Beneath the Keep

A Novel of the Tearling

By: Erika Johansen

Narrated by: Mandy Williams

“A suspenseful, multilayered tale of how the sparks of revolution are kindled, and of those who strive to ignite them.”—Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author

As a kingdom descends into darkness and new alliances are forged under fire, a battle begins over a prophecy that will change the course of history in this much-anticipated stand-alone prequel to the bestselling Queen of the Tearling trilogy.

The Tearling, founded as a utopia, has collapsed and reverted to feudalism. As the gap between rich and poor widens and famine threatens the land, rumors of a prophecy begin to spread: a great hope, a True Queen who will ascend and save the kingdom.

But rumors will not help Lazarus, a boy on the verge of manhood, trapped in the clandestine underworld known as the Creche. Enlisted from his earliest days to kill without mercy, he has never seen sun or sky, not until a quest for vengeance propels him aboveground. There he finds a calling amid a royal court rife with intrigue and danger, where he meets Niya, Princess Elyssa’s handmaid, who is not who she appears to be and whose true identity will spell death if revealed.

With a righteous rebellion gathering inside her kingdom, Princess Elyssa finds herself torn between duty to the throne and her growing loyalty to the Blue Horizon, a group of fierce idealists who promise radical change. Elyssa must choose quickly, for threats beset her on all sides, and the powers wielded by an uncanny seer and her shadowy master are preparing to decide the Princess’s fate for her. It is only a matter of time before Lazarus, Niya, and Elyssa will be called into the service of something greater than they have ever imagined: the fight for a better world.

Another great story

The characters are so alive in this story. I feel like I know every one of them. This was an emotional Rollercoaster of a story and I struggled to turn it off and get back to my life.Thank you for sharing another wonderful story

A Deeper Unfolding of the world

I loved being back in the tear again.
I would never want to live there myself but reading about all the people fighting to survive and take hold of their fate is so beautiful, and Erika Johansson tells it all so magically.
The parallels that you can draw between what we fight for now and what they fight for in the tear is scary but if we can help each other ,like the characters here, then we won't have to reach for sapphires to take us away.

Great story

Listen to the first 3 Tearling books then listen to Beneath the Keep.
Hope there will be more

Reader starts off rough but settles in well.

This is the book to read BEFORE the trilogy (imo).... it is satisfying and fulfilling. The char dev is very important to the story and shifts the frustration towards excitement.

I loved it.

The reader starts off iffy but gains their feet, so to speak, and by the middle they are going strong. stick with it, it is worth it:)

Full Circle

Way too much language. I enjoyed the overall story and how it all came together. I liked learning about Kelsi's family and what made them who they were. Loved, loved, loved the back story on The Mace. He is by far my favorite character. I also enjoyed the twist on The better world.

Be warned the other three books need read before this one to see it all come together. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter tell so much. This book seems to be for people that enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale.