Seek the Traitor's Son

The Burning Empire #1

by Veronica Roth

From Veronica Roth, the legendary author of the Divergent series, Seek the Traitor's Son is a dazzling, epic tale of war, fate and devastating love.

The daughter of a bounty hunter.
The knight sworn to protect her.
And the prophecy that destroys their lives . . .

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her. She's a soldier defending her small country against a powerful the Talusar, who worship a Fever that brings death to everyone it touches . . . except those who it resurrects, forever changed. Rava Vidar is a Talusar general with a reputation for cruelty and triumph. And when Elegy and Rava first meet, it’s to hear a prophecy that could apply to either of them.

The prophecy declares that either one of them could carry their people to victory. But at the center of both of their fates is a man. A man who, Elegy is told, will bring her death. A man she’ll fall in love with. With two nations at stake, she and Rava are destined to collide. And when they do, only one will be left standing. Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

An extraordinary epic begins.

Praise for Seek the Traitor's

'Her most compelling work to date . . . Veronica Roth knows exactly how to break your heart'
– Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

'A story of treachery and enduring love, Seek the Traitor's Son is epic in its stakes and intimate in its romance, but most of all I loved its core of deep compassion'
– Everina Maxwell, author of Winter's Orbit

'Veronica Roth reaches for epic, and grabs it beautifully'
– John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author of Starter Villain

‘Veronica Roth has created yet another immersive world full of high stakes and fast-moving action where prophecy and destiny collide'
– Anton Hur, author of Toward Eternity

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Romance, Romantasy, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published May 12, 2026

About the author

Veronica Roth is the New York Times best-selling author of Seek the Traitor's Son (coming 5.12.26), When Among Crows, Arch-Conspirator, Poster Girl, Chosen Ones, the Carve the Mark series, and the Divergent series. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and dog.

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Reviews

[Liana Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5 ⭐️ Call me obsessed, but DYSTOPIAN is so back with Seek the Traitor's Son. For the fans of DUNE, I can safely say this will exceed all your expectations! Get ready for an epic world building, amazing character development and a lot of political intrigue. This world delivers everything that a die-hard sci-fi/fantasy fan expects to see in a TRUE DYSTOPIAN novel. I have no doubt this will turn into the next big screen sensation and frankly this book needs to be on your TBR.

The story is set in the futuristic, dystopian version of the Earth where there is an ongoing conflict between two main groups: The Cedrae and The Talusar. The Talusar are a powerful nation that worship a deadly fever that gives the transformed victims mysterious gifts. The Cedrae have developed superior technology and expanded to a smaller, off-planet colony. Our main female protagonist, Elegy Ahn is happy with her life as a soldier but finds herself thrust into the center of a powerful prophecy alongside Talusar's fiercest and most powerful war general, Rava Vidar. Together, they learn that one of them will lead their people to the victory over the other. Which one is it going to be? At the center of their collided fates, is a man. A man that Elegy is told she will fall in love with. Who is this man and what's his true purpose in all of this? As Rava's and Elegy's world collide, the balance between nation hangs on a string. Who will be left standing? Elegy did not ask for this destiny but it sure has found her and she intends to make it hers.

I really wasn't sure what I was going into, as this was my FIRST sci-fi audiobook and frankly I was a little scared starting it because I was afraid to miss any details/unable to keep up, but I was extremely pleased of how much I enjoyed the experience. In fact, I think the AMAZING full-cast narration of all the characters elevated my listening experience. I was able to immerse myself into this world so easily, I really NEED book two & honestly will probably end up doing the narration as well..its felt like I was listening to a movie play out. I reveled in all the twists and turns and banter. The chemistry was hot and steamy full of yearning, forgiveness, tension while being very much a subplot. This is truly one of the gems in the sci-fi world with relatable characters that stand out on their own.


Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Soler, Steve West
Duration: 19 hours 29 minutes
Speed: 1.25x

This books is featured on BOTM and if you're interested, you can get the deluxe edition just for $5 using this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Cancel the subscription any time at no cost to you! I highly recommend BOTM because you can get early releases before they hit the stores!


Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Veronica Roth for sending me an early ALC!

Publication date: May 12, 2026

[Seri ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️
A dystopian fantasy novel set after more than half of Earth's population has been ravaged and separated into two warring countries: fever-worshipping Telusar and fever-resistant Cedrae.

The fever is an affliction that kills whomever catches it. The upside? Half of the time, you come back to life with a power afterwards! Hence the reason why Telusar, the more populated kingdom, worships the fever. Whereas, Cedrae prefers technological advancements and refuse to be infected.

Now, everything's coming to a turning point with a prophecy where one country is foreseen to be victorious over the other. And it all comes down to two women. One is Rava Vidar, a sadistic Telusar noble that treats human life as expendable, OR Elegy Ahn the "Hope of Cedrae."

Elegy was a masterfully written FMC! Smart, courageous, and kind. A believable leader that has both experience as a soldier to explain her battle prowess and enough empathy for her people/friends to be likable on the page. Hell, as a reader, I almost wished that she were more ruthless in the face of some of her enemies!

Theren (the MMC) is a victim, a survivor, and a skilled fighter. In the beginning, he makes a grave mistake, but over the course of a four-year time period, he’s molded into a traumatized, battle-hardened warrior. Upon reuniting with Elegy, he’s loyal making this duo a very strong team.

Although…I didn’t buy their love so early into this. This book would’ve benefited from a more drawn out slow burn.

Thankfully, the romance was enough of a subplot that it didn't take away from overall enjoyment. But given the background we have on these two, there wasn't any explanation for Theren's devotion. Hell, he full-on breaks his oath within seconds of swearing it! So...what's different now? And before I get any "he was a kid!" comments. No, he was a fully grown 20-year-old MAN who'd always known that his destiny was to be a knight. And then post-time skip, he's now 100% devoted mind, body, and soul?! Yeah, no. Maybe at the end of this duology their chemistry would feel real having survived life and death side by side. It was not, however, 50% into book one.

Solid story. Excellent fantasy world that was easy to follow. Lots of world-building. EXCELLENT narrators for the audiobook! Likable characters. Though, the romance feels weak/forced at the moment, but there's definite room for growth in book two to finish off this duology!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own. 🩵

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

a pathetic (complementary) broken mmc, his super power is [redacted], & he’s bisexual!? Are you kidding me?!

I fear Veronica Roth has created the perfect man.

Seek the Traitor’s Son is an excellent blend of sci-fi, dystopian, and romance. This series is epic in scope and there is still plenty to learn about the world, politics, and characters and I’m seated. Gimme the next book now please?

As book one in a series, this does a great job at establishing the world without overwhelming the reader. The beginning is a bit information heavy, but not overly so. If you’re comfortable with reading fantasy, you’ll have no issues with the world-building - but readers hoping for a world clearly future/dystopian Earth (and easier to digest) may find the set up a little overwhelming.

The MMC Theran is just… so good. Our reluctant savior FMC, Elegy?! LOVE HER. I love them together.

I went into this expecting minimal romance, I’m not actually sure why? but that was my headspace when diving in. That said I was very pleased with the romance on the whole. But, I have to agree with Mai, the build up, tension, and set up for the romance was nearly perfect but once a certain point hit, the romance went from 50% to 100% in the blink of an eye and I would have preferred to see the last 50% play out a bit more.

I’m still thinking about this book days later, craving the next book, needing to know what comes next — and desperately wanting more page time with Elegy + Theran.

Whats to love…
- Epic Series
- heavy romance side plot
- pathetic (complementary) MMC
- queer normative world
- sci-fi heavy dystopian Earth
- interesting world + magic
- political machinations


Audiobook: 4.5/5
Narrators: Imani Jade Powers (Elegy), Max Meyers (Theran), Rebecca Soler (Hela), Steve West (Before).
Length: 19 hrs 29 mins
Highly recommend the audiobook! The pacing (within each narrators section) was consistent, no excessive pausing, and the performance/inflection was spectacular across the board. Voice variation was amazing. Max Meyers is great at female voices, something not every male narrator can claim. Imani was downright spectacular. The only issue to note is that the pacing between Max Meyers sections, and the female narrator sections felt like slightly different speeds and I found myself adjusting the speed with most narrator changes. Not by a lot, and honestly if the NetGalley audio player had additional speed adjustments it’s likely I could have found a happy speed that worked for all narrators.

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Tor for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes there are no choices”

First of all, this was both astonishing and completely gripping. I love that the audiobook includes a recording of the author’s note at the end (narrated by Veronica Roth) because she talks about how dear this story is to her heart and the fact that she wasn’t originally planning on publishing this, which would have been a travesty in my opinion. I’m sad to think that she didn’t believe this story would hold any interest. The love she poured into this book is so apparent in the soulfulness of the characters and the incredible world Roth has created.

Elegy is an average soldier until she becomes the subject of a prophecy stating that she has the potential to lead the Cedrae to victory over their enemy. This story takes place on a futuristic Earth where the scientifically advanced Cedrae are in a never ending conflict with the religious and magically gifted Talusar.

While the blurb describes this as a dystopian fantasy, I would hedge that this leans a bit more toward sci-fi (for now). There is the obvious potential for the Cedrae to become oppressed and erased by the Talusar, but in this story they are free and fighting to maintain their independence.

With this being said, I’m wondering whether I’m missing something or if there aspects about the Cedrae/Talusar relationship that are yet to be revealed. I find it interesting that the underdogs here are more technologically advanced and that the people who have more power are those who are both religious and have magic, especially when the ritual for gaining magic has a 50% chance of death. Either way, I didn’t feel like there was a clear good vs evil here. There are honorable and power hungry characters on both sides, although we’re clearly rooting for the Cedrae.

Between the immaculate pacing, the nuanced characters and the unique feel of a futuristic Earth I never wanted to stop listening. The only reason it took me so long to finish is that sometimes my life and reading priorities don’t necessarily align.

Our FMC Elegy is one of those characters I knew immediately that I’d want as a friend and leader. With no aspirations for power, selflessness in action, genuine warmth and a predilection for justice she is impossible not to root for. Theron, her designated knight, isn’t as easily lovable at first, but in the end his devotion and steadiness won me over, especially in light of the trauma he endures. To me these two felt like a fated team, a pair destined to try and save Cedra.

The romance is a bit more complicated. They both have reasons to be weary of the other, and for a long time their interaction is cautious. I’ve seen some criticism of this aspect of the book, but personally I could feel a slowly budding connection between them. There are a couple of intimate scenes that felt abrupt to me, but since they’re more of a fade to black instead of containing any real spice that feeling didn’t linger.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a story quite like this. I have never read or watched Dune, so I can neither confirm nor deny that comparison. The action packed end threw some curious curves, leaving some interesting possibilities dangling for the next book.

Overall a beautifully written story. If you enjoy audiobooks, this was masterfully narrated with a different voice for each POV. Stunning work by Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Solar, and Steve West.

So many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

——————————————-

My NetGalley hiatus crumpled when I got the notification that the author of Divergent is coming out with a new adult dystopian fantasy.

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★— I am in awe of this story in a lot of ways, because wow, this feels every bit as expansive, ambitious, and exciting as the author set it out to be. It doesn’t handhold, starting out without explaining much as it tells the story of multiple characters we slowly get to know.

Taking place in a futuristic, dystopian Earth where division has taken hold, Earth is split between the Talusar, people who worship a deadly fever and live in their own powerful territory, and the Cedrae, a significantly smaller nation that survives through superior technology and has expanded into a space station colony. The two groups sit in a constant, simmering conflict that shapes everything around them. And this story manages to showcase a fascinating world, giving a lot of nuance to these two groups and their beliefs, as I found myself trying to absorb every cultural detail I could as a reader.

The three main characters of the story are Elegy Ahn, the woman given a prophecy to lead the Cedrae into a brighter future she’s not ready to be the face of, Theren, a man forced into a knighthood under her that he doesn’t want, and Hela, Elegy’s sister, who’s pulled into all of this through her.

Roth does a good job of introducing them and building their arcs, and as the story spans years, there’s a lot of change we get to see these characters go through.

The politics and broader plot of it all truly take center stage here, while the romance mostly remains a slow-simmering subplot, which I thoroughly enjoyed! I could feel Roth slowly laying the seeds for Elegy’s and Theren’s connection, and I thought the buildup was handled extremely well. But a bit past the halfway point, I felt like that gradual tension was practically bulldozed aside to bring them together much faster than I thought made sense for both of them.

There was this beautiful sensitivity, gentleness, and curiosity that shone through their initial interactions, and I felt like this subtlety was lost quickly in order to resolve their relationship, when it really didn’t need to be. Sometimes there’s beauty in letting things simmer and build, and I really think the way their relationship was ultimately handled cost me a lot of enjoyment I’d had up to that point.

This truly is my only critique, and it stands out only because of how much I enjoyed everything else in this story and how entranced I was by the rest.

I’ve always wanted more worldbuilding-heavy sci-fi that includes romance subplots, and this book, with its dystopian world and rich sci-fi elements, is perfect for those of us who secretly wanted Dune to have a little more romance.
____________

Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC.

[dak ⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚]

⋆˚✿˖° 𝕡𝕣𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
AHHH the time has come 🤩 i’m genuinely so excited!! and i keep seeing the best reviews + seeing people say it gives Dune vibes like yes yes yes 🤏🏻🙂‍↕️

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veronica Roth, you are the queen of tragic, sad boy characters raised as weapons, and I worship at your altar. Seek the Traitor’s Son was a fresh and engaging Sci-Fi dystopian.

This story begins with a prophecy. Two women on opposite sides of the war are told that they have the potential to lead their nation to victory.

“She who moves the fulcrum controls the outcome.”

I love how Seek the Traitor’s Son almost immediately subverts your expectations for how the story is going to play out, taking us instead on an emotionally tense, politically fraught journey with unlikely heroes. Under the weight of an uncertain prophecy, these characters face impossible choices as they try to stumble their way towards a better future.

The world-building in Seek the Traitor’s Son is fantastic. I particularly love the contrast between the futuristic, tech-heavy, space-faring Cedre and the ruthless, militaristic, but technologically archaic Talusar. You can feel the weight of the long, tense war between the two nations. And this book sits on the precipice of major change. The concept of the Fever, and the way the two nations perceive it, was really intriguing.

I love the characters in this story. Elegy is a jaded Scout who, despite wanting nothing to do with her role in the prophecy, refuses to leave the fate of her world in the hands of the people in power. Theren is my favorite type of character—a tragic, sad boy raised as a weapon. The two of them come together in their trauma and their grief, learning to move forward and making each other stronger.

The romance starts as a really nice slow-burn. The tentative uncertainty of their early interactions really emphasized the weight of the history between them. Unfortunately, I think the story rushes through the development of their relationship in order to align with certain conditions of the prophecy. And I don’t think it was really necessary. I think this could have been a really gripping slow-burn with lots of tension, yearning, and speculation.

And I don’t think the romance is the only thing about the plot that needed to take a bit longer to happen. It’s hard to say without knowing the full scope of the series, but I was really surprised we got to the point in the plot we did in just one book. I feel like I wanted everything to take a bit longer to happen, which is an odd thing to say, as the pacing can, arguably, feel slow at times. But I expected to see more intricate politicking and plotting from this story. It’s somewhat hard to believe that Elegy manages to avoid politics as much as she does. Acting independently and only clashing with the Sword and her generals occasionally, without lasting consequences.

I’m struggling to articulate what it was about the plot that I found unsatisfying, but it feels like the characters should have had to do more to get to the point they do. The climax of the story is well written. Bouncing between POVs to highlight the frantic desperation of the characters in these final chapters. I am very interested to see where the story goes in book two, and it may make me reevaluate my thoughts on the scope of the plot in this first installment.

Seek the Traitor’s Son reminded me of Marie Lu’s Skyhunter in the best way possible. I have really enjoyed Veronica Roth’s latest releases, and I am excited to continue with this series.

Thank you so much, Tor, for sending me an early copy!

Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books

[rina · Rating 5 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ੭୧‎ ‎ 5 stars‎ ‎ . ۫

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME 😭😭😭

This was SO good I am actually going to COMBUST. I have no words. Reading is supposed to be relaxing, they say. Well, I can tell you right now, reading this was the furthest I felt from calm. I was either sobbing, devastated, gasping in shock, giggling, or unbearably STRESSED the entire time. How am I supposed to live laugh love in these conditions?

Seek the Traitor's Son has one of the most - if not the most - captivating magic systems I've ever come across. It blends fantasy and sci-fi elements in such an engrossing way. The way intimacy is written in the story LORDD. I am losing my mind!! Elegy, Theren - I would die for them <3 Don't even get me STARTED on the ending. No one talk to me for the next 24 hours.

I've been incredibly lucky to already have such a successful reading year, but I mean it when I say this is one of the best books I have read this year thus far.

I cannot even put into words the kind of out-of-body experience this put me through. There's a lump in my throat just thinking about it 😕

‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ The human heart isn't a drinking glass, with only so much room for love at any given time. It's more like the void of space, infinitely expanding and endlessly strange. ”

Thank you to Veronica Roth and Tor for the ARC! Seek the Traitor's Son releases May 12, 2026.

CW: death, murder, violence, minor sexual content

────

finished: 04/28/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
this book PUT ME THROUGH IT. so good i cannot breathe. might be my fave read of 2026 thus far, AND I MEAN IT THIS TIME PROMISE 😭

pre read: 04/27/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
after seeing a glowing review for this book from one of my moots, i knew i had to pick it up asap - and i got the arc! i'm only on chapter 4, and i've already sobbed, squealed, and gasped 🤭 if it's already doing this to me this early on, i fear this may be a 5 star read!!!

[Jess]

I sincerely hope that this is NOT exactly what it says on the tin because putting a man as the focal point of a prophecy about two strong, independent, self-sufficient women in 2025 is...certainly a choice.

[Kate Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you adore sci-fi dystopians such as Dune or Will of the Many, this book is right up your alley!

I was immediately immersed into the world, thrown into action, politics, war and a mind boggling prophecy… I could not put this down.

The war between the Talusar and the Cedre, the Talusar worship their gods who bring the fever, a ritual forced upon those coming of a set age to either kill them or bring them unique powers, the Cedre opposed this way of life…& live in isolation.

“Cedre is not a place, it’s the idea that something beautiful can be made out of ruins.”

The FMC - second daughter of the sword is forced into a fate she did not want nor was ready for. While the MMC a Talusar refugee in residing in Cedre has known his fate his whole life, to be the knight to the sword -

“fate doesn’t require us to be well-suited to our roles . . . it simply requires us to fill them.”

“The Fever is change. To change is to die. To die is to experience annihilation. To be reborn is to conquer it. May it be so, may it be so.”

The love story in this is truly beautiful.

“He touches his forehead to hers, the movement so sudden and so strangely intimate that she goes still. “My life is still forfeit to you,” he says. “My life is still yours.”

[hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

4.25***

“The human heart isn’t a drinking glass, with only so much room for love at any given time. That it’s more like the void of space, infinitely expanding and endlessly strange.”

this was the PERFECT blend of dystopian sci-fi/fantasy with a romantic subplot and i didn’t know i needed this in my life until now??

so i won’t lie: i requested this book months ago when it first appeared on netgalley, read the synopsis one, and then proceeded to forget about it. so i essentially went into this book completely blind and i’m so so glad i did because it was so much fun getting thrown into this world with zero knowledge.

the world building is very intriguing and, the more i learned, the more i found myself having to go back and correct the ways I pictured/thought of certain things (in a good way).

big big fan of elegy as our FMC. i love a strong female character who is genuinely capable and makes (relatively) rational decisions. i also felt for her so deeply because my girl had a ROUGHHH time in the beginning.

theren…THEREN!!! this man is right up my alley in terms of male book characters i tend to enjoy (see: deeply traumatized, incredibly intelligent, extremely devoted, and a gentle(ish) giant).

i am a sucker for a romantic subplot and this one was off to a fantastic start in terms of slowburn build up. the middle-ish to the end of the book slightly rushed their relationship, but i guess i can understand why and i still really enjoyed it.

i also LOVE a good prophecy plot line and this one was no exception. i really liked the discussion of fate and the choices we have in our lives and the ways the two main characters grappled with what was thrust upon them.

this would have been a five star read if it weren’t for these two things:

1. the romance needed more build up and i feel like it would have greatly benefited from being more of a slow burn
2. the pacing was kind of off at parts. i was hooked at the beginning, then it dragged a bit, then i was hooked again, then it dragged, and then i was hooked again all through the end.

nonetheless, this was SO GOOD and i am (not so) patiently waiting for the announcement of the sequel.

[Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

PUBLISH DATE: May 12,2026

I really wanted to love Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth.

This is a little outside my usual genre. I was going in hoping for more of a dystopian feel, but I’ve found that a lot of dystopian lately leans heavily into fantasy and sci-fi elements, which just isn’t really my thing.

I did enjoy the overall premise, especially the dynamic between Elegy and Rava. That part had me interested and wanting to keep going. But once the story started introducing more sci-fi elements (like the alien aspects), I realized it just wasn’t something I was going to fully connect with.

I ended up DNFing at 20%.

This is definitely a case of “wrong book for me” rather than anything being wrong with the writing or story itself. Because of that, I’m rating it 4 stars based on the current average at the time of my review.

If you enjoy dystopian stories with strong fantasy or sci-fi elements, this will probably be a great fit for you. It just didn’t quite match what I personally look for in this genre.

PUBLISH DATE: May 12,2026
BOOK TITLE: Seek the Traitor's Son
SERIES: The Burning Empire #1
AUTHOR: Veronica Roth
NARRATOR: Imani Jade Powers; Max Meyers; Rebecca Soler; Steve West
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Audio
FORMAT: Audiobook
DURATION: 16 hours, 51 minutes
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Aya ☕︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Interesting enough to keep reading/listening, chaotic enough to make your brain spin (and probably hurl your book into the wall)

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Ohmygod is this my first ALC widget to get sent to me 😭😭😭 I'm starting IMMEDIATELY

[Tini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prophecy, power, and Veronica Roth all grown up.

Don't let the cover fool you (I remain unconvinced): Seek the Traitor's Son is one of this year's must-read fantasy/dystopian releases - and a strong reminder that Veronica Roth has moved far beyond the YA space that first made her famous. This is no Divergent retread. Roth, quite simply, is all grown up.

The novel opens with a prophecy delivered to two women on opposite sides of a brutal war: Elegy Ahn, a soldier content with the life she knows, and Rava Vidar, a feared enemy general. They are told that one will lead her people to victory over the other. Which one, no one knows. At the center of both their fates stands Theren, a broken knight and a central figure in the prophecy that defines the story's stakes.

From there, the story becomes something richer and more interesting than a straightforward chosen-one narrative or a simple romantasy read. While the stakes are undeniably large - nations at war, futures hanging in the balance, destiny looming over everyone involved - Roth keeps the emotional focus intimate. Rather than getting lost in spectacle, she centers the internal struggles of the people forced to carry that weight. Elegy and Theren truly anchor the novel. Roth understands that even in the middle of war, the most compelling battles are often internal.

The worldbuilding is excellent: layered, immersive, and creative without drowning the reader in exposition. There are hints of science fiction woven throughout, and while those elements didn't land quite as seamlessly for me as the fantasy and political threads, they never detracted from the overall experience.

The audiobook is pure perfection. Narrated by Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Soler, and Steve West, the full cast is impeccable and clearly operating at the top of their game. Each performance adds depth and distinction, while the production as a whole feels polished, immersive, and cinematic without ever becoming distracting.

Reportedly planned as a duology, this first installment of The Burning Empire series more than succeeds in making me desperate to return to this world - even while I'm afraid that it may be a while, given that Roth worked on Seek the Traitor's Son on and off for six years.

The author herself described the book as a "big romantic kinda-dystopian kinda-fantasy," and honestly? That holds up remarkably well. Ambitious and thoroughly engrossing, Seek the Traitor's Son is a sweeping story that never loses sight of the people at its center. Outstanding, and absolutely worth the wait.

Many, many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC of the spectacular audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"Seek the Traitor's Son" is slated to be released on May 12, 2026.

[Katie (Katieeatsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

05/04/2026-05/05/2026

Thank you Tor (for the gifted digital proof and early finished copy) and Leo PR (for the gifted physical proof copy) for “Seek the Traitors Son” by Veronica Roth ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming 05/12/2026)

There’s not a thing Roth can’t do! And that is proven again with another unique and well built dystopian! 🌌

This book was immaculate!
Honestly there’s so many places, people, and events happening the moment I finished reading I forgot all 100 names and 5 languages. Idek how authors follow along writing because I was living off of pure vibes until things began clicking better for me around 50% in!!

Like guys?? There’s A LOT going on and it’s all IMMACULATE!!

Here’s what I do remember:
💙 I cried 10 times (and counting) 🤧
🧡 I’m in loveeeee 😩 with Theren 🥵
💙 Roth writes beautifully (everytime!) 👏🏻
🧡 This dystopian is heavily Sci-Fi built (but also what dystopian isn’t) 🚀
💙 Elegy’s destiny is amazing (seriously how do you even come up with a plot this in-depth??) 😳
🧡 I need book #2 now because talk about a cliffhanger (this is the part where I get on my knees for Tor & LeoPR asap to see if I can get on that list when it’s ready because babyyyy what?! 😭)
💙 I hope Orda gets everything he dreams of in book #2
🧡 I wish I read this one much sooner (so that it could break my mind much sooner 😂)

[Val ── .✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just make the movie now!!! 🤩 If you liked Dune, you’re going to like this book as well! It has an intricate plot with interesting characters. Loved it! 😍

The narrators are incredible!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this eARC of Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth, to be published on May 12th, 2026.

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog

Look, teenage me was obsessed with Divergent and the Carve the Mark duology, so of course I trusted Veronica Roth enough to just dive into Seek the Traitor’s Son completely blind. And honestly, this new epic romantic dystopian sci-fi delivered exactly what I expected it to while also surprising me in all the best ways, if that makes any sense. It’s an excitingly ambitious genreblender that’s giving Sun Eater meets The Bone Season meets Shatter Me vibes while also being completely its own unique thing, and I love it for that.

So, on paper, the start of Seek the Traitor’s Son should have been very overwhelming. There’s a lot going on with the intricate political set-up, the dystopian Earth split between the Fever-worshipping Talusar and the tech-heavy Cedrae with its space colony, and all the complicated character tensions, but somehow it never felt like too much to me. I was honestly kind of impressed with how smoothly everything came together without slowing the story down, and I was just hooked from page one.

I think the main reason it all worked so well for me is the characters, because I would not have cared this much about everything going on if the core conflict wasn’t carved straight into them. We’ve got Elegy, a soldier just minding her business as the spare to the Sword of Cedre until a prophecy is dropped on her head; we’ve got Theren, the son of a Talusar exile forced into a knighthood under Elegy that he doesn’t want; and we’ve got Hela, Elegy’s sister who just gets dragged into this mess with them. And trust me, it gets messy in the best ways.

I was also completely hooked by the unique spin on the prophecy trope here, which is usually one of my least favourite tropes because they tend to feel predictable, but not in Seek the Traitor’s Son. See, we don't know if it’s Elegy or the enemy Talusar general Rava who is the ‘chosen one’ that will lead their people to victory over the other by assembling the right three people to fulfill the prophecy before the other does. And then add to that the fact that at the center of both of their fates is a man, who Elegy is told she will fall in love with. Like, hello tensionnn!!!

The start of Seek the Traitor's Son honestly gave me instant 5-star vibes, but while I loved that strong beginning, it also made it quite hard for the rest of the book to keep up, especially after the unexpected four year time jump that comes right after a pretty intense turning point. I can’t deny that it took me a while to settle back into the story, but ultimately I did end up really appreciating how much emotional weight it added. The themes of trauma, fate, identity, mortality, morality, and trust hit so hard even though we don’t know all the details around what they went through, and I was honestly so here for the sense of mystery surrounding their emotional baggage, especially with Theren’s memory issues.

Now, speaking of emotions, the whole romantic element of Seek the Traitor’s Son was honestly a wild rollercoaster for me. It mostly just simmers in the background while the politics and plot do the heavy lifting, and I just loved that it was so soft and reverent and curious and kind of aching, especially in combination with Theren’s emotion sensing powers that he got after being infected with the Fever. I do have to say that I felt like the sudden shift in their dynamic around the halfway point felt a bit rushed, and I wasn’t entirely convinced by how fast things developed from there. But oh well, the vibes were vibing, the feels were feeling, and I love that for them.

I actually really appreciated that this romance was just one of the many complicated relationships that lie at the core of Seek the Traitor’s Son, as the messy family dynamics, heated rivalries, and past relationships all play a big role and sometimes felt even more important. Particularly Theren’s relationship with his mother Kesia had me in a chokehold, and I loved seeing how her (misguided?) beliefs influenced her actions and how those actions affected Theren and the wider world in general. And one of the biggest surprises for me was my sapphic girl Hela, for reasons I can’t even say without getting into spoilers. At first I wasn’t sure why we were even getting her perspective, but she ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book as her storyline added a lot of intrigue and took things in directions I didn’t expect, which kept the plot feeling so exciting and unpredictable.

I will say, the second half of Seek the Traitor’s Son didn’t hit quite as hard for me as the first. Some of the emotional moments and twists rely heavily on things that happened off page, either during the time jump or before the story even started, and that hindered the impact and created a bit of emotional distance for me. I also wanted a bit more from Rava as an enemy, especially because she plays such a core part in the whole prophecy. Also, I am always a sucker for a hot villain vibe, so there's that.

Still, I absolutely adored that Roth did not pull any punches and constantly kept reminding both the characters and the readers of just how high the stakes are, and I was living for the emotional turmoil of that. Seek the Traitor’s Son may not have ended up being the 5-star fave I thought it would be at the start, but even with my little quibbles I just devoured it and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story has some of that addictive 2010s YA nostalgia except make it a whole lot more mature, complex, and brutal. You better bet I will be first in line when book 2 drops, what a wild ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Seek the Traitor's Son is scheduled for release on 12 May 2026.

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seek the Traitor’s Son was such a fascinating blend of genres. Veronica Roth creates a world that feels like the perfect mix of sci-fi and fantasy, where the “magic” elements almost feel like science humanity just doesn’t fully understand yet. I loved how layered and expansive the worldbuilding was, especially the tension between the Cedrae and the Talusar and the way prophecy drives the story forward.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the characters. Elegy is an incredible FMC—she’s genuinely badass as a soldier, but she’s also dealing with complicated emotions, trauma, and responsibilities she never asked for. That balance made her feel very real. Watching her navigate the prophecy and the expectations placed on her was one of the most compelling parts of the story.

I also loved the supporting cast. Hela is funny, bold, and unapologetic, and I really enjoyed how she balanced out Elegy’s heavier storyline. And Theren’s story is absolutely heartbreaking. There’s a lot of depth to his character, and it was easy to feel for everything he’s been through.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is the romance. I genuinely loved Theren and Elegy together, and I liked how deeply Theren seems to understand her. But their relationship felt like it moved too quickly. They jump into things without really getting to know each other, and they rarely have the deep conversations I wanted to see. Much of what Elegy learns about Theren comes through his memories rather than their actual interactions.

Overall, though, this was an incredibly engaging story with strong characters, rich worldbuilding, and a compelling prophecy-driven plot. I’m very excited to see where the story goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[paige (ptsungirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fate doesn't require us to be well-suited to our roles, it simply requires us to fill them."

It's giving Dune. It's giving old dystopia. It's giving... the world ending by plague. It's giving - too real.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this book. I'd like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of the audiobook, and netgalley for allowing me to give it a listen. I haven't read any Veronica Roth since I read Divergent, and I'm happy to see she's still writing and telling stories.

While the audiobook was often a bit tough to follow, and some of the names were odd and confusing without the book in front of me, I was thrilled and entertained through the entire book. The characters were rich in humanity despite humanity seemingly trying to be wiped out by society. Each held an important part of what it means to be held accountable for the fate of a world.

[Tyffani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love a dystopian story. A dystopian sci-fi mixed with fantasy? Absolutely fantastic. The story and the world building are top notch. A race of people that worship a literal fever? What?!? Elegy and Rava are prophesied to battle each against each other, with one besting the other. The build up to their confrontation is well plotted and the action is engrossing. I really liked Elegy and her story. She’s tough and smart and not scared to assert herself when the time is right.

The one thing I didn’t really care for was the romance. It seemed rushed and not well developed. It was really hard for me to believe it. It was a little better towards the end of the book but I felt no chemistry between the 2 characters for most of the book. But honestly, everything else in the story is so good I don’t even care. I’m so glad this is a duology and I cannot WAIT for book 2!!

Thank you to NetGalley and TOR for the ARC of this novel!

[Andye.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was fantastic! It was like a YA book for adults (in the best possible way). A fantastic balance of world building, plot, romance, mystery, relationships, and politics.

I loved the audiobook! Highly recommend

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars. DYSTOPIAN IS SO BACK!! This had all the things that we love about YA, but geared towards adults. I loved everything about this book. The characters, the plot, the friendship, the world building, THE ROMANCE!! Swoon. This is a hard one to put down. I didn’t want this book to end. I need book 2!

Thank you Tor and Veronica Roth for giving me the opportunity to read this book early.

[Kelsey reviews•books]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out May 12, 2026.

I got to about 25% of Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth and, while I ultimately decided not to finish it, I wanted to share a few thoughts. The audiobook production is strong—clear, immersive, and emotionally performed. This is narrated by Imani Jade Powers; Max Meyers; Rebecca Soler; Steve West and I especially appreciated the narration overall, though I did notice a difference in pacing between narrators.

Unfortunately, the story itself didn’t quite click for me. I found the world-building and number of characters difficult to track in audio format, which made it challenging to stay fully engaged. That said, the writing is clearly thoughtful and well-crafted, and I can see this being a great fit for readers who enjoy complex, layered fantasy.

This one just wasn’t the right match for me, but I’m glad I had the chance to try it.

[Bre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique can be such an overused word, but totally appropriate when describing this expansive, genre-bending, character driven story. This work of speculative fiction revolves around three people at the center of a wild prophecy. In a sort of post-apocalyptic world where Earth is not inhabited by many, humanity is divided between those who worship the Fever and those who don’t. The Fever kills half the people it infects, but grants the survivors gifts of seeing the past or future. Elegy Ahn, a former scout defending her country from the Talusar (those who worship the Fever), is summoned to receive a prophecy. Rava Vidar, the fearsome general of the Talusar, is also summoned to the prophecy. One woman will lead her nation to victory and the other will fail. Their lives are forever changed that day, and Elegy plunges into a wild fate that will bring her a new but unwanted love, a position of power she never desired, and giant tangle of mystery that could change human kind.
Ok listen. I don’t normally enjoy sci-fi. But holy cow, this story is just so dang good. The story never slows down. In fact, I’m pretty sure it raised my blood pressure because I was dying to know what would happen next. How would Elegy handle this next problem? Theren had such depth of emotion. Elegy was snarky and determined, but thoughtful in everything she did. Hela was much needed comic relief, but not an after thought- she was as much a main character as Elegy.
The world building/politics were well done. I got Dune and Star Wars vibes, but more fantasy geared.
The narrators were AMAZING! I really enjoyed the entire cast. Hela’s snark really came through, Elegy was calm and steady, and the emotion from Theren was just the pièce de résistance. I honestly think the audiobook made the book even more enjoyable.

Thank you Tor and Goodreads for the early physical copy. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

[Summer Sayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely stunning - Veronica Roth IS. SO. BACK.

I was extremely intrigued by the blurb of this book even before there was a cover on Netgalley. When I realized it was by Veronica Roth, there were several reasons for my immediate request.

Within the first 15 minutes of reading this book, I knew this was going to be legendary. It evoked Dune vibes along with early 2000's dystopian (my absolute favorite) but with new twists.

It follows Elegy Ahn, the Hope of Cedre, in her quest to save her people and unlock the truth about her sworn enemy. Both women were given a prophecy that mirrors the other, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

The narration might be a bit jarring to some - there is one layer of pure forward driving plot. However, under the surface, there is another that mirrors what one of the characters is going through regarding memories and secrets that have been hidden. The way Roth writes it is genius so we experience it *with* the character, and it's almost as if you have to squint in your mind's eye to see the entire narrative.

I felt like it changed my brain chemistry, truly. It was so refreshing to feel challenged by a book like this, and I had to go back and read several parts to make sure I understood - especially the beginning prophecy when it was given, since it's referred back to throughout the book.

The supporting characters added depth and complexity (and mystery) to the story - and of course... we have an incredible cliffhanger that has me wishing book 2 was already out.

The romance was TOP-TIER and left me wanting more of that... of course. It was done so well and fit the characters... you'll see what I mean.

Truly, truly incredible - and an immediate God-Tier six-star read on my shelf.

Initial review: https://www.tiktok.com/@summersayre/v... (more to come!)

(Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

[Molly | molls.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC/ALC Review
 
Six stars. This is going to be a massive hit. The Dystopian/Sci-Fi Romance we know and love from the early 2000's is SO BACK - and with a fantasy twist! Such a breath of fresh air. The writing??? The characters?? The setting?? The genre bending??
 
Seek the Traitor's Son follows our MCs Theren, Elegy, and Hela as they navigate the politics and prophecy of a future Earth on which society as we know it has crumbled and humanity, now divided into two factions known as the Talusar and the Cedre, is locked in a bloody civil war. Driving this conflict is disagreement over a mysterious infection known as "The Fever" that kills 50% of those infected and imbues the other 50% with strange new psychic abilities that block all use of technology.  As this war rages on with no end in sight, a prophecy foretells the war's end with one faction victorious. Only, there's one problem - the prophecy doesn't specify which side will win. I won't spoil anything further, but rest assured the plot is blown WIDE open and the resulting fantasy-dystopian-space-epic is an absolute masterpiece.
 
The world building is EXCELLENT. The complex political landscape feels real and grounded in the reality of the setting Roth has created. (And I have a feeling we are in for a wild ride in the second half of this duology).
 
The characterizations and emotional core of Seek the Traitor's son are so strong. I was particularly impressed by Roth's handling of Theren's trauma as he seeks to make sense of his memories, his "otherness," and his fragmented identity. Elegy's emotional journey was also a highlight, especially her imposter syndrome and her grief. All of the characters were dynamic, distinct, and compelling.
 
Honestly, this book does everything well. And to think she had no intention of publishing it! I can't say enough about how great it is.
 
As for the audiobook nuts and bolts: Max Meyers, Imani Jade Powers, Rebecca Soler, and Steve West deliver incredible performances that bring this book to life with so much emotion. Stellar performances all around. I'd highly recommend an immersive read of this to get the full experience.
 
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy!

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veronica Roth is BACKKKK and I had an absolute blast! I knew when the author of the YA Divergent series was coming out with an adult dystopian romance that I’d be requesting an arc as soon as humanly possible. I was delighted to receive an advanced listener copy - thank you Macmillan audio, Tor, and NetGalley!

4.5 stars ✨This was fast paced but took its time giving us some important character development. The scope was way more epic than I expected - unique world building, politics, religion/culture, technology- it had everything! I really enjoyed the perfectly balanced blend of scifi, dystopian, and romance genres with some fantastical elements in there as well. The world building and set up in the beginning are on the heavier side (and felt a tiny bit info dumpy) but I think the information came together nicely later in the book.

The romance had really great tension, yearning, and build up in the first half. I think the second half of the book could have continued that slow burn rather than turn on the gas but alas, maybe that’s just my preference? The most important part for me was that it was truly believable (YAY).

This was such a fun time on audiobook - great narration, style, and pacing from all three narrators. I’m already thinking about book two, IM READY!!

[Tori Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggling between 3 and 4 stars…. I did enjoy it but it started to drag for me at the end, and the characters never developed as much as I wanted. I was told a lot about them but rarely shown anything??
It was also in my opinion, always a little too confusing/hard to follow which prevented me from ever settling fully into the story

[BookishKB]

🖤 Seek the Traitor's Son

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

🎧 Narration Style: Full Cast
📅 Pub Date: May 12, 2026

[liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An action packed dystopian sci-fi set in a queer normative world with rich world building that is also sooo romantic and will have you down bad for an oath-sworn muscular knight.

Seek The Traitor’s Son takes place between three different main characters; Elegy, Theren and Hela. And one alternative POV, “Before”.

The world building for this book called me an idiot sandwich in 12 different languages not gonna lie. It did take me until about the 12% of this book to be like ohhhhh okay got it got it.

But the pay off is SOOOO worth the slow start because once the story gets going, you’re unable to put it down. So if you start this and you’re a little unsure, HOLD ON! It’s so worth it.

The story takes place in a dystopian sci-fi world where there are two positions of power that have been at war forever. Cedre is where the main characters are all from and where the story takes place. They are smaller in population, but they are all free from “The Fever” as they don’t believe in the spirituality of it being a blessing.

Talusar is a land with more people, but they are all infected with “The Fever”. When you get “The Fever”, you get sick and you die. 50% of the people infected stay dead. 50% of the people come back alive with powers that make them able to see the past and the future in different degrees that put them as different statuses.

Elegy, daughter of the Cedrae leader, meets before a neutral group of people who are able to see the future and receives a prophecy that makes her an important player in the war. Her enemy from Talsaur, Rava Vidar, also receives the same prophecy. Whoever fulfills it, wins the war for their people.

Theren was born in Talusar but his mother (and a group of people) defected and sought asylum in Cedre when he was a baby. His penance is that he must take an oath to be the sworn knight (I know…hot as hell) to Elegy to protect her as she assumes her destiny.

The story then forwards four years after the initial prophecy and then is nonstop action.

This world is DEEP and there’s a lot of moving parts going on and a lot of different characters with different motivations and intentions. This is not a book that you can just passively read, your thinking cap needs to be turned ON. The characters are so dang lovable in this novel. All of them. A lot of them are really funny and I was laughing out loud at some of their banter.

I ultimately gave it 4 stars because despite everything, I was always a little bit confused by the world and the side character roles in the main storyline. I felt we jumped locations a lot and it was sometimes difficult to follow along but I do recognize that this could very well be fully a me problem and I think sci-fi readers will really love this. I’m excited to see where this storyline will go.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for this eARC!

——————

I ended up doing immersive reading for this one and I absolutely could not recommend the audiobook more for this. They really pull you into the story and don’t let you go.
There are four different narrators for the four different point of views and all of them are sensational.
The narrators paced the story perfectly. Their voices are clear and crisp. They all put so much emotion and characterization into their characters. I was laughing when they laughed and crying when they cried.
The audiobook is PHENOMENAL.

Thank you to Macmillion audio for the ALC!