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The Traitor's Game #3
The Warrior's Curse
The third book in the Traitor's Game series!
Simon and Kestra are hurtling down paths ever farther from each other as the battle for control of Antora rages.
Simon, newly king of the Halderians, is pressed on all sides by royal duties. Harlyn Mindell is his betrothed and intended queen, but Simon can't give up hope for a life with Kestra.
Kestra, exiled, feels her magic growing -- and despite everyone's warnings, she knows she must embrace it. That power is the key to the kingdom's future.
Both still strive to defeat the evil Lord Endrick, but danger awaits them on the murky road forward. And is a common enemy enough to help them survive -- or to carry them back to each other?
Simon and Kestra are hurtling down paths ever farther from each other as the battle for control of Antora rages.
Simon, newly king of the Halderians, is pressed on all sides by royal duties. Harlyn Mindell is his betrothed and intended queen, but Simon can't give up hope for a life with Kestra.
Kestra, exiled, feels her magic growing -- and despite everyone's warnings, she knows she must embrace it. That power is the key to the kingdom's future.
Both still strive to defeat the evil Lord Endrick, but danger awaits them on the murky road forward. And is a common enemy enough to help them survive -- or to carry them back to each other?
359 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
169 people are currently reading
5511 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer A. Nielsen
53 books9,603 followersJennifer lives at the base of a very tall mountain in Northern Utah with her husband, three children, and a naughty puppy. She loves the smell of rainy days, hot chocolate, and old books, preferably all at once. She is a former speech teacher, theater director, and enjoyed a brief but disastrous career as a door-to-door pollster. In her spare time, Jennifer tends to panic, wondering what she has forgotten to do that has allowed her any spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews
March 30, 2020
omg omg omg… OMG
The Warrior's Curse was good, don't get me wrong. I just hated alllllll the hate going towards Kestra. She was my girl and my bad ass warrior who was continuously proving people wrong. Ugh, the audacity of that one trial towards the end annoyed and frustrated me so much. I get it, people like Harlyn in this damn world.. well I don't. Stop shoving her down my throat.
Besides that, I loved the ending. Loved it. Even if I wanted that entire thing to be all in the book. I will be okay and accept the little scene that I got. They deserved a lot more in my opinion but oh well. Then there's the action throughout the book. It was honestly predictable but I did still enjoy everything that was happening.
In the end, I have no idea what to do now. This by far my favorite book in the series.. which is weird and now I'm secretly hoping one of her series has a new book in it.
The Warrior's Curse was good, don't get me wrong. I just hated alllllll the hate going towards Kestra. She was my girl and my bad ass warrior who was continuously proving people wrong. Ugh, the audacity of that one trial towards the end annoyed and frustrated me so much. I get it, people like Harlyn in this damn world.. well I don't. Stop shoving her down my throat.
Besides that, I loved the ending. Loved it. Even if I wanted that entire thing to be all in the book. I will be okay and accept the little scene that I got. They deserved a lot more in my opinion but oh well. Then there's the action throughout the book. It was honestly predictable but I did still enjoy everything that was happening.
In the end, I have no idea what to do now. This by far my favorite book in the series.. which is weird and now I'm secretly hoping one of her series has a new book in it.
Want to read
April 16, 2019WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT IS THIS BRUTAL BEAUTIFUL TITLE??? I NEED A COVER STAT. I NEED THIS BOOK EVEN MORE SO.
*shoots Harlyn in the foot*
*hugs Simon and Kestra*
*screams forever*
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT IS THIS BRUTAL BEAUTIFUL TITLE??? I NEED A COVER STAT. I NEED THIS BOOK EVEN MORE SO.
*shoots Harlyn in the foot*
*hugs Simon and Kestra*
*screams forever*
Read
May 2, 2019Edit: BUT THIS COVERRRRRR
THERE IS A TITLE
THERE IS A BLURB
I'M SCREAMING
GIMME NOW PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEEASE
THERE IS A TITLE
THERE IS A BLURB
I'M SCREAMING
GIMME NOW PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEEASE
March 9, 2020
*long, drawn-out sigh*
It's done.
It's over.
And like...
I don't know how I feel.
I love my babies. I love them so much. I guess the biggest thing that felt off about this book was my babies themselves. We spent time in their heads...and yet. AND YET. They didn't feel like THEM half the time.
Kestra's story arc was still spot-on as she fights her internal darkness. The detachment from her head made complete sense, because she's struggling so much with her identity and her brokenness. I ached for her. Even though parts of the story itself as involved her left me not entirely satisfied, I loved her.
Simon, though? Simon's parts made me hurt, and not in a good way. He didn't feel like my baby so much anymore. His character arc kinda wrapped up at the end of book 2, which is okay, but it didn't give him much to do in this book, and I didn't like it. I MISSED MY HUSBAND. He just didn't feel like...him.
The side cast all got overshadowed by Harlyn and a new character, Joth, neither of whom I particularly liked. Trina said like 8 words in the whole book, and it just...I'm so sad about that. I missed them. I didn't want to hear about Harlyn's stupid crush on Simon, dagnabbit. I wanted chemistry between Simon and Kestra (the spicy stuff we had in books 1 and 2.) I wanted the tense character relationships. In a way, this was a story of everyone coming together to defeat a greater evil...but at the same time, it just felt like something was missing.
Not to be a total downer! This was still REALLY REALLY GOOD. Kestra in particular just took the spotlight and ran with it in this one. Like...I have never loved her so much. She was brilliant. Her struggles, her character arc, her internal pain... all of it. She felt distant, but in a heartbreaking way that made me just want to cuddle her. My poor BBY.
The plot, too, worked really well. It moved faster than I was expecting, but the boss battles and the war stuff was all brilliant. (So was everything to do with the Olden Blade because aCCCKKKKKKK FINALLYYYYYYY.)
And yeah, that final chapter warmed my icy heart and made me a very, very happy bean. Soooooooo *flails softly* my bbys. I will accept it.
It wasn't quite the epilogue I was hoping for...but it was still a good ending. This series remains one of my favorites (even if book 2 is the best of the three). 4 stars to this ending. 4.5 stars to this series.
(And please, Nielsen....write a book 4.)
It's done.
It's over.
And like...
I don't know how I feel.
I love my babies. I love them so much. I guess the biggest thing that felt off about this book was my babies themselves. We spent time in their heads...and yet. AND YET. They didn't feel like THEM half the time.
Kestra's story arc was still spot-on as she fights her internal darkness. The detachment from her head made complete sense, because she's struggling so much with her identity and her brokenness. I ached for her. Even though parts of the story itself as involved her left me not entirely satisfied, I loved her.
Simon, though? Simon's parts made me hurt, and not in a good way. He didn't feel like my baby so much anymore. His character arc kinda wrapped up at the end of book 2, which is okay, but it didn't give him much to do in this book, and I didn't like it. I MISSED MY HUSBAND. He just didn't feel like...him.
The side cast all got overshadowed by Harlyn and a new character, Joth, neither of whom I particularly liked. Trina said like 8 words in the whole book, and it just...I'm so sad about that. I missed them. I didn't want to hear about Harlyn's stupid crush on Simon, dagnabbit. I wanted chemistry between Simon and Kestra (the spicy stuff we had in books 1 and 2.) I wanted the tense character relationships. In a way, this was a story of everyone coming together to defeat a greater evil...but at the same time, it just felt like something was missing.
Not to be a total downer! This was still REALLY REALLY GOOD. Kestra in particular just took the spotlight and ran with it in this one. Like...I have never loved her so much. She was brilliant. Her struggles, her character arc, her internal pain... all of it. She felt distant, but in a heartbreaking way that made me just want to cuddle her. My poor BBY.
The plot, too, worked really well. It moved faster than I was expecting, but the boss battles and the war stuff was all brilliant. (So was everything to do with the Olden Blade because aCCCKKKKKKK FINALLYYYYYYY.)
And yeah, that final chapter warmed my icy heart and made me a very, very happy bean. Soooooooo *flails softly* my bbys. I will accept it.
It wasn't quite the epilogue I was hoping for...but it was still a good ending. This series remains one of my favorites (even if book 2 is the best of the three). 4 stars to this ending. 4.5 stars to this series.
(And please, Nielsen....write a book 4.)
February 27, 2021
I need more Jennifer A. Nielsen books. Whether she's writing historical fiction or fantasy I love it and am captivated by her writing.
Characters: 5/5
My love of Simon multiplies with each book. His development, growth, and realization are amazing to read. My words can't equal any of these books.
Kestra: <3 Yes, thank you, Jennifer. You restored my heart. These characters are so real and I feel their struggles and pain. They are so realistic!
Trina/Harwyn: I don't hate them anymore. I don't know how, but at some point in reading this book, my dislike for them ~dissolved~. With Harwyn it was because Now, Trina, I realized she was a good person, and she has seen that she has made mistakes.
Plot: 5/5
This is one of the most unpredictable and twisty series I have ever read! Everything was so well tied together, there were some background mysteries revealed. THE ENDING WAS PERFECT. This is the type of ending more series need. Bittersweet perfection! Everyone changed, decided who to trust, and the sacrifices they would have to make. I was destroyed multiple times while reading this series.
