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Braided Fate #2
Captive Traitor King
Brigid 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
First published 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.
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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!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75-4! I love me a good book with political scheming.
Full review to follow!!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Brigid Kemmerer for an early ARC!
Publication date: November 3, 2026
Full review to follow!!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Brigid Kemmerer for an early ARC!
Publication date: November 3, 2026
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
Today I’d planned to read a book on my physical TBR because it’s been there for a while… but then I requested this one and got it immediately??????? THANK YOU SO MUCH NETGALLEY & THE PUBLISHERS 😭 I’m beside myself
4.5✨
This book picks up where the first one left off and I am just at a loss for words for the romance. I’m rarely a ‘head over heels’ for romance type of reader… but this one?? Wow. I’m just so enchanted by what the mmc’s have. Asher & Ky have THE BEST chemistry I’ve read in a long while & I can’t get enough.
This one has the same issue that the first instalment had where the plot is actually directionless and you mostly feel like it’s going no where… but the character development & romance makes up for it tenfold.
I don’t always read the sex scenes in books because I mostly feel like they’re all the same after a while but I cannot skip a single word from the scenes in this series so another thing that says it all.
I don’t think it comes as a surprise that Asher is my favourite character. He’s so traumatized & I just want to protect him at all cost. What he went through is so difficult to read but it’s just such a good thing that the author isn’t shying away from these topics.
Ky is such a protector. You can tell this man has aura. Jory sort of fades in the background ; even in the first one I’ve felt that the men had way more chemistry. But her character still has very important traumas and I appreciated that it was explored more in this instalment.
As mentioned above, the plot didn’t really move in this one so I called a few of the twists. But the ending was CRIMINAL. As Princess Donut would say : THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!! (My exact reaction. I just sat there thinking : WHERE IS THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!)
Really recommend this series for romance lovers.
4.5✨
This book picks up where the first one left off and I am just at a loss for words for the romance. I’m rarely a ‘head over heels’ for romance type of reader… but this one?? Wow. I’m just so enchanted by what the mmc’s have. Asher & Ky have THE BEST chemistry I’ve read in a long while & I can’t get enough.
This one has the same issue that the first instalment had where the plot is actually directionless and you mostly feel like it’s going no where… but the character development & romance makes up for it tenfold.
I don’t always read the sex scenes in books because I mostly feel like they’re all the same after a while but I cannot skip a single word from the scenes in this series so another thing that says it all.
I don’t think it comes as a surprise that Asher is my favourite character. He’s so traumatized & I just want to protect him at all cost. What he went through is so difficult to read but it’s just such a good thing that the author isn’t shying away from these topics.
Ky is such a protector. You can tell this man has aura. Jory sort of fades in the background ; even in the first one I’ve felt that the men had way more chemistry. But her character still has very important traumas and I appreciated that it was explored more in this instalment.
As mentioned above, the plot didn’t really move in this one so I called a few of the twists. But the ending was CRIMINAL. As Princess Donut would say : THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!! (My exact reaction. I just sat there thinking : WHERE IS THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!)
Really recommend this series for romance lovers.
October 16, 2026
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the ARC! If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll like this one. Truly romantasy at its finest. It’s character-driven just like the first book, but manages to be so fun still. I love both MMCs so much. The yearning, the tenderness… Shewwwww. It’s very rare for me to enjoy a second book more than the first, but I dare say- this second book was better! It ends on a crazy cliffhanger, so just be prepared.
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*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
⚔️≋💙≋👑 Captive Traitor King 👑≋💙≋⚔️
꒰➛ Stars: 4 ⭐!
꒰➛ Pov: Multiple first-person
꒰➛ Spice: 2 / 5
꒰➛ Content: Swearing; violence; memories of SA (in backstory); a few somewhat detailed spicy scenes
꒰➛ This review is spoiler-free!
꒰➛ Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Story! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Warrior Princess Assassin, there was a lot of adventuring, and quite a bit of political intrigue too. Some of my favorite things! Here, we take a slower pace to really get to learn about each of the characters, letting them have a little downtime while still keeping up the politics! Some people don't really care for slow pacing, but I actually thought it was a good choice here, because we needed those moments where everyone just connects with each other. Of course, the situations surrounding Ky, Jory, and Asher still drag them away from each other, but that's life in a fantasy world right?
Basically, if Warrior Princess Assassin was journeying and politics, Captive Traitor King is romance and politics 💗 (AND WHAT WAS THAT CLIFFHANGER THAT WAS EVIL)
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Characters! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
╰┈➤ 𝒦𝓎
Ky's by far the most emotionally mature character in the book (said with affection for the others). The warrior king with the gentle heart was definitely my favorite in the last book, and he still is here 🥰 He's just such a safe place for Jory and Asher, and the understanding he has for them is so heartwarming. We delve a little more into the ways the battlefield has shaped him, and I firmly believe he deserves a little coziness in his life
╰┈➤ 𝒥𝑜𝓇𝓎
In my review of Warrior Princess Assassin, I said I was looking forward to Jory growing as a character, and I wasn't disappointed! She's still headstrong, still unsure, but she's trying. And she's not nearly as impulsive as before, which is good to see! Don't worry though, she still makes little schemes with Asher, always igniting Ky's protectiveness and testing his patience at the same time 🤭
╰┈➤ 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓇
Obviously, Asher did not deserve anything that happened to him. If you've read the first one, you know what I'm talking about. We go more in-depth about his past trauma, and I now have two specific people I'd like to... disappear 😇🔪 Seeing him start to feel so safe with Ky and Jory just tugs at your heartstrings, in that make-you-misty-eyed way. His relationship with Jory is also a treat, just because you can read the long-time friendship vibe between them!
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Romance! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll always be a big fan of MMF, the best poly pairing imo, and the romance between the throuple is here! They're so cute together; I don't know much about lab, but even I can tell there's chemistry here! Ky is so protective of them, Jory is finding her footing with them, and Asher has found safety with them, ehehehehe 💗 (Romantic giggling)
AND THERE'S NO MISCOMMUNICATION PEOPLE 🥳 I hate that trope, so I was really happy to see less angst in the relationship itself, but angst towards the world instead. The tension is external rather than internal, and that's definitely my preference in romances!
