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The Queen of the Tearling
The Boy
In the short story below, Johansen transports readers to a time before the invasion of Mort. She spins a tale of one physically strong, but emotionally vulnerable boy who's ultimately destined for greatness.
6 pages, ebook
First published November 16, 2016
2 people are currently reading
2931 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 2, 2017
A very brief history of Lazarus of Mace.
Actually I would read a whole book just dedicated to the Mace. This teaser just made me realise that he has his own tale to tell.
December 11, 2017
Well, that took me forever to read. 6 pages is way too long.
Okay, so I found out about this novella before I started the first book. Yeah, that was a huge red flag for me. This book did nothing for me! I knew nothing! I was so confused. BUT after I read the first book - it made a lot more sense. I also reread it - I mean, it's 6 pages people.. not a novel.
I highly suggest you read the first book in this series and then the novella - unlike what I did. Seriously, do it. Lazarus will make so much more sense to you then.
Okay, so I found out about this novella before I started the first book. Yeah, that was a huge red flag for me. This book did nothing for me! I knew nothing! I was so confused. BUT after I read the first book - it made a lot more sense. I also reread it - I mean, it's 6 pages people.. not a novel.
I highly suggest you read the first book in this series and then the novella - unlike what I did. Seriously, do it. Lazarus will make so much more sense to you then.
December 29, 2016
It was a nice look into the world, but nothing of substance. If you have the time, and have read at least the first book - then I would definitely recommend this to you. It wont take too long to read, but it will help you understand one of the characters a little more.
October 9, 2017
Una breve historia sobre Lazarus de la Maza, un personaje que me ha gustado mucho en la trilogía y que se ha convertido en uno de mis favoritos sin duda alguna.
Aquí se nos da una pequeña idea de como fue su infancia y su experiencia en La Guardería ( una vida que ningún niño debería vivir jamás). Por suerte, de mayor consiguió usar toda esa frustración y dolor para convertirse en Guardia Real e intentar redimirse protegiendo tanto a la reina Elyssa como a Kelsea después.
Lo recomiendo leer, al menos para ver como vivía Maza por entonces y para concluir de manera definitiva está maravillosa trilogía.😉😉
Aquí se nos da una pequeña idea de como fue su infancia y su experiencia en La Guardería ( una vida que ningún niño debería vivir jamás). Por suerte, de mayor consiguió usar toda esa frustración y dolor para convertirse en Guardia Real e intentar redimirse protegiendo tanto a la reina Elyssa como a Kelsea después.
Lo recomiendo leer, al menos para ver como vivía Maza por entonces y para concluir de manera definitiva está maravillosa trilogía.😉😉
September 20, 2020
This little short is from Mace's POV, years before we meet him in the main series, and.. felt pretty devastating for so few words and without much actually happening.
He had learned long ago that every time he opened his mouth, he gave a piece of himself away. Talking, particularly talking to the man, somehow lessened him. He was determined to give up as little as possible.
I want a Mace-centric story now more than ever.
He had learned long ago that every time he opened his mouth, he gave a piece of himself away. Talking, particularly talking to the man, somehow lessened him. He was determined to give up as little as possible.
I want a Mace-centric story now more than ever.
August 13, 2018
Lazarus deserves the world and that’s a fact
December 30, 2016
Un brevissimo racconto prequel, che sconvolge per la sua durezza e che getta una luce oscura su alcune vicende precedenti all'avvento di Kelsea. Mi sono sempre chiesta cosa fosse successo in the Keeps... beh da un certo punto di vista avrei preferito non saperlo perché è stato davvero un duro colpo.
August 16, 2018
This is a VERY short glimpse into Mace's past and reminds me of how much I love this author's writing (minus the ending of this series, still mad about that). I could read a whole book about Mace though!
August 15, 2017
Ohhhh my heart. This was super super short but I love this series so I loved it.
September 18, 2017
Un relato sobre la dura infancia de Maza, que os recomiendo leer
November 5, 2018
Every bit of extra writing about this character is a gift, but this one was just cruelly too brief of a look into his backstory. At least we got his full name.
April 14, 2017
Cute very short story about the origins of Lazarus. I liked that we were just dropped into the story and got to see things from his point of view.
June 8, 2017
OF COURSE. Wow, I'm stupid I didn't recognize him.
It is a very short story, but it is a sad one and if you've read the trilogy itself you know why. I just wish it was a little longer, a little more detailed.
It is a very short story, but it is a sad one and if you've read the trilogy itself you know why. I just wish it was a little longer, a little more detailed.
December 27, 2017
Boleh-lah buat pelipur lara kisah The Fate of the Tearling yang mengecewakan itu. Setidaknya yang ini menjadi pelipur lara dari tokoh kesayanganku, walau hanya terlalu singkat untuk dinikmati. :3
February 20, 2020
TOO SHORT!!!
January 3, 2018
Short, but an interesting read on Mace before he was the mace. I would recommend reading this after the first book, once you have an understanding of the character.
August 2, 2018
Hardly anything more than a blip, Johansen somehow manages to convey so much with so few words. Just a peek mind you, but a pointed glimpse into a moment in time of a key character in the series, The Queen of the Tearling.
December 9, 2016
Not what I was expecting and yet it squeezed my heart.
January 10, 2017
So sad.
August 13, 2017
Poor Mace :(
March 8, 2021
The Boy is a snapshot into the childhood of Lazarus, The Mace, the captain of the Queens Guard. What I can’t quite understand is why this is only 6 pages long, because The Mace has to be one of the best (if not the best) characters in The Queen of the Tearling and is deserving of an entire book, but at least 30 pages would have been nice. I would also strongly urge you, despite this being blurbed as 0.5 in the series, to read the first book before attempting this one; it will make absolutely no sense to you whatsoever without it.
