Beneath the Keep is the prequel to the Tearling series. While not necessary to have read the series before reading this title, I do think the world-building in the first 3 books in the series makes for a better reading experience. There is definitely troubling subject matter (TW: pedophilia, rape, strong violence), so bear that in mind if these topics are difficult for you to read. I enjoyed learning Christian's (aka Lazarus or The Mace) backstory, as well as that of some of the other characters featured prominently in the rest of the series. Beneath the Keep is generally categorized as Young Adult, but it definitely has more of an adult feel than the rest of the series, especially The Queen of the Tearling.

This is a great back story to the Tearling series. It is both Elyssa and Maces story. The book explains the Mace's background. It also explains why Elyssa was so frivolous. She wasn't always that way but dark magic has her spellbound. The story is fast paced and can stand on its own for those who have not read the Tearling series.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Book one was awesome. Book two was ok. Books three made me angry/sad. I started this one already semi hating it and William Tear. BUT...... was amazing dark and spectacular. It was great as a stand alone, and it was superb as a prequel.

I am not normally one for prequels. I am usually so attached to main characters that I don’t want anything to ruin my image of them. This book gave so much insight into the characters of the Tearling. In this book we learn about Lazarus (yay!!!) And Princess Elyssa which I thought would be blah, but is actually perfect. Aislinn and Arlen Thorne.....wow. It is violent and not for faint of heart. The ending was heart-breaking even thought it was inevitable to set up the events for the Tearling. I would happily re-read it.

REVIEW. First published January 1, 2021 (Booklist).
Excerpt: "Johansen takes readers back to the world of the Tearling with a stand-alone novel set 20 years before the events in The Queen of the Tearling (2014). .... The dramatic climax will have readers questioning who the real hero is at the end of this compelling tale of epic fantasy. Series fans will be intrigued to discover the background details of individuals who are pivotal to events in the trilogy, and those new to the series will want to find out what comes next." — Reviewer: Lucy Lockley

Will provide a shout out on Instagram and FB page on release date. I believe I was sent a book I didn't request - it's not really my reading genre of preference, but it does look like a good fantasy war novel.

I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a few years since I had read the Queen of the Tearling series and I had remembered loving most of it - and somewhat not being super impressed by the ending for that fantasy trilogy. When I first realized that Erika Johansen was back with a prequel novel to the series, I was excited. While I didn’t particularly love the last book, I did love most of the series and I was a little curious as to who the story would focus on as much of the past was revealed in The Fate of the Tearling. Beneath the Keep focuses on the story that comes right before the start of Queen of the Tearling with the two generations of the Raleigh line - Queen Arla and Queen (though Princess here) Elyssa. Familiar characters are mentioned and back into play who will later become quite vital to the storyline in the original trilogy.

I have to say that the prequel novel was quite satisfying and answered questions that I didn’t even realize that I still had for the characters in this story. I loved getting to know Mace’s backstory and seeing how his connection to Arlen Thorn, Brenna, and Arliss had all started. Erika Johansen weaves a very compelling and elaborate world and she succeeds here where she disappointed with The Fate of the Tearling - the plot was convincing and played out properly as opposed to feeling like everything was being rushed through just to get to a desired ending. I’m grateful for this book to draw a satisfying closure to this series.

Thank you to Dutton Books for the e-galley.

This book was imaginative and well written, but I couldn't quite get into it. I think it's not so much the book as it is me. For fans of this author's previous work and fantasy lovers, I imagine this will be a satisfying read.

I am a HUGE fan of Erika Johansen and her Tearling series and was so excited when I heard about this book. This is set in the past as we get a look at Lazarus, and Elyssa and dive more in-depth into their stories. The writing is still spectacular and pulls you in for sure! It is brutal at some points, but so are the other Tearling books. I liked getting this different view and other stories of this land and kingdom. Can be read as a stand-a-lone, but will probably make you want to read her other books!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

I am an avid Erika Johansen fan and could not wait to get my hands on Beneath the Keep, the next installment in the Tearling universe. Beneath the Keep takes us back in time, prior to Kelsea's birth, to the story of Lazarus and Princess Elyssa, before the lottery and how Arlen Thorne came to power.

Johansen's writing was just as raw and gritty, holding nothing back when describing the creche and corruption of William Tear's society. I did have a much harder time reading certain parts of this installment than the first three Tearling novels, at times brought to tears by the brutality described, but I would not have changed any of it. I still highly recommend Beneath the Keep, as well as the entire Tearling universe, but it is not for the faint of heart.

This prequel to the Tearling trilogy was a dark fantasy filled with intriguing characters. The story is told from multiple viewpoints including a young boy who was sold into the Creche as an infant and trained as a cage fighter in death matches and a lady-in-waiting to the Crown Princess who is an agent for the Blue Horizon group that wants social justice. The Crown Princess Elyssa also has a viewpoint role.

The story talks about a feudal world that is in the process of a revolution. Continuing drought has convinced some of the peasants chained to their land that they have to revolt. Led by Aislinn Martin who had seen her family killed by the bailiffs of Lady Andrews who owns the land after Aislinn caught her attention, the peasants take over a number of the estates on their way to the city to lay their case before the Queen.

Princess Elyssa sees that her mother is a tyrant much more concerned with her own comfort and holding on to her authoritarian grip on her country than caring for her people. Elyssa was raised by a secret member of Blue Horizon and wants to make things better for her people. But she is taken over by a man from the Creche with a grudge against the Royal Family and his witch Brenna who has magical powers.

Our cage fighter who knows himself as Christian but has earned the fighting name of Lazarus has one friend. She was sold into prostitution when she was a child and has taken to using the poppy to cope with her life. When she disappears into the land above, Christian is determined to find her which leads him to work his way into the Royal Guard as a guard for Princess Elyssa.

The story is dark and complicated and each character has to face all sorts of trials. The worldbuilding was interesting. I especially liked the chapter headings which feature quotes from books written about the time period where our characters are living their lives.

This was an interesting and exciting story whether or not you were already familiar with the trilogy. It has made me want to read the trilogy again with better understanding of what led to the events there.

This book was okay for me. I would definitely say I enjoyed it more than the second and third books in the Tearling series, but not nearly as much as The Queen of the Tearling. It was interesting and I enjoyed being in this world again, but there wasn't any aspect of this book that worked to set it apart from the myriad of other fantasy stories I've read. I don't think it added a lot to the original story, and I think because of this it might actually be more enjoyable for people unfamiliar with the world (because at least they get to discover a new world).

This book is a prequel to the Tearling series. It gives an depth background to some of the characters featured in those books including the Mace (Lazurus), Queen Elyssa, and Arliss. You can absolutely read the book as a stand alone, but those readers who have read them will enjoy the fleshing out of those characters. Johansen tells a great story and even readers new to her will enjoy the tale. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

I am a huge fan of the Queen of the Tearling series, and this prequel was the perfect add on. It's dark and daring--it's characters build up the story that sets up perfectly things we end up knowing and reading about in the Queen of the Tearling. This book is a great prequel to a great series, and it only makes me want to read everyone al over again.

How many authors are going to do this? I thought this series was finished. And while I firmly resided in the camp that hated how the series ended, I was satisfied that it was over, I had no desire to go back to Tearling. All this said, when the news of this book was released I know I was going to read it, and it hurt me just like the first three did. It is dark and gritty, it pushes you into places that you don't want to go. There was no need to add on to this series. it should have been left alone. if Erika Johansen was bored because of lockdowns she should have written something completely new. Tearling is done.

I enjoyed this probably more so for not having read the rest of the series. Writing and characterization were more in line with a YA novel but the themes and excessive brutality definitely pushed it into adult.

