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The Queen of the Tearling - Erika Johansen

This is apparently a debut novel for Erika Johansen and I love that a female writer so perfectly produced a must-read in a genre more typically dominated by men. Cherry on top, our protagonist is not the skinny-exquisitely beautiful-brave but mysterious usual formula for female characters in the fantasy genre, oh no, our Kelsea is chubby, loves her food and has truck loads of courage and spunk- just how we like'em.
The book starts out on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday when soldiers relucttanlty fetch her from the only  home shes ever known to escort her to the throne of the Tearling which, at that point is ruled by her corrupt uncle who not so secretly is under the thumb of the Queen of Mortmesne. Little faith is lended to her to actually get to the throne as assassins are in hot pursuit of her to make sure she never reaches the the throne. The lack luster faith of the soldiers quickly turn around when our Kelsea shows them that she's no 'dolls and dresses' type. And of course, she gets aided by the creepy Fetch who she secretly becomes smitten with.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, its darkly delicious and I would imagine inspired many a late night for the fortunate people who were smart enough to acquire the whole trilogy set together *Sigh*
The Queen of the Tearling is followed by The Invasion of the Tearling and The Fate of the Tearling.

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One Dark Throne - Kendare Blake

The sequel to the former Three Dark Crowns, the anticipation for One Dark Crown saw me mentally tapping a literary foot for almost a year. Now I know that this is more suited to the late teen market, but there is something just so riveting about the three very different sisters who are used as pawns to claim the crown of Fennbirn island. The book starts off in Greavesdrake Manor, home of the formerly weak queen Katharine, who very interestingly after being thrown into the Breccia Domain because of said weakness and trusting nature, emerges as a force to be reckoned with, which pretty much sends chills up the spines of everyone who once lauded power over. Queens Mirabella and Arsinoe are no less interesting either and we see each of the three queens finding their own voices and being used less as pawns.
This book is appealing enough to an adult, which means I wouldnt recommend it to a lower age group than the mid-late teenage sphere.
Gone are the days when a books entire tale was in a single thick volume - wait, were there ever such days?? - and so dear readers, we await the next installment with due anticipation *tap, tap, tap*
*Book sponsored by Pan Macmillan