Seek the Traitor's Son

The Burning Empire #1

by Veronica Roth

The daughter of a bounty hunter.
The knight sworn to protect her.
And the prophecy that destroys their lives . . .

From Veronica Roth, the legendary author of the Divergent series, Seek the Traitor’s Son is a dazzling, epic tale of war, fate and devastating love.

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her. She’s a soldier defending her small country against a powerful enemy, the Talusar, who worship a Fever that brings death to everyone it touches . . . except those who it resurrects, forever changed. Rava Vidar is a Talusar general with a reputation for cruelty and triumph. And when Elegy and Rava first meet, it’s to hear a prophecy that could apply to either of them.

The prophecy declares that either woman might carry their people to victory. But at the centre of both of their fates is a man. A man who, Elegy is told, will bring her death. A man she’ll fall in love with. With two nations at stake, she and Rava are destined to collide. And when they do, only one will be left standing. Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

An extraordinary epic begins.

* * *

Praise for Seek the Traitor’s Son:

‘Her most compelling work to date . . . Veronica Roth knows exactly how to break your heart’
– Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

‘A story of treachery and enduring love, Seek the Traitor’s Son is epic in its stakes and intimate in its romance, but most of all I loved its core of deep compassion’
– Everina Maxwell, author of Winter’s Orbit

‘Veronica Roth reaches for epic, and grabs it beautifully’
– John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author of Starter Villain

‘Addictive and electric . . . I truly didn’t want to put this down, it had me swept up in the unfolding story right until that last page’
– Reader review

‘Loved this book! If you like stories with high stakes, emotional conflict and dystopian elements, this one is definitely worth checking out’
– Reader review

‘What an incredible and rich world . . . I devoured this’
– Reader review

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction, Romantasy, Audiobook, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published May 12, 2026

About the author

Veronica Roth is the New York Times best-selling author of Seek the Traitor's Son (coming 5.12.26), When Among Crows, Arch-Conspirator, Poster Girl, Chosen Ones, the Carve the Mark series, and the Divergent series. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and dog.

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Reviews

[Liana Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5 ⭐️ Call me obsessed, but DYSTOPIAN is so back with Seek the Traitor's Son. For the fans of DUNE, I can safely say this will exceed all your expectations! Get ready for an epic world building, amazing character development and a lot of political intrigue. This world delivers everything that a die-hard sci-fi/fantasy fan expects to see in a TRUE DYSTOPIAN novel. I have no doubt this will turn into the next big screen sensation and frankly this book needs to be on your TBR.

The story is set in the futuristic, dystopian version of the Earth where there is an ongoing conflict between two main groups: The Cedrae and The Talusar. The Talusar are a powerful nation that worship a deadly fever that gives the transformed victims mysterious gifts. The Cedrae have developed superior technology and expanded to a smaller, off-planet colony. Our main female protagonist, Elegy Ahn is happy with her life as a soldier but finds herself thrust into the center of a powerful prophecy alongside Talusar's fiercest and most powerful war general, Rava Vidar. Together, they learn that one of them will lead their people to the victory over the other. Which one is it going to be? At the center of their collided fates, is a man. A man that Elegy is told she will fall in love with. Who is this man and what's his true purpose in all of this? As Rava's and Elegy's world collide, the balance between nation hangs on a string. Who will be left standing? Elegy did not ask for this destiny but it sure has found her and she intends to make it hers.

I really wasn't sure what I was going into, as this was my FIRST sci-fi audiobook and frankly I was a little scared starting it because I was afraid to miss any details/unable to keep up, but I was extremely pleased of how much I enjoyed the experience. In fact, I think the AMAZING full-cast narration of all the characters elevated my listening experience. I was able to immerse myself into this world so easily, I really NEED book two & honestly will probably end up doing the narration as well..its felt like I was listening to a movie play out. I reveled in all the twists and turns and banter. The chemistry was hot and steamy full of yearning, forgiveness, tension while being very much a subplot. This is truly one of the gems in the sci-fi world with relatable characters that stand out on their own.


Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Soler, Steve West
Duration: 19 hours 29 minutes
Speed: 1.25x

This books is featured on BOTM and if you're interested, you can get the deluxe edition just for $5 using this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Cancel the subscription any time at no cost to you! I highly recommend BOTM because you can get early releases before they hit the stores!


Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Veronica Roth for sending me an early ALC!

Publication date: May 12, 2026

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If he's your oath sworn knight then why is he in MY gladiator arena?

I would say “Veronica Roth I didn't know your game” but that would be a lie because I expected nothing less than this.

For anyone who has kept a close following on Veronica Roth’s career, Seek the Traitor’s Son marks both a return and a prophecy fulfilled. A return to her superb meld of science fiction fantasy set within a world that is most certainly our own—be it in the far distant future, and a dystopian fantasy epic that takes incredible risks to craft and accomplish something earth shattering. Seek the Traitor’s Son is the kind of novel that defies definition. It feels a bit Dune, a bit The Expanse, but where it takes form is something original and utterly Veronica Roth. In Seek the Traitor’s Son a prophecy emerges in an earth ruled by fever, and two competing nations fight to control the fulcrum: the trio through which the outcome of the prophecy relies. A soldier bound to her lineage, an oath sworn knight forced to serve, and an inquisitive scout are tethered against the prophecy that could doom their world or reveal its triumph. This could not be more Veronica Roth: complete with a deeply tormented man and a romance that made me want to be sent to the seaside to recover my health. A planet transformed, fantasy and science fiction leanings, fatal fevers, and fated romance each find place in this dystopian marvel. Seek the Traitor’s Son is the kind of life altering dystopian-fantasy that quietly takes hold, building its roots to a fierce power that cannot be rivaled. To read this is to emerge reborn, a resurrection of its own.

Read my review

average hela plot: fox muldering with a side of dual plant hallucinating with a mysterious woman

theren so real for just leaving places and situations as soon as he wants (man after my whole heart)

Bookstagram | Blog

[ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

this was a pretty solid fantasy overall, but i never fully connected with it the way i wanted to sadly.

the worldbuilding was interesting and i liked the idea of the prophecy tying these characters together, and the way ‘magic n manifested was incredibly unique. there were definitely some cool concepts here, and i can see why a lot of people will enjoy it.

that said, i felt kind of detached from the characters for most of the book. i was invested enough to keep reading, but i wasn't super emotionally attached to anyone. the pacing also dragged a bit in places, especially in the middle, and there were quite a few parts that confused me (although i will admit that’s probably a me problem).

the story picks up toward the end and there are some twists that made me curious about what happens next, and i did definitely enjoy my time reading it, but i just don’t think it’s going to stick with me.

it wasn’t bad by any means, and i know a lot of people have adored this, so definitely give it a go!

