What do you think?
Braided Fate #2
Captive Traitor King
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26Brigid Kemmerer returns with the sizzling, high-stakes sequel to the #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 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.
TROPES:
Why Choose/polyamorous romanceSecret MagicHidden IdentityHurt/ComfortRoyal-Political SchemingBetrayal/Redemption
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 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.
TROPES:
Why Choose/polyamorous romanceSecret MagicHidden IdentityHurt/ComfortRoyal-Political SchemingBetrayal/Redemption
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 3, 2026
About the author
Brigid Kemmerer
30 books18.6k followersBrigid 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
Currently Reading
November 17, 2025GIMME MY THROUPLE!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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🙂↕️🤞🏼
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🙂↕️🤞🏼
Want to Read
April 13, 2026
*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!!
Aahhhh!!!! I'm so excited I received an arc for the sequel, too. Though this requires a re-read for Warrior Princess Assassin!!
April 18, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
👑⛓️🪻⤷ 𝟓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔. 𝒂𝒓𝒄 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.
My expectations were sky-high going into this because I absolutely devoured the first book. The sequel Captive Traitor King was quite literally everything I was looking for.
Plot-wise the first half of this book was pretty stiff. There was a lot more focus on character building and exploring their personal traumas. While I do wish a little more happened in the first half, I was pretty content to just learn more about Ky, Asher, and Jory. This book goes into depth about the individual struggles of each character and the ghosts that still haunt them. A lot of the stuff that happened to them broke my heart and I really just wanted to give them all a hug. 🥹
I loved that this book is equal parts romance and royal-political scheming. This book really expands on the tension between the three Kingdoms: Astranza, Incendar, and Draegonis. I appreciated that the map and the territories are pretty simplistic, allowing the politics to be complex while still being easy to understand. Right now I'm equally curious about where the romantic relationships are heading and how the political conflict will play out. I swear, every chapter of this book is so addictive, I couldn't put it down. I finished this book in less than 12 hours and was reading late into the night.
We got to learn a little more about Ky's sister Victoria, but not much. I think there is a world of opportunity for her character and I'm eager to see what the author decides to do in future books. We also got to fall in love with some of the side characters. I love Roman and I am shipping him so hard with another one of the side characters. Anyway, the side characters and the general atmosphere apart from the main characters is immaculate and so enjoyable to read.
One last thing before I conclude: That ending omg!! 😱 What a cliffhanger!!! Here's the important thing though, the cliffhanger felt very earned. It didn't feel too abrupt or jarring. It felt like the perfect little diabolical surprise at the end of the book. I need the next book immediately.
Overall, this book did not have too much going on plot-wise in the first half, although it does pick up significantly towards the end. The most prominent part of the book was the character building; we got to learn so much about each of the main characters, and the spice was 🤌🏼 *chef's kiss* The royal-political aspect of this book was so fun to follow along with and I honestly can't wait to continue this series!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
*Publication Date: Nov 2, 2026*
My expectations were sky-high going into this because I absolutely devoured the first book. The sequel Captive Traitor King was quite literally everything I was looking for.
Plot-wise the first half of this book was pretty stiff. There was a lot more focus on character building and exploring their personal traumas. While I do wish a little more happened in the first half, I was pretty content to just learn more about Ky, Asher, and Jory. This book goes into depth about the individual struggles of each character and the ghosts that still haunt them. A lot of the stuff that happened to them broke my heart and I really just wanted to give them all a hug. 🥹
I loved that this book is equal parts romance and royal-political scheming. This book really expands on the tension between the three Kingdoms: Astranza, Incendar, and Draegonis. I appreciated that the map and the territories are pretty simplistic, allowing the politics to be complex while still being easy to understand. Right now I'm equally curious about where the romantic relationships are heading and how the political conflict will play out. I swear, every chapter of this book is so addictive, I couldn't put it down. I finished this book in less than 12 hours and was reading late into the night.
We got to learn a little more about Ky's sister Victoria, but not much. I think there is a world of opportunity for her character and I'm eager to see what the author decides to do in future books. We also got to fall in love with some of the side characters. I love Roman and I am shipping him so hard with another one of the side characters. Anyway, the side characters and the general atmosphere apart from the main characters is immaculate and so enjoyable to read.
One last thing before I conclude: That ending omg!! 😱 What a cliffhanger!!! Here's the important thing though, the cliffhanger felt very earned. It didn't feel too abrupt or jarring. It felt like the perfect little diabolical surprise at the end of the book. I need the next book immediately.
