Erika Johansen grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She went to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and eventually became an attorney, but she never stopped writing. She lives in England.
Praise for Beneath the Keep
“A many-layered tale of intrigue and revolution, Beneath the Keep
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!”—Helene Wecker, New York Times bestselling author of The
Golem and the Jinni
“A suspenseful, multi-layered 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
“The Queen of the Tearling is a marvelous adventure about a woman
growing unapologetically into her own power, and the sacrifice that
comes with responsibility. I loved it.”—Katherine Arden, New York
Times bestselling author of the Winternight trilogy
“A page-turning prequel that fans of the Queen of the Tearling
series are sure to love. With clout-heavy women both good and bad,
it tells the story of a powerful family that began in glory but has
long since soured until it now survives by subjugating the very
people it professed to protect. Only the True Queen can restore
equality, but not until Elyssa’s mother relinquishes her grip on
the throne. . . . 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.”—Kim Harrison, author
of the Hollows series
“The story considers the nature of forgiveness, the use and abuse
of power, and the morality of right and wrong as characters develop
in unexpected ways. 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.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Johansen delves into the forces that tore the kingdom of the
Tearling apart in this captivating prequel to her Queen of the
Tearling series. . . . Johansen pulls off an impressive feat in
crafting a spellbinding prequel that works just as well as a
stand-alone. . . . The steadily building tension carries the story
forward. New and old fans alike are sure to be taken
in.”—Publishers Weekly
“Beneath the Keep continues this immersive fantasy that I fell in
love with and this book both serves to expand the world and gives
readers some insight into the events that lead to the main series.
. . . The further you delve into the story, the more you find
yourself hooked on the storylines of these characters and what the
future may hold for the Tearling. . . . The world-building along
with the way that Erika has set the tone for the story, makes this
such an atmospheric piece of work. It created this emotional
connection between the place and characters, and by the end, I
definitely felt like I had been on my own journey.”—The Nerd
Daily
“Beneath the Keep is a story that can stand on its own; you don’t
need to have read any of Johansen’s other novels to fully enjoy
this twisty tale of statecraft and rebellion, prophecy and growth.
. . . That this book exists is a gift to fans of Johansen’s work,
and if there’s any justice, it’ll bring new fans to the original
trilogy in the wake of its publication. . . . Sacrifice, betrayal,
and shocking twists abound, all the way up to an ending that’s
somehow both grim and hopeful at the same time. Reader, I adored
it. . . . A must-read for those who liked the original series, and
a strong recommendation for anyone who likes well-written
fantasy.”—Culturess
“I devoured this book over a weekend, despite having never read the
others.”—Angela Lashbrook on Medium.com
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