Creativity: Magic + Jennifer A. Nielsen = Next bestselling novel. The creatures Nielsen created were so just- I don't have enough words. There were things that were beautiful about them. Some were dangerous and daunting. Her creatures are so mysterious and original! Nielsen's has such talent! I was transported into each book. The whole idea for this series took her so much work to make, and she has every single right to be proud of her work. Nielsen's books deserve more attention! What she did with magic incorporated into The Traitor's Game series was like literal magic.
I already had high respect for Jennifer A. Nielsen and it just skyrocketed! I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you so so so so much to Sara for reading this with me! We had such good discussions(and plots against a certain character), I look forward to future buddy reads with you!! Go check out her reviews of this series!
Characters: 5/5
My love of Simon multiplies with each book. His development, growth, and realization are amazing to read. My words can't equal any of these books.
Kestra: <3 Yes, thank you, Jennifer. You restored my heart. These characters are so real and I feel their struggles and pain. They are so realistic!
Trina/Harwyn: I don't hate them anymore. I don't know how, but at some point in reading this book, my dislike for them ~dissolved~. With Harwyn it was because Now, Trina, I realized she was a good person, and she has seen that she has made mistakes.
Plot: 5/5
This is one of the most unpredictable and twisty series I have ever read! Everything was so well tied together, there were some background mysteries revealed. THE ENDING WAS PERFECT. This is the type of ending more series need. Bittersweet perfection! Everyone changed, decided who to trust, and the sacrifices they would have to make. I was destroyed multiple times while reading this series.
Creativity: Magic + Jennifer A. Nielsen = Next bestselling novel. The creatures Nielsen created were so just- I don't have enough words. There were things that were beautiful about them. Some were dangerous and daunting. Her creatures are so mysterious and original! Nielsen's has such talent! I was transported into each book. The whole idea for this series took her so much work to make, and she has every single right to be proud of her work. Nielsen's books deserve more attention! What she did with magic incorporated into The Traitor's Game series was like literal magic.
I already had high respect for Jennifer A. Nielsen and it just skyrocketed! I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you so so so so much to Sara for reading this with me! We had such good discussions(and plots against a certain character), I look forward to future buddy reads with you!! Go check out her reviews of this series!
June 17, 2020
This was an epic ending to a great series, I loved it.
Kaestra’s goal was to dethrone the evil tyrant ruler. To do that she needed magic, the problem with magic from her part of the world is, it corrupts the bearer. She heals by taking in the sickness and defeats evil by taking in the evil, and once corrupted, nothing can cure it, except death, and that’s no option; but there is always a way out albeit difficult.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series of hoops Kaestra went through to vanquish evil and win over the love of her life. Sounds cheesy, I know, but I am a sucker for such things.
What a great read! 4.5 stars!
Kaestra’s goal was to dethrone the evil tyrant ruler. To do that she needed magic, the problem with magic from her part of the world is, it corrupts the bearer. She heals by taking in the sickness and defeats evil by taking in the evil, and once corrupted, nothing can cure it, except death, and that’s no option; but there is always a way out albeit difficult.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series of hoops Kaestra went through to vanquish evil and win over the love of her life. Sounds cheesy, I know, but I am a sucker for such things.
What a great read! 4.5 stars!
June 11, 2021
Resmen elimde süründü kitap, çok şükür bitirebildim. Ne kurguyu ne de karakterleri beğenebildim 😒
April 15, 2025
The ending was good. It was satisfying. It was sweet.
The rest of the book…? Nope. I did not enjoy this book in any sense of the word. Until the end. It was too much tension for me. And I didn’t like the battle between dark and light. It just… wasn’t right for me. A good battle between dark and light is something I really love in books. They just make it that much better.
All that to say, I don’t think this is a bad book. I won’t be rereading it recommending, but it’s not bad. The pacing in this book didn’t feel that bad. Not like the first one.
Essentially, this book just wasn’t for me, I don’t like the style of book. I know some people love it, and that’s great!! It just didn’t hit the spot for me.
The rest of the book…? Nope. I did not enjoy this book in any sense of the word. Until the end. It was too much tension for me. And I didn’t like the battle between dark and light. It just… wasn’t right for me. A good battle between dark and light is something I really love in books. They just make it that much better.
All that to say, I don’t think this is a bad book. I won’t be rereading it recommending, but it’s not bad. The pacing in this book didn’t feel that bad. Not like the first one.
Essentially, this book just wasn’t for me, I don’t like the style of book. I know some people love it, and that’s great!! It just didn’t hit the spot for me.
