Review: The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom #2)
The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom #2)
By Danielle L Jensen
Published By: CLA Publishing
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Date Read: April 24, 2022
Genre: NA – Fantasy
Source: Bought
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 352
From Goodreads:
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.
“She was everything. Mind, body, and soul, she was everything he wanted. Everything he needed. The queen Ithicana needed.”
As soon as I finished listening to the audio edition of The Bridge Kingdom, I jumped straight into the next in the series. This is actually really rare for me to do. I’m not typically a binge reader, I get bored being in the same world for too long, but I seem to be able to do it better when listening to books rather than physically reading them. I was excited to see where the story was going to go, and I actually liked this one a little bit better than book 1.
The Traitor Queen picks up right where The Bridge Kingdom left off. With Aren captures, and Lara returning to the people she betrayed to try and help them win the war against her father. Now, in the first book Lara annoyed the life out of me, I found her so frustrating. I am happy to see she has definitely grown a lot in this book. She has finally left the stupidity behind and is on the right side now. I liked her a lot more in this book. That’s not to say I love her… I don’t. She has caused way, way too much death and destruction for that, but I liked her a little more.
This was a great follow up to The Bridge Kingdom, and it has a really satisfying conclusion to Aren and Lara’s story. I do feel like the whole forgiving her for causing a war was a little bit too easily explained, and I don’t really believe how the Ithicanian people can just forgive her like that… but it’s just a small gripe in an otherwise great book.
I am really glad I read this duology, and I am excited to see what Danielle has in store in book 3, which is following different characters. While this series will never be an all time favourite of mine, it is very enjoyable and a nice easy read. I will definitely be picking up some more of Danielle’s books in the future.
“You are my goddamned damnation, but there will never be anyone but you.”
K-Books
I’m Kayleigh, a teacher and blogger who is obsessed with all things bookish. I love reading YA books of all genres and I am happiest when sharing my love and passion for books.