Captive Traitor King

Braided Fate #2

by Brigid Kemmerer

Brigid Kemmerer returns with the sizzling, high-stakes sequel to the No.1 international bestseller Warrior Princess Assassin—where the betrayals are deeper, the magic burns brighter, and love might be the most dangerous weapon of all.

CAPTIVE. Asher has always sworn loyalty to Jory, the princess he’s loved from afar—but now the King of Incendar has claimed a place in his heart too. Someone wants them both dead, and only Asher’s blade can keep them safe. Yet his past won’t let him go, and he must decide if he can break free—or remain prisoner to his old scars.

TRAITOR. Princess Jory of Astranza agreed to marry the King of Incendar to secure peace, but betrayal runs closer than she ever imagined. With her own brother unmasked as her enemy, two kingdoms teeter on the edge. To protect her people, she must take the throne. But there are still dark secrets to unravel that will force Jory to confront where her true allegiance lies.

KING. Maddox Kyronan has discovered trust—and something more—with his reluctant bride and her deadly protector, but the fragile alliance between their nations still threatens to unravel. His people are starving. His enemies are circling in. Torn between the crown and his heart, Ky risks losing it all.

As buried truths surface and tensions reach a breaking point, Jory, Asher, and Ky must confront the desires that could save their kingdoms—or shatter them forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Why Choose

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of dark and alluring romantic fantasy like Warrior Princess Assassin, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Defy the Night, and compelling contemporary romance like Letters to the Lost. Her books have sold over one million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages, finding readers all over the world. A full time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family.

Reviews

[trina]

GIMME MY THROUPLE!

[DianaRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!

3.5 stars — ok, just like book one, this also went nowhere plot-wise, HOWEVER, there was a tad more smut which i was over the moon about. however, there were also way too many c*ckblocked scenes which frustrated me because this book is supposed to be high stakes fantasy with sexy moments strewn in between 💔🙄 but nothing actually happens🫩

i really love asher and ky’s relationship more than i do jory with either of the men. i do feel that jory is sadly a very weakly written fmc which is upsetting in a romantasy written by a woman; but i do believe there is potential for her growth. i think asher is the most fleshed out character of the trio, although his trauma is hard to read at times because he was assaulted consistently at such a young age.

again, while this book went nowhere at all, i still ate it up, especially after that ending, so i’ll be sticking around for book three because i need to know what happens to this trio😭

——

despite book one kinda being mediocre, i still really enjoyed the character dynamics between our trio of mcs -- i just hope relationships deepen in a meaningful way, and that the world building is actually expanded upon🙂‍↕️🤞🏼

[✩ Yaz ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Desire is the cruelest cage.

Thank you Harper Collins for providing me with an eARC, I could not wait for November to reunite with these characters!!

A sheltered princess, a fierce warrior king, and a ruthless assassin find themselves bound by a fragile alliance as their fractured bond clashes between duty and desire.

Captive Traitor King continues where we left off and wastes no time in pulling us back into the aftermath of shocking reveals and looming dangers, especially as enemies are stepping closer and the stakes rise higher with every passing moment.

With political scheming and careful plotting, the fate of their kingdoms hangs in the balance, as every choice teeters between survival and ruin, especially as shifting loyalties blur the lines between allies and enemies

Ky is burdened with his duties as enemies lurk in the shadows of his kingdom, while Jory is stepping out of the role she was molded for and Asher is confronted by the hidden scars of the past he's long concealed.

Their intoxicating dynamic is strained by uncertainty and broken trust, yet beneath it burns a fierce longing they willingly surrender to.

Beyond the simmering chemistry and heated dynamic between them, which I gladly savor, what I appreciate the most is the way the story allows space to carefully navigate free will and agency among the three of them, considering their unbalanced power dynamics.

There's a tender, beautiful vulnerability and soft intimacy that defines their relationship, the vulnerable pieces of themselves they reserve only for each other when they are not the King, the Princess and the Assassin but simply Ky, Jory and Asher.

It makes the simmering romance between them even more sensual and addictive. I cannot get enough of them.

While the pacing slows down in the first half of the book, it felt necessary so the characters feel more grounded while giving the story space to process the chaos of book 1 and their turbulent relationship.

The new revealations about the magic could tip the scales and as it can be honed into a weapon that could be their greatest advantage or their greatest threat. There is a thrilling aspect to that considering the hidden gifts of a certain character.

Two characters have earned my honorary favorite character titles aside from the protagonists, and I am rooting for them hard. Without any spoilers, their names start with the letter (R) and (H).

As new truths emerge, confronting them could change everything.. from the fate of their kingdoms to the path of their own lives. And after that ending I am left desperately longing for the third book and dreading the fact that it will be a long wait until then.

Prepare for more political intrigue, aching romance, decadent debauchery, and unraveled secrets that will have you reeling.

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*


Aahhhh!!!! I'm so excited I received an arc for the sequel, too. Though this requires a re-read for Warrior Princess Assassin.

[Sheridan]

I CANNON WAIT A WHOLE 11 MONTHS FOR THIS BOOK TO COME OUT 😭

[Rayne]

there are not enough words in the English language to describe how much I need this sequel

[Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I finish this in less than 12 hours, or did it absolutely finish me???

My sweet baby Asher. Honestly, that’s the review.

But since we should talk more about it, this book does such an incredible job of peeling back more and more of Asher’s layers. Every reveal adds depth to who he is, what he’s survived, and why he acts the way he does - the retreating from touch, the hiding, the instinct to make himself smaller. I especially loved how Ky can see right through the facade and immediately knows how to put Asher at ease, while we’re still watching Jory learn how to care for him without pushing in the wrong way. That contrast was so beautifully done.

I understood why the tension and miscommunication between Asher, Ky, and Jory had to be there after the end of Warrior Princess Assassin, and it absolutely made sense for where the story is in the series. That said, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t desperately hoping for a few slivers more of happiness/joy/romance. I think I just wanted a tiny bit of peace for them far earlier than book two was ever realistically going to give me (especially considering Brigid fully admits to planning how to make her characters suffer lmao).

What Brigid does so masterfully, though, is the dialogue and the painfully human accidental missteps each character makes. No one is misunderstanding each other because the plot needs it; they’re misunderstanding each other because they’re hurt, healing, scared, and trying anyway. That’s what makes it hit so hard.

I giggled. I gasped. I ignored all of my responsibilities just to spend more time with these three (really two, looking at you Jory + Asher) absolute idiots.

Tytyty Avon and NetGalley for the eARC of my most anticipated read of the year. It was every bit as amazing as I hoped.

Come back in November when it releases for the full spiral

[Mukireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐!

If you liked Warrior, Princess, Assassin, you will love its sequel too. Brigid Kemmerer shows the same care for her characters here, and it’s truly what’s best about this book. All 3 characters are beautifully fleshed out, and the relationships between them, as a result, are a delight to read.

But that’s not to say the work building isn’t good either! The politics get more tangled and there is so much suspense, although I do wish we could have gotten some answers on important plot points earlier in the book.

The end is nerve wracking, and I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the ARC.

[Kala lubbers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way I regret reading this. That ending is going to haunt me. No 3rd book in sight and that’s how we end!!! I’m devastated!

[⋆｡ ﾟ sara (rinezha’s version) ☾ ﾟ｡⋆]

GIVE IT TO ME NOOOOOOOWWWW1111

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎]

Beyond excited for this

[Paola]

i need this like i need air and the fact that its supposed to be released on my birthday is a sign <3

[Kathryn]

I know this is a year away but I am seated

[scribbles ᝰ]

I need this in my hands NOW

[Mia]

HELP, I'M SAT WAITING FOR THIS 😭🙏🏻

[julie ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️
I ATE THIS UP!!!! I knew I could trust Brigid blindly but please let the woman write every single why choose books in the foreseeable future! The tension, the build up, everything is so well written I could not put it down. This series is dangerously bingeable and the plot is insane. I gasped so many times near the end, the plot twist was diabolical (and I thought I had it all figured out lol). It’s going to be a painful wait until the next book

[Andrea Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the next one!!!!!!

[Stephanie (NovelBound1813) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC from Avon Books via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!

The best thing about the second book in a trilogy is finally getting some answers to questions brought up in the first book. And oh boy do we get some answers.

The worst thing about the second book in a trilogy is being left with even more questions and the stakes getting higher and higher and then you just have to wait until the third book comes out!

A good portion of this book explores the relationship between Jory, Ky, and Asher. Things were left on shaky ground at the end of the first book and each of them are dealing with their own issues and trauma. We learn more about all of them, especially Asher, in this book. They have to learn how to overcome their typical defenses and decide what they want. It's not easy to do since they are also dealing with enemies on all sides from Astranza and Draegonis.