This short chapter of his life shows you his hidden vulnerabilities disguised by his outward brutality. Or at least, that’s the intention. It’s a nice enough story, demonstrating the power of words (or of withholding them) but it’s so small I can’t really see what the purpose was, unless it was to serve as a teaser for a book all about him. Perhaps Beneath The Keep will shine some light on that.
Nevertheless, it’s always nice to get a little more from a beloved series.
This short chapter of his life shows you his hidden vulnerabilities disguised by his outward brutality. Or at least, that’s the intention. It’s a nice enough story, demonstrating the power of words (or of withholding them) but it’s so small I can’t really see what the purpose was, unless it was to serve as a teaser for a book all about him. Perhaps Beneath The Keep will shine some light on that.
Nevertheless, it’s always nice to get a little more from a beloved series.
December 2, 2017
Ok well, as a listed 'short story' I expected this to be a bit longer than six pages. Just sayin it was a great beginning to a short story, but really could have been an (expanded please) prologue to book 2 (considering this is when we learn of The Boy's background). The intro to the very very short story-like collection of paragraphs said 'Guess who the boy is!' Um.... SPOILERS (I guess)............ it's Mace, fucking duh. And then I thought, great we actually get to see a torn-limb-from-limb fight from Mace, and NO. WE DON'T. fuck that. Not being a religious person, I didn't even realize the name Lazarus even meant anything special, let alone rising from the dead (thanks Google). I'm sorry, but NO WHERE in these paragraphs was Mace risen from the dead. He was literally fighting a literal idiot. Jesus.
June 21, 2017
Actual review: 3.75
That was the thing about the ring: nothing mattered there. Not the man, not the hunger, not the dark warren-feeling of the tunnels. The ring was clean, well-defined. The ring was easy.
What insight into a favourite character of mine and the hard life he led before he came to be one of the noblest, bravest, smartest knights I have come to know. The best thing about this short novella is the fact that we learn Lazarus' real name. His identity was stripped and he was given another to be made into a brute. That never happened. He made sure that would never happen.
That was the thing about the ring: nothing mattered there. Not the man, not the hunger, not the dark warren-feeling of the tunnels. The ring was clean, well-defined. The ring was easy.
What insight into a favourite character of mine and the hard life he led before he came to be one of the noblest, bravest, smartest knights I have come to know. The best thing about this short novella is the fact that we learn Lazarus' real name. His identity was stripped and he was given another to be made into a brute. That never happened. He made sure that would never happen.
December 18, 2018
This was definitely a super quick read of only a few pages. This is a very briefly snippet into the life of Lazarus of Mace.
Lazarus is a complex character from the main series. He was always one of my favourites. This short snippet shows what his life was like down below. It's a very dark and twisted world that he is born into. I would read an entire novel dedicated to each of the characters from this series, but obviously 6-pages is not enough substance.
Do not read this novella before the first novel because it really does not add anything or give any clear indications into this world.
Lazarus is a complex character from the main series. He was always one of my favourites. This short snippet shows what his life was like down below. It's a very dark and twisted world that he is born into. I would read an entire novel dedicated to each of the characters from this series, but obviously 6-pages is not enough substance.
Do not read this novella before the first novel because it really does not add anything or give any clear indications into this world.
February 6, 2017
A short story that shares some of the back story of one of the main characters in the Tearling series. I thought this was a standalone, but considering the permission line at the end I think it may be an excerpt of the third book. As I only finished the first book last night, I'll have to wait to find out.
I don't know that this added much beyond a bit more insight into the character, but it was a quick read and worth the time. It's not clear through most of it who it's about, but I started with a theory and was right.
I don't know that this added much beyond a bit more insight into the character, but it was a quick read and worth the time. It's not clear through most of it who it's about, but I started with a theory and was right.
March 5, 2018
An incredible One Shot about the origins of Lazarus - or Mace. It's one of my favourite characters in this serie so I just loved this little sneak peek into his past. I'd hope that Erika Johansen would write an entire novel about him but after the final of The Fate of the Tearling I hardly think that she will. Well, that's a pity.
March 18, 2017
The Boy will give you nothing, if you haven't read the Tearling series. From the first moments of meeting Lazarus, you know he is more than he seems and will do whatever it takes to keep Kelsea safe. Yet in The Boy, we find where he began, in the dark tunnels below the world. A dark slice of story to accompany the world of the Tearling.
March 25, 2019
A short story based in the Tearling universe, a sort of prequel to the current Tear stories.
The boy is a fighter in the rings beneath the city. He is eleven years old and already known for his abilities. And today is another fight day.
A great look at one of the main characters of the series prior to the main time setting.
The boy is a fighter in the rings beneath the city. He is eleven years old and already known for his abilities. And today is another fight day.
A great look at one of the main characters of the series prior to the main time setting.
March 25, 2019
A very short story that pretty much sums up the childhood of Mace, but can I say I absolutely hated it and still star it as I liked it? Yes I can! I can like that there is a little history now known about the character but I can despise what he had to do and where he was as a child. Seriously about brought tears to my eyes for so many reasons....
June 10, 2020
This added nothing to the original books. I mean I get it, we're seeing a character's background, but we already knew all of the things in this story. Perhaps I did not get to read all of it, because it was hard to find. I read it here: https://www.bustle.com/articles/19544...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews