The Queen Of The Tearling

One of the more recently published novels on this list, Queen of the Tearling has elicited strong reactions; this seems to be one of those love it or hate it books. The premise may seem somewhat familiar: a princess must claim her thrown after the unexpected death of her mother, as well as combat the evil sorceress who attempts to dethrone her. Yet the book is so much more than that, and far from being a traditional princess, the main character, Kaleigh, is one that changes significantly over the course of the novel. She starts off as a timid girl with low self-confidence who must suddenly learn how to rule when the job of Queen is thrust upon her. Critics may dislike her initially weak character, but it only makes her growth more believable as she truly comes into her own. The setting, while not as deeply developed as some other fantasy epics, is perhaps more intriguing for that, leaving readers to wonder what is really going on in this somewhat dystopian but at the same time medieval world. With a movie adaptation both starring and produced by Emma Watson as well as the second novel of the planned trilogy in the works, it's clear that Johansen isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Read if You Like: fairytales, coming of age stories, good vs. evil