The much-anticipated stand-alone prequel to the bestselling Queen of the Tearling trilogy . . .
A decadent kingdom . . . a descent into darkness . . . alliances forged under fire . . . a prophecy that will change the course of history . . .

'A suspenseful, multi-layered tale' Cassandra Clare 'A must-read for fans of the Tearling!' Helene Wecker 'Dark and timely' Kim Harrison

The Tearling has reverted to feudalism, a far cry from the utopia it was founded to be. As the gap between rich and poor widens and famine threatens the land, sparking unrest, rumours of a prophecy begin to spread: a great hope, a True Queen who will rise up and save the kingdom.

But rumours will not help Lazarus, a man raised to kill in the brutal clandestine underworld of the Creche, nor Aislinn, a farm girl who must reckon with her own role in the growing rebellion.

And in the Keep, the crown princess, Elyssa, finds herself torn between duty to the throne and the lure of a group of fierce idealists who promise radical change. But Elyssa must choose quickly, before a nefarious witch and her shadowy master use dark magic to decide for her.

It is only a matter of time before all three will be called into the service of something bigger than they have ever imagined: the fight for a better world.

About the Author

ERIKA JOHANSEN grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She went to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania before attending the celebrated Iowa Writers Workshop, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree. She eventually became an attorney but she never stopped writing. Her debut was the international bestseller, The Queen of the Tearling - the first novel in a remarkable sequence. This was followed by the acclaimed The Invasion of the Tearling, The Fate of the Tearling and a prequel, Beneath the Keep. Erika now lives in England.



Author photo (c) Victoria Webb

Reviews
A suspenseful, multi-layered tale of how the sparks of revolution are kindled, and of those who strive to ignite them.
A page-turning prequel that fans of the Queen of the Tearling series are sure to love . . . Dark and timely, Beneath the Keep is a study in delicious contrasts with political intrigue set against gritty survival, of excess born in bone-chilling deprivation, of high values falling to shocking, base desires. And, of course, magic struggling to rise over cruel, brute force.
A many-layered tale of intrigue and revolution . . . adds new depth - and not a few surprises - to Erika Johansen's acclaimed Tearling trilogy. The prequel deftly sets the stage for Queen Kelsea's reign, as factions jockey for power over the throne and an uprising gathers in the shadows. A must-read for fans of the Tearling!
An impressive feat . . . a spellbinding prequel that works just as well as a standalone . . . the steadily building tension carries the story forward. New and old fans alike are sure to be taken in. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *



Book Information
ISBN 9781529176599
Author Erika Johansen
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Penguin (Transworld)
Publisher Transworld Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 314g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 127mm * 27mm