Others: Leaning positive "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."--
Genres: fantasy, young adult
Lists: …
Philip Pullman
1995 · 399 pages · 9 reviews
Others: Mostly positiveIn a landmark epic of fantasy and storytelling, Philip Pullman invites readers into a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, or Redwall. Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.
What made the match, strongest first
J.R.R. Tolkien
1954 · 430 pages · 34 reviews
Others: Mostly positiveOne Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. “A unique, wholly realized other world, evoked from deep in the well of Time, massively detailed, absorbingly entertaining, profound in meaning.”—The New York Times In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
What made the match, strongest first
J.R.R. Tolkien
1950 · 503 pages · 13 reviews
Others: Mostly positiveTHE RETURN OF THE KING, which brings to a close the great epic of war and adventure begun in The Fellowship of the Ring and continued in The Two Towers, is the third and final part of J. R. R. Tolkien's masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings." In these three books, which form one continuous narrative, Tolkien created the saga of the Hobbits of Middle-earth and the great War of the Rings. Praised by such writers and poets as W. H. Auden, Richard Hughes and C. S. Lewis, "The Lord of the Rings" - that special world of beauty and terror and meaning - holds a secure place among the books that will live.
What made the match, strongest first
Robin Hobb
2011 · 704 pages · 15 reviews
Others: Overwhelmingly positiveFitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family. Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz’s hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.
What made the match, strongest first
Sarah J. Maas
2014 · 576 pages · 18 reviews
Others: Overwhelmingly positiveCelaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth…a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?
What made the match, strongest first
Scott Lynch
2001 · 512 pages · 40 reviews
Others: Overwhelmingly positiveBest book ever
What made the match, strongest first
Loved itI love this series, but I get really why people don't like it as the series goes on... I loved the way it changed. I love genre bending speculative fiction and fantasy and things that blend all of those like speculative genres together.
Loved itwe have the queen of the teering by Erica Johansson I really liked this series it's a very unique mix of genres and some unexpected ways I personally really appreciated it and I really like Erica Johansson's writing
Loved itWhat I liked about this series is it's kind of a epic one story split into three parts and it's good it's very good I love the protagonist. This is one of the most bold endings for a book series that I've read.
NeutralOnce again, don't really remember what happened in it. The Queen of the Tearling I feel like is one that I should maybe reread because I think that I might like it more now.
Not a fanthis was a book that I really wanted to like
Not a fanI'd heard some fantastic things about the book so I went in with really high expectations. And I was left actually really disappointed. I gave it 3 stars, but I'm wondering if that was a little bit lenient now
Loved itthe first book is Queen of the teerling and it is such a good Trilogy
Loved itQueen of the tearling I actually read this book as an audio book so I listened to it on the 11-hour drive from Scotland to England this past summer this book is so good