Overall, this book did not have too much going on plot-wise in the first half, although it does pick up significantly towards the end. The most prominent part of the book was the character building; we got to learn so much about each of the main characters, and the spice was 🤌🏼 *chef's kiss* The royal-political aspect of this book was so fun to follow along with and I honestly can't wait to continue this series!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
*Publication Date: Nov 2, 2026*
Want to Read
December 3, 2025I CANNON WAIT A WHOLE 11 MONTHS FOR THIS BOOK TO COME OUT 😭
Want to Read
December 6, 2025there are not enough words in the English language to describe how much I need this sequel
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m not entirely sure what Bridget Kemmerer puts in her books and her writing that just with one title made me a convert for life. Warrior princess assassin was easily in my top 5 books I read last year and the moment I opened the EPUB for the sequel I was just instantly sold. My bias is tremendous.
What I love most about this is how character driven it is. The writing is so absolutely detailed in describing every thing everyone is feeling and it’s so wild to me that I enjoy it this much. As a person with aphantasia, I tend to hate long descriptions because they bore me since my brain can not pick up and provide the visual cues, but when it comes to these specific characters inner thoughts and monologues I just can not get enough.
This book hooked me just as much as the first one and I think if you went feral after WPA you’re gonna be absolutely happy with this one. I live for the MMF dynamic and the way this is written, you can easily drop any part of the throuple and the relationship would still work and be believable. A true love TRIANGLE. I need more. More of this universe, more of this mechanic and more from the author in general.
All three POVs are engaging and entertaining but my favorite is Asher, the emo sad boy with a list of trauma so long it rivals any dark romance MMC. Particularly my favorite are his interactions and relationship with Ky, which continues and expands like in book one, and I could honestly read pages and pages of this alone. I adore the two of them together and their individual relationships with Jory as well. There’s also been some further exploration of her own trauma caused by get relationship with her family, Dane in particular, which to me was very personal.
I find the relationship very lust forward which I usually dislike in favor to slow burns but with these three it feels like it’s moving slowly despite some of the filthy sentiments they share for each order😂 the constant ill time interruptions were hilarious. But when it hits, it hits. This is genuinely one of my favorite romances in the genre.
Plot wise, we’re moving very very slowly but I’m not saying that in a bad way. There were some big revelations that I saw coming, but I’m really liking where the story is going. The cliffhanger tho I did not predict and it’s absolutely evil.
5/5 😩😩
What I love most about this is how character driven it is. The writing is so absolutely detailed in describing every thing everyone is feeling and it’s so wild to me that I enjoy it this much. As a person with aphantasia, I tend to hate long descriptions because they bore me since my brain can not pick up and provide the visual cues, but when it comes to these specific characters inner thoughts and monologues I just can not get enough.
This book hooked me just as much as the first one and I think if you went feral after WPA you’re gonna be absolutely happy with this one. I live for the MMF dynamic and the way this is written, you can easily drop any part of the throuple and the relationship would still work and be believable. A true love TRIANGLE. I need more. More of this universe, more of this mechanic and more from the author in general.
All three POVs are engaging and entertaining but my favorite is Asher, the emo sad boy with a list of trauma so long it rivals any dark romance MMC. Particularly my favorite are his interactions and relationship with Ky, which continues and expands like in book one, and I could honestly read pages and pages of this alone. I adore the two of them together and their individual relationships with Jory as well. There’s also been some further exploration of her own trauma caused by get relationship with her family, Dane in particular, which to me was very personal.
I find the relationship very lust forward which I usually dislike in favor to slow burns but with these three it feels like it’s moving slowly despite some of the filthy sentiments they share for each order😂 the constant ill time interruptions were hilarious. But when it hits, it hits. This is genuinely one of my favorite romances in the genre.
Plot wise, we’re moving very very slowly but I’m not saying that in a bad way. There were some big revelations that I saw coming, but I’m really liking where the story is going. The cliffhanger tho I did not predict and it’s absolutely evil.
5/5 😩😩
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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
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
April 15, 2026
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.
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.
Want to Read
June 4, 2026I love me a good book on royal-political scheming ;)
Very happy to be able to receive a continuation of this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Brigid Kemmerer for an early ARC!
Publication date: November 3, 2026
Very happy to be able to receive a continuation of this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Brigid Kemmerer for an early ARC!
