The Traitor Queen First Edition Paperback – September 1, 2020

"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."You know those books that keep you up late at night because it has you so emotionally invested? Yeah, well, this is that book. I devoured The Traitor Queen in one evening, and even as I'm writing this the next morning, I can't stop thinking about it!I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK, except for one thing (which I'll get to later). But right now, let me give you reasons to read The Traitor Queen.*Book 1 spoilers ahead*Here's what I liked:• From the beginning to the end, there is non-stop action. Not the kind where there are so many details it bores you to tears. No, it was quick-paced, heart-pounding, and sometimes stressful. I gaped at the page more than once because of the action unfolding. We finally get to see Lara use her deadly training from the compound and realize just how badass she really is!• Lara and Aren's character development and struggles. By changing pov's, we can see how anguished both are at their past choices and how they try to live with themselves and the outcome. I really felt for these two as they sunk deep into desperation, hopelessness, regret, and self-loathing, and wanted nothing more than for them to forgive either themselves or each other.• Lara and Aren's romantic storyline. Lara completely betrayed Aren's trust yet in The Bridge Kingdom, yet no matter the past, Aren can't help but love her - this woman who destroyed his kingdom. Lara spends the entirety of the book trying to make up for her mistake, knowing that even if Aren could forgive her treachery, Ithicana would never accept a traitorous queen back on the throne. It broke my heart to see Lara fighting for a future she can never have.Just FYI, the romance was slow-burn due to the previous betrayal, and there aren't many romantic scenes (only one true sex scene). The focus is more on Lara and Aren rebuilding their relationship and their emotional struggles, which I found to be more realistic and endearing. Even with everything that happened, they can't help but protect each other• Meeting Lara's sisters! This group of badass women was a great addition to the storyline and added more background and understanding to Lara's character.• The world development. While in The Bridge Kingdom, we only saw Ithicana and Vencia, in this book we are taken on a journey through most of Maridrina (including the Red Desert and Kresteck Mountains) and Valcotta. I loved the different landscapes and learning more about this fictional world.• The last 100 pages. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I felt so anxious while reading a book. So much happens - some of it will make you smile, some of it will break your heart. It's these last few pages that got me extremely emotional and wishing I could live this book. So damn good!Here's what I didn't like :• The ending wrecked me (in the best way possible), but I needed more! The characters go through such an ordeal, and then it just sort of ends. No epilogue either. It felt rushed when what I wanted and needed was a few more chapters about the aftermath. I thought this would maybe come in the third book, but I've learned it follows the path of two secondary characters from The Traitor Queen. However, I'm hopeful Danielle L. Jensen will figure something out and won't leave us readers emotionally hanging.Overall, this series has easily become one of my favorites! Danielle L Jensen created such a wonderful world with loveable characters, and storylines.

I enjoyed this second installment in the Bridge Kingdom series. It was fast paced and action packed. The writing is entertaining and keeps you on the end of your seat as event after event steam rolls this novel to the end.The romance in this second installment is very very slow burn as Aren fights his feelings for Lara, as he is continually grappling with the fact if he can trust her even through Lara is constantly showing him whose side she is on. At times Aren could become a bit frustrating due to this but ultimately it is the thing he has to work through the most in order to make sure he is doing right by his people and Lara.I loved Lara, I think in this novel she can really shine as she takes matters into her own hands and as she fights to save Aren and for the people she sees as her own. She is strong, agile and a warrior and it is so refreshing to see Aren notice her strength and will as he watches her battle their enemies.I think the only think that I really wish there was more of was a stronger development of their romance, yes there are soft moments of romantic growth and understand (which comes very late in the novel) I just wish there was a bit more-but that is probably because I am mainly a romance reader, so I wanted more balance between my fantasy action and the romantic development.I am definitely interested in reading the next novels planned in this series which focus on another couple and I would not mind a novella for Aren and Lara that flashes forward in their life, this novel ends rather abruptly with Lara letting Aren know she will always stand by his side.I highly recommend this novel especially if you loved the first and want to see where the story develops and grows.

Rating ScaleOverall: 5/5Shock: 4/5Angst: 4/5Spice: 1/5Themes:~enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers~high action~epic twists and turnsThe Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen is the second book in The Bridge Kingdom series. We left off in the first book with Lara, a queen who has jeopardized Ithicana, has now become a traitor to her own kingdom while Aren has been captured in battle by Lara’s father. After learning the results of her mistakes, Lara is determined to get The Bridge Kingdom under its rightful ruler and save Aren of the tortures of being captured. She is willing to do anything, including asking favors of the sisters she left behind in order to save and risk their freedom. This book is full of lots of action, scheming and heartache!This book was literally so freaking good! I wish I knew about this series when I finished Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I had the biggest book hangover of my life and this would have been my cure! The Traitor Queen totally exceeded my expectations as a sequel to this well thought out series. The entire time I was hoping that Ithicana could catch a break but they were constantly under attack, which is nothing new. This kingdom has been fighting since it was created and they do not give up! The switching between perspectives was so good and timed so well within the story.The relationship was literally so heartbreaking. I would get so mad at both characters and kept going back and forth on how I felt. I see a lot of reviews state that they were getting angry with Aren for being so indecisive. I felt like that was 100% realistic though! Aren is dealing with the fact that someone he loves so much can be nothing more due to the tragic loss and hurt Lara caused. I also understand Lara’s side where she had grown up only knowing one thing, to take the Bridge Kingdom down! It took her a while to see who the real enemy was and she had to turn around and fix that. Aren had to pick his people over the girl he loved and I feel like Lara understood that, no matter how much it hurt. I thought the back and forth between the two characters was so good and made me smile and cry.I am not going to lie; I was a little disappointed in the ending. Not enough to change my rating but enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth. SPOILER WARNING!! We do not know the outcome of their relationship until literally the last 5 pages and it kind of fell off for me. I was expecting some type of bigger declaration with Aren and the Ithicana people and we never got it. The action was literally so great at the end but then I was like, “um hello?” I turned the page and saw I was at the end of the book.Other than the ending, this book was literally amazing. I was thinking about this series for DAYS. This book was borderline anxiety inducing with all the chaos and I loved it! I will definitely be recommending this series to any fantasy romance lovers!

Que história!!! Estou totalmente sem palavras para a magnitude do desenvolvimento desses dois personagens incríveis. Eu já tinha gostado da Lara e do Aren e achava que não precisava mexer em mais nada para o segundo livro. Mas a autora me mostrou que nunca é demais.Foi emocionante , angustiante , esperançoso, revoltante e tantos outros sentimentos , que ao chegar ao fim, só posso dizer: UAU, que história!Eu suuuuuper recomendo !É de tirar o fôlego!

Wow. Just wow. I won’t lie, at the end of the first book I was ready to toss in the towel and pretend these books didn’t exist, but this book brought me all the way back and put me on my knees, begging for more. The annoying foreseeable plot twist we saw reading its ugly head in the first book threw us into such a horrible situation but this book… Pftttt this book takes everything that book was and shows us what we didn’t know we were missing. All the finer, smarter, smaller details that come clawing their way back into the plot in the dark, ready to snatch up the main focus and make you think “OMG OMG” were pure perfection. Honestly so many elements from the first book tied back into the plot in so many unexpected ways - it was amazing. The action scenes are drawn out, they’re long, they skim over no details, miss no angle. Everything is so carefully written and well thought out - I’ve never read anything like it. I simply cannot praise Danielle L. Jensen’s writing enough. I’ve never known an author like her. This is such an epic everything, it just can’t be defined. It’s incomparable. From the moment we stepped foot in Bridge Kingdom, us, much like Lara, were goners. I can’t wait to read the rest, and everything else Danielle has written. Snake Island, the sharks, the necklace, the knives, the dessert, the fear, the tears, the blood, the grief, the love… This series will live rent free in my mind for a while. It is truly epic.

Il libro è arrivato in ottime condizioni ed è stato consegnato anche prima del previsto, nonostante venisse dal Belgio. Ancora non ho letto il libro, dunque non posso dare una valutazione sulla storia.

This book was perfect. I’m still trying to gather my thoughts while typing this because I literally just finished listening to The Traitor Queen few minutes ago. Danielle L. Jensen wrote this epic of a book to make you feel all kinds of emotions that you didn’t know you can feel in a book. You know that kind of pain that felt like your heart is being crushed? I felt that MULTIPLE TIMES and thought to myself when would the pain stop? But even though it made me feel pain, it also made me feel love like no other. This also scared the hell out of me again and again up to the last chapter. Need I say that I cried so many times to count?I usually get a hunch on where the plot would go whenever I read but this didn’t give me a chance to do that. The twists were all a surprise, and I was so busy feeling everything my heart and brain couldn’t catch up.Lara and Aren’s adventure was so beautiful and I’m going to miss them. This is a masterpiece and I’m sad that it has to end.

First of all, I'm definitely getting this one in paperback. This is too d@mn unique not to add into my physical collection.😍Next, the angst in this one is 🔥🔥. I always lament how easily protagonists are forgiven in most books..little to no groveling, no pain.....it's freaking human nature to lash out (no matter how useless the action is ) at those that hurt us the deepest.. rationality does not work & logic ceases to matter to the people going through those betrayals. That's WHAT TRANSFORMS a story from GOOD to frickin SPECTACULAR. We all know this ends in an HEA. But readers want the journey not the destination. Otherwise, we'd all just read the last page of any book and be done with it. But this one DELIVERED!! OH MY!! The pain, the heartache, the helplessness... it was all portrayed beauuuutifully and I felt each and every thing right along with the characters.Even though the central storyline is not complete, Aren and Lara are on their way to a happily ever after in this book. Their lust burns like an inferno but their love...their love is what united the kingdoms and made them victorious. ⚓🦈🌀 🌊