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The Kingmakers' War #3

A Kiss of Treason

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Following another successful mission with Kael and his company, Briand is torn between two choices--should she disappear to protect herself or stay with her friends, even though she is not a Monarchist?

When she and Kael are arrested as spies and taken to the prince's secret court for trial, everything becomes even more complicated... the Seeker Auberon continues to hunt her in her dreams, Briand's feelings for Kael--and his for her--torment them both as they struggle to trust each other in the midst of secrets and conflicted political loyalties, and then there's a traitor among the nobility who has attempted to assassinate the prince. The punishment for treason is a swift and painful death.

And some people seem to think that traitor might be Kael.

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2017

419 people are currently reading
231 people want to read

About the author

Kate Avery Ellison

82 books896 followers
I've been making up stories since I was five years old, and now I'm thrilled to be able to do it as a full-time job. I have an obsession with dark fantasy, dystopian futures, and Pride and Prejudice-style love stories full of witty banter and sizzling, unspoken feelings. When I'm not writing, I'm creating digital art, reading funny blogs, or watching my favorite shows (which include TVD and BSG). I live with my geeky husband and our two bad cats in Atlanta, GA.

Click here to read the first chapter of THE CURSE GIRL!

Click here to read the first chapter of FROST!

Attention Book Bloggers ~ If you are interested in interviewing me or reviewing one of my books, send me a message. I'd love to hear from you! (Please note: I am currently not able to fulfill most requests for print copies at this time, but you can always ask. However, I am ALWAYS able and happy to provide e-copies or PDFs of my books in exchange for an honest review.)

If you're wondering why I categorize books as "breathless," "cake," or "amnesia," check out this blog post!

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Sylvia Mercedes.
Author 37 books2,272 followers
February 11, 2019
Want a chance to win the first few Kingmaker's War books for yourself? Be sure to sign up for my Reader Group! I've got a giveaway coming up soon.

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Things just keep on escalating by book 3 in the Kingmaker’s War. Our heroine finally meets the True Prince, the man she’s been fighting for along with the other rebels. And she’s still learning about her role as a dragonslayer and how she is meant to use her new powers. There are layers of intrigue, unexpected twists, and no one is ever quite what they seem . . .

Things are beginning to advance for Briand and Kael, but the two of them still have plenty of issues to work through! I’m definitely still rooting for them, but there are definitely some intriguing other men in Briand’s life as well. Not necessarily romantic interests . . . but not necessarily NOT romantic interests either, if you know what I mean.

I’m definitely enjoying the ride this series is taking me on, and look forward to exploring ever more deeply into this world and the lives of these characters!
Profile Image for Taylor.
96 reviews4 followers
August 11, 2020
Wow! Another fabulous adventure of intrigue, secrets, and angst!! Usually book series have a slump in book two or three, but this one was just as great as the first two.

Briand, Kael, and Nath have accomplished two missions for Prince Jehn, survived bandits, betrayal, dragon attacks, and a persistent Seeker who has his sights set on Briand and her dragonsaying powers. Now accused of being traitors, Briand and Kael find themselves bound (literally) for the prince's court. Kael is resolute in his loyalty to his prince, but Briand is tired of being a weapon and decided to fight for her freedom. Even if that means leaving behind the man she is falling for. All the while, the Seeker sharing her dreams is getting closer and that secret could force her friends to choose between standing by her or doing what needs to be done to protect their prince.

We finally get a glimpse of the enigmatic prince, Jehn. He is calculating while appearing foppish, which presented him as a truly thrilling character. It was intriguing to see the court mechanics and how Kael fit into it after being the uncontested leader of their group. While the story focuses on Briand, Kael, and Auberon, new characters like Valora, Cait, and Sieya bring more depth and color to the pages. With each book, more characters are added to propel an engaging plot along. Fantasy elements mingle with the chess maneuvers of clever rulers and their pawns. It was witty, astoundingly detailed, and showed real character development for Kael and Briand. Somehow this book just got better as I read and I can't wait for book 4. I have fallen in love with this cast of characters and hope their story does not end any time soon.
Profile Image for Heather M Jones-Lancto.
278 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2018
Kate Avery Ellison, who is the author of the Frost series now has a series is called The Kingmaker's War. In the first installment of the Kingmaker's War, A Gift of Poison", our heroine, Briand is an orphan, living with her cruel Uncle, and barely getting by on her own. She is viewed as the castle troublemaker and has earned the nickname "Guttersnipe". Briand's actions get her banned from the castle, on the verge of being sent to the woodlands, when she discovers her cousin is involved with a secret society. Briand uncovers powers she did not know she was capable of and ends up a member of the secret band of rebels. The country is at war. A war between the "true" Prince who is living with his court in exile and the usurper Prince who is ravaging the land leaving in his wake destruction and death. The rebel leader of this secret society, Kael, enlists Briand to aid in their efforts to defeat the evil Prince and his army of evil Seekers.

As the series progresses you learn that Briand takes a stand, refusing to actually join the rebel of forces of the exiled Prince, while continuing to aid them on their missions. She eventually meets the Prince, who we learn is devious and untrustworthy in-spite of the fact that he maintains the unrelenting faithfulness of his followers; a prime example of this unwavering loyalty being Kael. No story is complete without a love triangle.....of sorts or at least I think it wants to be a love triangle. Briand and Kael fall in love. A long the way Briand develops a love hate relationship with a Seeker. A Seeker is an individual with special powers - be they the ability to heal, read other's minds, etc. The Seekers are tools of the Monarchist's cause and work for the evil Prince. The Seeker Auberon and Briand have formed an unwanted connection. At points in the story they become unlikely allies, working together to solve a shared problem, and yet at the end of the alliance each looks for opportunity to betray the other. The reader learns that Auberon has had a troubled past. I am going to just come out and admit I am full-on team Auberon. I think I have a thing for bad boys. Don't get me wrong, I love Kael and all his goodness, but Auberon is a troubled bad boy looking for someone to understand him. If we are being honest Auberon and Briand share a lot of similar life experiences and can relate on a level she cannot with Kael. A couple of times now Ellison has lead me to believe that something special was building between Briand and Auberon but I am really starting to wonder if the romance isn't all in my head. I guess we will see.

Right now there are 6 completed books in the Kingmaker's War with book 7 due out October 29th, 2018. I read the first 4 books in two days. The story drew me in from the first sentence. As a bonus these books are available via Kindle Unlimited.

Books in the series:

A Gift of Poison (Book 1)
A Bed of Blades (Book 2)
A Kiss of Treason (Book 3)
A Circle of Flames (Book 4)
A Shield of Sorrow (Book 5)
A Court of Lies (Book 6)
A Reign of Thieves (Book 7 - Due Out Soon)

Grammar - 3
There are a few minor grammatical issues with these books. It is not overwhelming but a couple of times I found myself re-reading a sentence. Words were missing or in the wrong place. If this is something you find to be problematic then it might be an issue for you but in the grand scheme of things it was not a deal breaker.

Plot - 4.5
I love the story. A young woman who has had to struggle in life to survive. She eventually finds herself and her purpose. Along the way she develops her own identity and her own belief system. Briand learns to read, she becomes educated, she learns to fight, she sees the world, she finds a cause that she supports without getting lost in that cause, and she becomes an individual. She takes the skills she used to survive as a young teen and uses those tools to make her mark on the world.

Believability - 4.5
The story is fantasy. It is a wonderfully made up world with dragons and other imaginary creatures. Ellison has built an environment for these characters and creatures to live in. I believe that sometime or somewhere this world and these people could exist.

Cover - 3.5
The covers are nice but don't have that "wow" factor. As a person who has historically been drawn to a book by it's cover I might not have taken a second look if it wasn't for my already familiarity with the author. I loved Kate Avery Ellison's Frost series and was already onboard for the Kingmakers War regardless of the way the covers looked.

Ending - 4.5
The story has not yet concluded so the ending is really not a factor to consider at this point. Each book is definitely not a stand alone. The story flows effortlessly from book to book and a reader needs to read from the beginning to fully understand the storyline.

Price Value - 4.5
For me they were free with Kindle Unlimited and you can't beat free. If you do not have Kindle Unlimited the price is relatively low and the books are well worth the cost.

Overall - 4.5
I am in love with this series. I downloaded the first book when it came out and forgot it was in my kindle until a couple of weeks ago when I rediscovered it Labor Day weekend. I love all the characters, even the ones I don't think I am supposed to. Sometimes when a series has this many books I find one that I will struggle to complete at least one of the books but each book in this series has been truly engaging.

I highly recommend this series and wait with baited breath for the next installment.
Profile Image for Larissa.
484 reviews14 followers
May 18, 2021

The third book in the Kingmakers' War fortunately doesn't skip another two years. It starts nearly immediately after the conclusion of book two, Briand is burned and split between her loyalties to herself and the loyalty to the monarchy which everyone thinks she should have. Also, we've had that very cliche and traditional reversal of affection that occurs sometimes when authors want to make us wait for something as Kael suddenly decides that his random attachment is a threat to his military duties. It's everything you would expect from a middle book in a series.

I would appreciate if there was a better indication of when the POVs were going to switch cause they kind of just went for it. Though I think overall, the mechanics of the writing has made significant improvements. I'm especially thankful for the reduction in the use of the term "guttersnipe". I'm also glad that we're addressing her lineage, I feel like we've just chosen to focus on her uncle's negligence that motivated the broad resentment of his people. Don't know why that's still a thing at all.

I don't know if I'll go on cause it's gotten a bit hard to follow with all the POV switches and changes in allegiance. Not to mention the two year time jump that we're kind of just glazing over to push the romance forward. I could respect it as an action pusher if it was actually pushing the action. At this point though I'm just confused on all that.


This review and all my others can be found at: https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot....
Profile Image for Jessica Donegan.
Author 1 book10 followers
February 9, 2020
While still a great series I recommend, book three introduces more head hopping narratives into the series. I would have preferred a more limited narrative perspective where we discover alliances, feelings, and actions of other group members along with Briand instead of having knowledge she doesn't.

Ellison is a wonderful author, and it would have been nice to infer more of the story from other character's actions, than just being told it through their perspective.

I think Ellison strove to show many sides of the conflict from a close third person perspective, and those views may be needed for the younger target audience. And I mostly skipped over them so there was little harm in adding them.

The series is called "The Kingmaker's War" and this book is the first that hints at a larger more epic narrative which will span continents and characters. Going forward in the stories, I enjoyed these more epic scenes, but I missed the more personal localized nature of the first two stories.

A good transitional book and it marks a turning point in the series focus.
Profile Image for Aimee.
764 reviews62 followers
June 22, 2018
Am I the only one that isn't rooting for the true prince? I had almost expected it after reading the first two books. He's not a man or a prince that I would throw myself behind. It could be that I wasn't in on his plan as a reader, but after it became obvious what he was doing, I still didn't like it. Kael had faith. I did not. I'm really glad that it takes more to win over Briand.

It seems there are still trust issues between Kael and Briand, but at least they are more honest about it in this book. I'm also thankful there isn't a shift of affection. Briand doesn't start to fall for the prince, nor does the prince think to secure his throne by marriage to the dragonsayer. However, for a group who needs help in accomplishing their seemingly impossible agenda, they sure don't know how to treat someone they want to aid them.

Still waiting for more dragons.
Profile Image for Karla.
489 reviews5 followers
October 7, 2017
The conflicts and the war just keeps getting more complicated and interesting. This time, Briand finally meets the true Prince Jehn and she comes to terms what her abilities as a dragonsayer are and how she's going to use them just so she can protect the people she cares about.

The ending definitely makes me wish for the next book already. I can't believe it ended in a cliffhanger, just when I thought there was finally some advancement in Briand and Kael's relationship, the book ended in such an abrupt manner! At least there's more than a few unanswered questions that the next book might answer, so I'm looking forward to that, especially Briand and Kael's happy ending!
91 reviews
April 5, 2020
Can only keep getting better!

I love a good book that I cannot put down. I don't even watch TV anymore, with a good book I just bundle myself on my couch or bed. This book has been my favorite. There's rarely a book where I fall in love with all the main characters. My love for Briand and Kael, Nath and Tabius developed between book one and two. Now I have grown fond of Jehn, Cait and even Auberon. I see he's bound to upset me in the next book, but I guess I will find out soon. I was sad to see we lost someone 😔.. I'm so glad in this book I didn't have to imagine Briand walking through storms and swamps etc. It was a nice break, lol.
Profile Image for Esther.
678 reviews2 followers
March 6, 2023
Good not great

I feel like there are so many times that the storyline or conversation is just dropped, as if it creates tension or mystery. However, it just seems like missing story. There were so many opportunities for laughter, tension, drama, friendship, and yet it just stopped. I didn't care that someone died because I never felt anything for them. I didn't believe the FMC did either. Because we never get to see the friendship grow. We are just told that in the weeks and months that pass off the page, they grew closer.
*This book is rated PG. There are no swear words. There is very mild kissing. There is also bloody violence but no gore.
Profile Image for Angel.
109 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2018
DNF. Stopped about 1/2 way through, and admittedly, I’d only been skimming as it was. Probably should have stopped in Book 1, but I was bored and looking for something to do. Finally realizing that I didn’t care what happened to the main characters, since I imagine it will just be more of the same angst, I gave up.
Profile Image for Serena.
41 reviews
August 4, 2021
This MC

It has taken a damn long time for the mc to stop being annoying. These first 3 books have really dragged with her being such a coward.

Also her power is pretty weak as far as dragon speakers go. I'm not really impressed with how she doesn't really try to develop the advantage she has.

Hope the next is better.
Profile Image for Kdesh.
19 reviews2 followers
October 6, 2017
I really enjoy these books, all of Kate Avery Ellison's book really.

Unlike in A Bed of Blades this books has no time lapse between the two. I can't wait to see where she leads this war.

I feel like the end was a cliff hanger and that makes me want the next book out now!
Profile Image for Clarissa  (The Bookish Wanderer).
92 reviews16 followers
June 6, 2018
Enter Prince Jehn. Can we trust him? Who the hell knows? Who the hell cares? My book boyfriend radar be lighting up like a christmas tree. Auberon I'm starting to think he is is not so bad after all. Is he my fav? Yes! Do I Ship Auberiand? Hell Yes! Do I like Kael? At the moment No! Not at all!
Profile Image for Shannon Heck.
702 reviews
August 12, 2018
Enjoying the series

This is a very good series. I'm still waiting to see if some long unanswered questions will ever be addressed. I'm enjoying the book, but I will feel cheated in the end if our author does not address theses issues.
Profile Image for Sarah Hickner.
Author 10 books46 followers
April 17, 2019
This is a great series! Things are getting intense and I simply can’t stop reading it! Nothing is as it seems and there’s a very fine line between betrayal and support, enemy and friend. But one thing is clear that I love- Briand knows she stands for her people and will do anything for them.
169 reviews1 follower
February 29, 2020
Another good read

The writer writer breaks up the plot into a series of stories well. She has a good sense of pacing and when to focus on another character. She likes including elements of mystery, which helps if you want to write an indeterminate number of short books.
Profile Image for Yvonna Sherlock.
Author 1 book6 followers
July 23, 2018
Good

The court in exile was written well, just could have used more backstabing to make it more realistic. I will start reading the next book.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
481 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2018
Interesting

This one had a different setting and different feel to it than the first two. It was more political and strategy than adventure. Still an engaging read.
17 reviews
September 16, 2018
Fun escape, but these books are too short! Not enough detail in the history or characters. Still worth reading.
57 reviews3 followers
October 19, 2018
great series

I love this author and this entire series! I recommend to everyone all ages! can't wait to read the next book!
22 reviews
May 15, 2020
This series just gets better and better. I really enjoyed this book!
Profile Image for Tammy.
198 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2020
Wonderful!

The third book in the series was amazing! It answered some mysteries and yet posed more. I really love this series and can’t wait to see what happens next!
1,501 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2021
Good read

Brian’s is running and hiding from seekers, soldiers and Karl. Story filled with action,adventure and intrigue. Fast and easy read. Very entertaining.
Profile Image for Andrea Barroso.
279 reviews
Read
October 29, 2022
DNF. Honestly I just can’t take this “we want to be together so bad but” *dramatic pause* “can’t because of reasons we made up”. And this goes on for like 7 books? Pass.
Profile Image for Karla.
311 reviews
March 5, 2019
The world of Tyyr, the royal court, assassins, seekers, and more. I love that each book has been new and never boring. The character development of Briand seemed to jump in this book.
Profile Image for Sarah reid.
59 reviews5 followers
October 21, 2020
kinda bugged me how everyone calls her "catfoot" but every time she ran in the book she stumbled, tripped or hit her ankles on steps.. like every single time she ran... but other than that its a good book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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