, Johansen's THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS invites readers to indulge in the darkness that simmers below the glittering surface of a universally beloved fairy tale - The Nutcracker. Del ...

The Kingdom of Sweets is a deliciously dark fairy tale that transports one to a world of magic, fantasy and family intrigue. Erika Johansen has written one of the most wonderfully original novels I' ...

Fantasy, history, and horror make an incredible confection in The Kingdom of Sweets, a terrifying and sugary take on The Nutcracker that you'll devour as quickly as you can.

An irresistible alternative history, Johansen's THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS invites readers to indulge in the darkness that simmers below the glittering surface of a universally beloved fairy tale - The Nutcracker. Del ...

The Kingdom of Sweets is a deliciously dark fairy tale that transports one to a world of magic, fantasy and family intrigue. Erika Johansen has written one of the most wonderfully original novels I' ...

Fantasy, history, and horror make an incredible confection in The Kingdom of Sweets, a terrifying and sugary take on The Nutcracker that you'll devour as quickly as you can.

An irresistible alternative history, Johansen's THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS invites readers to indulge in the darkness that simmers below the glittering surface of a universally beloved fairy tale - The Nutcracker. Del ...

The Kingdom of Sweets is a deliciously dark fairy tale that transports one to a world of magic, fantasy and family intrigue. Erika Johansen has written one of the most wonderfully original novels I' ...

Fantasy, history, and horror make an incredible confection in The Kingdom of Sweets, a terrifying and sugary take on The Nutcracker that you'll devour as quickly as you can.

Books by Erika Johansen

Series by Erika Johansen

The Tearling Trilogy

Articles featuring Erika Johansen

The best fantasy book series to escape into new worlds

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