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The Bridge Kingdom #2
The Traitor Queen
In the second novel of the heart-pounding Bridge Kingdom series, one woman fights to win back her throne, her people, and the love of the man she betrayed.
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.
And it is bait she fully intends to take.
Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father's clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she's trying to free—the husband she betrayed.
With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who—and what—she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.
And it is bait she fully intends to take.
Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father's clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she's trying to free—the husband she betrayed.
With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who—and what—she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 1, 2020
4954 people are currently reading
100931 people want to read
About the author
Danielle L. Jensen
37 books21.3k followersJoin Danielle's mailing list for exclusive content, giveaways, and new release alerts: https://danielleljensen.com/newslette...
Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs.
Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 15,600 reviews
May 20, 2022
book #3 seriously cant come soon enough.
____________________
loving this book/series is as easy as breathing, and i inhaled it in one breath.
while i rated the first book 5 stars because i really had no reason not to, im giving this sequel 5 stars because i have EVERY reason to.
the characters, the plot, the world-building, the writing. everything is so developed, so thought-out, so engaging, so satisfying, and just so dang addicting. i really have no other way to describe it.
i also love the direction this series is going. im so happy the story is expanding beyond two books, but im also looking forward for the next two books to focus on a new couple. its like mini-duologies within one series. cant wait to see what happens next!
↠ 4.5 stars
____________________
loving this book/series is as easy as breathing, and i inhaled it in one breath.
while i rated the first book 5 stars because i really had no reason not to, im giving this sequel 5 stars because i have EVERY reason to.
the characters, the plot, the world-building, the writing. everything is so developed, so thought-out, so engaging, so satisfying, and just so dang addicting. i really have no other way to describe it.
i also love the direction this series is going. im so happy the story is expanding beyond two books, but im also looking forward for the next two books to focus on a new couple. its like mini-duologies within one series. cant wait to see what happens next!
↠ 4.5 stars
May 31, 2022
THIS WAS SO BLOODY GOOD. HOW AM I MEANT TO WAIT A YEAR FOR THE NEXT ONE?!?!!! 😭😩
Right. So, I'll be brief as to not spoil anyone.
I know Lara made some pretty major mistakes in the previous instalment, but I thought that she was treated a bit unfairly here, despite her vigorous efforts to make up for all of her wrongdoings. I absolutely LOVED meeting all of her sisters though and seeing how protective they were of each other. 💙 I also really want to see them bond with their brother, Keris, in the future books!
Aren, especially, frustrated me because he was so flip-floppy. He was a man who was so used to having his country AND his queen, that when faced with having to choose between the two...he turned into an indecisive idiot. I just wish that there'd have been a more satisfactory reunion for the two of them at the end of the book. It was a tad anticlimactic. That's literally the only criticism that I have.
But not to worry! There were some definite swoon-worthy parts that had me audibly squealing in happiness, despite the wee hours in the morning. I read this whole thing in two sittings, refusing to put it down until it was finished at 5am because YES...it was THAT GOOD.
I genuinely can't wait for the next two books in the series, even though it follows two new characters, who were introduced in this instalment. Watch me re-read The Bridge Kingdom and The Traitor Queen *again* before the end of the year, haha.
I HIGHLY recommend picking this series up, if you haven't yet. It's Danielle L. Jensen's best series to date...and that's saying something! ;)
Right. So, I'll be brief as to not spoil anyone.
I know Lara made some pretty major mistakes in the previous instalment, but I thought that she was treated a bit unfairly here, despite her vigorous efforts to make up for all of her wrongdoings. I absolutely LOVED meeting all of her sisters though and seeing how protective they were of each other. 💙 I also really want to see them bond with their brother, Keris, in the future books!
Aren, especially, frustrated me because he was so flip-floppy. He was a man who was so used to having his country AND his queen, that when faced with having to choose between the two...he turned into an indecisive idiot. I just wish that there'd have been a more satisfactory reunion for the two of them at the end of the book. It was a tad anticlimactic. That's literally the only criticism that I have.
But not to worry! There were some definite swoon-worthy parts that had me audibly squealing in happiness, despite the wee hours in the morning. I read this whole thing in two sittings, refusing to put it down until it was finished at 5am because YES...it was THAT GOOD.
I genuinely can't wait for the next two books in the series, even though it follows two new characters, who were introduced in this instalment. Watch me re-read The Bridge Kingdom and The Traitor Queen *again* before the end of the year, haha.
I HIGHLY recommend picking this series up, if you haven't yet. It's Danielle L. Jensen's best series to date...and that's saying something! ;)
August 17, 2025
5 stars!!
“Awake or asleep, all I see is your face. All I hear is your voice. All I feel is you in my arms. All I want is you.
Where do I even start with this book? This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. No one does it like Danielle L. Jensen. It's the fact that this book can stand out without the romance that impresses me because so few books can achieve that. What I loved the most about this book was how unpredictable it was like till the last minute I had no idea how things were going to be resolved, like I was so fucking stressed because how were they going to resolve everything but Danielle just managed to do that and Idk how her brain works but it was done so swiftly + it was so stunning, the whole process, the chapters ALL OF THEM ended with cliffhangers and the stakes were extremely high, I was so engrossed in this book that I honestly did not care for anything else. The chapters were also small, so that just made this book even better, but to not only match the hype as its predecessor but to surpass it was amazing.
“But in his heart, he knew that even if he never saw her again for the rest of his life, it would never be over.
She would always be his queen.”
Lara, the patience that she had!! I loved it. The way her mind works is so amazing to me, the way she crafts her plans and how she's so ruthless with them, and I also loved seeing her side with her siblings, it was so good!! Like the small glimpses of Keris and the 12 (?) sisters reminded me a bit of 12 dancing princess but I loveeed all of them especially sahrina and how she put a dagger at Arens throat 🙂↕️ I love, love, love how determined she was to get her out and the way she achieved that 😭😭 had me breathless that entire sequence was so well written that i forgot how to breathe. What I loved the most about her was how much she cared for Aren and Ithicana, if that was a side of her that I loved to see. Aren, I love him and his anger was 100% justified but I got a bit of peace when he would call out Lara and get clocked instead 😭 the way he was able to move past all of that and still trust her and believe in her was so good of him, his love for his people put me at the edge of my seat because he was split whether to choose his people or Lara and that had me in a state where I wanted to scream in a pillow until someone told me how it would be resolved, I did not see the resolution coming but I did like it.
“You are my goddamned damnation, but there will never be anyone but you.”
The romance, was sooo good, what amazes me is how she can write a gut wrenching romance that has you engrossed in it despite the character getting together in the first book but the circumstances that she puts the characters under create so much yearning and angst that you just fall more in love it and crave for more and more, the tension that these two characters had was off the charts and their chemistry was dripping down the pages, the betrayal just heightened all of that up, the moments put against them are used so well to make the romance and shine and tow eave the plot through that honestly spectacular, it was also kind of a slow burn and the spice did not disappoint the yearning and the wait, honestly I had zero complaints. Also, the scenes of them wanting each other but distancing themselves for the sake of their people had me SCREAMINGGGGG.
“She was everything. Mind, body, and soul, she was everything he wanted. Everything he needed. The queen Ithicana needed.”
The plot and the world building, the plot was fully fleshed out, with high stakes and unpredictable plot twists, everything turned out to be amazing. The best part was not knowing what was going to happen next everything that was happening made the whole atmosphere so tense and I honestly loved that whole experience, I liked that this book focused more on Madriana and its land, I also liked Lara and Aren exploring the area Lara and her sisters were trained, the distinguishing difference between Ithicana and Madriana is so well done and also loved to see Zarrah's land (I forgot the name) but I cant wait for Danielle to venture off their. The way her politics are scattered across this aspect is also something I look forward to.
Overall, I loved it and I can't wait to read the next two books!
“Forgive her. She loves you."
He dropped the old woman's arm, feeling Lara's gaze on him. Knowing she was listening. "she doesn't know what love is."
"That's why you should forgive her.”
__
Jaw on the floor, heart in pieces ALSO on the floor, body on the floor sobbing 😔✋🏻
___
My jaw is still on the floor with the way book 1 ended. I can't wait for the yearning, betrayals, and spice 🙂↕️
Buddy reading with Hoda
“Awake or asleep, all I see is your face. All I hear is your voice. All I feel is you in my arms. All I want is you.
Where do I even start with this book? This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. No one does it like Danielle L. Jensen. It's the fact that this book can stand out without the romance that impresses me because so few books can achieve that. What I loved the most about this book was how unpredictable it was like till the last minute I had no idea how things were going to be resolved, like I was so fucking stressed because how were they going to resolve everything but Danielle just managed to do that and Idk how her brain works but it was done so swiftly + it was so stunning, the whole process, the chapters ALL OF THEM ended with cliffhangers and the stakes were extremely high, I was so engrossed in this book that I honestly did not care for anything else. The chapters were also small, so that just made this book even better, but to not only match the hype as its predecessor but to surpass it was amazing.
“But in his heart, he knew that even if he never saw her again for the rest of his life, it would never be over.
She would always be his queen.”
Lara, the patience that she had!! I loved it. The way her mind works is so amazing to me, the way she crafts her plans and how she's so ruthless with them, and I also loved seeing her side with her siblings, it was so good!! Like the small glimpses of Keris and the 12 (?) sisters reminded me a bit of 12 dancing princess but I loveeed all of them especially sahrina and how she put a dagger at Arens throat 🙂↕️ I love, love, love how determined she was to get her out and the way she achieved that 😭😭 had me breathless that entire sequence was so well written that i forgot how to breathe. What I loved the most about her was how much she cared for Aren and Ithicana, if that was a side of her that I loved to see. Aren, I love him and his anger was 100% justified but I got a bit of peace when he would call out Lara and get clocked instead 😭 the way he was able to move past all of that and still trust her and believe in her was so good of him, his love for his people put me at the edge of my seat because he was split whether to choose his people or Lara and that had me in a state where I wanted to scream in a pillow until someone told me how it would be resolved, I did not see the resolution coming but I did like it.
“You are my goddamned damnation, but there will never be anyone but you.”
The romance, was sooo good, what amazes me is how she can write a gut wrenching romance that has you engrossed in it despite the character getting together in the first book but the circumstances that she puts the characters under create so much yearning and angst that you just fall more in love it and crave for more and more, the tension that these two characters had was off the charts and their chemistry was dripping down the pages, the betrayal just heightened all of that up, the moments put against them are used so well to make the romance and shine and tow eave the plot through that honestly spectacular, it was also kind of a slow burn and the spice did not disappoint the yearning and the wait, honestly I had zero complaints. Also, the scenes of them wanting each other but distancing themselves for the sake of their people had me SCREAMINGGGGG.
“She was everything. Mind, body, and soul, she was everything he wanted. Everything he needed. The queen Ithicana needed.”
The plot and the world building, the plot was fully fleshed out, with high stakes and unpredictable plot twists, everything turned out to be amazing. The best part was not knowing what was going to happen next everything that was happening made the whole atmosphere so tense and I honestly loved that whole experience, I liked that this book focused more on Madriana and its land, I also liked Lara and Aren exploring the area Lara and her sisters were trained, the distinguishing difference between Ithicana and Madriana is so well done and also loved to see Zarrah's land (I forgot the name) but I cant wait for Danielle to venture off their. The way her politics are scattered across this aspect is also something I look forward to.
Overall, I loved it and I can't wait to read the next two books!
“Forgive her. She loves you."
He dropped the old woman's arm, feeling Lara's gaze on him. Knowing she was listening. "she doesn't know what love is."
"That's why you should forgive her.”
__
Jaw on the floor, heart in pieces ALSO on the floor, body on the floor sobbing 😔✋🏻
___
My jaw is still on the floor with the way book 1 ended. I can't wait for the yearning, betrayals, and spice 🙂↕️
Buddy reading with Hoda
June 27, 2025
⤷2.5! I'm sorry but this book actually annoyed me so much :'))) It was pretty plot heavy, but nothing happened at the same time??? The final battle was lackluster at best... The theme of betrayal and Lara being brainwashed by her dad was replayed a bazillion times!!! It was just back and forth of love and hate (+a bunch of repetitive lamenting) between Lara and Aren, which I normally enjoy - but their romance wasn't that convincing in the first book that I'm just like 😐 The dialogue did notttt give me emotions... Plus Aren please grow a spine challenge!! Everyone honestly pissed me off (even the side characters) that I think I'm done with this series 😭
January 3, 2021
#1 The Bridge Kingdom — 4.25 Stars
#2 The Traitor Queen — 3.75 Stars
Reading this book was taxing.
It was like jumping hurdles after hurdles. Intense, plot driven, and action packed. I felt like I could barely catch my breath. I’m not exactly complaining because I like this kind of books, but pheww . . . give your girl a break. And I’m not just talking about me, but the heroine Queen Lara also.
She was trying hard and doing her best to make up for her mistakes while being treated rather unfairly by Aren and his people. I mean, I get it you’re hurt and angry and you feel betrayed, but let’s get over it and work things out together. It was frustrating at times, especially because Aren was behaving rather unkingly. Being fickle and indecisive.
Despite that, I’m honestly impressed with Lara. I feel like she was such a strong and unrelenting heroine. She endured A LOT in this book. And I absolutely loved the reunion she had with all her sisters and them doing a mission together to free Aren from their father’s clutches.
There were a lot of epicness in this book. However, at the same time, I feel like plotwise it was pretty anticlimactic and the romance was just downright disappointing. We were slightly backward in development from the previous book. Aren and Lara were mostly miserable and during the times when they were not, I wanted MORE.
That said, I’m on the fence about book 3.
November 26, 2024
This book:
Aren: I’m mad at you
Lara: I know
Aren: I’m REALLY mad at you
Lara: that’s fair, bro
Aren: why don’t you just go die you two-timing bitch I’m sorry I didn’t mean that I’m just very upset
Lara: *almost dies*
Aren: well, fuck
for 380 pages and I ate them all up
Aren: I’m mad at you
Lara: I know
Aren: I’m REALLY mad at you
Lara: that’s fair, bro
Aren: why don’t you just go die you two-timing bitch I’m sorry I didn’t mean that I’m just very upset
Lara: *almost dies*
Aren: well, fuck
for 380 pages and I ate them all up
Read
October 29, 2024The new paperback edition is available in the U.S. and in Canada on November 12, 2024 and it also includes a bonus chapter from Sarhina's (Lara's sister) point of view! The U.S. and Canadian ebook will also include the chapter.
September 8, 2020
It physically pains me to have to write this review. PHYSICALS. PAINS. ME.
The first book is complete and utter perfection. Zero flaws. Couldn’t put it down. Am prepared to be buried with it in my villainess tomb.
This one was......medium, at best.
The biggest problem, for me, was that the first one had the perfect combination of action, character development, slow burn romance, lovable characters, hilarious witty banter, and total badassery. Yet, this one only had action. That was it. You barely see the characters you loved from the first one. The healing of the slow burn romance isn’t really there. There IS a lot of regret and self-loathing, but that’s to be expected. It’s just sort of steady throughout. There’s no ebb and flow of it, if that makes sense. It’s a straight line. It doesn’t move deeper or into more shallow waters. It’s just....flat. There were maybe a couple of instances of very, VERY short banter. And a lot of instances of Aren simply looking off into space and magically knowing and understanding exactly what his enemy was thinking/plotting. Sigh.
I get it—the countries are at war. We knew that going in. But, it became exhausting to read because that was legit all the characters did. Everything else we loved about the first one took a backseat.
So, I suppose if you’re someone who reads strictly for plot, then you’ll love this book and will think I’m bananas (which is fair 😂). If you’re someone who reads for plot AND characters, romance, banter, and development.....then I need you to lower your expectations significantly before you begin this one. Like, lower than dirt level expectations. Maybe crater. Ocean floor.
I also probably should’ve given this 2 stars, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I blame 2020.
The first book is complete and utter perfection. Zero flaws. Couldn’t put it down. Am prepared to be buried with it in my villainess tomb.
This one was......medium, at best.
The biggest problem, for me, was that the first one had the perfect combination of action, character development, slow burn romance, lovable characters, hilarious witty banter, and total badassery. Yet, this one only had action. That was it. You barely see the characters you loved from the first one. The healing of the slow burn romance isn’t really there. There IS a lot of regret and self-loathing, but that’s to be expected. It’s just sort of steady throughout. There’s no ebb and flow of it, if that makes sense. It’s a straight line. It doesn’t move deeper or into more shallow waters. It’s just....flat. There were maybe a couple of instances of very, VERY short banter. And a lot of instances of Aren simply looking off into space and magically knowing and understanding exactly what his enemy was thinking/plotting. Sigh.
I get it—the countries are at war. We knew that going in. But, it became exhausting to read because that was legit all the characters did. Everything else we loved about the first one took a backseat.
So, I suppose if you’re someone who reads strictly for plot, then you’ll love this book and will think I’m bananas (which is fair 😂). If you’re someone who reads for plot AND characters, romance, banter, and development.....then I need you to lower your expectations significantly before you begin this one. Like, lower than dirt level expectations. Maybe crater. Ocean floor.
I also probably should’ve given this 2 stars, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I blame 2020.
January 28, 2025
i’m unwell…. heart, shattered :))))
January 11, 2023
“Awake or asleep, all I see is your face. All I hear is your voice. All I feel is you in my arms. All I want is you.”
I loved this book so much! This was a fantastic and action-packed fantasy romance about love, betrayal, revenge and the cost of power. The Traitor Queen follows Lara as she goes on a journey of hardship and love to save Aren. Along the way she meets new enemies and allies and learns more about herself.
This book is told from Lara and Aren's point of view. I was swept up in this brilliant world that the author created from the very beginning. The world building is amazing! This book has everything I wanted in fantasy romance including political intrigue, amazing characters, enemies to lovers romance, slow-burn and awesome chemistry between the two main characters. The pacing was perfect and the plot was exciting from the beginning till the end. The characters in the book were complex and interesting. My favorite character is Lara, she is fierce, badass, resilient, tenacious, brave, and caring towards the people she loves. I loved Lara's character development in this book, she grew so much and showed that she will do whatever it takes to protect Aren and Ithicana. I love Aren so much, he is handsome, brave, sweet, kind, charming, and strong. I really liked the new characters we were introduced to especially Lara's sisters and Zarrah. The chemistry between Lara and Aren was amazing and I loved their relationship. The spice was SO good!! The author is an excellent writer, the descriptive writing allowed me to vividly picture everything in my head. The ending was so great! I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, enemies-to-lovers romance and excellent characters.
I loved this book so much! This was a fantastic and action-packed fantasy romance about love, betrayal, revenge and the cost of power. The Traitor Queen follows Lara as she goes on a journey of hardship and love to save Aren. Along the way she meets new enemies and allies and learns more about herself.
This book is told from Lara and Aren's point of view. I was swept up in this brilliant world that the author created from the very beginning. The world building is amazing! This book has everything I wanted in fantasy romance including political intrigue, amazing characters, enemies to lovers romance, slow-burn and awesome chemistry between the two main characters. The pacing was perfect and the plot was exciting from the beginning till the end. The characters in the book were complex and interesting. My favorite character is Lara, she is fierce, badass, resilient, tenacious, brave, and caring towards the people she loves. I loved Lara's character development in this book, she grew so much and showed that she will do whatever it takes to protect Aren and Ithicana. I love Aren so much, he is handsome, brave, sweet, kind, charming, and strong. I really liked the new characters we were introduced to especially Lara's sisters and Zarrah. The chemistry between Lara and Aren was amazing and I loved their relationship. The spice was SO good!! The author is an excellent writer, the descriptive writing allowed me to vividly picture everything in my head. The ending was so great! I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, enemies-to-lovers romance and excellent characters.
November 11, 2025
✅ Angsty
✅ “I hate that I still love you”
✅ Badass and ruthless main character
✅ Romance
✅ Pace and plot
✅ Action and fighting
✅ World-building
✅ Scheming and life-threatening situations
✅ Plot twists
✅ New characters
_______________________
Second read: Still amazing.
The audiobook is great.
The angst is great.
I love Lara and Aren.
They both kick asses.
The end.
_______________________
What an amazing book! What a wild ride! I couldn't put it down! ❤️
The Traitor Queen picks up a few months after the end of The Bridge Kingdom. Lara made some big mistakes in the first book and now she is trying to make up for them and find a way to redeem herself.
I loved all this book's love/hate and angst. That, coupled with all the action kept me at the edge of my seat. I felt like crying for Lara at times, and I was so frustrated by how she was treated (but at the same time I understand why they all hate her), but I enjoyed reading this book so much because of all these emotions and the angst.
The plot and the pace are great, and it was very easy to get absorbed into this adventure. There is still a political aspect weaved into the book, but it’s more about war and fighting rather than spying. The relationship aspect also takes a lot of room with Aren trying, but failing, to hate Lara, and Lara hating herself and trying to right her wrongs. The descriptions were slightly less atmospherical than in the first one, because Lara and Aren had to travel a lot, and could not spend long in one place, but at the same time, the world-building expanded, and we got to discover new places, which is always nice.
There is a lot of action in this book! Nerve-wracking and heart-pounding moments. Lara is still a badass, and Aren shows us again how determined and fierce he is when comes time to defend his country and his people. I missed the banter that we had in the first book, but the action and the pace of this book are so intense, that it makes up for it! I couldn't put it down both times I read it. One thing that I disliked a tiny little bit is the constant time jumps in the first half of the book. What feels like a few days are weeks, and what feels like weeks are months.
Aren, while being amazing (and gorgeous), annoyed me a little in this book. I understand why he feels the way he does, I really do, but the fact that when he is asked to choose between his country and his queen, he is SO indecisive made me so frustrated at times! There are also a few times when he was asked to make a tough choice, and he just refused, which made it look like he just wanted to please everyone and hold on to his moral standards, while also being in life-threatening situations and having to fight a war. A part of me also wanted to slap him for the way he treated Lara (even though she kind of deserved a part of it), but the angst-lover part of me was SO HAPPY! But even though he was a little annoying at times, I still love him with all my heart, and he is still great in this book.
Lara is still feisty and driven, but she is also full of self-loath in this book. She wants to redeem herself, but she has a lot of work to do. She knows she cannot hope or ask for forgiveness, but she wants to atone and free Ithicana before leaving and spending the rest of her life hidden somewhere. Being a sucker for hate-to-love romance, I was so happy to be able to have that dynamic a second time for Lara and Aren. While they are still officially married, the trust between them is broken, and they need to rebuild everything between them from scratch. There are some cute and intense moments in this book too, and they are, without a doubt, one of my favorite fantasy couples.
I adore the new characters we meet in this book! Lara's sisters were great and I hope to see more of them in the next books. It is nice to see how they helped and protected each other despite everything that happened between them. I also like Keris very much, and I hope that he will not break my heart... I want to like him and trust him, but I am afraid to be disappointed with him in the next book.
The ending is good and sweet, but I was hoping for something a little more meaningful and intense maybe...? There is no cliffhanger like in the first book since this is the end of Lara and Arren's adventure, and the next book will be about Keris and Zarrah. Lara and Aren were awesome, and I am definitely going to re-read this series in the years to come because I am utterly in love with them, but I am also very excited to read the next book because I know that Keris has the potential to steal the show and my heart too.
1. The Bridge Kingdom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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✅ “I hate that I still love you”
✅ Badass and ruthless main character
✅ Romance
✅ Pace and plot
✅ Action and fighting
✅ World-building
✅ Scheming and life-threatening situations
✅ Plot twists
✅ New characters
_______________________
Second read: Still amazing.
The audiobook is great.
The angst is great.
I love Lara and Aren.
They both kick asses.
The end.
_______________________
“Trusting you was my mistake. Loving you was my mistake.”
What an amazing book! What a wild ride! I couldn't put it down! ❤️
The Traitor Queen picks up a few months after the end of The Bridge Kingdom. Lara made some big mistakes in the first book and now she is trying to make up for them and find a way to redeem herself.
She was the traitor queen. The reason Ithicana lost the bridge. The reason hundreds, if not thousands, of Ithicanians had perished.
I loved all this book's love/hate and angst. That, coupled with all the action kept me at the edge of my seat. I felt like crying for Lara at times, and I was so frustrated by how she was treated (but at the same time I understand why they all hate her), but I enjoyed reading this book so much because of all these emotions and the angst.
“Forgive her. She loves you.” He dropped the old woman’s arm, feeling Lara’s gaze on him. Knowing she was listening.
“She doesn’t know what love is.”
“That’s why you should forgive her.”
The plot and the pace are great, and it was very easy to get absorbed into this adventure. There is still a political aspect weaved into the book, but it’s more about war and fighting rather than spying. The relationship aspect also takes a lot of room with Aren trying, but failing, to hate Lara, and Lara hating herself and trying to right her wrongs. The descriptions were slightly less atmospherical than in the first one, because Lara and Aren had to travel a lot, and could not spend long in one place, but at the same time, the world-building expanded, and we got to discover new places, which is always nice.
"There's no one in the world like you, you know."
"No, there isn't."
"Because there is only one Queen of Ithicana. Just as there is only one King. And if any of our enemies dare come for our kingdom, we will bring them to their knees."
There is a lot of action in this book! Nerve-wracking and heart-pounding moments. Lara is still a badass, and Aren shows us again how determined and fierce he is when comes time to defend his country and his people. I missed the banter that we had in the first book, but the action and the pace of this book are so intense, that it makes up for it! I couldn't put it down both times I read it. One thing that I disliked a tiny little bit is the constant time jumps in the first half of the book. What feels like a few days are weeks, and what feels like weeks are months.
She was right, and he knew it. But in his heart, he knew that even if he never saw her again for the rest of his life, it would never be over.
She would always be his queen.
Aren, while being amazing (and gorgeous), annoyed me a little in this book. I understand why he feels the way he does, I really do, but the fact that when he is asked to choose between his country and his queen, he is SO indecisive made me so frustrated at times! There are also a few times when he was asked to make a tough choice, and he just refused, which made it look like he just wanted to please everyone and hold on to his moral standards, while also being in life-threatening situations and having to fight a war. A part of me also wanted to slap him for the way he treated Lara (even though she kind of deserved a part of it), but the angst-lover part of me was SO HAPPY! But even though he was a little annoying at times, I still love him with all my heart, and he is still great in this book.
“You are my goddamned damnation, but there will never be anyone but you.”
Lara is still feisty and driven, but she is also full of self-loath in this book. She wants to redeem herself, but she has a lot of work to do. She knows she cannot hope or ask for forgiveness, but she wants to atone and free Ithicana before leaving and spending the rest of her life hidden somewhere. Being a sucker for hate-to-love romance, I was so happy to be able to have that dynamic a second time for Lara and Aren. While they are still officially married, the trust between them is broken, and they need to rebuild everything between them from scratch. There are some cute and intense moments in this book too, and they are, without a doubt, one of my favorite fantasy couples.
I adore the new characters we meet in this book! Lara's sisters were great and I hope to see more of them in the next books. It is nice to see how they helped and protected each other despite everything that happened between them. I also like Keris very much, and I hope that he will not break my heart... I want to like him and trust him, but I am afraid to be disappointed with him in the next book.
The ending is good and sweet, but I was hoping for something a little more meaningful and intense maybe...? There is no cliffhanger like in the first book since this is the end of Lara and Arren's adventure, and the next book will be about Keris and Zarrah. Lara and Aren were awesome, and I am definitely going to re-read this series in the years to come because I am utterly in love with them, but I am also very excited to read the next book because I know that Keris has the potential to steal the show and my heart too.
1. The Bridge Kingdom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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June 19, 2022
"Lara, no matter where you are in the world, if you need me, I’ll come for you. Please know that.”
*screams into a pillow* Wow that was intense. I had high expectations and the book delivered.
The Traitor Queen is an action packed book. The world building stays elite, and it's so brilliantly written. The characters are well developed and I couldn't keep this book down (well once I found my rhythm). There were some parts in the book that dragged on a bit longer than required, in my opinion but the story never loses its touch.
Aren and Lara had me screaming and crying. I was for real sweating throughout the ending. The tension is real. Those two are such an iconic couple, it's hard not to root for them.
I liked Keris and Zarrah a lot, so am excited to see what the two have to offer in the next book. I'M SO EXCITED FOR IT!!
If only I could go back in time to a couple of days ago so I could read this series for the first time again 😭❤️
*screams into a pillow* Wow that was intense. I had high expectations and the book delivered.
The Traitor Queen is an action packed book. The world building stays elite, and it's so brilliantly written. The characters are well developed and I couldn't keep this book down (well once I found my rhythm). There were some parts in the book that dragged on a bit longer than required, in my opinion but the story never loses its touch.
Aren and Lara had me screaming and crying. I was for real sweating throughout the ending. The tension is real. Those two are such an iconic couple, it's hard not to root for them.
I liked Keris and Zarrah a lot, so am excited to see what the two have to offer in the next book. I'M SO EXCITED FOR IT!!
If only I could go back in time to a couple of days ago so I could read this series for the first time again 😭❤️
June 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐️! this was SO good!!! Danielle knows how to write strong female characters and i am so here for it! obsessed with Lara 😭🥹
December 7, 2022
***Contains Spoilers***
Oh man, I really enjoyed the first book and I was dying to find out what happened. I was so disappointed in this book. It goes from crisis to crisis, the character development majorly lags/is non existent. Lara is wallowing in shame the whole time. Plot holes abound; Lara was right behind her father during that dance scene and she doesn't take the opportunity to slit his throat?! So I'm thinking Jensen has a better revenge death in mind for him, but then his death is just as quick in the end. They keep rehashing the same argument THE ENTIRE book. Aren is being a jerk the ENTIRE book. The whole dessert scene with Lara being caught as a thief would never have happened, and was so unnecessary. And then we dived way deep down the 'fantasy/physical impossibility' rabbit hole when there was a sex scene following Lara almost dying of blood loss from a near mortal leg wound that Aren stitches up for her. Whaaat?! Just so many problems with that scene. Questionable consent since someone who lost that much blood is not thinking straight. Not to mention no one's feeling frisky after losing that much blood. Also, what kind of sadist is Aren that he's turned on after sewing up layers of muscle and flesh while covered in her blood?! Gross, Bro. Not to mention the major infection risk. Ugh. And then, then afterwards he gets mad at her!!! I was definitely not loving the book already and then that scene put me over the edge.
In addition to all of that the ending was poorly thought out and then rushed. You made me suffer through all that misery for 2 minutes(audiobook only right now) of a happy ending?! Bogus. I feel cheated.
Likes: Lara and her Sister's relationships. Zara and Keris, definitely ship them.
Oh man, I really enjoyed the first book and I was dying to find out what happened. I was so disappointed in this book. It goes from crisis to crisis, the character development majorly lags/is non existent. Lara is wallowing in shame the whole time. Plot holes abound; Lara was right behind her father during that dance scene and she doesn't take the opportunity to slit his throat?! So I'm thinking Jensen has a better revenge death in mind for him, but then his death is just as quick in the end. They keep rehashing the same argument THE ENTIRE book. Aren is being a jerk the ENTIRE book. The whole dessert scene with Lara being caught as a thief would never have happened, and was so unnecessary. And then we dived way deep down the 'fantasy/physical impossibility' rabbit hole when there was a sex scene following Lara almost dying of blood loss from a near mortal leg wound that Aren stitches up for her. Whaaat?! Just so many problems with that scene. Questionable consent since someone who lost that much blood is not thinking straight. Not to mention no one's feeling frisky after losing that much blood. Also, what kind of sadist is Aren that he's turned on after sewing up layers of muscle and flesh while covered in her blood?! Gross, Bro. Not to mention the major infection risk. Ugh. And then, then afterwards he gets mad at her!!! I was definitely not loving the book already and then that scene put me over the edge.
In addition to all of that the ending was poorly thought out and then rushed. You made me suffer through all that misery for 2 minutes(audiobook only right now) of a happy ending?! Bogus. I feel cheated.
Likes: Lara and her Sister's relationships. Zara and Keris, definitely ship them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2021
Sadly didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first installment in the series. It still was an easy and fun read, but the plot was not that intriguing and really slow. The main characters felt a little bit too stiff, I understood their motivations, but that didn’t really help me enjoy the story more.
Still thrilled to read the next book in the series!
Still thrilled to read the next book in the series!
April 14, 2024
Predictable, but an amazing end to this story. I’m happy this didn’t suffer 2nd book syndrome
This story never lost its course. It was easy to fall back into & easy to read. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. Ares & Lara are simply meant to be.
I’m happy we got to see more of Lara’s sisters! Especially Sarhina 💗
« Lara, no matter where you are in the world, if you need me, I’ll come for you. » ❤️🔥
« But in his heart, he knew that even if he never saw her again for the rest of his life, it would never be over. She would always be his queen »
This story never lost its course. It was easy to fall back into & easy to read. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. Ares & Lara are simply meant to be.
I’m happy we got to see more of Lara’s sisters! Especially Sarhina 💗
« Lara, no matter where you are in the world, if you need me, I’ll come for you. » ❤️🔥
« But in his heart, he knew that even if he never saw her again for the rest of his life, it would never be over. She would always be his queen »
September 14, 2020
All Hail the Traitor Queen
3.5 stars, but I rounded it up because Lara deserves it!
Not nearly as good as the first one, but still a fast-paced, action-packed and nerve-wracking rollercoaster I couldn't put down until the final page was turned. I know this book was released as an audio book long before the printed version, and I wonder if that has affected the editing..
Mini-rant for those of you who've already read the book.
Short RTC when I find the time.
3.5 stars, but I rounded it up because Lara deserves it!
Not nearly as good as the first one, but still a fast-paced, action-packed and nerve-wracking rollercoaster I couldn't put down until the final page was turned. I know this book was released as an audio book long before the printed version, and I wonder if that has affected the editing..
Mini-rant for those of you who've already read the book.
Short RTC when I find the time.
October 29, 2021
4-4.5 stars.
🔹 Overall feelings:
〰 I really really liked it. The first book was, hands down, one of my favorite reads of 2019 so it’s safe to say that this was one of my most anticipated books of 2020. That said, although I had already bought the Baecrate exclusive editions of this duology, I also bought the e-book when I realized that I would only get my physical copies at the end of the month (and I wanted to read this right away which means that I just had to buy the e-book too... oops).
🔹 Plot:
〰 I have come to absolutely adore Danielle Jensen’s writing style and although this is the first series that I’ve ever read by her, it definitely won’t be the last. She just knows how to include everything I love into one small book. The traitor Queen was action packed, angsty, thrilling and just overall really enjoyable. The pacing of this book is great and the plot is amazing but what made me fall in love with this series are the characters. I read a lot of fantasy and read a lot of books with badass heroines but I think that Lara is definitely in my top 5 for most enjoyable/strong heroines of all time. Although her character development is great, Jensen still does an amazing job of showing just how strong Lara truly is even when she’s at her most vulnerable, which I really appreciated.
🔹 characters:
❥ Lara
〰 I really liked the fact that Lara was not fully forgiven for her actions. Going into this book, my biggest concern was that Lara would be forgiven way too quickly, both by Aren and the Ithicanians. That however, was thankfully not the case. Throughout this book, Lara does EVERYTHING in her power to atone for the mess that she caused at the end of the first book but even by the end of this installment, she was still not a beloved queen and I thought that this aspect made the whole story more believable. Jensen also makes sure that you understand that this is the only possible ending that she could give us by reminding us a couple of times that the damage that Lara caused was definitely not small. That said, even if she sacrificed her life for Ithicana there will always be a chance that she will never be accepted or forgiven.
〰 As I said, I really really adored Lara in this installment. I’ve honestly never read a character who never tries to play the victim and who understands just how much her actions affected others. She then does the most selfless things ever knowing that even if she gave up her life trying to protect Ithicana, she would still not have fully repaid the debt that she owes its people. I found that my favorite scenes in this book were the ones where she was acting so damn selfless and strong. For example: the scene with the sandstorm (where she covers his face and not her own and then proceeds to try to get them to safety... my heart...*cries forever*), the scene on the snake island and so many others... ugh, all of it was just so good. And the reason these scenes were so dang good is because for once, we have the heroine who’s actually saving the hero and not the other way around. More often than not, Aren was the one in need of help and in need of saving and I found that aspect extremely refreshing.
❥ Aren
〰 Although i’ve been gushing about Lara for a while now, I also can’t forget Aren. Even though Lara’s definitely my favorite, Aren was also an amazing character. The fact that he didn’t forgive Lara instantly made him more believable but the fact that he also couldn’t stay away from her made him more loveable. Even he finds himself sacrificing his own life numerous times in order to save his wife and let me just tell you, I freaking love them as a couple. The author does an amazing job of making you feel just how much they love each other and it’s honestly been a while since i’ve read a book where I felt like the characters would genuinely be miserable without each other. Overall, both main characters were absolutely amazing.
❥ Secondary characters
〰 All absolutely amazing and just so enjoyable. Each character had a purpose in this story and each character deserves a book of their own. We’ll be getting Zarrah and Keris’ story next and I can’t wait.
🔹 Final thoughts:
〰 Overall, this series is definitely one of my top favorite series of all time and I will probably be re-reading it often. Danielle Jensen has cemented herself as a favorite of mine and I will probably be reading her entire backlist at some point. Although I wished some things were slightly different (for example, I wanted a more dramatic death for Lara’s father—this and some other minor issues that I had prevented me from giving this 5 stars), this series still remains an excellent series in my opinion and I highly recommend it!
———————
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rose_books2/
🔹 Overall feelings:
〰 I really really liked it. The first book was, hands down, one of my favorite reads of 2019 so it’s safe to say that this was one of my most anticipated books of 2020. That said, although I had already bought the Baecrate exclusive editions of this duology, I also bought the e-book when I realized that I would only get my physical copies at the end of the month (and I wanted to read this right away which means that I just had to buy the e-book too... oops).
🔹 Plot:
〰 I have come to absolutely adore Danielle Jensen’s writing style and although this is the first series that I’ve ever read by her, it definitely won’t be the last. She just knows how to include everything I love into one small book. The traitor Queen was action packed, angsty, thrilling and just overall really enjoyable. The pacing of this book is great and the plot is amazing but what made me fall in love with this series are the characters. I read a lot of fantasy and read a lot of books with badass heroines but I think that Lara is definitely in my top 5 for most enjoyable/strong heroines of all time. Although her character development is great, Jensen still does an amazing job of showing just how strong Lara truly is even when she’s at her most vulnerable, which I really appreciated.
🔹 characters:
❥ Lara
〰 I really liked the fact that Lara was not fully forgiven for her actions. Going into this book, my biggest concern was that Lara would be forgiven way too quickly, both by Aren and the Ithicanians. That however, was thankfully not the case. Throughout this book, Lara does EVERYTHING in her power to atone for the mess that she caused at the end of the first book but even by the end of this installment, she was still not a beloved queen and I thought that this aspect made the whole story more believable. Jensen also makes sure that you understand that this is the only possible ending that she could give us by reminding us a couple of times that the damage that Lara caused was definitely not small. That said, even if she sacrificed her life for Ithicana there will always be a chance that she will never be accepted or forgiven.
〰 As I said, I really really adored Lara in this installment. I’ve honestly never read a character who never tries to play the victim and who understands just how much her actions affected others. She then does the most selfless things ever knowing that even if she gave up her life trying to protect Ithicana, she would still not have fully repaid the debt that she owes its people. I found that my favorite scenes in this book were the ones where she was acting so damn selfless and strong. For example: the scene with the sandstorm (where she covers his face and not her own and then proceeds to try to get them to safety... my heart...*cries forever*), the scene on the snake island and so many others... ugh, all of it was just so good. And the reason these scenes were so dang good is because for once, we have the heroine who’s actually saving the hero and not the other way around. More often than not, Aren was the one in need of help and in need of saving and I found that aspect extremely refreshing.
❥ Aren
〰 Although i’ve been gushing about Lara for a while now, I also can’t forget Aren. Even though Lara’s definitely my favorite, Aren was also an amazing character. The fact that he didn’t forgive Lara instantly made him more believable but the fact that he also couldn’t stay away from her made him more loveable. Even he finds himself sacrificing his own life numerous times in order to save his wife and let me just tell you, I freaking love them as a couple. The author does an amazing job of making you feel just how much they love each other and it’s honestly been a while since i’ve read a book where I felt like the characters would genuinely be miserable without each other. Overall, both main characters were absolutely amazing.
❥ Secondary characters
〰 All absolutely amazing and just so enjoyable. Each character had a purpose in this story and each character deserves a book of their own. We’ll be getting Zarrah and Keris’ story next and I can’t wait.
🔹 Final thoughts:
〰 Overall, this series is definitely one of my top favorite series of all time and I will probably be re-reading it often. Danielle Jensen has cemented herself as a favorite of mine and I will probably be reading her entire backlist at some point. Although I wished some things were slightly different (for example, I wanted a more dramatic death for Lara’s father—this and some other minor issues that I had prevented me from giving this 5 stars), this series still remains an excellent series in my opinion and I highly recommend it!
———————
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rose_books2/
May 9, 2021
I've neever thought I'd ever say this but probably there was a bit too much angst and self-loathing in this one. LOL! Considering that I'm usually the first sucker for such stuff and yet it still was a bit overmuch. While I get why this bit was written like that, it's still way too heavy on self-loathing.
Sharks to the plot rescue! Nice twist with the sharks. I loved it even though it felt like a bit of a cop-out.
Overall, a very dynamic fantasy. Great take on the fem angle.
Sharks to the plot rescue! Nice twist with the sharks. I loved it even though it felt like a bit of a cop-out.
Overall, a very dynamic fantasy. Great take on the fem angle.
June 1, 2021
SO MUCH ACTION AND ANGST! I really loved this book and how the plot was non-stop action. There was never a slow moment and I had no idea how Lara and Aren were going to fall back in love or how they were going to save Aren's people. So good! I loved how we saw more of Lara's sisters and how Aren had to fight his love for Lara with his hate for how she betrayed him in book one. I loved it and can't wait to read another book in this world about a different couple in book three!!
May 22, 2022
i got a lil bored around the 75% mark but that’s okay the book was still great!
February 28, 2020
I feel like I've waited for The Traitor Queen for years instead of months. Also, I currently feel half-dead and can't quite believe that Lara and Aren's story is over. I adore Danielle L. Jensen as a person (she's awesome) and after months wondering if she was going to break my heart, I finally have the answer to that question: yes. She broke it a few times over the course of 66 chapters and every time it was totally worth it.
The Traitor Queen was action-packed, and Danielle L. Jensen played with my sanity, she scared me to death countless times, and simply made me feel way too much. It's pretty simple actually: it was perfect. And I'm going to miss the hell out of Aren and Lara. These two stole my (shattered) heart and I couldn't have loved them more - even if I tried.
But my love for The Traitor Queen isn't reduced to Lara and Aren (and how, may I repeat, Danielle scared the crap out of me). She imagined a world that I completely fell in love with and secondary characters that I want to see again asap. There's a lot of potential for future stories in said world, with said characters and I can only hope that I won't die of impatience.
But until then, let me tell you how I adored Lara's sisters. They were even more badass than I expected them to be. And Sahrina? I won't say much because I don't want to spoil anyone (who might read this) but she's my queen.
And Keris... damn that man is hot and smart and I need more of him. So much more. Same for Zarrah because she was such an interesting character!
I could go on and on for a long time but just know that this was absolutely amazing and I'm already feeling nostalgic. I'm a thankful mess.
Before reading/
You know what? F*ck it, I'm going to build that time machine myself.
The Traitor Queen was action-packed, and Danielle L. Jensen played with my sanity, she scared me to death countless times, and simply made me feel way too much. It's pretty simple actually: it was perfect. And I'm going to miss the hell out of Aren and Lara. These two stole my (shattered) heart and I couldn't have loved them more - even if I tried.
But my love for The Traitor Queen isn't reduced to Lara and Aren (and how, may I repeat, Danielle scared the crap out of me). She imagined a world that I completely fell in love with and secondary characters that I want to see again asap. There's a lot of potential for future stories in said world, with said characters and I can only hope that I won't die of impatience.
But until then, let me tell you how I adored Lara's sisters. They were even more badass than I expected them to be. And Sahrina? I won't say much because I don't want to spoil anyone (who might read this) but she's my queen.
And Keris... damn that man is hot and smart and I need more of him. So much more. Same for Zarrah because she was such an interesting character!
I could go on and on for a long time but just know that this was absolutely amazing and I'm already feeling nostalgic. I'm a thankful mess.
Before reading/
You know what? F*ck it, I'm going to build that time machine myself.
November 10, 2020
I dont usually put spoilers, but I have thoughts on this book. 🧐
First, so much damn heartbreak 💔 Like, an insane amount. I felt like Lara needed a Therapist a few chapters into the book. The onslaught of emotions she went trough by her father, sisters, Ithicana--was a lot. Sure, she deserved it, but it was so damn much. 😵
I enjoyed the reunion with her sisters, I hope they return throughout the series.
Which leads me to another thing. At the end of the book, the author mentions that for book 3 were getting a new story from Zarrahs/Keris POV. What? 😌 excuse me! This is exciting!!!🧡
I'm kinda sad that the story wont continue with Lara and Aren. Yes, I know they will definitely appear in the other stories, but they wont be the highlight...but I'm excited for the other pov's.
I loved how Lara and Aren went from enemies to lovers, to enemies and back to lovers. The ending was great, but I dont know how much that shark myth will last for Lara. It's hard to believe that the loved ones of those that died could easily accept her as their Queen again. 🤔
Overall, I loved this! I read this book insanely fast. The action scenes, the forbidden love, the cutthroat way of Kings and Queens was captivating. I just wish we were getting 5 books from Lara and Arens perspective. But, I can see how if we truly want to immerse ourselves in this world we need multiple pov from other kingdoms. I will recover from my distress.. hopefully. 😅
Also, for my romance lovers there is one love scene. The slow burn is real 😂 Danielle Jensen you are too cruel.
(4) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First, so much damn heartbreak 💔 Like, an insane amount. I felt like Lara needed a Therapist a few chapters into the book. The onslaught of emotions she went trough by her father, sisters, Ithicana--was a lot. Sure, she deserved it, but it was so damn much. 😵
I enjoyed the reunion with her sisters, I hope they return throughout the series.
Which leads me to another thing. At the end of the book, the author mentions that for book 3 were getting a new story from Zarrahs/Keris POV. What? 😌 excuse me! This is exciting!!!🧡
I'm kinda sad that the story wont continue with Lara and Aren. Yes, I know they will definitely appear in the other stories, but they wont be the highlight...but I'm excited for the other pov's.
I loved how Lara and Aren went from enemies to lovers, to enemies and back to lovers. The ending was great, but I dont know how much that shark myth will last for Lara. It's hard to believe that the loved ones of those that died could easily accept her as their Queen again. 🤔
Overall, I loved this! I read this book insanely fast. The action scenes, the forbidden love, the cutthroat way of Kings and Queens was captivating. I just wish we were getting 5 books from Lara and Arens perspective. But, I can see how if we truly want to immerse ourselves in this world we need multiple pov from other kingdoms. I will recover from my distress.. hopefully. 😅
Also, for my romance lovers there is one love scene. The slow burn is real 😂 Danielle Jensen you are too cruel.
(4) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2025
4.5⭐️ I knew this book was gonna destroy me, but that ENDING??? What the hell 😭😭😭😭
Lara and Aren absolutely shredded my soul. Lara stays THAT GIRL exiled, betrayed, hated and still out here proving herself like the queen she is. And Aren?? My emotionally tortured king, constantly torn between the woman he loves and the people he swore to protect. And you know what? He was so valid though…
this was so much better than the first one! faster paced, more action, more tension, and the ANGST??? Immaculate. The heartbreak?? The political mess?? The action?? Perfection. This book had me stressed, feral, and obsessed from start to finish.
also I’m kinda hesitant to continue this series because i found out the rest of the books isn’t even in their POV anymore??? Like, why would you do this to me I’m not ready to let them go yet 🥲
Lara and Aren absolutely shredded my soul. Lara stays THAT GIRL exiled, betrayed, hated and still out here proving herself like the queen she is. And Aren?? My emotionally tortured king, constantly torn between the woman he loves and the people he swore to protect. And you know what? He was so valid though…
this was so much better than the first one! faster paced, more action, more tension, and the ANGST??? Immaculate. The heartbreak?? The political mess?? The action?? Perfection. This book had me stressed, feral, and obsessed from start to finish.
also I’m kinda hesitant to continue this series because i found out the rest of the books isn’t even in their POV anymore??? Like, why would you do this to me I’m not ready to let them go yet 🥲
August 21, 2023
4⭐️
⚠️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS⚠️
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen is a YA fantasy romance book and the second of the series called The Bridge Kingdom, which are separate duologies and can be read individually.
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter. And it is bait she fully intends to take.
Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father’s clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she’s trying to free – the husband she betrayed.
With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who - and what – she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.
➵Kings and queens make decisions, but it is the common folk who pay the price.
➵Just because a choice is hard doesn’t mean you don’t make it.
The characters:
When I read the first book, I wanted so bad to know what Lara was capable of and although it was more like an insight of it, this book did not disappoint. I thought I couldn’t love her more than I already did but she’s just incredibly amazing, I LOVE reading about strong women getting revenge but this was crazy in a very good way. She’s not the same person after the events that occurred in The Bridge Kingdom, plagued by guilt and shame for her role in the deaths many Ithicanians and innocent people, she decides to do everything in her power to save her home, its people and of course her husband Aren. The fact that she didn’t let pain take over her just to save the people she loved was admirable, even getting through her fear of the sea to save her husband was just on point. From slitting throats to climbing and trying not to get bitten by snakes to almost die, she achieves her goal impeccably with blood, tears and pain. It was totally understandable the fact that everyone in Ithicana hated her, but she won their trust back flawlessly. What a woman, I am in awe. I love women written by women who are strong, powerful, not scared to show their feelings, beautiful inside and out, fighters, who don’t need men to save them and many more things. Lara will always be my favorite character in this series, period.
Aren has changed too, due to his wife’s betrayal and being captured by his enemy, Lara’s father. I really like his character and how much he loves his people, willing to do anything to save them. He’s fighting his feelings because he doesn’t want to still love Lara, but it is pretty clear he’ll always be in love with her and deep down he knows what she did was a mistake. Also, he’s too handsome to handle it(and I would let him do anything to me). I don’t think I have too much to say about him, just that he’s an incredible character and I’ll always say he’s an incredible king to his people.
I adored Lara’s sisters and I can’t wait to know more about them. Also, I’m asking for a petition for the author to write a book about Bronwyn, thank you.
And… Keris and Zarrah: as soon as I buy the third book of the series I will read it immediately because I can’t wait for them to fall in love and read about their enemies to lovers story.
➵There was something about her.
Something that had spoken to his soul in a way no other woman he'd met ever had.
My opinion:
This book did not disappoint at all. First of all, I couldn’t put it down, it was impossible. Also, short chapters and fast-paced? Sign me in. I read it in English on my kindle because I couldn’t wait for it to be translated to Spanish and now I’ve decided I’ll buy the whole series in its original language (and also hardcover because they’re SO freaking beautiful). Every interaction between Aren and Lara made me feel so on edge, such tension should be illegal. This book is packed with action from beginning to end, and on top of that, there’s a lot of soul searching from Lara and Aren, both struggling with each other and that completely broke me because I swear there were times where I thought they weren’t going to end up together and it was pure pain. The author’s writing is really good and the worldbuilding was also great, I enjoyed this book more than the first one because the translation in Spanish wasn’t good and I couldn’t appreciate her writing correctly. Of course the enemies to lovers and second chance romance was perfect, and although there’s only one spicy scene, I loved it and felt it was enough. The tears, the lack of trust, the hope, the desperate cries for one another in battle even thought they aren’t supposed to care? I can’t explain everything that I felt while reading this, going from shouting and screaming to completely breaking my heart (I didn’t cry though, so everything’s good).
If I have to say something bad about it and why I didn’t give it 5 stars would be:
1. I wished there were more Aren and Lara scenes.
2. It was too fast, I loved it but also didn’t like it (if that even makes sense).
3. There’s some characters that should’ve appeared more.
4. The end was really abrupt and it would’ve been better if it ended with an epilogue/conclusion to know more about their future. I just hope in the next books there’s some scenes of them.
5. The death of Lara’s father felt a little too easy for me after all the damage he caused.
6. Sometimes all the political stuff was too much and it bored me a little.
➵You are my goddamned damnation, but there will never be anyone but you.
If you like and want to read a good enemies to lovers, with tension, a little of spice, “touch her and you die” tropes and strong main characters, this fantasy series is for you.
But before reading, check the trigger warnings as there may be some topics that can be hard for some people (tw such as: war, death, blood, graphic, violence, torture, captivity, poisoning, +18 content, injury detail, etc.).
➵She was everything. Mind, body, and soul, she was everything he wanted. Everything he needed. The queen Ithicana needed.
Last but not least, to my beautiful Lyra (Cardan's tail's version) (Cardan’s version): thank you for buddy reading this with me my love! We both love these characters so much and the fact that we can scream and curse together because of them is the best part💖
➵Awake or asleep, all I see is your face. All I hear is your voice. All I feel is you in my arms. All I want is you.
----------------------------------
REVIEWS AND RATINGS OF THE SERIES (so far):
-1. The Bridge Kingdom: 4/5
-2. *The Traitor Queen*: 4/5
-3. The Inadequate Heir: -
-3.5. The Calm Before The Storm (novella): -
-4. The Endless War: to be released (5th October, 2023)
-Books 5 & 6: ?
(English is not my first language, if you find any mistakes please let me know).
⚠️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS⚠️
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen is a YA fantasy romance book and the second of the series called The Bridge Kingdom, which are separate duologies and can be read individually.
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter. And it is bait she fully intends to take.
Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father’s clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she’s trying to free – the husband she betrayed.
With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who - and what – she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.
➵Kings and queens make decisions, but it is the common folk who pay the price.
➵Just because a choice is hard doesn’t mean you don’t make it.
The characters:
When I read the first book, I wanted so bad to know what Lara was capable of and although it was more like an insight of it, this book did not disappoint. I thought I couldn’t love her more than I already did but she’s just incredibly amazing, I LOVE reading about strong women getting revenge but this was crazy in a very good way. She’s not the same person after the events that occurred in The Bridge Kingdom, plagued by guilt and shame for her role in the deaths many Ithicanians and innocent people, she decides to do everything in her power to save her home, its people and of course her husband Aren. The fact that she didn’t let pain take over her just to save the people she loved was admirable, even getting through her fear of the sea to save her husband was just on point. From slitting throats to climbing and trying not to get bitten by snakes to almost die, she achieves her goal impeccably with blood, tears and pain. It was totally understandable the fact that everyone in Ithicana hated her, but she won their trust back flawlessly. What a woman, I am in awe. I love women written by women who are strong, powerful, not scared to show their feelings, beautiful inside and out, fighters, who don’t need men to save them and many more things. Lara will always be my favorite character in this series, period.
Aren has changed too, due to his wife’s betrayal and being captured by his enemy, Lara’s father. I really like his character and how much he loves his people, willing to do anything to save them. He’s fighting his feelings because he doesn’t want to still love Lara, but it is pretty clear he’ll always be in love with her and deep down he knows what she did was a mistake. Also, he’s too handsome to handle it
I adored Lara’s sisters and I can’t wait to know more about them. Also, I’m asking for a petition for the author to write a book about Bronwyn, thank you.
And… Keris and Zarrah: as soon as I buy the third book of the series I will read it immediately because I can’t wait for them to fall in love and read about their enemies to lovers story.
➵There was something about her.
Something that had spoken to his soul in a way no other woman he'd met ever had.
My opinion:
This book did not disappoint at all. First of all, I couldn’t put it down, it was impossible. Also, short chapters and fast-paced? Sign me in. I read it in English on my kindle because I couldn’t wait for it to be translated to Spanish and now I’ve decided I’ll buy the whole series in its original language (and also hardcover because they’re SO freaking beautiful). Every interaction between Aren and Lara made me feel so on edge, such tension should be illegal. This book is packed with action from beginning to end, and on top of that, there’s a lot of soul searching from Lara and Aren, both struggling with each other and that completely broke me because I swear there were times where I thought they weren’t going to end up together and it was pure pain. The author’s writing is really good and the worldbuilding was also great, I enjoyed this book more than the first one because the translation in Spanish wasn’t good and I couldn’t appreciate her writing correctly. Of course the enemies to lovers and second chance romance was perfect, and although there’s only one spicy scene, I loved it and felt it was enough. The tears, the lack of trust, the hope, the desperate cries for one another in battle even thought they aren’t supposed to care? I can’t explain everything that I felt while reading this, going from shouting and screaming to completely breaking my heart (I didn’t cry though, so everything’s good).
If I have to say something bad about it and why I didn’t give it 5 stars would be:
1. I wished there were more Aren and Lara scenes.
2. It was too fast, I loved it but also didn’t like it (if that even makes sense).
3. There’s some characters that should’ve appeared more.
4. The end was really abrupt and it would’ve been better if it ended with an epilogue/conclusion to know more about their future. I just hope in the next books there’s some scenes of them.
5. The death of Lara’s father felt a little too easy for me after all the damage he caused.
6. Sometimes all the political stuff was too much and it bored me a little.
➵You are my goddamned damnation, but there will never be anyone but you.
If you like and want to read a good enemies to lovers, with tension, a little of spice, “touch her and you die” tropes and strong main characters, this fantasy series is for you.
But before reading, check the trigger warnings as there may be some topics that can be hard for some people (tw such as: war, death, blood, graphic, violence, torture, captivity, poisoning, +18 content, injury detail, etc.).
➵She was everything. Mind, body, and soul, she was everything he wanted. Everything he needed. The queen Ithicana needed.
Last but not least, to my beautiful Lyra (Cardan's tail's version) (Cardan’s version): thank you for buddy reading this with me my love! We both love these characters so much and the fact that we can scream and curse together because of them is the best part💖
➵Awake or asleep, all I see is your face. All I hear is your voice. All I feel is you in my arms. All I want is you.
----------------------------------
REVIEWS AND RATINGS OF THE SERIES (so far):
-1. The Bridge Kingdom: 4/5
-2. *The Traitor Queen*: 4/5
-3. The Inadequate Heir: -
-3.5. The Calm Before The Storm (novella): -
-4. The Endless War: to be released (5th October, 2023)
-Books 5 & 6: ?
(English is not my first language, if you find any mistakes please let me know).
February 14, 2021
Positives
I preferred this to book1, the things I liked about the first instalment namely world & side characters were added to in this one, sadly just not nearly enough for this rating to be much higher 🤷♀️
I liked how the world expanded and the new characters that were introduced - but we did not get to spend nearly enough time with them (or Ahnna for that matter)! However the fact that the later books are rumoured to focus on some of these characters gives me hope and may entice me to pick them up. I cannot pretend I am not curious about the next pairing especially considering where this book left off altho I do hope we get some flashbacks to see how the strongly hinted at relationship began 😈 🤐
I'm also crossing my fingers and lowkey hoping for more page time for the amazing siblings that only got a small yet impactful cameo in this book. I'd really love to find out so much more about each of them - such interesting lives they could lead as mercenaries or just in general trying to pick up the pieces and/or putting their lives together despite what they've been put through. The stories and mental health representation that could be told through these PoV as each adjusts to a new normal while reckoning with their pasts could be fascinating novellas.
If this route is chosen please don't pair them all off and have "love" (ab)solve everything that came before - soz if the cranky cynical spinster is showing 🙈
On to what I disliked - AREN
🤬🙄😡
I found him naive & irksome in book1. I couldn't see the amazing leader we were told he was and this just got worse for me in this book as he continued to make stupidly selfish decisions while being an absolute ass for a good 60% of the story & then doubled down with some more dumb decisions as the end neared...I just don't see how I'm supposed to like or root for him when almost every decision he made about his relationship seemed to be the wrong one and/or for dumb reasons! Or rather he'd make a seemingly right decision, but then fail to follow through & toss the cat amongst the pigeons with his actions *exasperated-sigh*
The ending was rather ridiculous & pretty far fetched even for a fantasy read - if anyone else has read this please share thoughts in spoiler tags below because erm...whut?! 🙄🤦♀️
Last thing that really got to me, was that this series is pitched as a sexy romance read?
Hard NOPE to this I'm afraid.
The sex scenes (one per book) were so misplaced imho!
Just NO!
I didn't particularly find them sexy as the timing of both were seriously WTF?! moments for me.
Am I alone here on this ledge of wth kind of timing was that for these scenes?
To finish on a more positive note Lara was much improved for me in this. Altho tbf, prob not hard considering so many of her choices were maddening in the first book. Sure the ending was kind of Mary Sue levels of ridic but I enjoyed her character arc and growth through the earlier parts of the story + seeing how she went about atoning for the consequences of her decisions & (in)actions in the previous instalment. The bad ass we were told about in the first book came to play, she had many action filled scenes to show off the training we were told about and her scheming + plotting was more interesting to read about than the vaguely boring poisoning and sneaking about activities of the earlier book. Plus she was willing to make the sacrifices that Aren kept foiling with his wishy washy back and forth inability to stick to his decisions *sigh*
Oops this was supposed to be ending on a positive note so prob best I not linger on the character that deffo irked me the most over both books but especially this one. Cannot say I'm not lowkey glad the rest of the series will follow other characters while I wait to see if I'll continue with it...guess it depends on price of kindle versions and/or whether my library gets copies 😅
I am curious to see how the next MCs handle the fall out from the ending of this book as it'll deffo move up their timeline & I'm wondering how this pairing will even work considering the Romeo + Juliet "our families are mortal enemies" type set up 🤔
I really hope wherever this series goes that the scheming long game MC we met in this book and the rule bending general don't become wishy washy love lost puppies that make silly decisions risking their kingdoms *ahem* & that the cameo scene stealing siblings make welcome returns somehow 😇
Although I'm not holding my breath on that front as sadly I think they may be fridged 😕
In saying that I would dearly love to be proven wrong on that front 🤗
I'm tempted to go 3.25* as I did like Lara more this time and the world expansion plus new characters were all fun but then I remember the OTT ending & Aren's (🤬) shenanigans and I cannot go higher than 3* ... this does, however give the series massive scope for improvement & based off the foreshadowed incoming MCs I hope it will 🤞
I preferred this to book1, the things I liked about the first instalment namely world & side characters were added to in this one, sadly just not nearly enough for this rating to be much higher 🤷♀️
I liked how the world expanded and the new characters that were introduced - but we did not get to spend nearly enough time with them (or Ahnna for that matter)! However the fact that the later books are rumoured to focus on some of these characters gives me hope and may entice me to pick them up. I cannot pretend I am not curious about the next pairing especially considering where this book left off altho I do hope we get some flashbacks to see how the strongly hinted at relationship began 😈 🤐
I'm also crossing my fingers and lowkey hoping for more page time for the amazing siblings that only got a small yet impactful cameo in this book. I'd really love to find out so much more about each of them - such interesting lives they could lead as mercenaries or just in general trying to pick up the pieces and/or putting their lives together despite what they've been put through. The stories and mental health representation that could be told through these PoV as each adjusts to a new normal while reckoning with their pasts could be fascinating novellas.
If this route is chosen please don't pair them all off and have "love" (ab)solve everything that came before - soz if the cranky cynical spinster is showing 🙈
On to what I disliked - AREN
🤬🙄😡
I found him naive & irksome in book1. I couldn't see the amazing leader we were told he was and this just got worse for me in this book as he continued to make stupidly selfish decisions while being an absolute ass for a good 60% of the story & then doubled down with some more dumb decisions as the end neared...I just don't see how I'm supposed to like or root for him when almost every decision he made about his relationship seemed to be the wrong one and/or for dumb reasons! Or rather he'd make a seemingly right decision, but then fail to follow through & toss the cat amongst the pigeons with his actions *exasperated-sigh*
The ending was rather ridiculous & pretty far fetched even for a fantasy read - if anyone else has read this please share thoughts in spoiler tags below because erm...whut?! 🙄🤦♀️
Last thing that really got to me, was that this series is pitched as a sexy romance read?
Hard NOPE to this I'm afraid.
The sex scenes (one per book) were so misplaced imho!
Just NO!
I didn't particularly find them sexy as the timing of both were seriously WTF?! moments for me.
Am I alone here on this ledge of wth kind of timing was that for these scenes?
To finish on a more positive note Lara was much improved for me in this. Altho tbf, prob not hard considering so many of her choices were maddening in the first book. Sure the ending was kind of Mary Sue levels of ridic but I enjoyed her character arc and growth through the earlier parts of the story + seeing how she went about atoning for the consequences of her decisions & (in)actions in the previous instalment. The bad ass we were told about in the first book came to play, she had many action filled scenes to show off the training we were told about and her scheming + plotting was more interesting to read about than the vaguely boring poisoning and sneaking about activities of the earlier book. Plus she was willing to make the sacrifices that Aren kept foiling with his wishy washy back and forth inability to stick to his decisions *sigh*
Oops this was supposed to be ending on a positive note so prob best I not linger on the character that deffo irked me the most over both books but especially this one. Cannot say I'm not lowkey glad the rest of the series will follow other characters while I wait to see if I'll continue with it...guess it depends on price of kindle versions and/or whether my library gets copies 😅
I am curious to see how the next MCs handle the fall out from the ending of this book as it'll deffo move up their timeline & I'm wondering how this pairing will even work considering the Romeo + Juliet "our families are mortal enemies" type set up 🤔
I really hope wherever this series goes that the scheming long game MC we met in this book and the rule bending general don't become wishy washy love lost puppies that make silly decisions risking their kingdoms *ahem* & that the cameo scene stealing siblings make welcome returns somehow 😇
Although I'm not holding my breath on that front as sadly I think they may be fridged 😕
In saying that I would dearly love to be proven wrong on that front 🤗
I'm tempted to go 3.25* as I did like Lara more this time and the world expansion plus new characters were all fun but then I remember the OTT ending & Aren's (🤬) shenanigans and I cannot go higher than 3* ... this does, however give the series massive scope for improvement & based off the foreshadowed incoming MCs I hope it will 🤞
August 4, 2023
4⭐️ i came for laren and stayed for the badass female characters and non-stop suspense 😩❤️🔥
the story telling especially ending was a bit too abrupt just like in the first book but i enjoyed this one better 🥰
the story telling especially ending was a bit too abrupt just like in the first book but i enjoyed this one better 🥰
October 1, 2025
this was ✨PERFECTION✨
i missed my new fav babies so here we go again 🤭 i just know the angst is gonna ANGSTTTT!!!
i missed my new fav babies so here we go again 🤭 i just know the angst is gonna ANGSTTTT!!!
February 24, 2023
I’m the clown thinking i would give this five stars when I finished book 1 🤡🤡🤡🤡
- too long and boring picked up at the 75% mark there were some interesting scenes before but still
- aren acting like lara killed his whole family when all she did was lie. AS IF HE DIDNT MARRY HER TO MAKE PEACE OF COURSE SHES GOING TO LIE ABOUT SOMETHING. LIKE COME ON???
- HE. DIDNT. GROVEL. BUT SHE DID???? ILY BUT BABE 🧍♀️🔪
-Lara my love my queen I love you stay badass <3
- plot was all over the place
- BUT I STILL LOVE THEM YOUR HONOR IDK WHAT IT IS
- HURT/COMFORT SERVED HERE 🧎♀️
- ZAARAHKERRIS!!!
going to act like this book didn’t exist because it almost ruined book 1 for me 🌝 but still excited for book 3 :)
even though I have a feeling it will disappoint
- too long and boring picked up at the 75% mark there were some interesting scenes before but still
- aren acting like lara killed his whole family when all she did was lie. AS IF HE DIDNT MARRY HER TO MAKE PEACE OF COURSE SHES GOING TO LIE ABOUT SOMETHING. LIKE COME ON???
- HE. DIDNT. GROVEL. BUT SHE DID???? ILY BUT BABE 🧍♀️🔪
-Lara my love my queen I love you stay badass <3
- plot was all over the place
- BUT I STILL LOVE THEM YOUR HONOR IDK WHAT IT IS
- HURT/COMFORT SERVED HERE 🧎♀️
- ZAARAHKERRIS!!!
going to act like this book didn’t exist because it almost ruined book 1 for me 🌝 but still excited for book 3 :)
April 13, 2025
”But in his heart, he knew that even if he never saw her again for the rest of his life, it would never be over. She would always be his queen.”
after the events of the previous book, Lara is on the hunt to get Aren back but he’s still untrusting of her and feels betrayed. she ends up enlisting the help of some of her sisters and they were 100% the highlight of this book for me. I LOVED Bronwyn and Sarhina, we love to see strong women who can hold their own. i honestly could understand why Aren was so mad at Lara but i just wanted them to make up and was glad when they did. we also started to get glimpses into Keris’ situation and im very intrigued since I know his book is next. things turned out the exact way i thought they would again, but this series is so easy to read and enjoy.
after the events of the previous book, Lara is on the hunt to get Aren back but he’s still untrusting of her and feels betrayed. she ends up enlisting the help of some of her sisters and they were 100% the highlight of this book for me. I LOVED Bronwyn and Sarhina, we love to see strong women who can hold their own. i honestly could understand why Aren was so mad at Lara but i just wanted them to make up and was glad when they did. we also started to get glimpses into Keris’ situation and im very intrigued since I know his book is next. things turned out the exact way i thought they would again, but this series is so easy to read and enjoy.
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