Publication date: November 3, 2026
March 27, 2026
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!
Currently Reading
September 18, 2026「‧₊˚🛡️ 𝒫𝑅𝐸𝑅𝐸𝒜𝒟 💜˚₊‧」
જ⁀➴ Started September 18th
OMG I GOT APPROVED FOR THE ARC AAAAHHHH GPEGIHERGIE 🥳😫 I really liked Warrior Princess Assassin, so I'm super excited to read the sequel! I hope Ky is still as sweet as ever, Jory goes through some character growth, and Asher gets support for his past traumas 🫂 Oh, and I hope they all kiss again. That too 🤭
જ⁀➴ Started September 18th
OMG I GOT APPROVED FOR THE ARC AAAAHHHH GPEGIHERGIE 🥳😫 I really liked Warrior Princess Assassin, so I'm super excited to read the sequel! I hope Ky is still as sweet as ever, Jory goes through some character growth, and Asher gets support for his past traumas 🫂 Oh, and I hope they all kiss again. That too 🤭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3/5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
I'm so saddened by the lack of enjoyment I had with this sequel, especially since I greatly enjoyed my experience reading Warrior Princess Assassin, but this sequel was just so maddeningly mediocre.
My biggest qualm with this novel is the pacing. WHAT THE HECK WAS THE PACING. The first half of the book is one singular day. ONE DAY for half of an already short book is ridiculous!! Especially when it's a fantasy novel about a looming war. I was so confused because this book was so incredibly short and I just didn't understand why it even had to be a book. Like this entire book could have easily been 100 pages. Just..nothing happens. The final twist is something I 90% guessed at the end of book 1 so I was left dumbfounded over that being the huge ending here. This book is character focused 100% and it was jarring to me just because book 1 did not have such a focus on them. And I do often enjoy character focused fantasies, but I didn't love any of our three MCs here enough to justify the bizarre pacing here. Like the whole book takes place over 3 days and it's mostly conversations. Huh?
In light of this, I can't really say the character development was major because again it's been 3 days lol like they're becoming aware of their flaws but that's about it. Jory annoyed me more than anything in this one, I just found her to be acting brash all the time and I didn't connect to her. Everytime someone commented on how kind she was and caring I was just like she's acting like a normal human with decency.
Ky has always been my favourite and I did enjoy him here. I liked seeing his flashes of vulnerability.
Asher is just a character I don't connect with. I enjoyed getting to understand him more but I just don't love him.
Side characters wise, I liked Roman, but the short length of this book really left no room for any side characters. Still don't know why Victoria is a character at all given how irrelevant she's been.
Plot wise it's a lot of conversations and no action. We learn more about magic as a whole but when the main aggressor in this series is a kingdom that no one knows anything about it becomes somewhat laughable in a sense. No one knows anything about Draegonis! Not even who's ruling the damn place. It becomes hard to be invested in a conflict when the 'bad guys' are potentially not the bad guys if we had any context at all for their actions.
While I had more dislikes than likes in regards to this novel, I will say that the writing was good and I enjoy it for what it is. I will read the finale but I do firmly believe that this could have easily been a duology. I'm not sure exactly what will be happening in book 3 given how loose the plot is but I hope that it's a book of more length than this!
Captive Traitor King hits shelves November 3rd.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
I'm so saddened by the lack of enjoyment I had with this sequel, especially since I greatly enjoyed my experience reading Warrior Princess Assassin, but this sequel was just so maddeningly mediocre.
My biggest qualm with this novel is the pacing. WHAT THE HECK WAS THE PACING. The first half of the book is one singular day. ONE DAY for half of an already short book is ridiculous!! Especially when it's a fantasy novel about a looming war. I was so confused because this book was so incredibly short and I just didn't understand why it even had to be a book. Like this entire book could have easily been 100 pages. Just..nothing happens. The final twist is something I 90% guessed at the end of book 1 so I was left dumbfounded over that being the huge ending here. This book is character focused 100% and it was jarring to me just because book 1 did not have such a focus on them. And I do often enjoy character focused fantasies, but I didn't love any of our three MCs here enough to justify the bizarre pacing here. Like the whole book takes place over 3 days and it's mostly conversations. Huh?
In light of this, I can't really say the character development was major because again it's been 3 days lol like they're becoming aware of their flaws but that's about it. Jory annoyed me more than anything in this one, I just found her to be acting brash all the time and I didn't connect to her. Everytime someone commented on how kind she was and caring I was just like she's acting like a normal human with decency.
