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Cursed Empire #2
Empire of Traitors
Fans of lush world-building, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers, and forbidden romance will devour this epic YA series.
The empire has fallen. A new one will rise.
Guilty...
Lo abandoned everything—her friends, her way of life, and perhaps even her soul—to save her people. But a shocking betrayal left her reeling...and the Alrenian Empire in enemy hands. Against all odds, she’s determined to continue fighting for her people’s freedom. Playing the role of spy and deceiver, Lo plots among her enemies by day and dodges her would-be killers by night. Unfortunately that means staying close to the thief who stole her heart—and her empire.
Haunted...
Caesiem has spent his life fighting to survive. Life has always forced him to make the hard decisions—kill or be killed, take or be left to die. Even after being adopted into the imperial family, his every decision has hinged on keeping the struggling Teramese people alive. But as he and his army establish a new empire and prepare for a looming war, he begins to question everything he ever thought he knew about his allegiances—and his own identity.
Dedicated...
Kovi promised nothing would get in the way of his decision to serve and protect his people. He has always been the perfect soldier—no matter the price, or the pain. So when the Teramese make an offer that could spare Forwyn lives, he knows his loyalty is to his people...not his heart.
Afraid...
In the fight to regain her throne, Jalie thought winning her freedom would be the hardest step. But now she faces threats from all sides—even from fellow Alrenians who label her as weak and unworthy. Desperation leads her once again to Nesrelle, Queen of Death, who offers a bargain..at an uncertain price.
All have fought for their people. But will their sacrifices be worth the cost?
The empire has fallen. A new one will rise.
Guilty...
Lo abandoned everything—her friends, her way of life, and perhaps even her soul—to save her people. But a shocking betrayal left her reeling...and the Alrenian Empire in enemy hands. Against all odds, she’s determined to continue fighting for her people’s freedom. Playing the role of spy and deceiver, Lo plots among her enemies by day and dodges her would-be killers by night. Unfortunately that means staying close to the thief who stole her heart—and her empire.
Haunted...
Caesiem has spent his life fighting to survive. Life has always forced him to make the hard decisions—kill or be killed, take or be left to die. Even after being adopted into the imperial family, his every decision has hinged on keeping the struggling Teramese people alive. But as he and his army establish a new empire and prepare for a looming war, he begins to question everything he ever thought he knew about his allegiances—and his own identity.
Dedicated...
Kovi promised nothing would get in the way of his decision to serve and protect his people. He has always been the perfect soldier—no matter the price, or the pain. So when the Teramese make an offer that could spare Forwyn lives, he knows his loyalty is to his people...not his heart.
Afraid...
In the fight to regain her throne, Jalie thought winning her freedom would be the hardest step. But now she faces threats from all sides—even from fellow Alrenians who label her as weak and unworthy. Desperation leads her once again to Nesrelle, Queen of Death, who offers a bargain..at an uncertain price.
All have fought for their people. But will their sacrifices be worth the cost?
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2022
41 people are currently reading
1164 people want to read
About the author
Rachel L. Schade
15 books507 followersRachel L. Schade was born on the first day of summer in a small town in Michigan, only to end up in another small town in Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University to learn how to write obnoxiously long papers, cite people who use big words, and discuss her passion: books. She has a great love for the color blue, sunshine, chocolate, and not folding her laundry. Currently she lives with her husband and surrounds herself with coffee and books on a regular basis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 29, 2022
I've really loved writing this sequel. Adding the boys' POVs was such an adventure, and I hope you enjoy getting to know them even better, just as much as I did. <3
December 4, 2021
Schade is a master storyteller. I stayed up past midnight finishing this book because I just couldn’t put it down!
If you thought the relationships and character conflicts in Empire of Dragons was good, this book takes it to a whole new level!
Also, can we talk about Caseim’s magic!? I’ll avoid spoilers and revealing what it is, but that was pretty much the coolest magic I’ve ever seen! I’ve absolutely loved exploring Alrenor and the different magic systems. It seemed like every chapter I discovered more, and it definitely kept me turning pages. I can’t wait for book three!
If you’re a fan of ya fantasy with intricate magic systems and complex characters, this is the book for you!
If you thought the relationships and character conflicts in Empire of Dragons was good, this book takes it to a whole new level!
Also, can we talk about Caseim’s magic!? I’ll avoid spoilers and revealing what it is, but that was pretty much the coolest magic I’ve ever seen! I’ve absolutely loved exploring Alrenor and the different magic systems. It seemed like every chapter I discovered more, and it definitely kept me turning pages. I can’t wait for book three!
If you’re a fan of ya fantasy with intricate magic systems and complex characters, this is the book for you!
July 9, 2021
Wow. Another great book! Rachel’s writing keeps getting better and better. This book had me on the edge of my seat, not knowing who I should hate or who I should love. But really? Which team are you on? Kovi or CaseiYUM??
December 12, 2021
WOW!
If you, like me, loved Rachel Schade’s book, Empire of Dragons, you have probably been anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. This book!
Let me just say, I really liked the first book in this series, but I was BLOWN AWAY by Empire of Traitors. Absolutely blown away.
I couldn’t put this book down — it is seriously so amazing and a great sequel. I am so excited for the next book in this series, I am so invested in these books and absolutely in love with the story Rachel has created here.
Enemies to lovers, forbidden love, empires at war, everything you could ever need is in this series.
Lo and Caesiem are pretty much my obsession — one of my favorite book couples right now. I absolutely loved their development in this sequel, the war raging between them is just amazing and gives me all the fells.
I love Kovi and Jalie too! (Though I will admit I am a wee bit more invested with Lo and Caes, but They’re all amazing)
The ending is crazy intense. Honestly most of the book is! But it is amazing!!! I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Rachel Schade for my review copy of this book. This in no way impacted my review.
If you, like me, loved Rachel Schade’s book, Empire of Dragons, you have probably been anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. This book!
Let me just say, I really liked the first book in this series, but I was BLOWN AWAY by Empire of Traitors. Absolutely blown away.
I couldn’t put this book down — it is seriously so amazing and a great sequel. I am so excited for the next book in this series, I am so invested in these books and absolutely in love with the story Rachel has created here.
Enemies to lovers, forbidden love, empires at war, everything you could ever need is in this series.
Lo and Caesiem are pretty much my obsession — one of my favorite book couples right now. I absolutely loved their development in this sequel, the war raging between them is just amazing and gives me all the fells.
I love Kovi and Jalie too! (Though I will admit I am a wee bit more invested with Lo and Caes, but They’re all amazing)
The ending is crazy intense. Honestly most of the book is! But it is amazing!!! I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Rachel Schade for my review copy of this book. This in no way impacted my review.
January 9, 2024
ya fantasy, enemies to lovers, morally grey characters...what else must i say. i just want to say that the characters' interactions and thoughts were so so so gorgeous.
"If she died, a light would go out in the world and I don't know what I'd do."
"There was a haunting melody to grief, one that no one else understood unless they'd experienced it too."
"If she died, a light would go out in the world and I don't know what I'd do."
"There was a haunting melody to grief, one that no one else understood unless they'd experienced it too."
August 7, 2021
This series is hands down amazing!! This book is full of everything you could want in a fantastic YA fantasy…battles, blood, love, revenge, royalty and wickedness in the best way possible. An amazing story by an amazing author!
February 25, 2022
A great continuation of this series!!
I absolutely love how in this second book we got to see more of Alrenor. The big city is cool, but it was really interesting to see other areas/towns and how those people viewed our badass Empress! Also, Jalie is sorta vicious and I love it 😆
ALSO, can we please talk about what our boy Caesiem has been hiding from us?? Seriously, his magic is cool as hell! I'm not going to spoil what it is, so just read it and find out! It was nice to see Lo and Caesiem's relationship grow, especially since they mostly got past all the lying bits 😂 that certainly helps!!
I cannot wait for book 3, and I really hope we get to keep seeing more of the boys' POV because I loved that inclusion in this book!! I love seeing how they view things and of course how lovely they think Jalie & Lo are 😘
I absolutely love how in this second book we got to see more of Alrenor. The big city is cool, but it was really interesting to see other areas/towns and how those people viewed our badass Empress! Also, Jalie is sorta vicious and I love it 😆
ALSO, can we please talk about what our boy Caesiem has been hiding from us?? Seriously, his magic is cool as hell! I'm not going to spoil what it is, so just read it and find out! It was nice to see Lo and Caesiem's relationship grow, especially since they mostly got past all the lying bits 😂 that certainly helps!!
I cannot wait for book 3, and I really hope we get to keep seeing more of the boys' POV because I loved that inclusion in this book!! I love seeing how they view things and of course how lovely they think Jalie & Lo are 😘
January 21, 2022
Can we take a minute just to appreciate the beauty of this book! The Cursed Empire Series is one of my favorites to display on my shelf because they are gorgeous and of course….they have dragons on them
Empire of Traitors picks up where Empire of Dragons left off. So I’m going to skip a small synopsis because I definitely don’t want to spoil anything. So we meet our characters again right where we left them. And to my great surprise, we have all four characters POV in this book which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!! Adding Kovi and Caesiem’s voice added even more depth to the story. The chapters go back and forth between all the characters and the author is such a rockstar in her writing because, let me tell you, you can’t help but find yourself rooting for the current character you are reading about. AND it is not hard to follow the story line with the changes in POV which is tricky to execute well.
Rachel Schade has created such a intricate world and you can’t help but love it. But this story is deep! Our characters are struggling. Trying to do the best for their people while also juggling the desires of their heart. Trying to find their own way. Not knowing the right answer. SRUGGLING with grief and discovering new identities. It’s powerful!
I am usually a fast reader but I actually recommend slowing down on this one a bit. There is so much to adsorb and think about and I got so much more out of it by marinating in this world, culture, and themes Rachel writes about so well.
Congratulations to Rachel Schade because this one is definitely one to be proud of!
Empire of Traitors picks up where Empire of Dragons left off. So I’m going to skip a small synopsis because I definitely don’t want to spoil anything. So we meet our characters again right where we left them. And to my great surprise, we have all four characters POV in this book which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!! Adding Kovi and Caesiem’s voice added even more depth to the story. The chapters go back and forth between all the characters and the author is such a rockstar in her writing because, let me tell you, you can’t help but find yourself rooting for the current character you are reading about. AND it is not hard to follow the story line with the changes in POV which is tricky to execute well.
Rachel Schade has created such a intricate world and you can’t help but love it. But this story is deep! Our characters are struggling. Trying to do the best for their people while also juggling the desires of their heart. Trying to find their own way. Not knowing the right answer. SRUGGLING with grief and discovering new identities. It’s powerful!
I am usually a fast reader but I actually recommend slowing down on this one a bit. There is so much to adsorb and think about and I got so much more out of it by marinating in this world, culture, and themes Rachel writes about so well.
Congratulations to Rachel Schade because this one is definitely one to be proud of!
January 4, 2022
I received an advanced copy from the author. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.
This is book 2 in the Cursed Empire series and boy did it NOT disappoint. The story takes off where book one l left us after that crazy cliffhanger. What was different about this book is the way Rachel told the story. Not only do you get Lo and Jalia's point of view but you also hear from Kovi and Cassium. I love that I was able to see the story unfold from their perspectives. It really added a lot to the book and I absolutely loved the change. I felt that the addition of their views helped explain so much of what I missed in the first book. Sometimes when reading a second book in the series, things seem a bit slow or lost. This did not happen here. I learned so much from the depth of the story and fell deeper in love with all the characters. I felt heartbreak, anxiousness, and love. The way Rachel wrote this book truly made me feel. She has a way with words that make you love the unloveable and that is a hard thing to do. She truly has a gift with writing and I am blessed to have been able to read an advanced copy. This story only got better and I for one, cannot wait to get book 3 into my hands. I give this book 5 dragon worthy stars!!!
This is book 2 in the Cursed Empire series and boy did it NOT disappoint. The story takes off where book one l left us after that crazy cliffhanger. What was different about this book is the way Rachel told the story. Not only do you get Lo and Jalia's point of view but you also hear from Kovi and Cassium. I love that I was able to see the story unfold from their perspectives. It really added a lot to the book and I absolutely loved the change. I felt that the addition of their views helped explain so much of what I missed in the first book. Sometimes when reading a second book in the series, things seem a bit slow or lost. This did not happen here. I learned so much from the depth of the story and fell deeper in love with all the characters. I felt heartbreak, anxiousness, and love. The way Rachel wrote this book truly made me feel. She has a way with words that make you love the unloveable and that is a hard thing to do. She truly has a gift with writing and I am blessed to have been able to read an advanced copy. This story only got better and I for one, cannot wait to get book 3 into my hands. I give this book 5 dragon worthy stars!!!
May 6, 2022
OH MY GOODNESS. Don't read this book if you hate cliffhangers. Just kidding. Read it and deal with it. SO WORTH IT. I really enjoyed Empire of Dragons, but Empire of Traitors just took the series to a new level. I loved each of our four characters even more, as Schade brought heightened complexity and depth to each of their stories. They developed beautifully as individuals and as *swoooonworthy* romances.
Somehow Schade manages to fit forbidden love, enemies to lovers, one bed, and more into one action packed book and still make it feel absolutely effortless. After the HUGE twist at the end of EoD, we are able to see a lot more of Caesiem and his backstory, which was a delight. Lo is still probably my favorite, and we see her really come into her own in such a satisfying way. Without spoiling, I will just say the political intrigue in this one is fantastic. The war machinations are also very well done and kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait for Empire of Monsters!!
TW: violence/gore, grief, loss of a family member
Somehow Schade manages to fit forbidden love, enemies to lovers, one bed, and more into one action packed book and still make it feel absolutely effortless. After the HUGE twist at the end of EoD, we are able to see a lot more of Caesiem and his backstory, which was a delight. Lo is still probably my favorite, and we see her really come into her own in such a satisfying way. Without spoiling, I will just say the political intrigue in this one is fantastic. The war machinations are also very well done and kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait for Empire of Monsters!!
TW: violence/gore, grief, loss of a family member
June 16, 2021
What would you do for the people you care about? What price would you pay? Four characters all prepared to give everything for their people.
They knew the price, but were they ready for it?
The pages are filled with a dangerous dance between hope and treachery, love and hate, tenderness and bitterness.
The start is a little slow, but you quickly cannot put this book down. The ache for the characters is real. The longing to murder a few of them is present as well. Be prepared for that when you read this gripping tale of power and mercy.
They knew the price, but were they ready for it?
The pages are filled with a dangerous dance between hope and treachery, love and hate, tenderness and bitterness.
The start is a little slow, but you quickly cannot put this book down. The ache for the characters is real. The longing to murder a few of them is present as well. Be prepared for that when you read this gripping tale of power and mercy.
June 20, 2023
4⭐️
I liked this book way more than the previous one. It’s because Lo became such a likable character throughout the story. Still love Kovi and Jaliana. And maybe also Caesiem🤭 Gotta find out whoms side he’s going to pick before i can really get into that. Reavad, however, can go fuck himself. Can’t stand the guy whatsoever. Arrogant bastard is all i can say about him :)
Overal this book was way more action packed than the first one and the character development was very good! I am very curious about the third book.
I liked this book way more than the previous one. It’s because Lo became such a likable character throughout the story. Still love Kovi and Jaliana. And maybe also Caesiem🤭 Gotta find out whoms side he’s going to pick before i can really get into that. Reavad, however, can go fuck himself. Can’t stand the guy whatsoever. Arrogant bastard is all i can say about him :)
Overal this book was way more action packed than the first one and the character development was very good! I am very curious about the third book.
June 9, 2021
This second book in Rachel's series is fantastic! It picks up right where the last one ended as our favorite characters must wade through their shattered worlds to find the way forward. Allies are now enemies. And enemies may be something else. Either way the reader is in for an adventure/dragon-filled ride. I cannot wait to own the paper-and-ink version. And book three cannot come soon enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2022
“There is no room for kindness in war.”
— 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨, Rachel L. Schade
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Look if you haven’t read 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙨 yet, I highly recommend you do so because you are not going to want to miss this book when it comes out later this month!
I love these characters so much, and the way this one ended 🤯 I need Book Three NOW.
Once again, I was so happy to be immersed in this rich, cruel fantasy world Rachel created. I truly felt like I was traveling across Alrenor with these characters.
And the characters. All four of them are so damn incredible and strong and brave. Warring between the wants of their hearts and their minds. It’s a testament to Rachel’s talent that I didn’t find myself looking forward to one POV in particular or dreading another. Each voice was so distinct, so compelling, that I was genuinely just happy to be along for the ride.
Not to mention that not only is she working with multiple POVs, including three different races of people all vying for power, but each of these characters has a particular set of beliefs, their own special religion, and specific powers to go along with what they worship. It’s something that could get muddled, a lot of the magic systems’ intricacies lost in the translation of trying to do too much. But Rachel does it so damn well that you understand perfectly what each person believes in, who or what they’re trying to save, and exactly how their magic works.
All in all, this was a spectacular five star read, and I’m so lucky Rachel let me read it early. PLEASE GO READ EoD AND PREORDER THIS! ♥️
— 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨, Rachel L. Schade
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Look if you haven’t read 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙨 yet, I highly recommend you do so because you are not going to want to miss this book when it comes out later this month!
I love these characters so much, and the way this one ended 🤯 I need Book Three NOW.
Once again, I was so happy to be immersed in this rich, cruel fantasy world Rachel created. I truly felt like I was traveling across Alrenor with these characters.
And the characters. All four of them are so damn incredible and strong and brave. Warring between the wants of their hearts and their minds. It’s a testament to Rachel’s talent that I didn’t find myself looking forward to one POV in particular or dreading another. Each voice was so distinct, so compelling, that I was genuinely just happy to be along for the ride.
Not to mention that not only is she working with multiple POVs, including three different races of people all vying for power, but each of these characters has a particular set of beliefs, their own special religion, and specific powers to go along with what they worship. It’s something that could get muddled, a lot of the magic systems’ intricacies lost in the translation of trying to do too much. But Rachel does it so damn well that you understand perfectly what each person believes in, who or what they’re trying to save, and exactly how their magic works.
All in all, this was a spectacular five star read, and I’m so lucky Rachel let me read it early. PLEASE GO READ EoD AND PREORDER THIS! ♥️
March 2, 2024
This sequel did not disappoint! I loved the addition of Kovi's and Caesiem's POVs. I can't wait to read the next book in this series and see where the story goes and what happens to the characters next because I was left on a cliffhanger... 🐉💙
February 4, 2023
Rachel is a master storyteller 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
September 8, 2022
I was screaming out loud in surprise by Chapter Two on this one!
Schade did a great job of connecting us to the characters and giving them something to fight for and something to lose. By expanding the POVs we had access to, she ensured that we were not only thoroughly informed, but also more sympathetic toward characters who we might have left Book 1 seeing as villains.
Honestly, the expanded POV was my favorite part of this book. It made me smile a lot and kept me reading through more complex worldbuilding and struggles for our main characters. I love how she builds up to the ending of Book 3 from the very beginning, and the added POVs do a great job of hyping us up even more!
Schade did a great job of connecting us to the characters and giving them something to fight for and something to lose. By expanding the POVs we had access to, she ensured that we were not only thoroughly informed, but also more sympathetic toward characters who we might have left Book 1 seeing as villains.
Honestly, the expanded POV was my favorite part of this book. It made me smile a lot and kept me reading through more complex worldbuilding and struggles for our main characters. I love how she builds up to the ending of Book 3 from the very beginning, and the added POVs do a great job of hyping us up even more!
January 21, 2022
I read Empire of Dragons (book 1 of the Cursed Empire series) for a book tour last year. I fell in love with this book, so imagine how excited I was to be invited to be part of Rachel’s street team! I don’t know how she did it but, Empire of Traitors is even better than the first one!
WARNING! POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1! If you haven’t read Empire of Dragons there will be spoilers in this review.
How crazy was the ending of Book 1? There must be a class that writers take called, “The Art of the Cliffhanger”. So now here we are, Alrenor has fallen into enemy hands. I was totally blown away by that turn of events.
The story continues to be amazing. The world building is fantastic. The characters are a great cast. I loved getting Kovi’s and Cassiem’s POVs in this book. This is one of my favorite story formats. Multiple POVs allow us to see the story from all angles. To me, that makes for a richer story.
Forbidden love in one of my favorite tropes, along with enemies-to-lovers, and here we have both. I am loving the relationships between Lo & Caes and Jalie & Kovi. You want them to get their happy endings but at this point, we just don’t know if they’ll ever get past their you’re-the-enemy hangups.
I’m hoping to see more of Nesrelle in the next book. She is still kind of in the background. She is evil and a fantastic villain. I just wonder if there is more to her story. Or is she just the evil Queen of Death?
Jalie and Lo each want to save their own people. They are setting out on completely different paths in order to do so. I have a feeling that eventually their paths are going to have to cross again. Since their people are enemies, I imagine all hell will break loose if/when they do.
The battles are brutal but I’m really enjoying seeing the different magic come into play. I don’t think I’d want to come against any of them! I love the intensity these scenes bring to the book.
I love the dragons! I wish they could talk. HaHa The bond that the trainers have with them is really cool. Every time Jalie sends Ryke out I’m always afraid of what’s going to happen to him. I’m one of those people who worries more about the animal characters.
This book is going into the top spot for the year so far. It’ll take something super spectacular to take its place. I can’t wait for the next book, especially after the cliffhanger we got this time. That ending!!
I gave this one all the stars and highly recommend it for fans of epic fantasy, dragon stories, fantasy romance, forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, and political intrigue.
WARNING! POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1! If you haven’t read Empire of Dragons there will be spoilers in this review.
How crazy was the ending of Book 1? There must be a class that writers take called, “The Art of the Cliffhanger”. So now here we are, Alrenor has fallen into enemy hands. I was totally blown away by that turn of events.
The story continues to be amazing. The world building is fantastic. The characters are a great cast. I loved getting Kovi’s and Cassiem’s POVs in this book. This is one of my favorite story formats. Multiple POVs allow us to see the story from all angles. To me, that makes for a richer story.
Forbidden love in one of my favorite tropes, along with enemies-to-lovers, and here we have both. I am loving the relationships between Lo & Caes and Jalie & Kovi. You want them to get their happy endings but at this point, we just don’t know if they’ll ever get past their you’re-the-enemy hangups.
I’m hoping to see more of Nesrelle in the next book. She is still kind of in the background. She is evil and a fantastic villain. I just wonder if there is more to her story. Or is she just the evil Queen of Death?
Jalie and Lo each want to save their own people. They are setting out on completely different paths in order to do so. I have a feeling that eventually their paths are going to have to cross again. Since their people are enemies, I imagine all hell will break loose if/when they do.
The battles are brutal but I’m really enjoying seeing the different magic come into play. I don’t think I’d want to come against any of them! I love the intensity these scenes bring to the book.
I love the dragons! I wish they could talk. HaHa The bond that the trainers have with them is really cool. Every time Jalie sends Ryke out I’m always afraid of what’s going to happen to him. I’m one of those people who worries more about the animal characters.
This book is going into the top spot for the year so far. It’ll take something super spectacular to take its place. I can’t wait for the next book, especially after the cliffhanger we got this time. That ending!!
I gave this one all the stars and highly recommend it for fans of epic fantasy, dragon stories, fantasy romance, forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, and political intrigue.
January 26, 2022
🥰Review/ Summary 😍
Empire of Traitors
Author: Rachel L Schade
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 390
Rate: 8.5/10
Summary: Jalie is on the run with her dragon looking for allies. Kovi is imprisoned and once again forced to choose between his people and Jalie when sent by the Teramese to go and find and kill Jalie. Meanwhile, Caesiem is struggling to figure out his place as a new prince and still trying to get Lo to understand why the Teramese had to invade. All Lo wants however is for her people to be okay and for her god to forgive her for forsaking her vows while trying to remember that Caesiem has already betrayed her once and their political alliance and betrothal is nothing more than an attempt to appease her people. However, no alliance is permanent given that the Teramese already broke one treaty with Alenor.
Thoughts: I need more chapters in Jalie’s POV! I totally adore her and want things to work out for her and Kovi! They definitely have a lot that they need to work through but the ending of this book gives me hope that Jalie could be exactly what everyone needs. She realizes that she made a mistake and I love that about her that and the fact that she is going to try and move on and do the right thing regardless of how sh*tty her situation is. Kovi is also a gem, it was a little concerning how quickly he's ready to murder someone who did absolutely nothing to him but the survival of the fittest I guess. Poor Caesiem, he is a mess, his ability and magic come in super clutch though, and is definitely interesting. The Teramese magic to be more in the traditional magic rather than a gift from the gods Caesiem is a witch and that is super fun and I cannot wait to see what he does now that his father figure has completely destroyed any hope of an alliance with Lo. Caesiem is definitely a lost soul and while he, Kovi, Jalie, and Lo are all morally gray with doubts about the future Caesiem is definitely the one that needs to figure he’s sh*t out the most. Lo is a queen, he not immediately rejecting the betrothal was such a fun twisted and he admits her confusion and feels for Caesiem despite everything that happened.
Empire of Traitors
Author: Rachel L Schade
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 390
Rate: 8.5/10
Summary: Jalie is on the run with her dragon looking for allies. Kovi is imprisoned and once again forced to choose between his people and Jalie when sent by the Teramese to go and find and kill Jalie. Meanwhile, Caesiem is struggling to figure out his place as a new prince and still trying to get Lo to understand why the Teramese had to invade. All Lo wants however is for her people to be okay and for her god to forgive her for forsaking her vows while trying to remember that Caesiem has already betrayed her once and their political alliance and betrothal is nothing more than an attempt to appease her people. However, no alliance is permanent given that the Teramese already broke one treaty with Alenor.
Thoughts: I need more chapters in Jalie’s POV! I totally adore her and want things to work out for her and Kovi! They definitely have a lot that they need to work through but the ending of this book gives me hope that Jalie could be exactly what everyone needs. She realizes that she made a mistake and I love that about her that and the fact that she is going to try and move on and do the right thing regardless of how sh*tty her situation is. Kovi is also a gem, it was a little concerning how quickly he's ready to murder someone who did absolutely nothing to him but the survival of the fittest I guess. Poor Caesiem, he is a mess, his ability and magic come in super clutch though, and is definitely interesting. The Teramese magic to be more in the traditional magic rather than a gift from the gods Caesiem is a witch and that is super fun and I cannot wait to see what he does now that his father figure has completely destroyed any hope of an alliance with Lo. Caesiem is definitely a lost soul and while he, Kovi, Jalie, and Lo are all morally gray with doubts about the future Caesiem is definitely the one that needs to figure he’s sh*t out the most. Lo is a queen, he not immediately rejecting the betrothal was such a fun twisted and he admits her confusion and feels for Caesiem despite everything that happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
I preferred the first book, but this was still a good addition to the series. From the cover, I knew Lo and Caesium’s storyline would be at the forefront. Since Lo is my least favorite out of the four protagonists, I kind of knew this book wouldn’t be my favorite of the series. However, I really fell in love with Caesium this time around. He was alright in the first instalment, but we really get to know him a lot better here. His relationship with Ravaed was intriguing and his powers proved once again why I think water is the best element. Kovi still has my heart though and I loved him and Jalie even more. They are so precious and need to be protected at all costs.
As for the plot, it felt slow at certain places, especially in the last 100 pages where Kovi and Jalie POVs just disappeared and we got so much of Lo. That comes down to personal preference though. I also thought the book ended a little abruptly, but it does set up for an action-packed start to the third book.
As for the plot, it felt slow at certain places, especially in the last 100 pages where Kovi and Jalie POVs just disappeared and we got so much of Lo. That comes down to personal preference though. I also thought the book ended a little abruptly, but it does set up for an action-packed start to the third book.
August 30, 2022
I am…impressed with Schade’s ability to weave the complicated web that is Empire of Traitors. The Forwyn, Teramese, and Alrenian peoples all vie for the right to rule the illustrious Alrenian Empire, and at this point I can’t honestly say I’m rooting for any of them. Each commit atrocities against the others in the name of fighting for what’s best for their people, but the collateral damage is enough to whisper that none of them truly deserve it. The main characters all struggle between choosing the right thing and what’s right for their people, complicated by their romantic entanglements. Honestly? I’m here for the complications, but at this point I can’t see how anything is gonna work out in a satisfactory way…and that’s great but also makes for a stressful read. Looking at the titles of the next two books I can’t imagine anything getting better. Um. This series is great lol try it out.
January 21, 2022
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞...
An epic and wild second installment of the Cursed Empire series. It continues on with this amazing story and fight for Alrenor. This time adding in two additional POVs, making your choice of whose right or wrong even harder.
The gore and blood and fire and death was delicious. But wrapped in a sweet love that has me addicted to these characters romance.
Schade continues her mastery in a dynamic world of court politics and false promises, leaving you stumbling to pick up your heart (again) at the end.
And this time? Even more magic.
For fans of a true Young Adult version of ACOTAR, step into a world of magic and betrayal where it's survival above all else.
An epic and wild second installment of the Cursed Empire series. It continues on with this amazing story and fight for Alrenor. This time adding in two additional POVs, making your choice of whose right or wrong even harder.
The gore and blood and fire and death was delicious. But wrapped in a sweet love that has me addicted to these characters romance.
Schade continues her mastery in a dynamic world of court politics and false promises, leaving you stumbling to pick up your heart (again) at the end.
And this time? Even more magic.
For fans of a true Young Adult version of ACOTAR, step into a world of magic and betrayal where it's survival above all else.