May 6, 2020
This is a spectacularly strong ending for The Traitor's Game series. Talk about nonstop action. . .Kestra and Simon are separated for much of the narrative and often on different sides of the battle. A new character named Joth looms large and wants to combine his magic with Kestra's to take out Endrick. Will this duo save the land from the corruption that lingers? What if all magic corrupts and the Kendra/Joth duo is unstoppable in a bad way? What about Harlyn? Will she be able to catch Simon -- the love of her life? So many questions. So many exciting scenes. I loved it!
Thank you to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2024
Was honestly just waiting for it to end😅. Plot was all over the place and super confusing, and so were the love interests. Doesn’t feel like Jennifer Nielsen wrote this tbh she’s always a master of plot
April 1, 2021
Okurunu diken üstünde tutan, bir an için bile hız kesmeyen muhteşem bir finaldi :')
January 28, 2025
Ok, I did really like this, but the feelings between Simon and Kestra halfway through were a little weird.
Other than that, I really enjoyed it. The coruptuon in her heart was so sad!😭 I loved this, but the first two were definitely better.🙂
Other than that, I really enjoyed it. The coruptuon in her heart was so sad!😭 I loved this, but the first two were definitely better.🙂
April 3, 2021
Well this trilogy was pretty great! Not a five-star trilogy, but I did enjoy it. The first book being my favourite. I guess this is going to be a general review of the trilogy, not just this last book.
Book 1: The Traitor's Game
I really loved Kestra's character in this book. She was strong, stubborn, sarcastic, and fiercely independent. The plot was well developed, and it set the stage well for the next two books. There were a few moments that had me gasping with surprise which was pretty great considering it was my second time reading it (the first time was a few years ago: I didn't remember much from then). One thing that was a bit annoying was the romance. I think that it was a bit too "love at first sight". Or at least they have feelings practically right away. Which is fine I guess.
Book 2: The Deceiver's Heart
I struggled a bit with reading this one; it was almost painful with Kestra's memory gone, or mostly gone. That being said, I thought Nielsen did a good job with her character considering what happened to her. Though it was a bit obvious that
Book 3: The Warrior's Curse
This book was a whirlwind. A bit predictable as to who would end up with who, though. But that's not a big deal.
Again, I thought Kestra's POV a bit painful to read, though this time because of what the magic was doing to her. She wasn't herself. The plot twists and cliff hangers at the end of chapters kept me engaged with the book from cover to cover!
General thoughts for the series:
I enjoyed Simon's character throughout the whole trilogy. He was human; he had his faults which made him interesting and believable.
Tenger didn't seem that consistent in his character, I think.
Harlyn and Trina were good supporting characters, it would've been nice to have them a bit more developed, but that's just me being picky.
I found Gabe and Joth to be a bit infuriating.
Anyways, this was a good series. I don't think I'll ever re-read it, but I will definitely look into Nielson's other books!
Book 1: The Traitor's Game
I really loved Kestra's character in this book. She was strong, stubborn, sarcastic, and fiercely independent. The plot was well developed, and it set the stage well for the next two books. There were a few moments that had me gasping with surprise which was pretty great considering it was my second time reading it (the first time was a few years ago: I didn't remember much from then). One thing that was a bit annoying was the romance. I think that it was a bit too "love at first sight". Or at least they have feelings practically right away. Which is fine I guess.
Book 2: The Deceiver's Heart
I struggled a bit with reading this one; it was almost painful with Kestra's memory gone, or mostly gone. That being said, I thought Nielsen did a good job with her character considering what happened to her. Though it was a bit obvious that
Book 3: The Warrior's Curse
This book was a whirlwind. A bit predictable as to who would end up with who, though. But that's not a big deal.
Again, I thought Kestra's POV a bit painful to read, though this time because of what the magic was doing to her. She wasn't herself. The plot twists and cliff hangers at the end of chapters kept me engaged with the book from cover to cover!
General thoughts for the series:
I enjoyed Simon's character throughout the whole trilogy. He was human; he had his faults which made him interesting and believable.
Tenger didn't seem that consistent in his character, I think.
Harlyn and Trina were good supporting characters, it would've been nice to have them a bit more developed, but that's just me being picky.
I found Gabe and Joth to be a bit infuriating.
Anyways, this was a good series. I don't think I'll ever re-read it, but I will definitely look into Nielson's other books!
January 31, 2021
Man Oh Man! Where do I begin!? Soo...
Jennifer is a somehow popular author mostly known for her Ascendance trilogy, Infinity Ring Series, A Night Divided and Underworld Chronicles. BUT REALLY?? This series needs much more hype!! I really want to read the rest of her books but this book was amazing!! There are some of my thoughts during this book:
Am I dreaming?
Am I dead?
Is this real?
Why is this soooo good!?
Wait....NONONONO!
Wait....yes?
NO.....YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
I don't like Tenger.