Ky has always been my favourite and I did enjoy him here. I liked seeing his flashes of vulnerability.
Asher is just a character I don't connect with. I enjoyed getting to understand him more but I just don't love him.
Side characters wise, I liked Roman, but the short length of this book really left no room for any side characters. Still don't know why Victoria is a character at all given how irrelevant she's been.
Plot wise it's a lot of conversations and no action. We learn more about magic as a whole but when the main aggressor in this series is a kingdom that no one knows anything about it becomes somewhat laughable in a sense. No one knows anything about Draegonis! Not even who's ruling the damn place. It becomes hard to be invested in a conflict when the 'bad guys' are potentially not the bad guys if we had any context at all for their actions.
While I had more dislikes than likes in regards to this novel, I will say that the writing was good and I enjoy it for what it is. I will read the finale but I do firmly believe that this could have easily been a duology. I'm not sure exactly what will be happening in book 3 given how loose the plot is but I hope that it's a book of more length than this!
Captive Traitor King hits shelves November 3rd.
June 6, 2026
The squeal I let out when the book I joined NetGalley for got approved!! This totally made my day in the best way, and then I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. Who needs sleep? (Oh goodness, me!)
We pick up just a week after the first book. Jory, Ky, and Asher seem to have fallen back to their default settings, trying to figure things out in their own way. So much of this book is a healing journey, and learning to do things together. “That’s the point of an army.”
What I really love about this book are the characters. They’re so beautifully and heartbreakingly written, I cannot help but love them. Even the side characters. I love having the alternating points of view from each of our 3 main characters, to be able to really understand their thoughts, their fears, their insecurities. The trauma, the healing, it’s all so much.
I thought I had figured out the shape of what was happening at the two-thirds mark, only to be thrown off the scent. But then turns out I was right!! I was screaming in my head, only to have my stomach drop right out of my body at the ending.
How am I going to make it to the next book after this?! This is the only book series I’ve read with this type of relationship dynamic, but other aspects like the political maneuvering did remind me of The Bridge Kingdom and The Remnant Chronicles. So I would think fans of those books would also enjoy this series.
Final thoughts: I don’t even know what to do with myself now. I loved this book so much, I love the characters, and I cannot wait to see how this all comes together in the next book.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
We pick up just a week after the first book. Jory, Ky, and Asher seem to have fallen back to their default settings, trying to figure things out in their own way. So much of this book is a healing journey, and learning to do things together. “That’s the point of an army.”
What I really love about this book are the characters. They’re so beautifully and heartbreakingly written, I cannot help but love them. Even the side characters. I love having the alternating points of view from each of our 3 main characters, to be able to really understand their thoughts, their fears, their insecurities. The trauma, the healing, it’s all so much.
I thought I had figured out the shape of what was happening at the two-thirds mark, only to be thrown off the scent. But then turns out I was right!! I was screaming in my head, only to have my stomach drop right out of my body at the ending.
How am I going to make it to the next book after this?! This is the only book series I’ve read with this type of relationship dynamic, but other aspects like the political maneuvering did remind me of The Bridge Kingdom and The Remnant Chronicles. So I would think fans of those books would also enjoy this series.
Final thoughts: I don’t even know what to do with myself now. I loved this book so much, I love the characters, and I cannot wait to see how this all comes together in the next book.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 7, 2026
Son of a bitch.
Now what do I do.
Other than crash out?
I loved this.
Now what do I do.
Other than crash out?
I loved this.
Want to Read
December 29, 2025GIVE IT TO ME NOOOOOOOWWWW1111
August 20, 2026
Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyage and Bridgid Kemmer, for the advance copy of Captive Traitor King in exchange for an honest review!
Wow, wow, wow, I need the next book asap because that ending has me shook!! Every time I read a book in this series, I think that it can’t get better, but it keeps getting better and better!
Captive Traitor King takes place right after the end of the first book. But this time we get a deeper look into the kingdoms of Incendar, Astranza, and Dregonis. I liked being able to see more of the kingdoms and how each of them is run, and the relations between them. We got to see more of the tension between kingdoms and their political relations, which I liked!