February 8, 2023
I like the world, the characters and I’m interested in where the story is going and how it ends. But it really just drags on too much. It could have been condensed. Lots of the same thing happening over and over without moving the story along. I also really don’t like how each book doesn’t have any sort of ending. It just stops in the middle of the book basically. Like the whole series is just one ridiculously long book. I really don’t know where it’s going or how this will play out. Seems impossible for all the main characters to get their happy ending. Will be interesting to see how it ends.
January 21, 2022
Excellent second book in the series. The author has upped the stakes, deepened relationships, raised the swoon factor, and generally made me more excited to keep reading about these characters and this world.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story picks up where all four of our main characters left off at the end of Book 1...people are questioning their choices, running for their lives, building new alliances - or doing all three! Something I loved about this second book is we get multiple POVs. Hearing the perspectives of the boys (Kovi and Caesiem) draws the reader deeper into the story and adds so much for the character growth.
Similar to Book 1, I loved the larger thru thread of "who are the real monsters" and "do the ends justify the means?" The four protagonists are all trying to do what's "best" for their people, but there's no clear cut answers to any of their problems. The morally grey component is strong for everyone in this book, yet I found myself switching sides and agreeing with whoever's point of view I was reading - a testament to the author's fabulous writing!
With two male protagonists, our street team is constantly debating if we are Team Kovi or Team Caesiem...to avoid spoilers, I'll simply say I thought I had a book crush in the first book, but Rachel flipped the script and now I'm firmly Team Other Guy after this book! With two more books to come in the series, I can't make any promises my allegiances will remain going forward! 😂
Empire of Traitors is a great fantasy read for anyone who doesn't think they like fantasy, or hasn't read much in this genre. It's accessible and readable; it's a balanced mix of action, world-building, romance, and character-driven plot.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story picks up where all four of our main characters left off at the end of Book 1...people are questioning their choices, running for their lives, building new alliances - or doing all three! Something I loved about this second book is we get multiple POVs. Hearing the perspectives of the boys (Kovi and Caesiem) draws the reader deeper into the story and adds so much for the character growth.
Similar to Book 1, I loved the larger thru thread of "who are the real monsters" and "do the ends justify the means?" The four protagonists are all trying to do what's "best" for their people, but there's no clear cut answers to any of their problems. The morally grey component is strong for everyone in this book, yet I found myself switching sides and agreeing with whoever's point of view I was reading - a testament to the author's fabulous writing!
With two male protagonists, our street team is constantly debating if we are Team Kovi or Team Caesiem...to avoid spoilers, I'll simply say I thought I had a book crush in the first book, but Rachel flipped the script and now I'm firmly Team Other Guy after this book! With two more books to come in the series, I can't make any promises my allegiances will remain going forward! 😂
Empire of Traitors is a great fantasy read for anyone who doesn't think they like fantasy, or hasn't read much in this genre. It's accessible and readable; it's a balanced mix of action, world-building, romance, and character-driven plot.
May 24, 2022
I can't say enough good things about this author and this series is one of my favorites two young women trying to find peace for their people and the story shows both point of views including their love interest. Dragons, romance, loyalty, war this book has it all major cliffhanger but book three is out now so don't waste anymore time and read this book
June 30, 2022
The second installment of Rachel Schade's series Cursed Empire packs the punch I wanted! I am really attached to these characters now. Lo is still my favorite, I want her and Cassieum to be together so badly! Jalie still drives me crazy BUT she has such cool powers and I'm excited for her character growth. Plus I love all the dragons in this book series!
November 2, 2022
What an ending 😳😱🤭
Can’t wait to read the next part of the story.
A very exiting book two in the series.
Really loved the dual pov. And that we got the males pov.
The story is moving along nicely and I really like the pacing and the character development.
So many happenings that I could not predict happening!
A really good follow up to book one.
May 21, 2023
The pace and storytelling were enjoyable. It felt like perhaps this series had too many first person points of view. All the characters seemed to have a very similar inner voice, which made it less exciting. The Kindle version also had abundant spelling errors. But it was fun to read and guess what might happen.
May 20, 2024
Ok
I very nearly put this book down. I got quite bored with the world building and background stories but decided to persevere as the first book was brilliant. The final 20% made up for the other 80% tho and I am once again eager to continue the series.
I very nearly put this book down. I got quite bored with the world building and background stories but decided to persevere as the first book was brilliant. The final 20% made up for the other 80% tho and I am once again eager to continue the series.
September 20, 2023
Wasn't sure how I would like having 4 POV in one book. I was floored. Rachel's ability to write from all 4 is absolutely amazing. Loved it.
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