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Conclusion! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone give me the third one, this throuple needs their HEA 🙏🏻 And they had better get one, or else I will RAGE
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
⚔️≋💙≋👑 Captive Traitor King 👑≋💙≋⚔️
꒰➛ Stars: 4 ⭐!
꒰➛ Pov: Multiple first-person
꒰➛ Spice: 2 / 5
꒰➛ Content: Swearing; violence; memories of SA (in backstory); a few somewhat detailed spicy scenes
꒰➛ This review is spoiler-free!
꒰➛ Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Story! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Warrior Princess Assassin, there was a lot of adventuring, and quite a bit of political intrigue too. Some of my favorite things! Here, we take a slower pace to really get to learn about each of the characters, letting them have a little downtime while still keeping up the politics! Some people don't really care for slow pacing, but I actually thought it was a good choice here, because we needed those moments where everyone just connects with each other. Of course, the situations surrounding Ky, Jory, and Asher still drag them away from each other, but that's life in a fantasy world right?
Basically, if Warrior Princess Assassin was journeying and politics, Captive Traitor King is romance and politics 💗 (AND WHAT WAS THAT CLIFFHANGER THAT WAS EVIL)
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Characters! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
╰┈➤ 𝒦𝓎
Ky's by far the most emotionally mature character in the book (said with affection for the others). The warrior king with the gentle heart was definitely my favorite in the last book, and he still is here 🥰 He's just such a safe place for Jory and Asher, and the understanding he has for them is so heartwarming. We delve a little more into the ways the battlefield has shaped him, and I firmly believe he deserves a little coziness in his life
╰┈➤ 𝒥𝑜𝓇𝓎
In my review of Warrior Princess Assassin, I said I was looking forward to Jory growing as a character, and I wasn't disappointed! She's still headstrong, still unsure, but she's trying. And she's not nearly as impulsive as before, which is good to see! Don't worry though, she still makes little schemes with Asher, always igniting Ky's protectiveness and testing his patience at the same time 🤭
╰┈➤ 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓇
Obviously, Asher did not deserve anything that happened to him. If you've read the first one, you know what I'm talking about. We go more in-depth about his past trauma, and I now have two specific people I'd like to... disappear 😇🔪 Seeing him start to feel so safe with Ky and Jory just tugs at your heartstrings, in that make-you-misty-eyed way. His relationship with Jory is also a treat, just because you can read the long-time friendship vibe between them!
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Romance! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll always be a big fan of MMF, the best poly pairing imo, and the romance between the throuple is here! They're so cute together; I don't know much about lab, but even I can tell there's chemistry here! Ky is so protective of them, Jory is finding her footing with them, and Asher has found safety with them, ehehehehe 💗 (Romantic giggling)
AND THERE'S NO MISCOMMUNICATION PEOPLE 🥳 I hate that trope, so I was really happy to see less angst in the relationship itself, but angst towards the world instead. The tension is external rather than internal, and that's definitely my preference in romances!
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
✎𓂃 Conclusion! 𓂃✎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone give me the third one, this throuple needs their HEA 🙏🏻 And they had better get one, or else I will RAGE
═══ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ═════ ≪ °♡° ≫ ════
November 1, 2026
Captive Traitor King picks up right where the first book left off, and we immediately get hit with the same delicious blend of INSANE chemistry and political intrigue that made the first book such a fun read. This second installment leans more into all of the characters pasts and how they can learn to trust each other despite all the general trauma and backstabbing. The plot didn’t move forward much, but the buildup was so emotionally charged that I did not mind at all.
Asher’s trauma is explored a lot more in this book, so definitely check your triggers. I felt like everything was handled so well—showing the horrors of his past abuse without being gratuitous—and the way he was able to open up to the others was beautiful 🥺
I loved how much more we got on Ky and Jory as well! Ky is such a complex character, and the author did a great job of showing how his life of war has affected him. Jory wasn’t as fleshed out as I had wanted in the first book, but this one I am starting to see the potential. She is slowly but surely finding her strength, and I really enjoyed the friendships she started forming in Incendar!
I think the real selling point in this series is the romance though. The author knows how to write chemistry, especially between Ky and Asher! The tension, the push and pull, and overall FIRE between those two is delectable. Every conversation feels like a tease 🔥 The moments between Jory and the mmcs also have this sweetness that is addictive to read.
This book also goes a little more into the history of the continent and war between the kingdoms. I can’t wait to get some answers about the new revelations this sequel gave, and the twists at the end!!! I sat reading the acknowledgments hoping that the words would somehow rearrange into another chapter 👹🥺
••••••••••••••
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advance copy! 💜
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 😩😩
November 3, 2026
This series feels like an irresistibly bingeable soap opera. It's like 10% plot, 20% dialogue, 70% internal monologue, but despite low amount of action, it's never boring. The angst, the drama, the emotions - they should feel over the top and cheesy, but somehow the author pulls it off and makes the main trio feel like living, breathing people instead of simply the archetypes they represent. I would've never expected to love this series based on the description, it has all the traits of books I don't love: archetypal characters, window dressing worldbuilding and low amount of external plot with heavy romance focus. And yet, miraculously, I couldn't put it down.
It's one of the rare cases where it looks like the author had fun with the tropes rather than treating it as a job to tick the checklist. The characters are fun, and they can be both admirable and vulnerable, flawed and respect worthy. Which is something I feel is often missing dearly from romantasy archetypes, broody tough guys lack vulnerability and naive princesses are plot props to be saved. Not here! They all play their roles and complement each other, while learning from each other too.
It proves that following tropes isn't the problem, it's the execution that matters. Making it a throuple also breathed new life into typical dynamics, because of how all 3 sides of this triangle interact with each other, disrupting any cases of potential stalemate.