I love Tenger.
I wish I had Magic.
Oh....thank God I don't have Magic!
So...If you read this book....you'll understand all that ;)
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"there is courage in facing one's enemy," he said. "but it takes greater courage to feel for that enemy."
Simon said "I don't give Kestra a piece of my heart, she is my heart"
*WHAT I THOUGHT*
The Warriors Curse is tooooo good! In the end, I have no idea what to do now. I just hated all the hate Kestra is getting!! I mean, I love her!! She was my girl and my bad ass warrior who was continuously proving people wrong. BUT THIS COVERRRRRR!! I'm dieing! Battles, thrones taken over several times, dragons, and happily ever afters...What more could a girl ask for? Couldn’t stop turning pages to see what happened next. Jennifer Nielsen always delivers captivating stories in whatever genre she writes. I loved this series. Traitors game is the perfect starting title. All the twists and turns were very clever. :) I don't know how many times I'm going to say that but I still don't regret reading this before doing my homework, even though I eventually didn't have time to finish my homework...BUT STILL, NO REGRETS! Overall this book is amazing!
*WHAT'S THE STORY?*
The Warrior's Curse is the epic conclusion to the Traitor's Game trilogy. Kestra and Simon find themselves on opposite sides with the same purpose: to end Lord Endrik's reign of terror. Simon, the newly crowned Halderian king, must put his feelings aside and do what he must to claim the Scarlet throne with his new betrothed, Harlyn, by his side. In exile, Kestra grapples with a dark magic that has infiltrated her to her core. Can she rise to occasion and defeat the evil that threatens Antora, or will she become the evil she so desperately is trying to defeat?
*THANK YOU BROOKE FOR READING THIS BOOK WITH ME!*
Jennifer is a somehow popular author mostly known for her Ascendance trilogy, Infinity Ring Series, A Night Divided and Underworld Chronicles. BUT REALLY?? This series needs much more hype!! I really want to read the rest of her books but this book was amazing!! There are some of my thoughts during this book:
Am I dreaming?
Am I dead?
Is this real?
Why is this soooo good!?
Wait....NONONONO!
Wait....yes?
NO.....YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
I don't like Tenger.
I love Tenger.
I wish I had Magic.
Oh....thank God I don't have Magic!
So...If you read this book....you'll understand all that ;)
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"there is courage in facing one's enemy," he said. "but it takes greater courage to feel for that enemy."
Simon said "I don't give Kestra a piece of my heart, she is my heart"
*WHAT I THOUGHT*
The Warriors Curse is tooooo good! In the end, I have no idea what to do now. I just hated all the hate Kestra is getting!! I mean, I love her!! She was my girl and my bad ass warrior who was continuously proving people wrong. BUT THIS COVERRRRRR!! I'm dieing! Battles, thrones taken over several times, dragons, and happily ever afters...What more could a girl ask for? Couldn’t stop turning pages to see what happened next. Jennifer Nielsen always delivers captivating stories in whatever genre she writes. I loved this series. Traitors game is the perfect starting title. All the twists and turns were very clever. :) I don't know how many times I'm going to say that but I still don't regret reading this before doing my homework, even though I eventually didn't have time to finish my homework...BUT STILL, NO REGRETS! Overall this book is amazing!
*WHAT'S THE STORY?*
The Warrior's Curse is the epic conclusion to the Traitor's Game trilogy. Kestra and Simon find themselves on opposite sides with the same purpose: to end Lord Endrik's reign of terror. Simon, the newly crowned Halderian king, must put his feelings aside and do what he must to claim the Scarlet throne with his new betrothed, Harlyn, by his side. In exile, Kestra grapples with a dark magic that has infiltrated her to her core. Can she rise to occasion and defeat the evil that threatens Antora, or will she become the evil she so desperately is trying to defeat?
*THANK YOU BROOKE FOR READING THIS BOOK WITH ME!*
March 19, 2022
öfffffffff anam öfffff ne umutlarla başladığım seri.... keşke başlamasaydım diyerek bitti... ZALIM HAYAT
March 12, 2020
Better than the first two!!!!!! THERE WAS SO MUCH ACTION. That is really when Jennifer Nielsen’s writing shines. There were some things that I didn’t like and were completely unnecessary such as that whole Harlyn-Simon thing 😒 but it ended super well and I loved Kestra’s inner battle against the corruption.
Now I go back to waiting for Nielsen’s next book XD
Now I go back to waiting for Nielsen’s next book XD
September 11, 2019
My favorite part of starting a new series is falling in love with the characters and caring so much for their final outcomes. I thoroughly enjoyed the ups and downs of this series and its characters
August 10, 2020
I definitely enjoyed the previous installments better than this last one. Don't get me wrong—The Warrior's Curse was GOOD. It just wasn't GREAT, like the first two were. That's all :)
January 5, 2025
4.25 stars. An excellent end to a trilogy I’ve been waiting to finish for ages!