I loved learning about the past of Jory, Asher, and Ky. It helped to really give life to their characters, and I couldn’t help but sympathize with them more. They have all been through so much, especially Asher. I wanted to hug him after hearing everything that he went through and how it’s shaped him as a person. It helped me to understand why his character acts the way he does. I think Jory, Asher, and Ky all give each other something in their relationship and help to complement each other. While they still have some trust issues in the beginning of the book, I think it’s warranted because they all don’t want to be betrayed, as they have been in the past.
I love the conflict in this book. And while you will get a lot of character development from this book, there is also a lot of political intrigue and conflict, and you will still get lots of action from the book. The story will have you invested the entire time! I also liked that we got to see more of Ky’s sister. She was mentioned a few times in the first book, but both Jory and Asher are curious about her. While Ky tries to keep them away, he can’t hide his sister forever, and I was glad Ky let Asher get to know his sister a little more.
I can’t wait to get the next book into my hands because of that cliffhanger??? I need to recover from that, because I don’t know if I’m ready for the next book! I can’t wait to see how things play out with the characters and the conflict they are facing.
Wow, wow, wow, I need the next book asap because that ending has me shook!! Every time I read a book in this series, I think that it can’t get better, but it keeps getting better and better!
Captive Traitor King takes place right after the end of the first book. But this time we get a deeper look into the kingdoms of Incendar, Astranza, and Dregonis. I liked being able to see more of the kingdoms and how each of them is run, and the relations between them. We got to see more of the tension between kingdoms and their political relations, which I liked!
I loved learning about the past of Jory, Asher, and Ky. It helped to really give life to their characters, and I couldn’t help but sympathize with them more. They have all been through so much, especially Asher. I wanted to hug him after hearing everything that he went through and how it’s shaped him as a person. It helped me to understand why his character acts the way he does. I think Jory, Asher, and Ky all give each other something in their relationship and help to complement each other. While they still have some trust issues in the beginning of the book, I think it’s warranted because they all don’t want to be betrayed, as they have been in the past.
I love the conflict in this book. And while you will get a lot of character development from this book, there is also a lot of political intrigue and conflict, and you will still get lots of action from the book. The story will have you invested the entire time! I also liked that we got to see more of Ky’s sister. She was mentioned a few times in the first book, but both Jory and Asher are curious about her. While Ky tries to keep them away, he can’t hide his sister forever, and I was glad Ky let Asher get to know his sister a little more.
I can’t wait to get the next book into my hands because of that cliffhanger??? I need to recover from that, because I don’t know if I’m ready for the next book! I can’t wait to see how things play out with the characters and the conflict they are facing.
May 14, 2026
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC! 3.75⭐️
I was sooo excited to get access to this book!!! I adored the first one and was thrilled to pick up the second one. Overall, this book does kinda fall into the middle book syndrome. Especially in the beginning in which there is a lot of reminding the reader what happened previously (which I did very appreciate), but even after this point it felt like a while before the plot began to progress.
This book seems to focus a lot more on Asher and him coming to terms with all of the abuse and violence he experienced in his youth. I did really appreciate the attention on his character this time around, given that we learned a lot about Jory and Ky in the first novel.
HEAVY SPOILERS:
Especially with the reveal with Asher in the end (OMG!!)
Continuing on:
I found myself enjoying the last third of the novel more than the beginning (which is mostly bigger reveals and connections, as well as, some spice 💋). I continue to love the dynamic between the three of them, and I’m really excited to see more development in the next book!!!
I am thrilled to see more of Jory making important decisions also toward the end, especially with Dane and now with Ky and Asher gone (for now…)
This series continues to be very yummy and I cannot wait for the third book!! Highly recommend to my romantasy lovers!
I was sooo excited to get access to this book!!! I adored the first one and was thrilled to pick up the second one. Overall, this book does kinda fall into the middle book syndrome. Especially in the beginning in which there is a lot of reminding the reader what happened previously (which I did very appreciate), but even after this point it felt like a while before the plot began to progress.
This book seems to focus a lot more on Asher and him coming to terms with all of the abuse and violence he experienced in his youth. I did really appreciate the attention on his character this time around, given that we learned a lot about Jory and Ky in the first novel.
HEAVY SPOILERS:
Especially with the reveal with Asher in the end (OMG!!)
Continuing on:
I found myself enjoying the last third of the novel more than the beginning (which is mostly bigger reveals and connections, as well as, some spice 💋). I continue to love the dynamic between the three of them, and I’m really excited to see more development in the next book!!!
I am thrilled to see more of Jory making important decisions also toward the end, especially with Dane and now with Ky and Asher gone (for now…)
This series continues to be very yummy and I cannot wait for the third book!! Highly recommend to my romantasy lovers!