I also really appreciate how much non-penetrative sex is included in this series. Too often why choose just revolves around the men stuffing their dicks into all possible holes, but this series includes a surprising amount of oral and handjobs, which is refreshing in the day and age where people associate "spice" with rough pounding.
Around 2/3rds in there's a clue dropped that made me immediately predict the outcome, but hey, it's par for the course for a soap opera. The book ends on a cliffhanger, since it's a trilogy iirc, but I can already feel how the series will end, and to be honest, it's a romantasy, it can't end in any other manner, or I'll riot. The question isn't how, the question is what's the journey to that point.
It's a highly entertaining, character-driven fantasy romance and I can't wait for book 3. Despite low amount of plot, there were still a few of important reveals pertaining magic and the political situation on the continent, setting up for an explosive finale.
Thank you Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
It's one of the rare cases where it looks like the author had fun with the tropes rather than treating it as a job to tick the checklist. The characters are fun, and they can be both admirable and vulnerable, flawed and respect worthy. Which is something I feel is often missing dearly from romantasy archetypes, broody tough guys lack vulnerability and naive princesses are plot props to be saved. Not here! They all play their roles and complement each other, while learning from each other too.
It proves that following tropes isn't the problem, it's the execution that matters. Making it a throuple also breathed new life into typical dynamics, because of how all 3 sides of this triangle interact with each other, disrupting any cases of potential stalemate.
I also really appreciate how much non-penetrative sex is included in this series. Too often why choose just revolves around the men stuffing their dicks into all possible holes, but this series includes a surprising amount of oral and handjobs, which is refreshing in the day and age where people associate "spice" with rough pounding.
Around 2/3rds in there's a clue dropped that made me immediately predict the outcome, but hey, it's par for the course for a soap opera. The book ends on a cliffhanger, since it's a trilogy iirc, but I can already feel how the series will end, and to be honest, it's a romantasy, it can't end in any other manner, or I'll riot. The question isn't how, the question is what's the journey to that point.
It's a highly entertaining, character-driven fantasy romance and I can't wait for book 3. Despite low amount of plot, there were still a few of important reveals pertaining magic and the political situation on the continent, setting up for an explosive finale.
Thank you Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Happy Release Day!!
This series has some sort of crack in it.
It's not perfect by any means, but the ease of reading this series has been 🤌🏻
The flow here is just so good. Even if there are parts sticking out at me in a more negative way, the writing is just SO. GOOD.
The relationship got the majority of the development here. There was certainly progression of the overall plot, but this book seemed to slow way down comparatively. The first book, if I remember correctly, had a much faster, consistent pace. Whereas here we slowed way down but had a lot of good personal development, both with the individual characters and their relationship. I still feel Jory is lacking compared to Asher and Ky. And Ky. Good god. He does some incredible heavy lifting and after this book Asher isn't far behind.
But with where this book leaves off, I think the next one is gonna be a BANGER ❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This series has some sort of crack in it.
It's not perfect by any means, but the ease of reading this series has been 🤌🏻
The flow here is just so good. Even if there are parts sticking out at me in a more negative way, the writing is just SO. GOOD.
The relationship got the majority of the development here. There was certainly progression of the overall plot, but this book seemed to slow way down comparatively. The first book, if I remember correctly, had a much faster, consistent pace. Whereas here we slowed way down but had a lot of good personal development, both with the individual characters and their relationship. I still feel Jory is lacking compared to Asher and Ky. And Ky. Good god. He does some incredible heavy lifting and after this book Asher isn't far behind.
But with where this book leaves off, I think the next one is gonna be a BANGER ❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars (But I would give it more if I could!)
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice (Close to 3!)
There are no words that can express how excited I was to get an ARC of this book. I have read the first book twice, and it was one of the few books I have given 6 stars EVER, and I loved it just as much on the second read. I have also got like three copies of the first book, just to give you an idea of how much of a fan I am of the book. So when I got book 2, I all but wanted to sob, and there was a little happy dance that followed as I hugged my Kindle. My dog was super confused. I also reread the first book to make sure I was going into book two with my mind fresh with the story and excited to jump into the book.
Before I forget, thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly. Now let's get into it.
I did not think there was any chance of me liking this one as much as the first, but I so did. The book starts pretty much from where the first book ended, and I was so glad for that. While I did read the first book to refresh, I found that the author had started the book in a way that gave you a refresher itself, so I was feeling on top form.
The book eases into what is currently going on in the story and how our 3 leads are all dealing with each other. There are bumps and hurdles and, of course, problems, but I do love how they don't just let things linger. They all seem set to try and fix things when they know they did wrong, and I find that super appealing in a book when a lot of books draw out strife and miscommunication, and I hate it, but this book does not do that.
The story is always the main focus in this book, which is great when you have romance and spice to boot in the book. I love the direction the story is moving in. The clear ups and downs and shocking revelations and information I was getting throughout this book were top tier, and I feel fit to burst from the story, but this book had so much more than just a deep story.
One of the things I love best about this book and the series so far is the complex characters, not just our 3 leads, but slowly in the book you get to see more of others as well and get to feel them more as people. But keeping my eyes on our leads, Jory, Asher and Ky, all three have very different lives, different hardships, but it's the details of trauma and how each of them deals with that.
Their pain felt so on point and gripping that it hurt in a way that had me so lost in the pages that I could almost forget everything else outside of the book. I loved how each of them dealt with things differently, how they are trying to overcome things, and it just OOZES emotion on a whole different level than other books. There were moments in this book that had me hurting so bad I thought I would break too, and there were moments I smiled so hard it hurt, and the fact the book just evoked that sort of feeling from me makes it a brilliant read.
The spice in this book was much more than the first book, but it never overshadowed the story, never felt out of place and never once felt unneeded. I loved the spice and the relationships. I feel like each of them gets something from each other that is different, and I hope to see more of this in the next book.
The book has a great pace; I never felt rushed, but things moved well, and I never got bored or felt like this bit was filler. No, everything felt like it had a place. The book gives you room to breathe and start making up your own thoughts on things before some stuff becomes known, and there are moments of action and gore along with sweeter moments, and overall, it had everything I wanted.
But that ENDING.
The author drop-kicked my heart right out of my chest, I swear it. How am I going to live without the next book? How am I going to be able to move on and wait? It's like an impossible ask. It was a shocking end and one that will keep me awake at night and worrying, but I hope the author will not make me wait too long.
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice (Close to 3!)
There are no words that can express how excited I was to get an ARC of this book. I have read the first book twice, and it was one of the few books I have given 6 stars EVER, and I loved it just as much on the second read. I have also got like three copies of the first book, just to give you an idea of how much of a fan I am of the book. So when I got book 2, I all but wanted to sob, and there was a little happy dance that followed as I hugged my Kindle. My dog was super confused. I also reread the first book to make sure I was going into book two with my mind fresh with the story and excited to jump into the book.
Before I forget, thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly. Now let's get into it.
I did not think there was any chance of me liking this one as much as the first, but I so did. The book starts pretty much from where the first book ended, and I was so glad for that. While I did read the first book to refresh, I found that the author had started the book in a way that gave you a refresher itself, so I was feeling on top form.
The book eases into what is currently going on in the story and how our 3 leads are all dealing with each other. There are bumps and hurdles and, of course, problems, but I do love how they don't just let things linger. They all seem set to try and fix things when they know they did wrong, and I find that super appealing in a book when a lot of books draw out strife and miscommunication, and I hate it, but this book does not do that.
The story is always the main focus in this book, which is great when you have romance and spice to boot in the book. I love the direction the story is moving in. The clear ups and downs and shocking revelations and information I was getting throughout this book were top tier, and I feel fit to burst from the story, but this book had so much more than just a deep story.
One of the things I love best about this book and the series so far is the complex characters, not just our 3 leads, but slowly in the book you get to see more of others as well and get to feel them more as people. But keeping my eyes on our leads, Jory, Asher and Ky, all three have very different lives, different hardships, but it's the details of trauma and how each of them deals with that.
Their pain felt so on point and gripping that it hurt in a way that had me so lost in the pages that I could almost forget everything else outside of the book. I loved how each of them dealt with things differently, how they are trying to overcome things, and it just OOZES emotion on a whole different level than other books. There were moments in this book that had me hurting so bad I thought I would break too, and there were moments I smiled so hard it hurt, and the fact the book just evoked that sort of feeling from me makes it a brilliant read.
The spice in this book was much more than the first book, but it never overshadowed the story, never felt out of place and never once felt unneeded. I loved the spice and the relationships. I feel like each of them gets something from each other that is different, and I hope to see more of this in the next book.
The book has a great pace; I never felt rushed, but things moved well, and I never got bored or felt like this bit was filler. No, everything felt like it had a place. The book gives you room to breathe and start making up your own thoughts on things before some stuff becomes known, and there are moments of action and gore along with sweeter moments, and overall, it had everything I wanted.
But that ENDING.
The author drop-kicked my heart right out of my chest, I swear it. How am I going to live without the next book? How am I going to be able to move on and wait? It's like an impossible ask. It was a shocking end and one that will keep me awake at night and worrying, but I hope the author will not make me wait too long.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(4.5⭐)
SO I DID NOT JUST READ THAT?? THERE HAS TO BE MORE??? WHY DID IT END TOO SOON STOPPP I'M LOSING MY MIND.
Nobody speak to me for the next 92365826 days. I'm not okay. Brigid, you had no right to end it there!!!!!! Especially with those revelations at the end?! Stopp guys I'm actually so scared for these characters please I can't do this☹️ Book 3 is going to rip me apart, I just know it.
So I already knew I would adore Captive Traitor King and yet somehow it still exceeded my expectations. No words will ever be enough to describe how much I LOVE these characters. Ky, Jory, and Asher all mean so much to me, I just want to protect them from this world. Give them all the love, safety, peace and wholesomeness they deserve please. We delve deeper into each of their characters in CTK and oh if I didn't adore it (while it also constantly broke my heart). I love how each of them recognized the other's trauma and demons they were carrying. If you were worried about there being a lack of development in their relationships with one another in this book, know that there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Brigid creates such a raw and beautiful development between them all, without feeling the need to create misunderstandings that last for 23979262 years (as I've seen too often in other books once the main couple gets together in book 1...). We actually get to see them all have conversations with one another and watch them grow as individuals, and together. And they balance each other SO well, you can tell they each love the other for different reasons but equally the same. Like!!!! Ky, Jory, Asher I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!
In WPA, Ky was my favourite. Here in CTK, there's no doubt that Asher was my favourite. And I'm so sure that in book 3, Jory will be my favourite considering how things left off (the potential!!!!). Don't get me wrong though I love each of them so so much, truly each of their characters are so well written. The tenderness and vulnerability?? The silly and adorable moments?? The ruthlessness and how fiercely protective they are of one another?? THAT'S MY TRIO. Devastated that I won't have any new content of Ky, Jory, and Asher until Fall 2027 at a minimum🥲
And side characters!!! You know for a book that's so short (the way I am crying over it being only ~330 pages), Brigid really makes you care about these characters so much😭 And yes I know that most of the soldiers were in book 1 but considering I do not remember anything about them since I read WPA a year ago... to make me adore them so much in so little time??? Sev and Roman my favs I love them so much. The Roman & [redacted] friendship and the Sev & [redacted] conversation were absolutely everything they were so sweet🥹 And Hidi and Ahn!! I wish we got more of those two but I loved those scenes with them. I just know book 3 will give us more of all of these guys and I can't wait.
Honestly, this series isn't very plot heavy but like I said in my book 1 review, I really don't care!! If the characters mean everything to me then I can easily ignore the lack of plot. Also things picked up in the 2nd half and I love that one of my theories I had at some point (which I dismissed because I was like surely that's an insane theory) actually ended up being right!!!! I'M STILL NOT OVER THAT ACTUALLY LIKE DAMN. Did not see the other reveal coming though about the rain like oh ???? And then to end it like that.... no, no, I can't think about it okay I'm going to stop now.