January 16, 2024
Plot: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
General Enjoyment: 4.5/5
Average: 4.4 stars
I want my final words before death to simply be that I lived.
Okay, um, wow??? This was so good- and definitely made my overall opinion of this series get way higher!
PLOT:
The plot in this book was incredible- so well-thought-out and fascinating. Some minor issues annoyed me, but I talk about most of those in the character section down below. I had no idea how anything was going to be solved, and then it somehow worked out. The ending, although rather sugary sweet, was perfect; it was foreshadowed and considered from the beginning and finally happened. There was a "pair the spares" element that kind of annoyed me, one couple more than the other. But all the political maneuvering, world-building, plot twists and battle scenes were absolutely spot-on- I love fantasy politics, and this whole series certainly delivered.
PACING:
Normally, it takes me a lot longer to finish an audiobook of this length, perhaps over a month. But I absolutely could NOT stop listening to this one. It kept my attention the entire time, and even though I wasn't as interested in Simon's chapters, they were still entertaining, especially towards the end.
WRITING:
The writing was effective and did the job, and there were a few really great quotes thrown in there. I'd list more of them here if I hadn't listened to this on an audiobook. For the most part, it didn't feel too different than any other YA fantasy writing, but some quotes made me pause the audiobook for a second and think about it.
CHARACTERS:
Ignore everything I said in the first book about Kestra not being a great protagonist. Her arc in this book was absolutely incredible. This almost makes me want to read the first book again, now that I appreciate her character even more. She's changed so much, and I marvel to remember how she was at the beginning versus now.
Simon was still just an okay male protagonist. He didn't seem to have too much depth despite being madly in love with Kestra, though he had his own problems in the past that I would have loved to see explored further than they were.
The other characters were alright, though I was a bit annoyed that two characters who came in partway through the trilogy took the spotlight over those who have been there the whole time. I didn't hate Harlyn (especially after reading her short story at the end) and Joth was a fascinating villain, but I wish they'd both either been introduced earlier or given their starring roles to other characters. For example, my girl Trina, after being a huge part of the first book, had mere sentences in this book.
But overall, the characters in this book were very strong, which was refreshing, since so often characters in this type of book end up falling into stereotypes. I was worried that would happen in this series (especially after the first book) but they turned out to be so complex and interesting.
FINAL COMMENTS:
This was a fun, highly entertaining YA fantasy series! I don't think it'll turn into a new favorite, but I would confidently recommend it to YA fantasy fans.
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
General Enjoyment: 4.5/5
Average: 4.4 stars
I want my final words before death to simply be that I lived.
Okay, um, wow??? This was so good- and definitely made my overall opinion of this series get way higher!
PLOT:
The plot in this book was incredible- so well-thought-out and fascinating. Some minor issues annoyed me, but I talk about most of those in the character section down below. I had no idea how anything was going to be solved, and then it somehow worked out. The ending, although rather sugary sweet, was perfect; it was foreshadowed and considered from the beginning and finally happened. There was a "pair the spares" element that kind of annoyed me, one couple more than the other. But all the political maneuvering, world-building, plot twists and battle scenes were absolutely spot-on- I love fantasy politics, and this whole series certainly delivered.
PACING:
Normally, it takes me a lot longer to finish an audiobook of this length, perhaps over a month. But I absolutely could NOT stop listening to this one. It kept my attention the entire time, and even though I wasn't as interested in Simon's chapters, they were still entertaining, especially towards the end.
WRITING:
The writing was effective and did the job, and there were a few really great quotes thrown in there. I'd list more of them here if I hadn't listened to this on an audiobook. For the most part, it didn't feel too different than any other YA fantasy writing, but some quotes made me pause the audiobook for a second and think about it.
CHARACTERS:
Ignore everything I said in the first book about Kestra not being a great protagonist. Her arc in this book was absolutely incredible. This almost makes me want to read the first book again, now that I appreciate her character even more. She's changed so much, and I marvel to remember how she was at the beginning versus now.
Simon was still just an okay male protagonist. He didn't seem to have too much depth despite being madly in love with Kestra, though he had his own problems in the past that I would have loved to see explored further than they were.
The other characters were alright, though I was a bit annoyed that two characters who came in partway through the trilogy took the spotlight over those who have been there the whole time. I didn't hate Harlyn (especially after reading her short story at the end) and Joth was a fascinating villain, but I wish they'd both either been introduced earlier or given their starring roles to other characters. For example, my girl Trina, after being a huge part of the first book, had mere sentences in this book.
