[Rezension] The Queens of Innis Lear - Tessa Gratton

 

Titel: The Queens of Innis Lear

Series: -

Author: Tessa Gratton

Publisher: tor

Format: Kindle, english, 402p

Synopsis: GoodReads

Review: 3*, GoodReads, Amazon, NetGalley

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and tor in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.

The king's three daughters—battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia—know the realm's only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.

Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.

-->GoodReads

I was actually drawn to this book because of its cover.  It’s really beautiful and promises a darkish story with lots of intrigue and scheming.  The synopsis was quite vague, which only intrigued me more.

Sadly I was a little disappointed with the book. It was neither particularly dark nor was there much intrigue.

I was very confused in general and it took me a while to really get into the book and follow the plot. There where various different POVs , which took away from the plot and the characters.

I usually like multiple POVs but here it didn’t do anything for the story. While we were able to see things we wouldn’t have otherwise seen I didn’t like the POVS of Regan and Gaela or Aefa.  I think they only served to spread out the plot even more, which made the whole story seem out of flow.

I’m not too sure what to think of any of the characters to be honest. I think I could like both Ban and Elia but the way they are portrayed in this book is way too superficial and confusing.

I don’t really know how to put it into words but I didn’t connect with any of the characters.

The relationship between Regan and Gaela seemed really wired to me, I just didn’t understand it. I was never sure if they were “just” sisters or even lovers or how deep their relationship ran.

I was really appalled at how they treated Elia, especially because there was no real reason why. Or there was no reason the reader is aware of. Which pretty much sums up the book for me.

One thing that might explain a lot of my confusion is something I read in a review, but only after having finished the book. One reviewer mentioned that she thought that being familiar with “King Lear” would be a good base for understanding the story.

While I know the name “King Lear”, prior to having read the review I wouldn’t have been able to tell you whether it was the name of a book/play/poem or of a real person, historical, modern or anything else. I wasn’t even aware that this book was based on something else.

I still rated it 3 stars as I enjoyed reading it despite all the confusion and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.