The Invasion of the Tearling by Erica Johansen

Rating: Not Recommended

Level: Adults only

WARNING: This review is rated R. The book is rated X!

So many concerns (spoilers coming!):

• human trafficking
• self-cutting
• dark sorcery; entertaining bargains with dark spirits
• children made to fight against each other to the death like in a gladiator game
• physical and sexual abuse, including rape
• the gory hot details of when the main character gives away her virginity (outside of a marriage covenant)
• treason, blackmail
• addiction, to alcohol and opium
• sex slavery
• black-market abortion and contraception
• curse words – pretty much the worst you can imagine
• the church is terrribly, horrribly corrrupt: adultery, hatred of gay people, financial corruption…
• horrible treatment of a gay man. the head priest castrates a man known for being gay, and does so in front of an audience of the priesthood. The poor man is kept alive on a stool for all to see as a warning.

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

If you do choose to read it, you need to start with Book 1: The Queen of the Tearling. Warning! I was deeply disappointed in Book 3: The Fate of the Tearling.