But overall, the characters in this book were very strong, which was refreshing, since so often characters in this type of book end up falling into stereotypes. I was worried that would happen in this series (especially after the first book) but they turned out to be so complex and interesting.
FINAL COMMENTS:
This was a fun, highly entertaining YA fantasy series! I don't think it'll turn into a new favorite, but I would confidently recommend it to YA fantasy fans.
September 27, 2021
People writing things in a way that they think is “proper” always piss me off, which is a reference to the ending where the hero and heroine, give up their crowns and move to live incognito in a land far away. Just because this ending, which is a trope itself, worked for kingdom of heaven doesn’t mean it’d work for every single fantasy/epic-wanna be! And it certainly didn’t work for this one, since the convoluted mess did nothing to engage me for a second. It felt like when a pie dough doesn’t come together no matter how much butter or water you add. It all peels away, the more you knead.
A big, sorry, mess.
A big, sorry, mess.
July 24, 2023
Normally I don’t put any stars because I’m too lazy, or because I don’t know how I feel. But this book, ……
I’m just severely disappointed. I loved he false prince which is by the same author. But this series is not it.
I’m just severely disappointed. I loved he false prince which is by the same author. But this series is not it.
August 13, 2025
This is truly one of my absolute favorite series, and I can't recommend it enough. I strongly dislike fantasy as a whole, but I can't help but re-read this series. The romance is beautiful, the characters are beautiful, the themes are beautiful, the plot is beautiful. Please, please read this, if you enjoy a beautiful, clean romantasy.
August 7, 2024
omg. 😭😭😭😭 I cannot even begin to explain how good this frickin book is.😭 Please please PLEASE read this book. The ending?!?!?!? I'm in love❤️ Simon and Kestra?!?!?! I'm in love even more💖 Jennifer please never stop writing🙏🙏🙏
Overall this is a 4.75 star series
Highly recommend (the whole series)
⭐️⭐️6 stars⭐️⭐️
Overall this is a 4.75 star series
Highly recommend (the whole series)
⭐️⭐️6 stars⭐️⭐️
December 29, 2020
I loved this book soooooo much!!!! It was honestly one of my favorites!!!
Kestra's development in this book was beyond amazing. I loved seeing her go through all her struggles, and then coming out as the amazing and independent girl she's always been. She was so broken in the beginning, but somehow still managed to be so fierce and amazing. She's honestly one of the best main characters ever. I love her!! Forget about Katniss from the Hunger Games!! Who needs her when you have Kestra?
And Simon, I swear is the sweetest human ever. The only person who got on my nerves constantly was Harlyn, but I liked the ending she got and managed to hate her less in the end. She wasn't so bad when the book ended. I just wish there was more of Trinaaa!! She was my favorite side character and I really wanted more of her. Instead, we got a lot of Harlyn, which annoyed me at first, but after she got over Simon, she was bearable.
I wanted more of Simon and Kestra's little moments, like in the first book!!! I loved their little moments because they were the sweetest things ever!!!
The overall plot was super sweet and wholesome. It was heartbreakingly beautiful. The fact that Kestra and Simon managed to love each other through everything they went though--with Simon being forced to marry Harlyn, and Kestra being 'corrupted'--is just so sweet. The whole book made me melt. I just really, really wish there were more of the Kestra and Simon moments. <3
This is one of my absolute favorite book series of all time. I loved everything and everyone and the whole plot, story, and characters were so well-put together. Just thinking about Simon and Kestra makes me so happy, and I love the ending. The book was super satisfying, and I'm so glad I started this series, since it's been a while since I've read a series that's managed to keep me hooked throughout. The romance didn't fall short, like it does in other series. Most of the time, when the book ends, I end up hating the love interest because of how much they baby the main characters or because of how insincere they are. But not with Simon. Simon was super sweet, sincere, and loved Kestra for who she is. He was truly the most amazing love interest I've every read about.
And oh my god I can't stop SWOONING!!!!! <3 <3 <3
The most Sweetest--and my favorite--Quote:
Simon: "I did not give Kestra a piece of my heart. She is my whole heart."
AWWWW SO ADORABLE!!!!! I LOVE SIMON!!!
My favorite thing about the romance was that, even though it may sound a little cheesy, it never felt that way. I never felt like Simon or Kestra were being too dramatic. It felt normal and not superficial like most books. Which I absolute adored. <3 <3
So, this book is the best. Read it now and you will not regret it!!! It is truly a masterpiece!!!
Kestra's development in this book was beyond amazing. I loved seeing her go through all her struggles, and then coming out as the amazing and independent girl she's always been. She was so broken in the beginning, but somehow still managed to be so fierce and amazing. She's honestly one of the best main characters ever. I love her!! Forget about Katniss from the Hunger Games!! Who needs her when you have Kestra?