The last half of the book is where we really start to see some action and we get some big answers. I had some fun trying to guess who was going to be the Traitor, who was going to be the Captive, and who was the King.

This is my favorite series from Brigid Kemmerer so far!

[✨asher✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you for the arc !! im going to be vibrating with anticipation until november. no one is ready. no one.

[astra]

captive??? screaming

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead)]

Does anyone know if this is a duology or a longer series?

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the surprise of absolutely no one - I adored this book.

Warrior Princess Assassin was one of my absolute top reads of 2025, Captive Traitor King is keeping the trend alive for 2026. I truly don't know what Brigid is putting in this series but I can't get enough of it.

CTK begins almost immediately after the ending of WPA, we're with Jory, Ky, and Asher in Incendar dealing with the aftermath of what we learned at the end of WPA.

Jory is still woefully naive, but it's written in a way that feels authentic. I don't get annoyed with Jory not understanding how certain things work because she is self-aware enough to have realized how much of the world she truly was sheltered from. Instead of just assuming she knows best anyway, she regularly asks questions and takes advice from others to help her understand her shortcomings.

Ky is a giant PTSD filled teddy bear soldier still. It's interesting to see him work through his past trauma with his family and his obvious war related issues. He was never "abused" in the way that Asher was, but he still has a lot of trauma and a tendency to throw himself into things in order to gain the control he feels like he's lacking in a lot of aspects of life. Being a warrior king leaves little room for vulnerability, kindness, or general emotions but Jory and Asher bring out such a good balance in him. I can't get enough.

Asher. Oh, sweet Asher. I could write a literal dissertation on Asher and his overall story. In CTK we get more details about his past (please check the beginning for CWs) and we watch him work through these traumas and instincts with Ky and Jory. The steadiness he gets from Ky, the regular comfort he gets from Jory, the LOVE he receives from both of them just makes my heart burst.

I truly cannot gush enough about the tenderness, vulnerability, and intimacy that we see between the leads. With such differing levels of and types of experience, it's imperative that things move at a comfortable pace for all three of them. I think Brigid knocked this out of the park. We see their struggles but also their relief at finally feeling safe and loved. They have such high emotional intelligence with one another (even if they can't quite understand their own actions/reactions) and it makes such a difference with the romance. At one point Asher mentions "deliberate consideration" and I think that really sums up how they interact.

A theme throughout this book that differs a little from book 1 is the idea of "choice". It's mentioned and shown constantly - just because someone didn't say no doesn't mean they said yes. The characters each begin to learn the difference between intent and impact in relation to one another and instead of shying away from the "extra" effort to create a safe environment - they embrace it and actively work to change things for one another. It's truly a shining example of a loving, safe, respectful relationship.

Now, as for the pacing, I will say it was a *bit* slow. This book is extremely character driven, the plot is definitely there and it IS moving, but the purpose is to gain further insight into our main characters not to just expand on the world building. We do meet new characters and learn more about political issues, but the bulk of the story is about their love and journey into trusting one another. I think going into it understanding what type of story it is is important in regards to overall enjoyment.

Brigid's ability to make each character have such a distinct voice is incredible. There's just as much care taken with WHAT each character says as there is with HOW they say it. We really do get such a vivid picture of everyone - the soldiers, the leads, the family members, the servants.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 Stars

Now Playing: Ungewiss by Florian Christl, The Modern String Quintet

Favorite Quote: “The pain of others doesn’t lessen your own.”

My Thoughts:

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! That cliffhanger! I need the next book now!

Okay, now that that’s out of the way, I really did enjoy this book. I went in thinking it was the final installment in the series, but as the story progressed, I realized it’s actually setting up the conclusion of a trilogy. That didn’t stop me from enjoying it, though—in fact, I think I liked this one more than the first.

I said this about the first book, and it still applies here: not a lot happens. There are definitely moments of action, but much of the story is driven by internal monologue. For the most part, I enjoyed this because it allows us to better understand the characters and their motivations. However, it also slows the pacing quite a bit. There were times when I found myself wondering how long we’d stay in a character’s head before getting back to action or dialogue between characters. The introspection doesn’t ruin the story, but if you prefer books with faster pacing and more external conflict, this one may feel a bit slow.

