Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer

Higher stakes, deeper feelings, and an ending that has me desperate for book three.

I’ve been counting down to Captive Traitor King since I turned the last page of Warrior Princess Assassin. It was worth every minute of the wait. This is easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it left me even more invested in Jory, Ky, and Asher.

The relationship between the three of them continues to grow, both emotionally and physically, even as they work through the trust issues and fallout from the first book. One of my favorite things about their dynamic is how much care they have for each other. They’ve all been shaped by trauma in different ways, and somehow those differences make them better together. I still can’t choose a favorite.

Most of the story is set in Incendar, and I loved the new challenges that come with it. Getting to know Ky’s soldiers was a highlight. His inner circle adds context to the main characters along with a found-family warmth I didn’t expect to love as much as I did. At the same time, the political intrigue keeps building as tensions between the kingdoms grow, and every secret that comes to light raises new questions. The plot never stops moving, even as it gives us a much deeper look at these characters and what has shaped them.

And that ending. The cliffhanger is brutal, and I need the next book now. I’m not sure how I’ll survive the wait for book three. I’m all in on Jory, Ky, and Asher and whatever comes next for them.

Content warnings are available in the author’s note at the front of the book. Please check those before reading.

If this sounds like your kind of read, you can pre-order a copy HERE or request it from your local library.

Want to hear more about this series? Listen to our Author Spotlight with Brigid Kemmerer HERE.