[Seri ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ (rounded up!)
A dystopian fantasy novel set after more than half of Earth's population has been ravaged and separated into two warring countries: fever-worshipping Talusar and fever-resistant Cedrae.

The fever is an affliction that kills whomever catches it. The upside? Half of the time, you come back to life with a power afterwards! Hence the reason why Talusar, the more populated kingdom, worships the fever. Whereas, Cedrae prefers technological advancements and refuse to be infected.

Now, everything's coming to a turning point with a prophecy where one country is foreseen to be victorious over the other. And it all comes down to two women. One is Rava Vidar, a sadistic Talusar general that treats human life as expendable, OR Elegy Ahn the "Hope of Cedrae."

Elegy was a masterfully written FMC! Smart, courageous, and kind. A believable leader that has both experience as a soldier to explain her battle prowess and enough empathy for her people/friends to be likable on the page. Hell, as a reader, I almost wished that she were more ruthless in the face of some of her enemies!

Theren (the MMC) is a victim, a survivor, and a skilled fighter. In the beginning, he makes a grave mistake, but over the course of a four-year time period, he’s molded into a traumatized, battle-hardened warrior. Upon reuniting with Elegy, he’s loyal making this duo a very strong team.

Although…I didn’t buy the leads fully being IN LOVE so early into this. This book would’ve benefited from a more drawn out slow burn.

Thankfully, the romance was enough of a subplot that it didn't take away from overall enjoyment. But given the background we have on these two, there wasn't any explanation for Theren's devotion. Hell, he full-on breaks his oath within seconds of swearing it! So...what's different now? And before I get any "he was a kid!" comments. No, he was a fully grown 20-year-old MAN who'd always known that his destiny was to be a knight. And then post-time skip, he's now 100% devoted mind, body, and soul?! Yeah, no. Maybe at the end of this duology their chemistry would feel real having survived life and death side by side. It was not, however, 50% into book one.

Solid story. Excellent fantasy world that was easy to follow. Lots of world-building. EXCELLENT narrators for the audiobook! Likable characters. Though, the romance feels weak/forced at the moment, but there's definite room for growth in book two to finish off this duology!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own. 🩵

[⋆.˚dak ☾ .⭒˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟 “𝐓𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧.”

i fear i am obsessed. this world reeled me in and never let me go!!! the plot? addicting. i simply needed to know more about everything. the world, the characters, the politics. LOVE THEM ALL. i am fully invested 🖤

this is an epic sci-fi/dystopian vibe set on a futuristic Earth. we follow two groups of people who are in conflict with one another. the 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐫 who worship a fever that kills you at first and you either stay dead or reawaken with powers. then we have the 𝐂𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐞 who live on an off planet colony with advanced technology who are unaffected by the fever.

» ••• 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓎 ••• «

the book starts off with 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙮 the second daughter of the sword going to her fate reading and ending up getting some life changing news. she is now part of a prophecy that states she has the potential to lead the people of 𝐂𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐞 to victory over the 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐫. SURPRISE!!! then we have 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩 our tragic sad boy and sworn knight to 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙮 🤭 we also follow 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙖, 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙮‘𝙨 sister, who i won’t say too much on hehe 🤫🪴💭👀

the plot is non stop! the world building is rich and layered and so so good. i love 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙮. i love 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣. i love 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙖. all three are incredibly written 💞

the romance is more of a subplot which for me was totally okay. i did love it!! it was sort of the quiet type that sneaks up on you. it felt so raw and wholesome 🥺💘

i don’t want to say much else about this one because spoilers but this is easily one of my fav reads this year. i love what Veronica Roth did with this one 🫶🏻✨

• . ݁₊ ⊹ “𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓂𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝓊𝓁𝒸𝓇𝓊𝓂 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓁𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒” ⊹ ₊ ݁. •

that ending was literally so good holy!! 👏🏻

~ also i am a Dune movie enjoyer (no i never read the books, fake yes i know!) but i would say the comparisons are very on point from the media i have consumed ~

・⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊♡₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺ ・・・ ⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊♡₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺・

⋆˚✿˖° 𝕡𝕣𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
AHHH the time has come 🤩 i’m genuinely so excited!! and i keep seeing the best reviews + seeing people say it gives Dune vibes like yes yes yes 🤏🏻🙂‍↕️

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

a pathetic (complementary) broken mmc, his super power is [redacted], & he’s bisexual!? Are you kidding me?!

I fear Veronica Roth has created the perfect man.

Seek the Traitor’s Son is an excellent blend of sci-fi, dystopian, and romance. This series is epic in scope and there is still plenty to learn about the world, politics, and characters and I’m seated. Gimme the next book now please?

As book one in a series, this does a great job at establishing the world without overwhelming the reader. The beginning is a bit information heavy, but not overly so. If you’re comfortable with reading fantasy, you’ll have no issues with the world-building - but readers hoping for a world clearly future/dystopian Earth (and easier to digest) may find the set up a little overwhelming.

The MMC Theran is just… so good. Our reluctant savior FMC, Elegy?! LOVE HER. I love them together.

I went into this expecting minimal romance, I’m not actually sure why? but that was my headspace when diving in. That said I was very pleased with the romance on the whole. But, I have to agree with Mai, the build up, tension, and set up for the romance was nearly perfect but once a certain point hit, the romance went from 50% to 100% in the blink of an eye and I would have preferred to see the last 50% play out a bit more.

I’m still thinking about this book days later, craving the next book, needing to know what comes next — and desperately wanting more page time with Elegy + Theran.

Whats to love…
- Epic Series
- heavy romance side plot
- pathetic (complementary) MMC
- queer normative world
- sci-fi heavy dystopian Earth
- interesting world + magic
- political machinations


Audiobook: 4.5/5
Narrators: Imani Jade Powers (Elegy), Max Meyers (Theran), Rebecca Soler (Hela), Steve West (Before).
Length: 19 hrs 29 mins
Highly recommend the audiobook! The pacing (within each narrators section) was consistent, no excessive pausing, and the performance/inflection was spectacular across the board. Voice variation was amazing. Max Meyers is great at female voices, something not every male narrator can claim. Imani was downright spectacular. The only issue to note is that the pacing between Max Meyers sections, and the female narrator sections felt like slightly different speeds and I found myself adjusting the speed with most narrator changes. Not by a lot, and honestly if the NetGalley audio player had additional speed adjustments it’s likely I could have found a happy speed that worked for all narrators.

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Thank you Macmillan Audio & Tor for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes there are no choices”

First of all, this was both astonishing and completely gripping. I love that the audiobook includes a recording of the author’s note at the end (narrated by Veronica Roth) because she talks about how dear this story is to her heart and the fact that she wasn’t originally planning on publishing this, which would have been a travesty in my opinion. I’m sad to think that she didn’t believe this story would hold any interest. The love she poured into this book is so apparent in the soulfulness of the characters and the incredible world Roth has created.

Elegy is an average soldier until she becomes the subject of a prophecy stating that she has the potential to lead the Cedrae to victory over their enemy. This story takes place on a futuristic Earth where the scientifically advanced Cedrae are in a never ending conflict with the religious and magically gifted Talusar.

While the blurb describes this as a dystopian fantasy, I would hedge that this leans a bit more toward sci-fi (for now). There is the obvious potential for the Cedrae to become oppressed and erased by the Talusar, but in this story they are free and fighting to maintain their independence.

With this being said, I’m wondering whether I’m missing something or if there aspects about the Cedrae/Talusar relationship that are yet to be revealed. I find it interesting that the underdogs here are more technologically advanced and that the people who have more power are those who are both religious and have magic, especially when the ritual for gaining magic has a 50% chance of death. Either way, I didn’t feel like there was a clear good vs evil here. There are honorable and power hungry characters on both sides, although we’re clearly rooting for the Cedrae.

Between the immaculate pacing, the nuanced characters and the unique feel of a futuristic Earth I never wanted to stop listening. The only reason it took me so long to finish is that sometimes my life and reading priorities don’t necessarily align.

Our FMC Elegy is one of those characters I knew immediately that I’d want as a friend and leader. With no aspirations for power, selflessness in action, genuine warmth and a predilection for justice she is impossible not to root for. Theron, her designated knight, isn’t as easily lovable at first, but in the end his devotion and steadiness won me over, especially in light of the trauma he endures. To me these two felt like a fated team, a pair destined to try and save Cedra.

The romance is a bit more complicated. They both have reasons to be weary of the other, and for a long time their interaction is cautious. I’ve seen some criticism of this aspect of the book, but personally I could feel a slowly budding connection between them. There are a couple of intimate scenes that felt abrupt to me, but since they’re more of a fade to black instead of containing any real spice that feeling didn’t linger.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a story quite like this. I have never read or watched Dune, so I can neither confirm nor deny that comparison. The action packed end threw some curious curves, leaving some interesting possibilities dangling for the next book.

Overall a beautifully written story. If you enjoy audiobooks, this was masterfully narrated with a different voice for each POV. Stunning work by Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Solar, and Steve West.

So many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

——————————————-

My NetGalley hiatus crumpled when I got the notification that the author of Divergent is coming out with a new adult dystopian fantasy.

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★— I am in awe of this story in a lot of ways, because wow, this feels every bit as expansive, ambitious, and exciting as the author set it out to be. It doesn’t handhold, starting out without explaining much as it tells the story of multiple characters we slowly get to know.

Taking place in a futuristic, dystopian Earth where division has taken hold, Earth is split between the Talusar, people who worship a deadly fever and live in their own powerful territory, and the Cedrae, a significantly smaller nation that survives through superior technology and has expanded into a space station colony. The two groups sit in a constant, simmering conflict that shapes everything around them. And this story manages to showcase a fascinating world, giving a lot of nuance to these two groups and their beliefs, as I found myself trying to absorb every cultural detail I could as a reader.

The three main characters of the story are Elegy Ahn, the woman given a prophecy to lead the Cedrae into a brighter future she’s not ready to be the face of, Theren, a man forced into a knighthood under her that he doesn’t want, and Hela, Elegy’s sister, who’s pulled into all of this through her.

Roth does a good job of introducing them and building their arcs, and as the story spans years, there’s a lot of change we get to see these characters go through.

The politics and broader plot of it all truly take center stage here, while the romance mostly remains a slow-simmering subplot, which I thoroughly enjoyed! I could feel Roth slowly laying the seeds for Elegy’s and Theren’s connection, and I thought the buildup was handled extremely well. But a bit past the halfway point, I felt like that gradual tension was practically bulldozed aside to bring them together much faster than I thought made sense for both of them.

There was this beautiful sensitivity, gentleness, and curiosity that shone through their initial interactions, and I felt like this subtlety was lost quickly in order to resolve their relationship, when it really didn’t need to be. Sometimes there’s beauty in letting things simmer and build, and I really think the way their relationship was ultimately handled cost me a lot of enjoyment I’d had up to that point.

This truly is my only critique, and it stands out only because of how much I enjoyed everything else in this story and how entranced I was by the rest.

I’ve always wanted more worldbuilding-heavy sci-fi that includes romance subplots, and this book, with its dystopian world and rich sci-fi elements, is perfect for those of us who secretly wanted Dune to have a little more romance.
____________

Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC.

[Sammy's Study · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was it, this was everything to me...

Dystopian books are so back, and I'm here for it! I feel like a kid again 💜

Wow, just wow. This book will stay with me for a long time. And this definitely had potential to become a god tier serie!

The characters are so well written, that I felt an instant connection to them. I was so invested in them. I was unreal how much my stomach dropped out of anticipation or just sheer horror because of the awful things that happend to my poor baby Theren! ❤️‍🩹

The slow burn, the slow burn,... was so good! I'm a sucker for a slow burn, so this was right up my alley! The tension, the secret looks and finger touches,... my could handle it. I was giggling a lot! I totally loved it 🤭

This really felt like a Veronica Roth book. The fantasy with the sci-fi elements is totally her. And she does it so wel! I'm beyond excited about this serie and really love how Roth's writing style has evolved over the year. This feel like the perfect time for a high stakes, high casualties kind of book.

You know, I'm very mad about the fact I have to wait so long. Why do I keep doing this to my self. I know this before I picked it up. But like why? Why are there so many unfinished series out here... please Veronica Roth, if you are reading this; surprise us with an earlier release date?! 🙏🏻

Thank you so much Netgalley and Pan Macmillan publishing for this amazing ARC!!! I love you guys too!! 💜💜

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book, I was unsure why there was so much hype. I thought there was too much going on with all the different characters. It felt all over the place. But then, everything started to coalesce into a fantastic story. One that will be continued with new worlds to discover. Then ending was satisfying for it being the first book in the series, even with certain characters' deaths.

There is a slow, very slow, burn here. However, if you are a fan of explicit sexual content when the characters finally get together, it is not found in this book. Which is perfectly OK as you know what happens, but it is mildly delivered.

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veronica Roth, you are the queen of tragic, sad boy characters raised as weapons, and I worship at your altar. Seek the Traitor’s Son was a fresh and engaging Sci-Fi dystopian.

This story begins with a prophecy. Two women on opposite sides of the war are told that they have the potential to lead their nation to victory.

“She who moves the fulcrum controls the outcome.”

I love how Seek the Traitor’s Son almost immediately subverts your expectations for how the story is going to play out, taking us instead on an emotionally tense, politically fraught journey with unlikely heroes. Under the weight of an uncertain prophecy, these characters face impossible choices as they try to stumble their way towards a better future.

The world-building in Seek the Traitor’s Son is fantastic. I particularly love the contrast between the futuristic, tech-heavy, space-faring Cedre and the ruthless, militaristic, but technologically archaic Talusar. You can feel the weight of the long, tense war between the two nations. And this book sits on the precipice of major change. The concept of the Fever, and the way the two nations perceive it, was really intriguing.

I love the characters in this story. Elegy is a jaded Scout who, despite wanting nothing to do with her role in the prophecy, refuses to leave the fate of her world in the hands of the people in power. Theren is my favorite type of character—a tragic, sad boy raised as a weapon. The two of them come together in their trauma and their grief, learning to move forward and making each other stronger.

The romance starts as a really nice slow-burn. The tentative uncertainty of their early interactions really emphasized the weight of the history between them. Unfortunately, I think the story rushes through the development of their relationship in order to align with certain conditions of the prophecy. And I don’t think it was really necessary. I think this could have been a really gripping slow-burn with lots of tension, yearning, and speculation.

And I don’t think the romance is the only thing about the plot that needed to take a bit longer to happen. It’s hard to say without knowing the full scope of the series, but I was really surprised we got to the point in the plot we did in just one book. I feel like I wanted everything to take a bit longer to happen, which is an odd thing to say, as the pacing can, arguably, feel slow at times. But I expected to see more intricate politicking and plotting from this story. It’s somewhat hard to believe that Elegy manages to avoid politics as much as she does. Acting independently and only clashing with the Sword and her generals occasionally, without lasting consequences.

I’m struggling to articulate what it was about the plot that I found unsatisfying, but it feels like the characters should have had to do more to get to the point they do. The climax of the story is well written. Bouncing between POVs to highlight the frantic desperation of the characters in these final chapters. I am very interested to see where the story goes in book two, and it may make me reevaluate my thoughts on the scope of the plot in this first installment.

Seek the Traitor’s Son reminded me of Marie Lu’s Skyhunter in the best way possible. I have really enjoyed Veronica Roth’s latest releases, and I am excited to continue with this series.

Thank you so much, Tor, for sending me an early copy!

Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books

[rina · Rating 5 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ੭୧‎ ‎ 5 stars‎ ‎ . ۫

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME 😭😭😭

This was SO good I am actually going to COMBUST. I have no words. Reading is supposed to be relaxing, they say. Well, I can tell you right now, reading this was the furthest I felt from calm. I was either sobbing, devastated, gasping in shock, giggling, or unbearably STRESSED the entire time. How am I supposed to live laugh love in these conditions?

Seek the Traitor's Son has one of the most - if not the most - captivating magic systems I've ever come across. It blends fantasy and sci-fi elements in such an engrossing way. The way intimacy is written in the story LORDD. I am losing my mind!! Elegy, Theren - I would die for them <3 Don't even get me STARTED on the ending. No one talk to me for the next 24 hours.

I've been incredibly lucky to already have such a successful reading year, but I mean it when I say this is one of the best books I have read this year thus far.

I cannot even put into words the kind of out-of-body experience this put me through. There's a lump in my throat just thinking about it 😕

‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ The human heart isn't a drinking glass, with only so much room for love at any given time. It's more like the void of space, infinitely expanding and endlessly strange. ”

Thank you to Veronica Roth and Tor for the ARC! Seek the Traitor's Son releases May 12, 2026.

CW: death, murder, violence, minor sexual content

────

finished: 04/28/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
this book PUT ME THROUGH IT. so good i cannot breathe. might be my fave read of 2026 thus far, AND I MEAN IT THIS TIME PROMISE 😭

pre read: 04/27/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
after seeing a glowing review for this book from one of my moots, i knew i had to pick it up asap - and i got the arc! i'm only on chapter 4, and i've already sobbed, squealed, and gasped 🤭 if it's already doing this to me this early on, i fear this may be a 5 star read!!!

[chantalsbookstuff]

I got about halfway through the book, but I’m taking a break and will come back to it later. I know it’s not ideal, but I just can’t seem to get into the new books from my favorite author of Divergent.

[hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

4.5***

“The human heart isn’t a drinking glass, with only so much room for love at any given time. That it’s more like the void of space, infinitely expanding and endlessly strange.”

this was the PERFECT blend of dystopian sci-fi/fantasy with a romantic subplot and i didn’t know i needed this in my life until now??

so i won’t lie: i requested this book months ago when it first appeared on netgalley, read the synopsis one, and then proceeded to forget about it. so i essentially went into this book completely blind and i’m so so glad i did because it was so much fun getting thrown into this world with zero knowledge.

the world building is very intriguing and, the more i learned, the more i found myself having to go back and correct the ways I pictured/thought of certain things (in a good way).

big big fan of elegy as our FMC. i love a strong female character who is genuinely capable and makes (relatively) rational decisions. i also felt for her so deeply because my girl had a ROUGHHH time in the beginning.

theren…THEREN!!! this man is right up my alley in terms of male book characters i tend to enjoy (see: deeply traumatized, incredibly intelligent, extremely devoted, and a gentle(ish) giant).

i am a sucker for a romantic subplot and this one was off to a fantastic start in terms of slowburn build up. the middle-ish to the end of the book slightly rushed their relationship, but i guess i can understand why and i still really enjoyed it.

i also LOVE a good prophecy plot line and this one was no exception. i really liked the discussion of fate and the choices we have in our lives and the ways the two main characters grappled with what was thrust upon them.

this would have been a five star read if it weren’t for these two things:

1. the romance needed more build up and i feel like it would have greatly benefited from being more of a slow burn
2. the pacing was kind of off at parts. i was hooked at the beginning, then it dragged a bit, then i was hooked again, then it dragged, and then i was hooked again all through the end.

nonetheless, this was SO GOOD and i am (not so) patiently waiting for the announcement of the sequel.

[Kate Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you adore sci-fi dystopians such as Dune or Will of the Many, this book is right up your alley!

I was immediately immersed into the world, thrown into action, politics, war and a mind boggling prophecy… I could not put this down.

The war between the Talusar and the Cedre, the Talusar worship their gods who bring the fever, a ritual forced upon those coming of a set age to either kill them or bring them unique powers, the Cedre opposed this way of life…& live in isolation.

“Cedre is not a place, it’s the idea that something beautiful can be made out of ruins.”

The FMC - second daughter of the sword is forced into a fate she did not want nor was ready for. While the MMC a Talusar refugee in residing in Cedre has known his fate his whole life, to be the knight to the sword -

“fate doesn’t require us to be well-suited to our roles . . . it simply requires us to fill them.”

“The Fever is change. To change is to die. To die is to experience annihilation. To be reborn is to conquer it. May it be so, may it be so.”

The love story in this is truly beautiful.

“He touches his forehead to hers, the movement so sudden and so strangely intimate that she goes still. “My life is still forfeit to you,” he says. “My life is still yours.”

[Tini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prophecy, power, and Veronica Roth all grown up.

Don't let the cover fool you (I remain unconvinced): Seek the Traitor's Son is one of this year's must-read fantasy/dystopian releases - and a strong reminder that Veronica Roth has moved far beyond the YA space that first made her famous. This is no Divergent retread. Roth, quite simply, is all grown up.

The novel opens with a prophecy delivered to two women on opposite sides of a brutal war: Elegy Ahn, a soldier content with the life she knows, and Rava Vidar, a feared enemy general. They are told that one will lead her people to victory over the other. Which one, no one knows. At the center of both their fates stands Theren, a broken knight and a central figure in the prophecy that defines the story's stakes.

From there, the story becomes something richer and more interesting than a straightforward chosen-one narrative or a simple romantasy read. While the stakes are undeniably large - nations at war, futures hanging in the balance, destiny looming over everyone involved - Roth keeps the emotional focus intimate. Rather than getting lost in spectacle, she centers the internal struggles of the people forced to carry that weight. Elegy and Theren truly anchor the novel. Roth understands that even in the middle of war, the most compelling battles are often internal.

The worldbuilding is excellent: layered, immersive, and creative without drowning the reader in exposition. There are hints of science fiction woven throughout, and while those elements didn't land quite as seamlessly for me as the fantasy and political threads, they never detracted from the overall experience.

The audiobook is pure perfection. Narrated by Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Soler, and Steve West, the full cast is impeccable and clearly operating at the top of their game. Each performance adds depth and distinction, while the production as a whole feels polished, immersive, and cinematic without ever becoming distracting.

Reportedly planned as a duology, this first installment of The Burning Empire series more than succeeds in making me desperate to return to this world - even while I'm afraid that it may be a while, given that Roth worked on Seek the Traitor's Son on and off for six years.

The author herself described the book as a "big romantic kinda-dystopian kinda-fantasy," and honestly? That holds up remarkably well. Ambitious and thoroughly engrossing, Seek the Traitor's Son is a sweeping story that never loses sight of the people at its center. Outstanding, and absolutely worth the wait.

Many, many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC of the spectacular audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"Seek the Traitor's Son" is slated to be released on May 12, 2026.

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elegy is a young soldier protecting her land from the Talusar, a nation that worships a deadly fever. This fever leaves half of its recipients with mysterious gifts. She’s called to hear a prophecy that she’ll fall in love with a man, but there’s a huge problem with that. She’s also told that her or Rava Vidar will lead their country to victory. She just doesn’t know who will win-or how. Her whole life as she knows it is over and she must prepare for battle to save her people plus figure out what is going on with this man in the middle of everything.

Wow this blew me away! The stakes were high, the characters were well developed, the world was fascinating, and it was just so well done. It felt a little complex at times with a lot of information grouped together but the payoff was great. The slow burn romance took a back seat to the plot and only added to the story. The characters had me hooked so quickly and I am still thinking about them days later. This did such an amazing job with showing instead of telling and I’ll be chasing this high for a while. It was just so good I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Veronica Roth, and Tor Publishing Group for providing this free E-ARC. This published on May 12th. This is my honest review.

[Aya ☕︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Interesting enough to keep reading/listening, chaotic enough to make your brain spin (and probably hurl your book into the wall)

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Ohmygod is this my first ALC widget to get sent to me 😭😭😭 I'm starting IMMEDIATELY

[Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

PUBLISH DATE: May 12,2026

I really wanted to love Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth.

This is a little outside my usual genre. I was going in hoping for more of a dystopian feel, but I’ve found that a lot of dystopian lately leans heavily into fantasy and sci-fi elements, which just isn’t really my thing.

I did enjoy the overall premise, especially the dynamic between Elegy and Rava. That part had me interested and wanting to keep going. But once the story started introducing more sci-fi elements (like the alien aspects), I realized it just wasn’t something I was going to fully connect with.

I ended up DNFing at 20%.

This is definitely a case of “wrong book for me” rather than anything being wrong with the writing or story itself. Because of that, I’m rating it 4 stars based on the current average at the time of my review.

If you enjoy dystopian stories with strong fantasy or sci-fi elements, this will probably be a great fit for you. It just didn’t quite match what I personally look for in this genre.

PUBLISH DATE: May 12,2026
BOOK TITLE: Seek the Traitor's Son
SERIES: The Burning Empire #1
AUTHOR: Veronica Roth
NARRATOR: Imani Jade Powers; Max Meyers; Rebecca Soler; Steve West
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Audio
FORMAT: Audiobook
DURATION: 16 hours, 51 minutes
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Tori Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggling between 3 and 4 stars…. I did enjoy it but it started to drag for me at the end, and the characters never developed as much as I wanted. I was told a lot about them but rarely shown anything??
It was also in my opinion, always a little too confusing/hard to follow which prevented me from ever settling fully into the story

[Jeannine · Rating 2 out of 5]

First act: Chaotic. Good luck to anyone trying to listen to this. World building happens in short bursts so abruptly that you wind up going back to listen to one sentence several times to understand what is being conveyed. It’s unclear WHEN things are happening. Some people in this story can see the past and future, so the lack of clarity might not be a factor for people who have a physical copy. The number of names thrown at you is huge. This was a very frustrating listening experience.

Second Act: The development of a few characters is interesting and makes the story a little more compelling. However, a secondary plot is introduced and it doesn’t get as much time, so it’s very hard to care about it.

Final act: There is such a rush to set up to series that we race through many events without explanations. WHY is this happening? We’re back to the chaos.


This book’s structure does not make for a good audiobook.

The relationship between the FMC and MMC is an example of telling instead of showing. They leave a conversation about a prophecy to have sex. They haven’t shown much affection for each other, but the FMC has “I love him” thoughts? It’s the most unsatisfying relationship subplot. I can’t even use the word “romance” for this. It’s bad.

The parents? Just one contradiction after another.


I can’t say I was given anything to care about in this book. Why should I care about the plant? Saving these two countries? There is nothing endearing or appealing about these nations. You feel for the MMC because he’s been through trauma, but that’s it.

Worst. Ending. Ever. I don’t care.

⭐️ ⭐️ I was given anything advanced copy of the audiobook and it was a two star listening experience. I imagine that if I got the ARC, I might have had a better experience.

My notes while reading:

(3.24%) "There are so many characters and so much world building happening that this is not great audiobook material. It’s a frustrating listening experience."

(3.47%) "At this point, we sort of know what “the fever“ is, but the reason people expose themselves to it is unclear. Some people just got rescued or perhaps taken captive, and now they’re going to be exposed to the fever. We don’t know why."

(3.94%) "New characters, scouts, introduced. Hard to know where they fall. Where are we? When are we?"

(30.0%) "New POV. Why this far into the book?"

(42%) "I guess we’re supposed to remember all the names of the people who died in the first 25% of this book? If you’re gonna have a cast of characters, this long include a freaking list somewhere the audio people will be out to lunch."

(48.0%) "WE FINALLY HAVE THE PLOT. It has all been character development up until now."

(55.0%) "More world building. 🥴"

(61.0%) "Wow, thanks for the relationship development. Seriously Roth didn’t even try."

(84.0%) "Let’s end a really important conversation about a prophecy to leave and have sex."

(85.0%) "The bedroom scene was completely lacking in emotion. What a total let down."

[Katie (Katieeatsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

05/04/2026-05/05/2026

Thank you Tor (for the gifted digital proof and early finished copy) and Leo PR (for the gifted physical proof copy) for “Seek the Traitors Son” by Veronica Roth ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming 05/12/2026)

There’s not a thing Roth can’t do! And that is proven again with another unique and well built dystopian! 🌌

This book was immaculate!
Honestly there’s so many places, people, and events happening the moment I finished reading I forgot all 100 names and 5 languages. Idek how authors follow along writing because I was living off of pure vibes until things began clicking better for me around 50% in!!

Like guys?? There’s A LOT going on and it’s all IMMACULATE!!

Here’s what I do remember:
💙 I cried 10 times (and counting) 🤧
🧡 I’m in loveeeee 😩 with Theren 🥵
💙 Roth writes beautifully (everytime!) 👏🏻
🧡 This dystopian is heavily Sci-Fi built (but also what dystopian isn’t) 🚀
💙 Elegy’s destiny is amazing (seriously how do you even come up with a plot this in-depth??) 😳
🧡 I need book #2 now because talk about a cliffhanger (this is the part where I get on my knees for Tor & LeoPR asap to see if I can get on that list when it’s ready because babyyyy what?! 😭)
💙 I hope Orda gets everything he dreams of in book #2
🧡 I wish I read this one much sooner (so that it could break my mind much sooner 😂)

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I liked this without ever quite tipping over the line into loving it. There are plenty of cool things going on here, but ultimately I’m left with the sense that there’s a hollowness at the heart of the story.

I’ll get my pettiest complaint out of the way first: I had a ton of questions & issues with the logic of the politics and worldbuilding. I’ll give you an example: we have a society where every citizen is infected with a fever that kills half the population. To mitigate this, the government mandates that every woman needs to have at least one child. That doesn’t make SENSE - one child is below the population replacement rate in a NORMAL society!! Two is replacement rate, so if half of your population dies, you’d literally need everyone to have at least FOUR kids just to stay stable. Just logistically speaking, the Talusar empire would be disappear in, like, 3-4 generations. This is the type of annoying critique that no one wants to hear - it’s not fun or fair, and it’s not really in the spirit of a book review. The problem is this book is absolutely littered with things like that. I was constantly going, “wait, but that doesn’t really make sense…?” To the point where it was genuinely immersion-breaking.

Now, hot on the heels of that complaint, I have to also say the worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts of this book lol. Logical issues aside (and most of those issues could have been easily remedied) I LOVE what we’re doing here - I love science fantasy, for starters, and it’s been a minute since I’ve read a good dystopian. This book did a good job of making a prophecy plot actually interesting. And the combination of magic and tech, and the way these two societies utilize both so differently, paired with the hint of extraterrestrial influence and mystery? Chef’s kiss. I also found the whole concept of the fever really intriguing and, unfortunately, plausible. We probably WOULD worship that. I really enjoy reading about well-conceptualized religions in fantasy settings, so I’d love to see it explored more in future books.

The characters… were present. This is where I start to feel that hollowness, I think. All of the side characters felt half-baked to me, and I didn’t feel attached to any of them. Even Hela, a whole POV character, felt very much like a B plot that didn’t weave in tightly with the main plot until the end. Both Elegy and Theren were really well-written and enjoyable leads, and I liked the way the book subverted my expectations of how their story would play out, but their romance didn’t really land for me even though I like the idea of it on paper. They should be really angsty and juicy, but Seek the Traitor’s Son commits a grievous sin in the romance department: it’s trying to do a “slow burn,” but instead goes from no burn to fast burn. The momentum was… odd.

Speaking of which, the momentum of the whole book was odd. The middle kind of dragged for me; the characters are constantly preparing for or deploying on various missions, which get so repetitive that, when my audiobook glitched and skipped from 70% to 90%, I actually didn’t even notice for a weirdly long time. That definitely damaged my opinion of the book. Then the ending - while climactic and exciting - cuts off in a somewhat frustrating place, leaving me feeling like this book was mostly setup for the sequel.

I will definitely read that sequel, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review

[Val ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just make the movie now!!! 🤩 If you liked Dune, you’re going to like this book as well! It has an intricate plot with interesting characters. Loved it! 😍

The narrators are incredible!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this eARC of Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth, to be published on May 12th, 2026.

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog

Look, teenage me was obsessed with Divergent and the Carve the Mark duology, so of course I trusted Veronica Roth enough to just dive into Seek the Traitor’s Son completely blind. And honestly, this new epic romantic dystopian sci-fi delivered exactly what I expected it to while also surprising me in all the best ways, if that makes any sense. It’s an excitingly ambitious genreblender that’s giving Sun Eater meets The Bone Season meets Shatter Me vibes while also being completely its own unique thing, and I love it for that.

So, on paper, the start of Seek the Traitor’s Son should have been very overwhelming. There’s a lot going on with the intricate political set-up, the dystopian Earth split between the Fever-worshipping Talusar and the tech-heavy Cedrae with its space colony, and all the complicated character tensions, but somehow it never felt like too much to me. I was honestly kind of impressed with how smoothly everything came together without slowing the story down, and I was just hooked from page one.

I think the main reason it all worked so well for me is the characters, because I would not have cared this much about everything going on if the core conflict wasn’t carved straight into them. We’ve got Elegy, a soldier just minding her business as the spare to the Sword of Cedre until a prophecy is dropped on her head; we’ve got Theren, the son of a Talusar exile forced into a knighthood under Elegy that he doesn’t want; and we’ve got Hela, Elegy’s sister who just gets dragged into this mess with them. And trust me, it gets messy in the best ways.

I was also completely hooked by the unique spin on the prophecy trope here, which is usually one of my least favourite tropes because they tend to feel predictable, but not in Seek the Traitor’s Son. See, we don't know if it’s Elegy or the enemy Talusar general Rava who is the ‘chosen one’ that will lead their people to victory over the other by assembling the right three people to fulfill the prophecy before the other does. And then add to that the fact that at the center of both of their fates is a man, who Elegy is told she will fall in love with. Like, hello tensionnn!!!

The start of Seek the Traitor's Son honestly gave me instant 5-star vibes, but while I loved that strong beginning, it also made it quite hard for the rest of the book to keep up, especially after the unexpected four year time jump that comes right after a pretty intense turning point. I can’t deny that it took me a while to settle back into the story, but ultimately I did end up really appreciating how much emotional weight it added. The themes of trauma, fate, identity, mortality, morality, and trust hit so hard even though we don’t know all the details around what they went through, and I was honestly so here for the sense of mystery surrounding their emotional baggage, especially with Theren’s memory issues.

Now, speaking of emotions, the whole romantic element of Seek the Traitor’s Son was honestly a wild rollercoaster for me. It mostly just simmers in the background while the politics and plot do the heavy lifting, and I just loved that it was so soft and reverent and curious and kind of aching, especially in combination with Theren’s emotion sensing powers that he got after being infected with the Fever. I do have to say that I felt like the sudden shift in their dynamic around the halfway point felt a bit rushed, and I wasn’t entirely convinced by how fast things developed from there. But oh well, the vibes were vibing, the feels were feeling, and I love that for them.

I actually really appreciated that this romance was just one of the many complicated relationships that lie at the core of Seek the Traitor’s Son, as the messy family dynamics, heated rivalries, and past relationships all play a big role and sometimes felt even more important. Particularly Theren’s relationship with his mother Kesia had me in a chokehold, and I loved seeing how her (misguided?) beliefs influenced her actions and how those actions affected Theren and the wider world in general. And one of the biggest surprises for me was my sapphic girl Hela, for reasons I can’t even say without getting into spoilers. At first I wasn’t sure why we were even getting her perspective, but she ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book as her storyline added a lot of intrigue and took things in directions I didn’t expect, which kept the plot feeling so exciting and unpredictable.

I will say, the second half of Seek the Traitor’s Son didn’t hit quite as hard for me as the first. Some of the emotional moments and twists rely heavily on things that happened off page, either during the time jump or before the story even started, and that hindered the impact and created a bit of emotional distance for me. I also wanted a bit more from Rava as an enemy, especially because she plays such a core part in the whole prophecy. Also, I am always a sucker for a hot villain vibe, so there's that.

Still, I absolutely adored that Roth did not pull any punches and constantly kept reminding both the characters and the readers of just how high the stakes are, and I was living for the emotional turmoil of that. Seek the Traitor’s Son may not have ended up being the 5-star fave I thought it would be at the start, but even with my little quibbles I just devoured it and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story has some of that addictive 2010s YA nostalgia except make it a whole lot more mature, complex, and brutal. You better bet I will be first in line when book 2 drops, what a wild ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Seek the Traitor's Son is scheduled for release on 12 May 2026.

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seek the Traitor’s Son was such a fascinating blend of genres. Veronica Roth creates a world that feels like the perfect mix of sci-fi and fantasy, where the “magic” elements almost feel like science humanity just doesn’t fully understand yet. I loved how layered and expansive the worldbuilding was, especially the tension between the Cedrae and the Talusar and the way prophecy drives the story forward.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the characters. Elegy is an incredible FMC—she’s genuinely badass as a soldier, but she’s also dealing with complicated emotions, trauma, and responsibilities she never asked for. That balance made her feel very real. Watching her navigate the prophecy and the expectations placed on her was one of the most compelling parts of the story.

I also loved the supporting cast. Hela is funny, bold, and unapologetic, and I really enjoyed how she balanced out Elegy’s heavier storyline. And Theren’s story is absolutely heartbreaking. There’s a lot of depth to his character, and it was easy to feel for everything he’s been through.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is the romance. I genuinely loved Theren and Elegy together, and I liked how deeply Theren seems to understand her. But their relationship felt like it moved too quickly. They jump into things without really getting to know each other, and they rarely have the deep conversations I wanted to see. Much of what Elegy learns about Theren comes through his memories rather than their actual interactions.

Overall, though, this was an incredibly engaging story with strong characters, rich worldbuilding, and a compelling prophecy-driven plot. I’m very excited to see where the story goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Al Robi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most Confusing Read of 2026 - Reading this felt like trying to assemble IKEA furniture with half the instructions missing.

I received an ARC audiobook from NetGalley and quickly realized I needed to switch to an immersive read (ebook + audio) just to try to follow what was happening.

Unfortunately, even with both formats, this world never fully clicked for me. From what I could piece together: there’s a fever that gives some people powers, the “unfevered” have no powers but both sides distrusting and judging each other.

The main male character exists between both sides, and he can read minds. There were moments I actually enjoyed -especially scenes involving memory-reading and hidden truths - but the nonstop flipping between timelines, heavy worldbuilding, and endless unfamiliar terms with little explanation completely overwhelmed me.

The narration was also a mixed experience. The male narrator was excellent, but one female narrator had long, drawn-out “s” sounds that became distracting and almost painful with headphones. The other female narrator is the same voice as Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing, and I struggled to separate that iconic character/world from this story.

This book felt like being dropped into the middle of a complicated fantasy world with no map, no guide, and no time to process anything before the next twist arrived. Sadly, it just became too much to sort out in my brain. Somewhere in this book there’s probably a great story, but I was too confused to find it. By the end, the IKEA furniture was still unassembled, I had extra screws left over, and somehow the instructions were on fire.


Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

[layan ليان · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seek the Traitor’s Son is a dystopian sci-fi fantasy set in a solar system divided by occupation… and an oppressive regime? (Im not sure ‘regime’ is the correct term here.)
The story basically revolves around a prophecy that connects several major characters and slowly draws them toward a fate that seems impossible to escape.

The scale of the world is definitely one of the more unique aspects of the book. It’s not confined to a single kingdom, or a single planet, but instead it spans across an entire solar system with two different political parties.

That being said, I finished the book and sat with it for a while, I found myself asking three very specific questions:

Was this a masterpiece?
No… not really.

Was I impressed?
Ummmm, im not sure about that either.

Does everything make sense?
Nope, there’s this weird shallow situation in both the world and its politics.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s somewhat of a well-crafted book. The characters are memorable, the dialogue is phenomenal. But I also feel like we didn’t get enough. I have so many unanswered questions. I’m sure you can tell my thoughts are all over the place, it’s really hard to pinpoint what exactly went wrong - when there are a thousand things that did, in fact, go wrong, lol.

Anyway, let’s get into it.

Overall Thoughts

I’ve been really into dystopian books for the past two years. I’ve read a lot of epic dystopias with sci-fi elements, so I feel like I’m somewhat picky with the genre. I tend to gravitate towards darker and more complex stories (and preferably not YA because I’m tired 😭).

This is very obviously an adult story, which I appreciated immediately. The thing is, I genuinely expected it to be darker and more complex?
Now, before i get too picky about details, the book is already pretty dark. There are plenty of trigger warnings: torture, suicide, death, SA, and more. But considering the fate laid out by the prophecy and the overall seriousness of the story, I kept waiting for it to become even more devastating than it actually was.

I don’t mean that I wanted endless misery for the sake of misery (which you know, I wouldn’t mind, it would fit), I just felt like the story was constantly standing on the edge of something truly horrifying and then pulling back before fully committing to it. Maybe that’s just a personal preference thing.

What I cannot criticize, however, is the dialogue.

I genuinely have no complaints.

The dialogue, which usually isn’t something I pay a huge amount of attention to, was incredible. The conversations touched on religion, faith, philosophy, science, destiny, and morality in ways that was soooooo good. There were so many moments where I found myself completely absorbed in characters simply talking to one another. Like give me a book where they’re sitting a dinner table chatting, and i would still enjoy it.

Characters

Elegy

Elegy has officially joined the ranks of the most interesting FMCs.

She reminds me a lot of Paige from The Bone Season, which is honestly one of the reasons I picked this book up in the first place. Not because they’re identical, but because they share that same uniqueness (as it was recommend to me, and I agree!)

She’s intelligent in a way that actually feels convincing. She’s more of show and don’t tell girl, which is so refreshing to see. At the same time, she’s witty, sarcastic, stubborn, and willing to push herself far beyond what’s reasonable for the people and causes she cares about. She also gave me occasional Aelin vibes, especially when that darker edge of her personality started showing.

She’s a genuinely strong character.

~

Theren.

THEREN.

I genuinely think devastating male characters are weirdly rare in fantasy and dystopian fiction.

And Theren is devastating.

Being known as the Coward Knight follows him throughout the entire novel, and watching that reputation haunt him was honestly heartbreaking. Like please, give this man ONE good day.

His backstory, his internal conflicts, his relationship with faith, his philosophical outlook, the poetry (🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭 we love a poetry guy)… everything about him felt incredibly intentional. I genuinely have no complaints.

And can we PLEASE talk about the fact that he’s actually kind? Not “kind” in the fantasy-book way where the male lead commits seventeen war crimes but smiles at the FMC once so we’re supposed to think he’s a gentleman. Noooo, what i mean he’s actually gentle and respectful and thoughtful towards literally everyone.

Applause for the author because wow.

Theren has easily become one of my favorite male characters of all time.

~

Hela

Hela is my girl.

She’s witty, smart, chaotic, mischievous, and consistently entertaining to read. I absolutely adored her relationship with Elegy. Their adopted-sister dynamic was one of my favorite relationships in the book 🥹. She’s also a gardening girl, we love to see representation.

~


Side Characters

The side characters were surprisingly strong. Kesia annoyed me for approximately the entire duration of her existence, yeah no further comment. Rava, on the other hand, is absolutely insane, no she’s actually not human.
The little glimpses we get into her family history and abilities through flashbacks were fascinating, and honestly I’m incredibly curious to see where that storyline goes next. Their lore is crazy im sure.


Romance

I will keep it short. I’m not so much into fantasy/dystopian books that develop a love story early on. It’s not my thing, never been and probably will never be. I’m not saying it was horrible in this book, but i expected more given the whole prophet thing. I wanted more.


Plot
I need more chaos. That’s all im going to say.


Final Thoughts

One thing I have to THANK this author for:
Thank you for not giving me another FMC who survives exclusively on vibes and one grape per week.

That being said, i feel like this book had so much potential, maybe it didn’t really live up to it?
I’m now especially talking about the background of the universe that we are in and its politics. I genuinely wouldn’t be able to tell you right now how politics work in this world, because we never really get a true glimpse? We don’t visit any political factions apart from the court of generals, we don’t see any military aspect apart from this search and rescue thing, we don’t meet any by passing characters that give us a glimpse on how politics, economics, religion and culture work in this world. It just feels so hallow and shallow. Like the author gave us a shell of a world-building, and the rest is just… neglected?



updated thoughts:
I have been seeing reviews of this book and im shocked at how many people actually loveit, and im jealous of so 🥲. I genuinely had so much hope for this book, for the plot and characters and everything, but this whole shallow world-building really ruins everything. It feels like the author created a shell but don’t bother with the intricate inside details. I still have soooo many questions about literally everything, and none of them are answered.


________

pre-read: An Arcturus fan (from the bone season series) recommended this to me.
I know no one is like that man, but wow im sold.

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to all the mutuals who gave this book 5 stars because otherwise I probably never would’ve picked it up. Even though I like Veronica Roth, I’m super picky when it comes to dystopians, and sci-fi has never really been my thing. Somehow this book mixed both genres together, threw in some romantasy elements, and it worked so well. I had a great time reading it.

I really liked the worldbuilding, even if I’m not totally convinced it makes sense from a demographic perspective. I mean, if a virus infects everyone and half the population dies, I don’t know what kind of population growth rate would keep society from collapsing, because it definitely doesn’t seem possible with the birth rates in this universe. Still, once I stopped overthinking the logistics, I found the world genuinely fascinating. A deadly fever becoming the center of a cult? That’s such an interesting concept.

The story also revolves around a prophecy trope, which I’m always weak for when it’s done right. Here it actually worked really well, mostly because the world felt immersive and the characters were solid enough to carry the story. I did notice a few areas where the characterization could’ve been stronger, but it didn’t bother me too much. I think Theren interested me a bit more than Elegy, but both of them have a lot of potential and I’m already excited to see how they develop later in the series. I’m also curious about the future arcs of some of the secondary characters I grew to like.

Overall, this book felt epic in the best way and did a great job setting up what could become a really amazing series. I can’t wait for the sequel.

[Lauren OK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank GOD this is only going to be a duology, because I don't know if I'd be physically capable of waiting years and years for her to finish a three-/four-/five-book series.

I hesitate to say Veronica’s got her mojo back, because I know she’s written good books since Divergent. But this is an adult dystopian/sci-fi that is FULL gas for 430 pages. A world with two rivaling people groups, a prophecy about one group defeating the other (but we don’t know which), a Fever that kills you and brings you back with magical powers, fated lovers, a mysterious portal plant—what’s not to love?

Listen. I'm not always the most patient with worldbuilding and magic systems. Veronica somehow fleshed out the worlds of the Cedré and Talusar so thoroughly ... and yet somehow I was never overwhelmed or lost. It was accessible without feeling watered down. I have no idea how she pulled it off.

If you know me, you know I love a strong romance subplot. This is the woman who wrote Tris and Four, so why am I surprised that this was SO GOOD?? The MMC is Sadboy Supreme, and he is DOWN BAD for our girl. It's the "I'll take whatever you're willing to give me" kind of ache, and I'm here for it. I really am.

She almost didn’t even write this book, because she thought it was something too personal that readers wouldn’t be interested in. WELL GUESS WHO’S INTERESTED. Me ;)