I only have one small complaint which kept it from being a 5 star and it's that I genuinely think this book would've been even better if it was longer like truly I wish it was. ~330 pages was not enough and with how the last few chapters went it did feel a bit rushed, I wish we could've had more🥲 But again, this is just a really small complaint!
Captive Traitor King was an absolutely stellar sequel with beautiful character growth and I will be first in line begging for an ARC of book 3. Like I am so serious I need it immediately please please just dont be a 2028 release or I'll cry. ALSO PLEASE MAKE IT LONG. 500+ PAGES OR SOMETHING. I just don't want this series to end😭
A million thanks to Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!!
SO I DID NOT JUST READ THAT?? THERE HAS TO BE MORE??? WHY DID IT END TOO SOON STOPPP I'M LOSING MY MIND.
Nobody speak to me for the next 92365826 days. I'm not okay. Brigid, you had no right to end it there!!!!!! Especially with those revelations at the end?! Stopp guys I'm actually so scared for these characters please I can't do this☹️ Book 3 is going to rip me apart, I just know it.
So I already knew I would adore Captive Traitor King and yet somehow it still exceeded my expectations. No words will ever be enough to describe how much I LOVE these characters. Ky, Jory, and Asher all mean so much to me, I just want to protect them from this world. Give them all the love, safety, peace and wholesomeness they deserve please. We delve deeper into each of their characters in CTK and oh if I didn't adore it (while it also constantly broke my heart). I love how each of them recognized the other's trauma and demons they were carrying. If you were worried about there being a lack of development in their relationships with one another in this book, know that there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Brigid creates such a raw and beautiful development between them all, without feeling the need to create misunderstandings that last for 23979262 years (as I've seen too often in other books once the main couple gets together in book 1...). We actually get to see them all have conversations with one another and watch them grow as individuals, and together. And they balance each other SO well, you can tell they each love the other for different reasons but equally the same. Like!!!! Ky, Jory, Asher I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!
In WPA, Ky was my favourite. Here in CTK, there's no doubt that Asher was my favourite. And I'm so sure that in book 3, Jory will be my favourite considering how things left off (the potential!!!!). Don't get me wrong though I love each of them so so much, truly each of their characters are so well written. The tenderness and vulnerability?? The silly and adorable moments?? The ruthlessness and how fiercely protective they are of one another?? THAT'S MY TRIO. Devastated that I won't have any new content of Ky, Jory, and Asher until Fall 2027 at a minimum🥲
And side characters!!! You know for a book that's so short (the way I am crying over it being only ~330 pages), Brigid really makes you care about these characters so much😭 And yes I know that most of the soldiers were in book 1 but considering I do not remember anything about them since I read WPA a year ago... to make me adore them so much in so little time??? Sev and Roman my favs I love them so much. The Roman & [redacted] friendship and the Sev & [redacted] conversation were absolutely everything they were so sweet🥹 And Hidi and Ahn!! I wish we got more of those two but I loved those scenes with them. I just know book 3 will give us more of all of these guys and I can't wait.
Honestly, this series isn't very plot heavy but like I said in my book 1 review, I really don't care!! If the characters mean everything to me then I can easily ignore the lack of plot. Also things picked up in the 2nd half and I love that one of my theories I had at some point (which I dismissed because I was like surely that's an insane theory) actually ended up being right!!!! I'M STILL NOT OVER THAT ACTUALLY LIKE DAMN. Did not see the other reveal coming though about the rain like oh ???? And then to end it like that.... no, no, I can't think about it okay I'm going to stop now.
I only have one small complaint which kept it from being a 5 star and it's that I genuinely think this book would've been even better if it was longer like truly I wish it was. ~330 pages was not enough and with how the last few chapters went it did feel a bit rushed, I wish we could've had more🥲 But again, this is just a really small complaint!
Captive Traitor King was an absolutely stellar sequel with beautiful character growth and I will be first in line begging for an ARC of book 3. Like I am so serious I need it immediately please please just dont be a 2028 release or I'll cry. ALSO PLEASE MAKE IT LONG. 500+ PAGES OR SOMETHING. I just don't want this series to end😭
A million thanks to Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!!
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.
October 23, 2026
I was waiting for this book and it didn’t disappoint! So much going on and so much things we’re yet to see.
Loved all scenes with my favourite throuple! Can’t wait to see more of them.
The cliffhanger at the end?!?! Like, what? How am I supposed to go to sleep now!?!?
I need the next book NOW and I don’t want it to be the last!
Thank you so much NetGalley and HarperCollins for approving my request to read one of my most anticipated reads of the year!
Loved all scenes with my favourite throuple! Can’t wait to see more of them.
The cliffhanger at the end?!?! Like, what? How am I supposed to go to sleep now!?!?
I need the next book NOW and I don’t want it to be the last!
Thank you so much NetGalley and HarperCollins for approving my request to read one of my most anticipated reads of the year!
October 26, 2026
Captive Traitor King is the second book in the Braided Fate trilogy - I’ve been looking forward to continuing Jori, Asher, and Ky’s story ever since book one! Just like the first instalment this book delivers plenty of tension, court intrigue, and romance.
I found book two a little slower-paced, with most of the action concentrated towards the end. The story also takes place entirely in Incendar, so we don’t get to explore as much of the continent as we did in the first book.
But the three POVs still work well, and I did remain fully invested in all three characters’ journeys and broader plot throughout the story. The romance is still a slow burn, with plenty of yearning and tension as they navigate all the complexities of their relationship.
Book also two delves heavily into Asher’s past trauma, so I’d strongly recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading!
I wasn’t quite as gripped as I was by book one, but it was still enjoyable and I’ll very likely finish the series. It ends on a brutal cliff hanger so I will need to know what happens!
With thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the arc.
I found book two a little slower-paced, with most of the action concentrated towards the end. The story also takes place entirely in Incendar, so we don’t get to explore as much of the continent as we did in the first book.
But the three POVs still work well, and I did remain fully invested in all three characters’ journeys and broader plot throughout the story. The romance is still a slow burn, with plenty of yearning and tension as they navigate all the complexities of their relationship.
Book also two delves heavily into Asher’s past trauma, so I’d strongly recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading!
I wasn’t quite as gripped as I was by book one, but it was still enjoyable and I’ll very likely finish the series. It ends on a brutal cliff hanger so I will need to know what happens!
With thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It physically pains me to write this review. Warrior Princess Assassin was one of my top reads of 2025, and Captive Traitor King one of my most anticipated reads of 2026. I cannot express how excited I was to get approved for this arc. That happened on Friday, and I immediately read the entire book on Saturday. My excitement was literally palpable. And there were things I loved: these characters are so great. They are all so individualistic and stand on their own, which can sometimes be challenging in a why choose. I love them all. Asher, my poor broken baby, I love him. I loved / hated getting his backstory. It's dark, you guys. And at points I wondered why it needed to be so dark, and then it came full circle. I enjoyed watching Asher and Jora fit in with Ky's court. The various scenes with tension with the guards were great. And this is such a quick read. The writing is easy to digest and easy to picture yourself inside the story. I read this in basically one sitting.
This is a character driven plot story. It's about the characters working out their relationship dynamics and how they might work together in ruling the larger world. But I unfortunately wanted more situational plot. There were big things that happened at the 30% mark and at the ending, obviously, but this definitely felt like a book 2 set up for the ending of a story. And I'm trying to be realistic with my expectations and my review, but I loved book 1 so much, and I just felt a bit bored throughout because I wanted more action. BUT if you love character driven plot - just ignore my review because you're going to love this. Book 3 is set up to be incredible though!! So I will definitely continue with this series.
3.5 rounded up.
This is a character driven plot story. It's about the characters working out their relationship dynamics and how they might work together in ruling the larger world. But I unfortunately wanted more situational plot. There were big things that happened at the 30% mark and at the ending, obviously, but this definitely felt like a book 2 set up for the ending of a story. And I'm trying to be realistic with my expectations and my review, but I loved book 1 so much, and I just felt a bit bored throughout because I wanted more action. BUT if you love character driven plot - just ignore my review because you're going to love this. Book 3 is set up to be incredible though!! So I will definitely continue with this series.
3.5 rounded up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm still very much enjoying these characters, the scenario in which they find themselves, and the readable prose that keeps the pages flipping quickly.
This installment does suffer from being the middle chapter in a trilogy (or perhaps longer? I don't know). Having realized at the end of the last book that they need to return to the kingdom of Astranza to confront Princess Jory's sus brother, the main trio instead find themselves mired down in Incendar, Ky's kingdom, making plans, waiting for information and the arrival of a mysterious prisoner, defending against various attacks on Ky's stronghold, and mostly figuring out the nature of their interpersonal relationships. The lust-betrayal-anger cycle gets reused a bit too much (as do references to growing tightness in various men's trousers).
With the characters mostly reacting and going in circles instead of driving ahead, there is an air of treading water, of putting off big events until next time. Still, keeping the focus on their feelings about each other as they sit fretting in the castle is welcome when emotional breakthroughs and sexy fun times come around.
I started reading this series because of my wife's enthusiasm for it, and now I find myself joining her in impatient eagerness for the next installment
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
This installment does suffer from being the middle chapter in a trilogy (or perhaps longer? I don't know). Having realized at the end of the last book that they need to return to the kingdom of Astranza to confront Princess Jory's sus brother, the main trio instead find themselves mired down in Incendar, Ky's kingdom, making plans, waiting for information and the arrival of a mysterious prisoner, defending against various attacks on Ky's stronghold, and mostly figuring out the nature of their interpersonal relationships. The lust-betrayal-anger cycle gets reused a bit too much (as do references to growing tightness in various men's trousers).
With the characters mostly reacting and going in circles instead of driving ahead, there is an air of treading water, of putting off big events until next time. Still, keeping the focus on their feelings about each other as they sit fretting in the castle is welcome when emotional breakthroughs and sexy fun times come around.
I started reading this series because of my wife's enthusiasm for it, and now I find myself joining her in impatient eagerness for the next installment
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
For context: Warrior Princess Assassin was a top 10 book (out of 250 or so) for me last year.
I adored how character driven that story was. I was locked in the entire time, even without too much going on plot wise. I shouted about how amazing it was, loudly.
No one is more sad than me that I can’t say the same about this sequel.
Brigid’s writing remains great. I loved the additional depth we got out of Asher’s arc, here. The spicy scenes were fun and hot.
But I got to 50% and was shocked when I saw how little was left because… nothing really had happened. And until the very end, most of the book felt that way.
I love character driven stories, but by book two in a trilogy I need SOME plot to keep me engaged. It meant that I stopped caring about the characters, because I just got bored.
I actually think the setup for the final book was great. I’ll definitely read it. But this one was a letdown, sadly.
Thank you Avon for the ARC!
I adored how character driven that story was. I was locked in the entire time, even without too much going on plot wise. I shouted about how amazing it was, loudly.
No one is more sad than me that I can’t say the same about this sequel.
Brigid’s writing remains great. I loved the additional depth we got out of Asher’s arc, here. The spicy scenes were fun and hot.
But I got to 50% and was shocked when I saw how little was left because… nothing really had happened. And until the very end, most of the book felt that way.
I love character driven stories, but by book two in a trilogy I need SOME plot to keep me engaged. It meant that I stopped caring about the characters, because I just got bored.
I actually think the setup for the final book was great. I’ll definitely read it. But this one was a letdown, sadly.
Thank you Avon for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the second book in the Braided Fate series and I swear in my mind this was a duology but alas, I was wrong. This book does end on a pretty hefty cliffhanger that I was not prepared for, but only makes me want to read the next book as soon as humanly possible. This book is a bit slower than the first book but it still delivers one heck of a story. Our favorite three heroes continue their throuple and I just adore these three so much. The care, patience and understanding they have for one another in and out of the bedroom is just divine. Asher, Jory & Ky are simply perfection.
This was a fantastic follow up to the first novel and I look forward to continuing this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 11/3/26
This was a fantastic follow up to the first novel and I look forward to continuing this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 11/3/26
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Addictive!!
Just like book one, this book completely sucked me in and didn’t let me go.
It started off feeling like a filler book but quickly evolved into a high-stakes sequel filled with plot twists. While I enjoyed the romance the most in book one, the romance in this one felt a little overshadowed by the secrets that were unraveled, which, by no means, is a bad thing. I just found myself more caught up in the mystery, the secrets, and the bigger picture of what was really going on. Overall, this was such an addictive sequel that kept me turning the pages, and I’m excited to see where the story goes next!
Just like book one, this book completely sucked me in and didn’t let me go.
It started off feeling like a filler book but quickly evolved into a high-stakes sequel filled with plot twists. While I enjoyed the romance the most in book one, the romance in this one felt a little overshadowed by the secrets that were unraveled, which, by no means, is a bad thing. I just found myself more caught up in the mystery, the secrets, and the bigger picture of what was really going on. Overall, this was such an addictive sequel that kept me turning the pages, and I’m excited to see where the story goes next!
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!
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.
November 3, 2026
4.75⭐️|2🌶️
Brigid. BRIGID. What the fuck am I supposed to do with myself now??? That last line???? You’re telling me I have to just sit here and WAIT after that??? I need the next book in my hands immediately because I am currently being so normal about this. And by normal I mean absolutely crashing out.
I reread Warrior Princess Assassin right before starting this one, which was an excellent decision because I got to experience all the yearning and tension again before promptly losing my mind over these three some more. I finished both in less than twelve hours, stayed up far too late, and then had the audacity to be upset that it wasn’t longer. Apparently, no amount of pages would have been enough for me.
Captive Traitor King picks up right where the first book ended, and admittedly, the plot takes a little while to get moving. The first half spends a lot of time letting the characters process everything that happened, exploring their pasts, and working through the whole “I want you, but can I actually trust you?” situation. Would I have liked a little more to happen? Yes. Was I also very happy watching these three slowly figure each other out? Absolutely. They could have spent another hundred pages having emotionally charged conversations and I would have been right there, seated, annotating.
We get more of the kingdoms and the political tension between them, which I really enjoyed. There’s scheming, training, magic, questionable decisions…everyone is very busy, and Ky would probably appreciate it if at least two people in particular could stop giving him reasons to worry for five fucking minutes 🤭 The political conflict has enough going on to keep me invested without requiring me to earn a separate degree to understand who is angry with whom and why. And one particular reveal? I was SO convinced I knew where that was going. I could practically see the familiar romantasy setup assembling itself. Except it didn’t go that way, and I loved it so much more for that.
But the characters are what made this book for me.
Asher. My heart actually hurts. We learn so much more about his past here, and I wanted to climb into the book and hold him. And then have a very private conversation with certain people. Somewhere secluded. No witnesses. 😇🔪
Definitely check the content warnings, because some of what he went through is incredibly difficult to read. I appreciated that it wasn’t brushed aside or treated like something love would magically fix. You can see how deeply it has shaped the way he thinks, reacts, and allows himself to be close to anyone. Watching him slowly start to believe that he can be safe with Ky and Jory? That he can let them care for him? Yeah. I’m not okay, actually. 🥺
And Ky…yeah. Still my man. No surprises there.
The warrior king with the gentle heart. The protector. The patience this man has while the other two are off scheming and testing every last bit of it. 🤭 This man has so much presence, but it’s his gentleness that gets me. The way he pays attention to them, understands them, and makes room for their hurt without demanding they suddenly know how to talk about it. I’m just sitting there kicking my feet like an idiot.
I loved getting more of his own struggles, too, because being the person everyone feels safe with doesn’t mean he hasn’t been through his own shit. I need someone to take care of him as well. Give him a hug. A nap. A day where Jory and Asher don’t hatch a little scheme that takes several years off his life. Something.
I was hoping for more from Jory after the first book, and I’m finally starting to see her come into her own. She’s still headstrong and still figuring things out, but there’s growth in the way she approaches situations and starts finding her confidence. I especially loved the friendships she begins forming in Incendar. I do still think she occasionally fades into the background beside the men, partly because Ky and Asher’s chemistry is so ridiculously strong that I’m immediately distracted whenever they share a scene. But I appreciated getting more of her own struggles and seeing her build a life and connections beyond the romance.
And THE ROMANCE. The yearning. The tenderness. The tentative little steps towards trusting each other. I could eat this up forever.
Ky and Asher in particular have me completely unwell. There’s so much heat between them, but it’s that careful, vulnerable intimacy that really gets me. Every little moment of trust feels significant because you understand what it costs Asher to offer it. I was hanging on every interaction like a completely normal, well-adjusted person. Obviously.
But I really do love all three of them together. Jory and Asher have that familiarity that comes from knowing someone for years, and I love how it comes through in their interactions. There’s so much sweetness between Jory and Ky, too, and watching all these different relationships grow alongside the one they’re building as a trio is so satisfying.
They’re all carrying so much, and they don’t always know what to do with it, but the care is there. The effort is there. They’re learning how to let each other in, how to ask for things, how to accept affection without waiting for something awful to follow. Those little moments when they let their guard down and just get to be Ky, Jory, and Asher had me feeling VERY fragile. I love them so much it’s actually becoming a problem.
And the spice? Yes. Thank you. Very much appreciated. 🤌🏼
The supporting cast makes the whole experience even better. ROMAN, I LOVE YOU. I loved getting to know the soldiers more and seeing that close-knit crew start making space for Asher. You know I’m weak for found family, and watching someone who has been through so much slowly find a place among people who care about him will get me every single time. Toller and Hidi were such welcome additions, too, and I’m curious about Victoria. There’s so much potential there, and I really want to see more of her.
The audiobook was amazing, too. The casting really worked for me, and I loved having a different narrator for each of the three main characters. Would I still sell a tiny piece of my soul for duet narration? Obviously. But I had such a good time listening to this.
And then that fucking ending.
The worst part is that I started suspecting it shortly beforehand, so I had a brief moment of “wait…surely she wouldn’t…” before finding out that yes. Yes, she absolutely would.
I read the last line and immediately checked whether there was another chapter because WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT’S IT??? It makes sense. The buildup is there. I understand why she ended it there. I am still personally offended.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait for book three. I need to know what happens, I need these three to be okay, and I need Brigid to understand that she cannot have me this emotionally invested and then leave me unsupervised with that ending.
Brigid. BRIGID. What the fuck am I supposed to do with myself now??? That last line???? You’re telling me I have to just sit here and WAIT after that??? I need the next book in my hands immediately because I am currently being so normal about this. And by normal I mean absolutely crashing out.
I reread Warrior Princess Assassin right before starting this one, which was an excellent decision because I got to experience all the yearning and tension again before promptly losing my mind over these three some more. I finished both in less than twelve hours, stayed up far too late, and then had the audacity to be upset that it wasn’t longer. Apparently, no amount of pages would have been enough for me.
Captive Traitor King picks up right where the first book ended, and admittedly, the plot takes a little while to get moving. The first half spends a lot of time letting the characters process everything that happened, exploring their pasts, and working through the whole “I want you, but can I actually trust you?” situation. Would I have liked a little more to happen? Yes. Was I also very happy watching these three slowly figure each other out? Absolutely. They could have spent another hundred pages having emotionally charged conversations and I would have been right there, seated, annotating.
We get more of the kingdoms and the political tension between them, which I really enjoyed. There’s scheming, training, magic, questionable decisions…everyone is very busy, and Ky would probably appreciate it if at least two people in particular could stop giving him reasons to worry for five fucking minutes 🤭 The political conflict has enough going on to keep me invested without requiring me to earn a separate degree to understand who is angry with whom and why. And one particular reveal? I was SO convinced I knew where that was going. I could practically see the familiar romantasy setup assembling itself. Except it didn’t go that way, and I loved it so much more for that.
But the characters are what made this book for me.
Asher. My heart actually hurts. We learn so much more about his past here, and I wanted to climb into the book and hold him. And then have a very private conversation with certain people. Somewhere secluded. No witnesses. 😇🔪
Definitely check the content warnings, because some of what he went through is incredibly difficult to read. I appreciated that it wasn’t brushed aside or treated like something love would magically fix. You can see how deeply it has shaped the way he thinks, reacts, and allows himself to be close to anyone. Watching him slowly start to believe that he can be safe with Ky and Jory? That he can let them care for him? Yeah. I’m not okay, actually. 🥺
And Ky…yeah. Still my man. No surprises there.
The warrior king with the gentle heart. The protector. The patience this man has while the other two are off scheming and testing every last bit of it. 🤭 This man has so much presence, but it’s his gentleness that gets me. The way he pays attention to them, understands them, and makes room for their hurt without demanding they suddenly know how to talk about it. I’m just sitting there kicking my feet like an idiot.
I loved getting more of his own struggles, too, because being the person everyone feels safe with doesn’t mean he hasn’t been through his own shit. I need someone to take care of him as well. Give him a hug. A nap. A day where Jory and Asher don’t hatch a little scheme that takes several years off his life. Something.
I was hoping for more from Jory after the first book, and I’m finally starting to see her come into her own. She’s still headstrong and still figuring things out, but there’s growth in the way she approaches situations and starts finding her confidence. I especially loved the friendships she begins forming in Incendar. I do still think she occasionally fades into the background beside the men, partly because Ky and Asher’s chemistry is so ridiculously strong that I’m immediately distracted whenever they share a scene. But I appreciated getting more of her own struggles and seeing her build a life and connections beyond the romance.
And THE ROMANCE. The yearning. The tenderness. The tentative little steps towards trusting each other. I could eat this up forever.
Ky and Asher in particular have me completely unwell. There’s so much heat between them, but it’s that careful, vulnerable intimacy that really gets me. Every little moment of trust feels significant because you understand what it costs Asher to offer it. I was hanging on every interaction like a completely normal, well-adjusted person. Obviously.
But I really do love all three of them together. Jory and Asher have that familiarity that comes from knowing someone for years, and I love how it comes through in their interactions. There’s so much sweetness between Jory and Ky, too, and watching all these different relationships grow alongside the one they’re building as a trio is so satisfying.
They’re all carrying so much, and they don’t always know what to do with it, but the care is there. The effort is there. They’re learning how to let each other in, how to ask for things, how to accept affection without waiting for something awful to follow. Those little moments when they let their guard down and just get to be Ky, Jory, and Asher had me feeling VERY fragile. I love them so much it’s actually becoming a problem.
And the spice? Yes. Thank you. Very much appreciated. 🤌🏼
The supporting cast makes the whole experience even better. ROMAN, I LOVE YOU. I loved getting to know the soldiers more and seeing that close-knit crew start making space for Asher. You know I’m weak for found family, and watching someone who has been through so much slowly find a place among people who care about him will get me every single time. Toller and Hidi were such welcome additions, too, and I’m curious about Victoria. There’s so much potential there, and I really want to see more of her.
The audiobook was amazing, too. The casting really worked for me, and I loved having a different narrator for each of the three main characters. Would I still sell a tiny piece of my soul for duet narration? Obviously. But I had such a good time listening to this.
And then that fucking ending.
The worst part is that I started suspecting it shortly beforehand, so I had a brief moment of “wait…surely she wouldn’t…” before finding out that yes. Yes, she absolutely would.
I read the last line and immediately checked whether there was another chapter because WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT’S IT??? It makes sense. The buildup is there. I understand why she ended it there. I am still personally offended.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait for book three. I need to know what happens, I need these three to be okay, and I need Brigid to understand that she cannot have me this emotionally invested and then leave me unsupervised with that ending.
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