One thing I think Kemmerer really improved on in this installment is Jory. I actually found myself liking her a lot more this time around. In the previous book, she was very set in what she believed to be true, without questioning or trying to understand the bigger picture. At the start of this book, I was worried we’d see more of the same, but I was pleasantly surprised. She begins to view things from different perspectives, acknowledges when she’s wrong, and actively tries to grow from her mistakes.

Another highlight was seeing the trio open up to each other. Asher has always kept his past to himself—partly to avoid reliving it and partly to protect Jory from the truth. In this book, though, he starts to share more, even though he’s afraid of how she might react. I really appreciated seeing him begin to heal and learn what genuine love feels like.

The chemistry between the three main characters is still incredibly strong. It’s so well done that I often forget the events of the series only take place over a few weeks rather than months. They complement each other perfectly—what one lacks, the others make up for.

Overall, this was a really strong sequel, and I’m incredibly excited for the next book. I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about this one constantly (thanks to that cliffhanger) until I can finally get my hands on the conclusion and dive back into this world.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG THAT ENDING

This series has me in a chokehold. I am SO grateful I got an arc of it, unbelievable!!! I wish it had been 150 more pages tbh, which is something I hardly ever ever say about a book. I just love these characters so much. They all have the deepest loyalty and the strongest competence -- which I now believe to be one of the sexiest traits someone can have. yes, handle that sword. strategize! run 10 miles up a mountain! mmmm.

It picks up right where the first book left off, which I was v happy about. I am always worried about sequels, that the first book focused so much on the romance & relationships and then the next will devolved into violence & war, but this one held its own very well. There was a lot of intrigue and scheming and training, and more focus on the magic than the first one, which I loved. It also explained more about the third country Draegonis and why it was at war with the other two countries.

and, of course, the thruple. happy sigh

"You deserve a slow, careful courtship, Princess. You deserve a husband, not a warrior who shows up in your doorway with blood on his hands and soot on his armor."

The reason this group works is because they all have slightly different strengths and weaknesses for each other, and the chemistry is just such fire. Obviously, they all have been through extreme hardship and trauma, and so Asher protects Jory and Jory comforts Ky and Ky takes care of Asher and it just works so well. I loved how Asher does anything Jory wants without question, every time. And the way Ky challenges Jory, and the way she softens Ky. I could go on and on. the steam was steaming. I! need! more!

I feel like the author is super aware of approaching the spicy moments with care, knowing that 1 member is very inexperienced and 1 member is very traumatized. She does it slowly, thoughtfully, and very character driven.

I am so eager to know what happens next and to see how everyone grows into their roles. Ahhhh!! amazing

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC.

TLDR: A worthy sequel to Warrior Princess Assassin, but still a second volume.

I loved WPA. As I wrote in my review, it’s a true romantasy where the main plot is focused on the relationships between characters and nearly everything is in service of that relationship. This usually drives me up the wall because it means shoddy worldbuilding and lame excuses to drive the romance forward. In WPA and in this second volume,it works surprisingly and enjoyably well. The worldbuilding is limited but coherent and the characters’ actions make sense in that world. The relationships are slow to form, which makes sense in context (far more sense than most romantasies in which the characters fall in insta-lust and pretend to despise each other). These characters are all protecting secrets and dealing with different traumas. In fact, I'm going back and changing my original 4-star rating to 5.

Now to Captive Traitor King. Without spoilers, I was miffed that the relationship building that transpired in the first volume regressed somewhat after the events at the end of the first volume, so a big chunk of this book feels like recapturing that state. There are also some very dark elements as we see more of Asher’s past trauma and, while more subtle, how Jory’s upbringing has shaped her. But just like WPA, the hesitant overtures, the missteps, and the soft gasps are just a delight. I giggled, kicked up my heels, and couldn’t put this down. I really needed such a fun, immersive, heart-felt book right now. But of course, the downside to getting an ARC 5 months early is that wait for the next volume feels even longer.

And may I just say that this title is GENIUS. The first book’s title sounded a bit like a joke despite how much I loved the book, but now we have to figure out WHO IS WHO.

[SelinaW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was eagerly anticipating this second installment for months now, and now I’m left even more eagerly, anticipating the next one! Brigid Kemmerer, as usual, impresses with her fluid style, seamless transition between the three POVs and careful crafting of just enough clues to weave into the story’s intrigue, while giving a glimpse of each character’s inner workings.

We begin where we left off the previous book, or shortly after. What seems like a slow plot development in the first third of the book is, in fact, a deliberate choice, in order to set up all the major reveals for the rest of the chapters. Asher and Jory are coming to terms with their newfound closeness with Ky, and with the fact that the Incendrian king is not the hardened monster they expected, but is actually kind, loyal and protective. They learn more about how Ky runs his army and his close circle of allies, as well as about the atmosphere in the country. The character development here is superb: Asher is slowly coming of his shell and allowing Jory and Ky to offer some healing, Jory is coming into her own armed with Ky’s trust in her power and her decisions, and Ky is learning to trust and lean on someone else for a change. The romance dynamic between them is an exquisite combination of slow burn and heat.

And then, of course, there is the main storyline and the intrigue and the secrets closely held by everyone, with a completely surprising ending and reveal that is bound to turn the characters’ world (and book 3) upside down. What an emotional and gripping read! So happy to have had an opportunity to read this ARC (thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books) and am (not so patiently) anticipating the next one in series!

[H. P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read and review this book ahead of its pub date!

I really loved book 1 so I was super excited to jump into book 2 and I was completely blown away - one of the things I enjoyed most in book 1 was the character growth and development and how that forged this unique relationship between the three main characters. This book continues that and is very character-driven which I very much enjoyed. There were still moments of suspense, political scheming and tactical discussion but the true heart of the story is following the main characters as they find themselves and their place in these new positions they find themselves in.

One of the best parts of book 2 was following Asher’s healing journey while learning a bit more about his trauma. He’s always been an interesting character to me so seeing him open up and find a place of comfort not just with Jory & Ky but with others in Incendar was awe-inspiring. He and Jory have always had a good relationship but you can see it grow into something deeper. You also get to see his relationship with Ky evolve into something that he likely thought he could never have.

I really appreciated how gentle the author is with his story and how she really took her time with telling it correctly and for the most part realistically. The pace of this book is a bit slower than the first because of this but it’s something that I thought was necessary and quite thoughtful.

The events of the last 20% of the book shook me - there were so many revelations and shocking twists! I admit I thought I had the twist figured out and I absolutely did not. I’m sad I’ll have to wait for book 3 but eagerly awaiting the continuation of this story!

[Ceacea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the gifted eARC.

Genre: Romantic Fantasy
⭐️ 4/5
🌶 MMF
Cliffhanger: Yes
Noteworthy: Book 2 of an incomplete trilogy(?). Multi first-person POV. Check content warnings. Expected publication date is 11/3/26.

If you read book 1 you know this is a why choose and not a love triangle. And honestly it works so well in this dynamic. I swear they all need each other for growth and healing. This book picked up where book 1 ended and is very character focused especially in the first half. The slow pacing at times is needed to peel back the layers of these characters. So freaking much trauma (Asher baby 😭).This is your reminder to check your trigger warnings before diving in. We do get some good growth here even from Jory (Thank goodness). This is a perfect series to read if you want to dip your toes into why choose. It's equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. The political drama keeps the plot moving forward and when it picks up you're ready for it. Absolutely diabolical ending!

[Ashley LeCates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed thoughts about this book.

A lot of it seemed really repetitive, honestly. The same type of issues over and over. The writing was good and even though it did seem like Ky, Asher, and Jory continued to have the same issues, I still enjoyed it.

Normally, I don’t love the constant switching POVs, but I felt like this one was really well done. I wasn’t bored or constantly wanting to switch back to another perspective.

I don’t love the twist at the end with Asher being the missing heir, it feels really out of place. Also, Lady Lisbonne now has a main role when we don’t even really know her or anything about her. I feel like we maybe should have been introduced to her in the first book.

I like that Asher is becoming more comfortable with Jory and Ky, that Ky is learning he doesn’t have to lead alone, and that Jory is coming into her own political power and magic. Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC

[Larareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

26 BOOKS IN 2026 CHALLENGE: 7/26

This whole series has me in a chokehold and the fact that I got an ARC of the second book is unbelievable and I'm sooo grateful!

Captive Traitor King picks up right where the first book ended and I had the time of my life following these two on their adventures. There is intrigue, training, scheming, magic and of course a lot of tension and heat from the three characters.

I absolutely love Brigid's writing and her characters and I found myself kicking my feet, giggling throughout the story. I really hoped the book would have been longer because I just couldn't stop reading and I wanted more!

Honestly that ending left me baffled!!! I need book three because I honestly don't know how I'm going to survive like this until 2027 or whenever the next book comes out.