April 25, 2026
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
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
June 21, 2026
The sequel to Warrior Princess Assassin is easily one of my favorite books of 2026.
I read a lot of romantasy, and sometimes the books start to blur together: A parade of enemies-to-lovers romances, characters carrying the same emotional baggage, and plotlines driven by frustratingly bad decisions. More than once I’ve found myself thinking, Surely there was a better choice than that?
What I appreciate so much about Brigid’s writing is that I never feel that way about her characters. They’re thoughtfully developed from the start, then challenged in ways that feel natural to who they are. Their struggles push them to grow and change, and that growth always feels earned rather than forced.
The central thruple relationship continues to work remarkably well. It never feels contrived; instead, each character brings something meaningful to the dynamic, and they genuinely seem to fulfill needs in one another’s lives. The relationship is tested throughout the story, but almost entirely by external forces rather than manufactured internal drama. They’re not fighting against being together, and when conflicts arise, they’re handled with a level of honesty and emotional maturity that’s refreshing for the genre.
While this sequel is heavily focused on character growth, the plot remains engaging. The conflict between the kingdoms deepens, becoming increasingly mysterious and intriguing, and it leaves plenty of questions to keep you invested in the larger story.
There’s definitely more spice in this installment, but Brigid takes her time getting there. The slow burn is handled beautifully, building tension and anticipation in a way that makes the payoff feel worthwhile.
I absolutely loved this book. I can understand why readers looking for a more plot-driven story might not connect with it as strongly, but for me, it’s a standout. I suspect it will remain one of my favorite reads of 2026 and beyond.
Now I just have to survive the wait for book three.
I read a lot of romantasy, and sometimes the books start to blur together: A parade of enemies-to-lovers romances, characters carrying the same emotional baggage, and plotlines driven by frustratingly bad decisions. More than once I’ve found myself thinking, Surely there was a better choice than that?
What I appreciate so much about Brigid’s writing is that I never feel that way about her characters. They’re thoughtfully developed from the start, then challenged in ways that feel natural to who they are. Their struggles push them to grow and change, and that growth always feels earned rather than forced.
The central thruple relationship continues to work remarkably well. It never feels contrived; instead, each character brings something meaningful to the dynamic, and they genuinely seem to fulfill needs in one another’s lives. The relationship is tested throughout the story, but almost entirely by external forces rather than manufactured internal drama. They’re not fighting against being together, and when conflicts arise, they’re handled with a level of honesty and emotional maturity that’s refreshing for the genre.
While this sequel is heavily focused on character growth, the plot remains engaging. The conflict between the kingdoms deepens, becoming increasingly mysterious and intriguing, and it leaves plenty of questions to keep you invested in the larger story.
There’s definitely more spice in this installment, but Brigid takes her time getting there. The slow burn is handled beautifully, building tension and anticipation in a way that makes the payoff feel worthwhile.
I absolutely loved this book. I can understand why readers looking for a more plot-driven story might not connect with it as strongly, but for me, it’s a standout. I suspect it will remain one of my favorite reads of 2026 and beyond.
Now I just have to survive the wait for book three.
July 3, 2026
4.25⭐️
While I did love this, it does feel like a lot more exposition to set up all the things to come in book 3. The last 15% of this book drops some bombs like 🤯🤯.
I like the way the trio interact together (and umm… that last spicy scene at the end was fire 🔥) but I do think the relationship between Asher and Ky is more developed and complex than Jory’s with our MMC’s.Jory took a backseat to the boys in this one and I’m really hoping her character comes into her own in book 3.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
While I did love this, it does feel like a lot more exposition to set up all the things to come in book 3. The last 15% of this book drops some bombs like 🤯🤯.
I like the way the trio interact together (and umm… that last spicy scene at the end was fire 🔥) but I do think the relationship between Asher and Ky is more developed and complex than Jory’s with our MMC’s.Jory took a backseat to the boys in this one and I’m really hoping her character comes into her own in book 3.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
May 24, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and the author for this advanced copy. This book was one of my most anticipated sequels of 2026 and it did not disappoint.
The stakes were higher and the threat of war was greater, however, there were still moments where the writing left room to breathe, for things to settle, and for the relationships and characters to develop. I loved getting to see each characters’ trauma and how each of them has been affected. They all grew to understand each other and help each other through the worst of it. I really enjoyed how they all relied on each other and how well the relationship worked between the 3 of them.
The tension from book 1 carried over into this book and I loved watching the 3 MCs navigate their relationship in a new setting under new circumstances. I really loved where the relationship ended up and hope to see more of them together trusting each other in book 3.
That cliffhanger and the revelations from the last few chapters were shocking and have me very worried for the well being of some of my favorite characters.
The stakes were higher and the threat of war was greater, however, there were still moments where the writing left room to breathe, for things to settle, and for the relationships and characters to develop. I loved getting to see each characters’ trauma and how each of them has been affected. They all grew to understand each other and help each other through the worst of it. I really enjoyed how they all relied on each other and how well the relationship worked between the 3 of them.
The tension from book 1 carried over into this book and I loved watching the 3 MCs navigate their relationship in a new setting under new circumstances. I really loved where the relationship ended up and hope to see more of them together trusting each other in book 3.
That cliffhanger and the revelations from the last few chapters were shocking and have me very worried for the well being of some of my favorite characters.
May 4, 2026
⭐️5 stars. This series is god tiered. I didn’t think that I would like this book more than the first one but I am even more OBSESSED with it!
The characters are all fantastic. I love how for most of the book you get to see Jory, Ky, and Asher explore their relationship and learn more about each other. The angst and the yearning that was happening between all of them was almost too much to handle.
The absolutely insane cliffhanger that this story ended on had me throwing my book across the room! How dare you leave it like this! This series has me in a chokehold and I desperately need the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
The characters are all fantastic. I love how for most of the book you get to see Jory, Ky, and Asher explore their relationship and learn more about each other. The angst and the yearning that was happening between all of them was almost too much to handle.
The absolutely insane cliffhanger that this story ended on had me throwing my book across the room! How dare you leave it like this! This series has me in a chokehold and I desperately need the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
June 20, 2026
Warrior Princess Assassin is my favorite book from Brigid Kemmerer, and I loved seeing more of the world and characters in Captive Traitor King. In this book, she managed to show immense character growth while also allowing that growth to result in a supportive relationship between the main characters. That support provides the basis for a lot of the growth and development of each character, which I think really sets things up well for book three.
In contrast to the first book where Jory was often excluded from planning or left in the dark, she is included and even encouraged to participate. I already wanted to give Asher a hug, but we find out more about his trauma and it plays a larger role in the plot. His growth in particular is extraordinary to see in this story. Ky is forced to learn how to rest and allow others to take care of him, which doesn’t come naturally to him as the king. Their dynamic becomes something fluid and adaptable, depending on each person’s needs, and I really enjoyed how Brigid portrayed those scenes while handling triggers with care.
I loved getting to see more of Ky’s sister Victoria as well, and am curious to her future role in this story. The magic gained new facets, providing a more expansive understanding of what may happen in the next book. The mystery component kept me guessing up until the end, and I really liked how the twists played out. The ending was a huge surprise, and I am desperate to find out what happens next!
Captive Traitor King releases on November 3, 2026. Thank you Avon for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley), all thoughts expressed are my own.
In contrast to the first book where Jory was often excluded from planning or left in the dark, she is included and even encouraged to participate. I already wanted to give Asher a hug, but we find out more about his trauma and it plays a larger role in the plot. His growth in particular is extraordinary to see in this story. Ky is forced to learn how to rest and allow others to take care of him, which doesn’t come naturally to him as the king. Their dynamic becomes something fluid and adaptable, depending on each person’s needs, and I really enjoyed how Brigid portrayed those scenes while handling triggers with care.
I loved getting to see more of Ky’s sister Victoria as well, and am curious to her future role in this story. The magic gained new facets, providing a more expansive understanding of what may happen in the next book. The mystery component kept me guessing up until the end, and I really liked how the twists played out. The ending was a huge surprise, and I am desperate to find out what happens next!
Captive Traitor King releases on November 3, 2026. Thank you Avon for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley), all thoughts expressed are my own.
June 12, 2026
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the arc!
the ending….brigid….
full rtc
the ending….brigid….
full rtc
Want to Read
December 30, 2025I know this is a year away but I am seated
Want to Read
November 22, 2025I need this in my hands NOW
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i need this like i need air and the fact that its supposed to be released on my birthday is a sign <3
Want to Read
December 28, 2025HELP, I'M SAT WAITING FOR THIS 😭🙏🏻
Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews