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The Bridge Kingdom #5
The Twisted Throne
Ahnna is haunted by the destruction of her homeland so when the wealthy kingdom of Harendell claims her as a bride for its crown prince, Ahnna is prepared to do whatever it takes to gain influence as the future queen.
But she soon discovers that beneath the beautiful surface of Harendell's court lurk dark secrets and the only person who she feels she can trust is not her future husband, but his infuriating half brother, James.
And it isn't long before Ahnna finds herself attracted to a forbidden prince . . .
But she soon discovers that beneath the beautiful surface of Harendell's court lurk dark secrets and the only person who she feels she can trust is not her future husband, but his infuriating half brother, James.
And it isn't long before Ahnna finds herself attracted to a forbidden prince . . .
415 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2024
1457 people are currently reading
56371 people want to read
About the author
Danielle L. Jensen
27 books21.8k 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 2,820 reviews
February 19, 2025
well fuck
Read
July 16, 2024Ahnna is one of my favorite Bridge Kingdom characters, so I can't wait for readers to get to know her better!
The Bridge Kingdom series is published by Audible Originals, which means that it is exclusive to audio for 6 months and then will release in ebook and print.
The Bridge Kingdom series is published by Audible Originals, which means that it is exclusive to audio for 6 months and then will release in ebook and print.
May 19, 2025
james you dumb bitch
March 2, 2026
✅ 2 POVs
✅ Expansion of the world-building / New setting
✅ Politics and scheming
✅ Twists and betrayals
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Some smut
✅(🆗) Ahnna felt a little naïve at times
🆗 Unlikable secondary characters
❗️❗️Cliffhanger
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: attempted murder and murder
🔥 Spice level : 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
I was glad to finally get Ahnna’s book, and while it was not as awesome as I had hoped, I still enjoyed it a lot.
The opening is strong and full of action, and the last 10% is full of twists, betrayals, and action, and of course, it ends with a cliffhanger. I was never bored while listening to this book, and I love how the author combined a good amount of action with complex political scheming and a series of twists and turns in the end.
Ahnna felt clueless and naïve on many occasions, and she trusted too easily, even though she knew she couldn’t trust anyone because Harendell’s strength is its political scheming. She tried to remain on her guard, but in the end, she let her emotions lead her actions. I think she could have shone more. She is not stupid at all, on the contrary, she is a strong and inspiring woman, very driven and resilient, but overall, she was not as impressive as what we saw of her in the first books.
One thing about Ahnna that really, and I mean really annoyed me is that her defining trait seems to be doing the exact opposite of what James tells her, even when he knows what he is talking about and she does not. It was not proof of her independence and strength, it just made her appear immature and too stubborn.
The political scheming and lies are at the center of this book, which makes it very intriguing until the very end. Ahnna went into the situation knowing she would be surrounded by politicians and manipulators, reminding herself on many occasions that she couldn’t trust them, yet she ended up listening to them and trusting that they were her allies.
The side characters were all unlikable, and even though I know it was on purpose, to show how Ahnna is on her own and cannot rely on anyone, it made it hard to enjoy some parts of the plot. I was hoping for Ahnna to have at least one real ally or one friend at court. Sure, she had Taryn and Bronwyn, but they ended up being rather disappointing and leaving halfway through the book, effectively leaving Ahnna stranded and alone.
James is an interesting character and love interest, and he can be dashing and sweep a woman off her feet for sure. That being said, I feel that he was easily manipulated in the end, even though he grew up in Harendell’s court of lies and is very well acquainted with the scheming that Alexandra is capable of.
The forbidden romance was good, and we could feel the sexual tension between Ahnna and James, but at the same time, their relationship didn’t feel as deep and passionate as Lara and Aren’s or Zahrra and Keris’s. I like that they both tried to resist the pull, because of their honor and duty, but at the same time, they seemed to forget all about their promises as soon as they were alone with each other. There is some smut between them, and it does get quite explicit, but besides two times, they do try and manage, for the most part, to keep each other at arm's length.
On a side note, Ahnna being angry at Lara is okay, I know it is, but the irrational part of me is pissed at Ahnna for all the hatred she gives Lara and Aren. She hates Aren because he chose Lara even if it was against Ithicana’s best interest, yet she risked the alliance between Ithicana and Herendell because of her feelings for James.
The ending was very intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was twist after twist after twist, sprinkled with betrayals and lies, and while this couple was not my favorite, I am very eager to read the next book and see what awaits them.
1. The Bridge Kingdom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. The Traitor Queen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. The Inadequate Heir ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 The Calm Before the Storm ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. The Endless War ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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✅ Expansion of the world-building / New setting
✅ Politics and scheming
✅ Twists and betrayals
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Some smut
✅(🆗) Ahnna felt a little naïve at times
🆗 Unlikable secondary characters
❗️❗️Cliffhanger
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: attempted murder and murder
🔥 Spice level : 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
I was glad to finally get Ahnna’s book, and while it was not as awesome as I had hoped, I still enjoyed it a lot.
The opening is strong and full of action, and the last 10% is full of twists, betrayals, and action, and of course, it ends with a cliffhanger. I was never bored while listening to this book, and I love how the author combined a good amount of action with complex political scheming and a series of twists and turns in the end.
Ahnna felt clueless and naïve on many occasions, and she trusted too easily, even though she knew she couldn’t trust anyone because Harendell’s strength is its political scheming. She tried to remain on her guard, but in the end, she let her emotions lead her actions. I think she could have shone more. She is not stupid at all, on the contrary, she is a strong and inspiring woman, very driven and resilient, but overall, she was not as impressive as what we saw of her in the first books.
One thing about Ahnna that really, and I mean really annoyed me is that her defining trait seems to be doing the exact opposite of what James tells her, even when he knows what he is talking about and she does not. It was not proof of her independence and strength, it just made her appear immature and too stubborn.
The political scheming and lies are at the center of this book, which makes it very intriguing until the very end. Ahnna went into the situation knowing she would be surrounded by politicians and manipulators, reminding herself on many occasions that she couldn’t trust them, yet she ended up listening to them and trusting that they were her allies.
The side characters were all unlikable, and even though I know it was on purpose, to show how Ahnna is on her own and cannot rely on anyone, it made it hard to enjoy some parts of the plot. I was hoping for Ahnna to have at least one real ally or one friend at court. Sure, she had Taryn and Bronwyn, but they ended up being rather disappointing and leaving halfway through the book, effectively leaving Ahnna stranded and alone.
James is an interesting character and love interest, and he can be dashing and sweep a woman off her feet for sure. That being said, I feel that he was easily manipulated in the end, even though he grew up in Harendell’s court of lies and is very well acquainted with the scheming that Alexandra is capable of.
The forbidden romance was good, and we could feel the sexual tension between Ahnna and James, but at the same time, their relationship didn’t feel as deep and passionate as Lara and Aren’s or Zahrra and Keris’s. I like that they both tried to resist the pull, because of their honor and duty, but at the same time, they seemed to forget all about their promises as soon as they were alone with each other. There is some smut between them, and it does get quite explicit, but besides two times, they do try and manage, for the most part, to keep each other at arm's length.
On a side note, Ahnna being angry at Lara is okay, I know it is, but the irrational part of me is pissed at Ahnna for all the hatred she gives Lara and Aren. She hates Aren because he chose Lara even if it was against Ithicana’s best interest, yet she risked the alliance between Ithicana and Herendell because of her feelings for James.
The ending was very intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was twist after twist after twist, sprinkled with betrayals and lies, and while this couple was not my favorite, I am very eager to read the next book and see what awaits them.
1. The Bridge Kingdom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. The Traitor Queen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. The Inadequate Heir ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 The Calm Before the Storm ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. The Endless War ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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October 12, 2024
I'm hoping the mfc has a huge growth storyline in next book. She came off very immature in this book.
March 25, 2026
2.5/3 undecided stars
Blaaaaaaaaaaah
I did not like the way this went at all.
The storytelling is still very good and the emotions are always so visceral and relatable, but what was this?
I did forget that Ahnna was being a little bit of a B in previous books because of Lara, but she was still a really badass character. But where was that here? It started off really promising, but she just turned into an idiot. She ruled for a time and was mostly a commander, so why did she all of a sudden lose all of that intelligence and cunning? Why was she making stupid decisions left and right just so she could say she wasn't doing what she was told to do by everyone.
And fuck that ending. Another thing that she could have prevented by not trusting the queen like EVERYONE warned her, but I guess she knows better.
And now James is completely off his rocker because he thinks the woman who would do anything to PROTECT her people would assassinate a pair of allied monarchs that would surly bring war to her people.
😤😤😤😤😤😤
I'm getting real tired of this trope where a character says they're deeply in love with someone but then just completely 180s on that person with no effort to look at what makes sense or why. I obviously understand this situation was highly emotional, but if your woman can be framed and you believe it that easily, then it's not meant to be.
And this bonus scene with Bronwyn at the end where James just goes crazy on them too? BOOOOOOOO
But I will obviously continue because I need to know what happens but I'm pretty disappointed with this one 😭
Blaaaaaaaaaaah
I did not like the way this went at all.
The storytelling is still very good and the emotions are always so visceral and relatable, but what was this?
I did forget that Ahnna was being a little bit of a B in previous books because of Lara, but she was still a really badass character. But where was that here? It started off really promising, but she just turned into an idiot. She ruled for a time and was mostly a commander, so why did she all of a sudden lose all of that intelligence and cunning? Why was she making stupid decisions left and right just so she could say she wasn't doing what she was told to do by everyone.
And fuck that ending. Another thing that she could have prevented by not trusting the queen like EVERYONE warned her, but I guess she knows better.
And now James is completely off his rocker because he thinks the woman who would do anything to PROTECT her people would assassinate a pair of allied monarchs that would surly bring war to her people.
😤😤😤😤😤😤
I'm getting real tired of this trope where a character says they're deeply in love with someone but then just completely 180s on that person with no effort to look at what makes sense or why. I obviously understand this situation was highly emotional, but if your woman can be framed and you believe it that easily, then it's not meant to be.
And this bonus scene with Bronwyn at the end where James just goes crazy on them too? BOOOOOOOO
But I will obviously continue because I need to know what happens but I'm pretty disappointed with this one 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2025
I'm having a headache. It's twist after twist after twist. Danielle can write the most aggravating villains and manipulate your psyche so perfectly you can't even comprehend what the freak happened!! I'm so sad the series is ending and simultaneously can't wait for the next book to be in my hands 😭😭 the audiobooks for this series are the best audiobooks I've ever listened to 🩷🩷
The mannerisms of James are so immaculate, and I love how loyal he is 🫶🏻, on the other hand, it's a first for me to see an FL who is a soldier and feminine; she doesn't understand the politics of the new country, which made it easy to manipulate her. She's so committed to her country that she's willing to sacrifice herself to salvage it which made me want to punch her in the nose multiple times throughout the book. Danielle if you need an ARC reader for either the book or the audiobook please consider me 🫶🏻🫶🏻
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 30, 41
Find my review on Instagram
The mannerisms of James are so immaculate, and I love how loyal he is 🫶🏻, on the other hand, it's a first for me to see an FL who is a soldier and feminine; she doesn't understand the politics of the new country, which made it easy to manipulate her. She's so committed to her country that she's willing to sacrifice herself to salvage it which made me want to punch her in the nose multiple times throughout the book. Danielle if you need an ARC reader for either the book or the audiobook please consider me 🫶🏻🫶🏻
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 30, 41
Find my review on Instagram
July 15, 2025
Danielle ate with her story
August 7, 2025
I've been following Danielle Jensen since wayyy before she was Tiktok famous. I've always found the romance that she writes to be so tender, and the political worlds she creates so engrossing. However, and I hate to say it, I have found her last two releases (this and A Fate Inked in Blood) incredibly lacklustre. I'm not sure if her writing schedule has been sped up since becoming traditionally published, or what, but I feel like her writing is losing its special touch. This is still a perfectly passable book, but I wanted so much more. The political plot was well thought out, but did not engage me at all. Danielle Jensen managed to find the one political aspect of world building I don't care about, economics, and write a whole book about it. And while Ahnna is a strong character, it was no fun to read about her squabbles with the main characters of previous books, and her romance felt underdeveloped. And finally, while the twist ending was dramatic and high stakes, it didn't make me want to keep reading. I will read the next book, but mainly because it's the conclusion to the whole series. I really hope it's an improvement on this.
Want to read
November 13, 2020Another book??!!
Well..this series can go on forever I'd still want more.
*
Omg omg! My prayers got answered!! This one is about Ahnna! I couldn’t be more excited!!!
Well..this series can go on forever I'd still want more.
*
Omg omg! My prayers got answered!! This one is about Ahnna! I couldn’t be more excited!!!
October 12, 2025
Not 5 stars because I lost motivation, but the pov release for the next book gave me enough to finish it and realize that it was really good.
October 9, 2025
Let me just say: rereading this book felt like slipping into battle armor made of silk and sarcasm. Ahnna, my blade-wielding queen, remains the blueprint for morally gray heroines who could gut you with a glare and still make you swoon. This romantasy masterpiece didn’t just hold up it held me hostage (again), and I’m not even mad about it.
👑 Ahnna’s arc? Deliciously sharp. She’s not here to play court games she’s here to win them, burn the rulebook, and maybe kiss the wrong prince while she’s at it. Her trauma is real, her choices are brutal, and her loyalty to Ithicana makes me want to tattoo “bride or blade” on my soul.
💰 Harendell’s court? Think Versailles meets Game of Thrones, but with better outfits and worse trust issues. Every smile is a threat, every alliance a trap, and I ate up every manipulative morsel like it was spiced with betrayal.
🔥 James? Oh, James. The forbidden hero with a moral compass and a jawline carved by angst. Their chemistry is so potent it could start wars and honestly, I’d volunteer as tribute.
💔 The stakes? High. The politics? Twisted. The tension? So thick you could slice it with Ahnna’s dagger and still not reach the bottom.
📚 This reread reminded me why I fell in love with romantasy in the first place: the blend of heartache, heat, and high-stakes heroism. I laughed, I gasped, I highlighted like a maniac. And now I’m pacing like a feral reader waiting for the next book to drop.
🗡️ Final verdict: If loving this book is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Ahnna didn’t just reclaim her throne she reclaimed my entire TBR. Book 2, I’m coming for you like Ahnna comes for vengeance: beautifully, brutally, and with zero chill.
aaaaand that cliffhanger my my miss Jensen a round of applause ....
🎶“My Tears Ricochet” Taylor Swift
🎶“Sweet but Psycho” Ava Max
🎶 “Love is a Battlefield” Pat Benatar
🎶“Skinny Love” Bon Iver
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's one of the favorites of the year for sure.... so so good.... the only problem is I don't have the next book to read, and I need it...NOW!! How can I wait to read and see what will happen ....danielle jensen have mercy on me... someone send me an arc... well here I am manifesting it...
👑 Ahnna’s arc? Deliciously sharp. She’s not here to play court games she’s here to win them, burn the rulebook, and maybe kiss the wrong prince while she’s at it. Her trauma is real, her choices are brutal, and her loyalty to Ithicana makes me want to tattoo “bride or blade” on my soul.
💰 Harendell’s court? Think Versailles meets Game of Thrones, but with better outfits and worse trust issues. Every smile is a threat, every alliance a trap, and I ate up every manipulative morsel like it was spiced with betrayal.
🔥 James? Oh, James. The forbidden hero with a moral compass and a jawline carved by angst. Their chemistry is so potent it could start wars and honestly, I’d volunteer as tribute.
💔 The stakes? High. The politics? Twisted. The tension? So thick you could slice it with Ahnna’s dagger and still not reach the bottom.
📚 This reread reminded me why I fell in love with romantasy in the first place: the blend of heartache, heat, and high-stakes heroism. I laughed, I gasped, I highlighted like a maniac. And now I’m pacing like a feral reader waiting for the next book to drop.
🗡️ Final verdict: If loving this book is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Ahnna didn’t just reclaim her throne she reclaimed my entire TBR. Book 2, I’m coming for you like Ahnna comes for vengeance: beautifully, brutally, and with zero chill.
aaaaand that cliffhanger my my miss Jensen a round of applause ....
🎶“My Tears Ricochet” Taylor Swift
🎶“Sweet but Psycho” Ava Max
🎶 “Love is a Battlefield” Pat Benatar
🎶“Skinny Love” Bon Iver
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's one of the favorites of the year for sure.... so so good.... the only problem is I don't have the next book to read, and I need it...NOW!! How can I wait to read and see what will happen ....danielle jensen have mercy on me... someone send me an arc... well here I am manifesting it...
December 10, 2025
2,75/5⭐️ ciężko mi było zdecydować jak to ocenić. Mam wrażenie jakby tego tomu nie napisała ta sama autorka.
Wątek romantyczny kompletnie zepsuty randomowymi wydarzeniami, DLACZEGO ONI SIĘ POCAŁOWALI NA 130 KTÓREJŚ STRONIE??? Dosłownie znali się z 2/3 dni, a ona jest narzeczoną jego brata!!! Tam nie było żadnej relacji, żadnego wielkiego przyciągania, no czegokolwiek bo dosłownie się poznali chwilę wcześniej!
Do bohaterów też to nie pasuje bo oboje raczej wydają się inteligentni i kierujący się jakimiś planami. No do chuja James powtarza z milion razy, że musi być idealny bo jest księciem bękartem i nie może popełniać błędów. A Ahnna jest tam by utorować drogę do większego handlu dla Ithicany.
ALE TAK O Z DUPY SIĘ POCAŁOWALI.
Podobnie pod koniec książki fragment z ich zbliżeniem, skąd to się wzięło w tamtym momencie? To zaczęło się tak randomowo! Dlaczego to się wtedy i w tym miejscu wydarzyło? Dlaczego on zaczął mówić takie rzeczy nagle do niej, że jest idealna dla niego? W momencie jak postanowił się odsunąć bo to zagraża im obojgu.
Ale jako, że dałam prawie 3⭐️ to nie było wszystko takie okropne. Poza wątkiem romantycznym są też inne i one nieco nadrabiają, ale nie są bez skaz. Polityczne intrygi i te dworskie knowania jak zwykle u Danielle wypadają spoko.
Chociaż mam małe wątpliwości co do głównego złola, serio nikt nie zwrócił uwagi na to wszystko co ta postać robiła? No ale dobra.
Ta relacja głównych bohaterów też nie była zła w każdym momencie, były też takie które mi się podobały. Ale ciężko się tym cieszyć, kiedy początek był słaby i kładzie się to cieniem na całość.
W ogóle nauka jazdy konno. Ale tu mnie zdenerwowała Ahnna, co to w ogóle miało być? Dlaczego ona była idiotycznie uparta, nie potrafi jeździć ale mimo ostrzeżeń to i tak tego konia poganiała, aż prawie zrobiła mu krzywdę. W ogóle nie rozumiem dlaczego tak się zachowywała na tych treningach. A jak już przy tym jestem to jakim cudem ona po tygodniu już idealnie jeździła konno, chociaż już nie widywała się z nim na te treningi? Rozumiem, że on trenował jej konia, ale ona ledwo się utrzymywała w siodle…
Wiem, że więcej było narzekania a ocena nie jest najgorsza, ale zazwyczaj zapamiętuje się te złe rzeczy niestety 🥲
Dobrze mi się czytało te książkę, końcówka dostarczyła emocji mimo tych wszystkich mankamentów.
Wątek romantyczny kompletnie zepsuty randomowymi wydarzeniami, DLACZEGO ONI SIĘ POCAŁOWALI NA 130 KTÓREJŚ STRONIE??? Dosłownie znali się z 2/3 dni, a ona jest narzeczoną jego brata!!! Tam nie było żadnej relacji, żadnego wielkiego przyciągania, no czegokolwiek bo dosłownie się poznali chwilę wcześniej!
Do bohaterów też to nie pasuje bo oboje raczej wydają się inteligentni i kierujący się jakimiś planami. No do chuja James powtarza z milion razy, że musi być idealny bo jest księciem bękartem i nie może popełniać błędów. A Ahnna jest tam by utorować drogę do większego handlu dla Ithicany.
ALE TAK O Z DUPY SIĘ POCAŁOWALI.
Podobnie pod koniec książki fragment z ich zbliżeniem, skąd to się wzięło w tamtym momencie? To zaczęło się tak randomowo! Dlaczego to się wtedy i w tym miejscu wydarzyło? Dlaczego on zaczął mówić takie rzeczy nagle do niej, że jest idealna dla niego? W momencie jak postanowił się odsunąć bo to zagraża im obojgu.
Ale jako, że dałam prawie 3⭐️ to nie było wszystko takie okropne. Poza wątkiem romantycznym są też inne i one nieco nadrabiają, ale nie są bez skaz. Polityczne intrygi i te dworskie knowania jak zwykle u Danielle wypadają spoko.
Chociaż mam małe wątpliwości co do głównego złola, serio nikt nie zwrócił uwagi na to wszystko co ta postać robiła? No ale dobra.
Ta relacja głównych bohaterów też nie była zła w każdym momencie, były też takie które mi się podobały. Ale ciężko się tym cieszyć, kiedy początek był słaby i kładzie się to cieniem na całość.
W ogóle nauka jazdy konno. Ale tu mnie zdenerwowała Ahnna, co to w ogóle miało być? Dlaczego ona była idiotycznie uparta, nie potrafi jeździć ale mimo ostrzeżeń to i tak tego konia poganiała, aż prawie zrobiła mu krzywdę. W ogóle nie rozumiem dlaczego tak się zachowywała na tych treningach. A jak już przy tym jestem to jakim cudem ona po tygodniu już idealnie jeździła konno, chociaż już nie widywała się z nim na te treningi? Rozumiem, że on trenował jej konia, ale ona ledwo się utrzymywała w siodle…
Wiem, że więcej było narzekania a ocena nie jest najgorsza, ale zazwyczaj zapamiętuje się te złe rzeczy niestety 🥲
Dobrze mi się czytało te książkę, końcówka dostarczyła emocji mimo tych wszystkich mankamentów.
December 29, 2025
this is BY FAR the best book in the series!
i am so glad i didn’t give up on this series (i almost did) and read this one.
this had so many things i love in fantasy books.
i was very hooked at the end and i’m excited to read the next one!
pre-review
i was excited to read this because a friend said it was so good but i’ve looked at the reviews and they seem mixed.
i’m still hoping this is good!
i am so glad i didn’t give up on this series (i almost did) and read this one.
this had so many things i love in fantasy books.
i was very hooked at the end and i’m excited to read the next one!
pre-review
i was excited to read this because a friend said it was so good but i’ve looked at the reviews and they seem mixed.
i’m still hoping this is good!
May 14, 2025
That ending!!! 😳
I absolutely love this series. Every single book has been good! And now, I have to wait for the next one!
I am a sucker for the arranged marriage trope but when the FMC secretly wants his brother... that's the best kind of forbidden!
I absolutely love this series. Every single book has been good! And now, I have to wait for the next one!
I am a sucker for the arranged marriage trope but when the FMC secretly wants his brother... that's the best kind of forbidden!
November 18, 2024
Heavily political with another delicate alliance. I have been looking forward to exploring Harendell and getting Ahnna’s story—but I did feel the lack of romance.
October 24, 2024
Every single story in this world is addictive. Loved this…and that epic ending
April 30, 2025
*3 MEDIOCRE STARS*
“For you to become something other than who you are would be the greatest tragedy.”
I have to admit, this book is my least favorite in the series so far. I just don't love Ahnna as much as I did the other female leads, and her romantic connection with James felt forced and not as fleshed out. She made some rash and stubborn decisions that I kept rolling my eyes at.
In fact, I did not like any of the characters presented in this book, in fact this even made me dislike Aren and I cannot have that!
However, the final 10% of the book did ensure that I'll be reading book 6 anyway, because oh my god, I did not see any of it coming! Intrigue!
“For you to become something other than who you are would be the greatest tragedy.”
I have to admit, this book is my least favorite in the series so far. I just don't love Ahnna as much as I did the other female leads, and her romantic connection with James felt forced and not as fleshed out. She made some rash and stubborn decisions that I kept rolling my eyes at.
In fact, I did not like any of the characters presented in this book, in fact this even made me dislike Aren and I cannot have that!
However, the final 10% of the book did ensure that I'll be reading book 6 anyway, because oh my god, I did not see any of it coming! Intrigue!
October 24, 2024
I was so pleasantly surprised and shocked by this book. Now I have to wait until 2026 probably for the next book.
Currently reading
February 18, 2026˙⋆✮ Preread ˙⋆✮
So did i skip 3 and 4 because i like ahnna better than kerris atm ? yes i did. will i go back ? absoloutley. but for now, i'm going to focus on our DIVA ahnna
So did i skip 3 and 4 because i like ahnna better than kerris atm ? yes i did. will i go back ? absoloutley. but for now, i'm going to focus on our DIVA ahnna
July 15, 2025
love the rest of the series, but this was absolutely not it
I wasn't very hyped about this book, because I wasn't big fan of Ahnna, but after this book I can't stand her, girl pmo so bad i wanted to throw the book out of 13th floor building I work in
she was thirsting after James so fast, they met like 5 times and didn't even arrive to the palace before they kissed, CUS THEY COULDN'T STOP THEMSELVES CRAZY WITH WANT (mind you this was 20% and she was already saying how "she wants the wrong prince" and couldn't stop looking at his great abs ofc)
and ofc James is also at fault, author tried so hard to convince me he's better than his brother, cus he's not a complete waste and tool, while at the same time he's being used by every single person in this book
and together they had such a big plans and both wanted to save THE WHOLE ASS NATIONS WHILE BEING THE WORST FU SPIES EVER, ZERO IDEA HOW TO PLAY POLITICS OR DO LITERALLY ANYTHING USEFUL
and don't get me started on that ending cus I obviously predicted THE MYSTERY SUPER EVIL GUY the first time they appeared and after the reveal it was so ridiculous at this point all I did was laugh
I wasn't very hyped about this book, because I wasn't big fan of Ahnna, but after this book I can't stand her, girl pmo so bad i wanted to throw the book out of 13th floor building I work in
she was thirsting after James so fast, they met like 5 times and didn't even arrive to the palace before they kissed, CUS THEY COULDN'T STOP THEMSELVES CRAZY WITH WANT (mind you this was 20% and she was already saying how "she wants the wrong prince" and couldn't stop looking at his great abs ofc)
and ofc James is also at fault, author tried so hard to convince me he's better than his brother, cus he's not a complete waste and tool, while at the same time he's being used by every single person in this book
and together they had such a big plans and both wanted to save THE WHOLE ASS NATIONS WHILE BEING THE WORST FU SPIES EVER, ZERO IDEA HOW TO PLAY POLITICS OR DO LITERALLY ANYTHING USEFUL
and don't get me started on that ending cus I obviously predicted THE MYSTERY SUPER EVIL GUY the first time they appeared and after the reveal it was so ridiculous at this point all I did was laugh
December 21, 2024
3ish stars.
Really enjoyed the start but found it was dragging by the end. In the start we get to know a Ahnna better and I loved the first interactions between her and James. Everything with the sharks and escaping the waters was just so well done.
But then we get to Harendell and the story slows down. There's a lot of political maneuvering happening but it never caught my attention. Ahnna's choices and attitudes are a bit over the top. I don't understand how someone who knew this was who her betrothed was for years and knew what was expected of women here was unable to understand any customs. Or make any attempts to fit in even a little to the country she thought she could help rule one day. She knows this is a country that thrives on political schemes but trusts so easily that nobody will possible lie or scheme when it comes to her which makes her seem so naïve.
Ahnna decides no matter what she should do the opposite of anything James says. Even when it is to her detriment and he is actually trying to help her. I get that she wants to show how special and independent and not like other girls in Harendell she is but all this does is show her immaturity and inability to reason. There was so much potential between them from the start but it just doesn't get to a point where there is any real communication which is frustrating.
There's the inevitable betrayals and splitting up of the love interests to end the book on a sort of cliff hanger.
Was well narrated and the book is still enjoyable and I will read the next one. But I had higher hopes and expectations for this one.
Really enjoyed the start but found it was dragging by the end. In the start we get to know a Ahnna better and I loved the first interactions between her and James. Everything with the sharks and escaping the waters was just so well done.
But then we get to Harendell and the story slows down. There's a lot of political maneuvering happening but it never caught my attention. Ahnna's choices and attitudes are a bit over the top. I don't understand how someone who knew this was who her betrothed was for years and knew what was expected of women here was unable to understand any customs. Or make any attempts to fit in even a little to the country she thought she could help rule one day. She knows this is a country that thrives on political schemes but trusts so easily that nobody will possible lie or scheme when it comes to her which makes her seem so naïve.
Ahnna decides no matter what she should do the opposite of anything James says. Even when it is to her detriment and he is actually trying to help her. I get that she wants to show how special and independent and not like other girls in Harendell she is but all this does is show her immaturity and inability to reason. There was so much potential between them from the start but it just doesn't get to a point where there is any real communication which is frustrating.
There's the inevitable betrayals and splitting up of the love interests to end the book on a sort of cliff hanger.
Was well narrated and the book is still enjoyable and I will read the next one. But I had higher hopes and expectations for this one.
July 11, 2025
3.5✨
« For you to become something else other than who you are would be the greatest tragedy. »
What an unlikable world. Harendell was truly the worst Kingdom in this series so far. All of the side characters (except Taryn & Bronwyn but they disappeared halfway throughout the book) were absolutely despicable (except Edward).
« A woman so fierce that even sharks gave way to her. »
Ahnna again couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that she didn’t see Lara coming but she went ahead and trusted every single vipers in this one. 🥲 What truly baffles me is she ruled a Kingdom and was the commandant for a long while and in this one… where was she, really?
« A woman who would fight until the bitter end, screaming defiance until her last breath. »
Ugh and I’m disappointed by this but I didn’t like James AT ALL😭!! Danielle gave us Aren and Keris who would set the world on fire for their women and then she gave us… James🫥. I hope he’s not it for our girl but I’m just being delusional.
« … Like being stuck in a world cast in a thousand shades of gray when all I dream of is color. »
The bridge kingdom : 5✨
The traitor queen : 4✨
The inadequate heir : ♾️ ✨
The endless war : 5✨
The twisted throne : 3.5✨
« For you to become something else other than who you are would be the greatest tragedy. »
What an unlikable world. Harendell was truly the worst Kingdom in this series so far. All of the side characters (except Taryn & Bronwyn but they disappeared halfway throughout the book) were absolutely despicable (except Edward).
« A woman so fierce that even sharks gave way to her. »
Ahnna again couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that she didn’t see Lara coming but she went ahead and trusted every single vipers in this one. 🥲 What truly baffles me is she ruled a Kingdom and was the commandant for a long while and in this one… where was she, really?
« A woman who would fight until the bitter end, screaming defiance until her last breath. »
Ugh and I’m disappointed by this but I didn’t like James AT ALL😭!! Danielle gave us Aren and Keris who would set the world on fire for their women and then she gave us… James🫥. I hope he’s not it for our girl but I’m just being delusional.
« … Like being stuck in a world cast in a thousand shades of gray when all I dream of is color. »
The bridge kingdom : 5✨
The traitor queen : 4✨
The inadequate heir : ♾️ ✨
The endless war : 5✨
The twisted throne : 3.5✨
October 21, 2024
I AM LITERALLY SO MAD RIGHT NOW THAT THE NEXT BOOK ISNT OUT. IF I DONT GET A REDEMPTION ARC🫣🫣🫣🫣😅😅😅😅😅 the stress
January 23, 2025
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW : 3.5⭐️
I’m disappointed 😭
I didn’t particularly like Ahnna before and unfortunately I still don’t. She was pretty naive and immature in this book especially with Aren which is a very reasonable person🧍🏻♀️ and I still don’t like her behaviour with Lara
The story was also a bit disappointing it’s full of court intrigues and gossips and not at all as action-packed as the last books. The most fun I had was in the first chapters.
I was hoping for James to make me love Ahnna but he was kind of a coward. I expect his character will also evolve in the next book otherwise he really sucks.
I’m disappointed in the forbidden love trope I was expecting more from it, there was only Georgie being annoyed and that’s it, not enough tension, not enough longing 🥲
I’m really sad because I LOVED the first 4 books and I’ll be so disappointed if the last book in the series is not up to the 5 ⭐️ standard 😭
I’m disappointed 😭
I didn’t particularly like Ahnna before and unfortunately I still don’t. She was pretty naive and immature in this book especially with Aren which is a very reasonable person🧍🏻♀️ and I still don’t like her behaviour with Lara
The story was also a bit disappointing it’s full of court intrigues and gossips and not at all as action-packed as the last books. The most fun I had was in the first chapters.
