Rating: Needs Major Supervision; Caution!

Level: Adults only

WARNING: This review is rated R.

Be prepared to experience horrible crimes. My näive brain was stunned and shaken up.

  • human trafficking (carts full of captured slaves, parents begging for their children)
  • prostitution (“$5 for a fuck, $10 for the works”)
  • abuse, in the home and also one man who is so broken that he hurts women using razors after raping them
  • rape, in war (“She died with the 10th man still inside of her.”) and also not in war.
  • pedophilia
  • child sacrifice (A dark queen gets naked and summons a dark mystic creature out of the fire and offers him a drugged little boy in exchange for information. The dark Lord sucks out all the child’s blood.)
  • treason, blackmail
  • addiction, to alcohol and opium
  • sex slavery

There also is:

  • major corruption in the church
  • Lack of faith in God
  • foul language

The descriptions are graphic, and I especially don’t recommend this for any kids, or for any folks who haven’t been married a good 5-10 years, as it would plant horrible seeds of what sex is about.

That said, I appreciate how the book shook me out of my upper-class bubble.

The young queen’s resolve is inspiring. I have renewed resolution to fight for the weak, and to remember others instead of living in luxury.

I’m also thankful the one true God calls us to worship by doing justice, defending the widow and the orphan, and fighting for the weak. That is worship He calls for. Hallelujah!

Warning: Book 2: The Invasion of the Tearling was not for me, and I was super disappointed in the ending for Book 3: The Fate of the Tearling.