I’d been interested in this series for years and had really been looking forward to reading the rest of the series but after beginning the original first book, Queen of the Tearling, decided against it. The political, social and religious undertones were way off my own beliefs so decided to pass. Author is a FIRM believer in a utopian society based on socialism which I believe is more fantastical than the actually regressive society it centers around. This wasn’t an assumption... it was clearly stated by the author in her notes. Writing in it also was very rudimentary which I didn’t find with this novel. I have to give Johansen credit in that her writing has definitely improved since the writing of the original series.

This novel can be read as a stand alone which is how I’m rating it. 3.5 stars.

This book is set up as a prequel to the popular Tearling series but even if you haven't read THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING you will have no problem enjoying this as a standalone. Erika Johansen does a fabulous job of world-building with well thought out characters. The Tearling is in trouble. Everyone is corrupt and the kingdom is being dragged down by politics. For those readers who love Patrick Rothfuss and George R.R. Martin, this book will not disappoint. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I read the Tearling trilogy last year and really enjoyed it. When I saw this new prequel was coming out, I knew I needed to read it! Beneath the Keep took place before the events of book 1 that I’m sure many of us were curious about, like Kelsea’s mother and the people who took her in and hid her. I loved getting to know these characters and finding out what happened with Queen Elyssa in great detail.

The great thing about this prequel is that it covers enough about the world and William Tear that I don’t think you’d need to have read the trilogy to understand anything that was happening. I didn’t feel like I needed to reread the trilogy to remember anyone and that was a huge relief. I tend to forget details and I’m so glad I could just jump in and not feel lost.

I definitely recommend this one. If you’re new to the series, it’s a good first book to pick up to introduce yourself to the world. If you’ve read the trilogy, then this one is a nice story that puts you back into the world when you want more, but don’t want to reread. This book bridges the gap and it covers the one piece of time that the trilogy didn’t quite go.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
—EPICURUS

DNF at 4% because I forgot what these books are like...until I remembered. Erika Johansen has already demonstrated with her The Queen of the Tearling series that she knows how to WRITE. In a big way.

I always very much recall the tone and themes of that series — dark, uncomfortable, gritty, and complicated. I remember the demon-possessed children scampering along the ceilings from The Fate of the Tearling and as soon as it started happening again with this book, I remembered. As soon as this book opens with an eleven-year-old Mace in a boxing ring being forced to pummel a 16-year-old to death while being groped by Thomas Raleigh...and the description of his 12-year-old friend Maura already being a prostitute for full grown men...I remembered. Actually, I remembered as soon as I read that opening paragraph about God before the prologue even starts.

This was a mature series. It’s the dark and realistic evil in a somewhat fantasy setting, but it’s literal and familiar enough to be uncomfortable. Other early reviewers wrote about the trigger earnings up the wazoo but because the author is so adept at writing, those trigger earnings all fuh-reak me out.

So a DNF. Did the beginning already pull me in? Oh, yeah. Do I have any doubt that the pain and angst and backstory will be heart wrenching? Yep, yep. But I just can’t. Because those was one of the heavier series I’ve read and I can’t do it again.

Sorry, Net Galley, but thanks for the ARC.

In this fourth book about the world of the Tearling, readers are treated to the backstories of some of the major characters including Mace, Thorne, The Fetch, Queen Arla and Princess ELyssa as well as the tumultuous night of Princess Kelsea's birth. New characters are introduced which help to expand the reader's understanding of the world outside the Keep; the outlying farming lands, the Creche and the whole world that lives beneath the outward facade of the ruling class. Descendants of believers in William Tear's new utopian world are still involved in the attempt to change society. Overall, a tale that can stand alone, but having a background in the world of the Tearling and the characters will make this a much more enjoyable volume for readers. A hint in the author's note at the end of the book suggests there are more volumes and stories about the world of the Tearling to come.

As much as I tried to enjoy this book, I just couldn't get into it. With how the original trilogy ended, this prequel doesn't make sense. So I, unfortunately, had to DNF it. I will be giving it a three-star rating to keep it neutral.