I was hoping for James to make me love Ahnna but he was kind of a coward. I expect his character will also evolve in the next book otherwise he really sucks.
I’m disappointed in the forbidden love trope I was expecting more from it, there was only Georgie being annoyed and that’s it, not enough tension, not enough longing 🥲
I’m really sad because I LOVED the first 4 books and I’ll be so disappointed if the last book in the series is not up to the 5 ⭐️ standard 😭
November 22, 2024
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE END 😭😭 THE CLIFFHANGER HAS ME SHOOK TO THE BONES!!!
October 21, 2025
I forgot how addictive this series is.
Danielle L Jensen pulls off arranged marriage so well. I swear most of her books have one.
The wealthy kingdom of Harendell claims her as a bride for its crown prince, Ahnna is prepared to do whatever it takes to gain influence as the future queen. Of course, she ends up falling for her betrothed’s half-brother.
I didn’t really remember who Ahnna was, but the start of the book reminded me of the switch up in A Court of Silver Flames by SjM regarding Feyre and Nesta and in this one, Ahnna’s take on Lara.
The romance is very obvious, but it is more slow-burn as it’s forbidden and both have a lot to balance and lose.
Honestly, it felt slow and then very sudden. They acted like buddies with (not very hidden) longing and they barely exchange any intimate moments before BAM - ill-timed sex scene. That seems to be common for her books.
Of course, there’s some great political intrigue which I always enjoy in a romantasy. We also get small povs rarely from the titular characters of the previous two duologies.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this as a standalone duology as there are too many connections and pre-existing lore you need to know.
I would definitely recommend the audio as this is dialogue-heavy and the narrators do a brilliant job and there are even side effects.
Three stars story, four stars for the fun audiobook.
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Danielle L Jensen pulls off arranged marriage so well. I swear most of her books have one.
The wealthy kingdom of Harendell claims her as a bride for its crown prince, Ahnna is prepared to do whatever it takes to gain influence as the future queen. Of course, she ends up falling for her betrothed’s half-brother.
I didn’t really remember who Ahnna was, but the start of the book reminded me of the switch up in A Court of Silver Flames by SjM regarding Feyre and Nesta and in this one, Ahnna’s take on Lara.
The romance is very obvious, but it is more slow-burn as it’s forbidden and both have a lot to balance and lose.
Honestly, it felt slow and then very sudden. They acted like buddies with (not very hidden) longing and they barely exchange any intimate moments before BAM - ill-timed sex scene. That seems to be common for her books.
Of course, there’s some great political intrigue which I always enjoy in a romantasy. We also get small povs rarely from the titular characters of the previous two duologies.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this as a standalone duology as there are too many connections and pre-existing lore you need to know.
I would definitely recommend the audio as this is dialogue-heavy and the narrators do a brilliant job and there are even side effects.
Three stars story, four stars for the fun audiobook.
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December 16, 2024
I KNEW I SHOULDN’T HAVE STARTED THIS WHEN THE NEXT BOOK ISN’T OUT BECAUSE NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO AFTER THAT CLIFFHANGER. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF.
Also I literally hate how this ended.
Also I literally hate how this ended.
April 4, 2025
Every time I think my memories are clouded and the Bridge Kingdom series can't be as phenomenal as I remember, the next book comes out, and I learn that I am absolutely right.
I did not build it to these immense dimensions in my head. It is exactly as good, or even better, than I remember.
I listened to the first few pages, and I was totally hooked.
I have no idea where the author gets the ideas for this story, but they are endlessly amazing and incredibly captivating.
And let's not forget all the incredible love stories.
If you love romantasy, this is a total must-read page-turner for you.
Oh my gosh, this book is exactly my kind of book.
It's breathtaking and incredibly moving.
I have no idea how I am going to hold on until 2026 because Anna and James' story is only half finished, and the book, phenomenal as it is, ends with an incredibly gripping and mean cliffhanger.
The physical book is coming out in a week, but the audiobook version is available now.
I did not build it to these immense dimensions in my head. It is exactly as good, or even better, than I remember.
I listened to the first few pages, and I was totally hooked.
I have no idea where the author gets the ideas for this story, but they are endlessly amazing and incredibly captivating.
And let's not forget all the incredible love stories.
If you love romantasy, this is a total must-read page-turner for you.
Oh my gosh, this book is exactly my kind of book.
It's breathtaking and incredibly moving.
I have no idea how I am going to hold on until 2026 because Anna and James' story is only half finished, and the book, phenomenal as it is, ends with an incredibly gripping and mean cliffhanger.
The physical book is coming out in a week, but the audiobook version is available now.
Want to read
August 30, 2024Ahnna’s story coming this year? I have been blessed!!
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