And Simon, I swear is the sweetest human ever. The only person who got on my nerves constantly was Harlyn, but I liked the ending she got and managed to hate her less in the end. She wasn't so bad when the book ended. I just wish there was more of Trinaaa!! She was my favorite side character and I really wanted more of her. Instead, we got a lot of Harlyn, which annoyed me at first, but after she got over Simon, she was bearable.
I wanted more of Simon and Kestra's little moments, like in the first book!!! I loved their little moments because they were the sweetest things ever!!!
The overall plot was super sweet and wholesome. It was heartbreakingly beautiful. The fact that Kestra and Simon managed to love each other through everything they went though--with Simon being forced to marry Harlyn, and Kestra being 'corrupted'--is just so sweet. The whole book made me melt. I just really, really wish there were more of the Kestra and Simon moments. <3
This is one of my absolute favorite book series of all time. I loved everything and everyone and the whole plot, story, and characters were so well-put together. Just thinking about Simon and Kestra makes me so happy, and I love the ending. The book was super satisfying, and I'm so glad I started this series, since it's been a while since I've read a series that's managed to keep me hooked throughout. The romance didn't fall short, like it does in other series. Most of the time, when the book ends, I end up hating the love interest because of how much they baby the main characters or because of how insincere they are. But not with Simon. Simon was super sweet, sincere, and loved Kestra for who she is. He was truly the most amazing love interest I've every read about.
And oh my god I can't stop SWOONING!!!!! <3 <3 <3
The most Sweetest--and my favorite--Quote:
Simon: "I did not give Kestra a piece of my heart. She is my whole heart."
AWWWW SO ADORABLE!!!!! I LOVE SIMON!!!
My favorite thing about the romance was that, even though it may sound a little cheesy, it never felt that way. I never felt like Simon or Kestra were being too dramatic. It felt normal and not superficial like most books. Which I absolute adored. <3 <3
So, this book is the best. Read it now and you will not regret it!!! It is truly a masterpiece!!!
May 20, 2020
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Audiobook/Owned
Winter had come, bringing harsh winds that cut like knives through my cloak, the land frozen beneath my feet each morning and continuing to chill, even when the sun rose.- opening line
The final book in the Traitor's Game series. This book doesn't disappoint. It's an amazing ending to a fabulous fantasy series. I loved Simon and Kestra and how they changed and grew throughout the series. Will they be able to defeat the evil Lord Endrick and is there any way they can even be together??
If you like YA fantasy, read this book!
Format: Audiobook/Owned
Winter had come, bringing harsh winds that cut like knives through my cloak, the land frozen beneath my feet each morning and continuing to chill, even when the sun rose.- opening line
The final book in the Traitor's Game series. This book doesn't disappoint. It's an amazing ending to a fabulous fantasy series. I loved Simon and Kestra and how they changed and grew throughout the series. Will they be able to defeat the evil Lord Endrick and is there any way they can even be together??
If you like YA fantasy, read this book!
August 10, 2020
THIS BOOK IS EPIC!!! I'm not one to read the ending of my book before I read this one so I had a sibling read it and tell me if it ended good (don't worry I'm scolding myself) and she told me it didn't end how I wanted it to. So throughout the whole book I am worried about the ending until I get there. My point is that I believed her because the book was so unpredictable, I had NO IDEA how the author would choose to end it, but I seriously recommend this book! It is incredible!
April 30, 2020
4.5! Definitely the best one in this trilogy! Battles, thrones taken over several times, dragons, and happily ever afters...What more could a girl ask for?
December 19, 2024
*1.5, god awful. Reading this was literally like a chore.
Sometimes I think about this book when I’m reading textbooks or instruction manuals
Sometimes I think about this book when I’m reading textbooks or instruction manuals
November 18, 2024
MY HEART IS FULL OF SO MUCH JOY AHHHDBJCSNDHSJF (from like the last three chapters 😭)
at first this book ripped my heart away and i was cringing so bad at CHAPTER THREE UGH 😭
and then kestra had an entire corruption arc?? i was so mad at her the whole time and i had given up on any future she and simon had together but then in the last chapter jennifer was like “hehe u can have ur heart back im done with the series now :D”
this first forty chapters i absolutely hated all the characters bc they were annoying and were making me cry my eyes out
and turns out harlyn actually isn’t that bad? HER AND GABE THOUGH OMGGG
also i got jumpscared so many times in this book like
first, when kes and joth were connecting their magic it was like
“he was holding my hand, and when i opened my eyes i realized we were kissing”
and i literally laughed out loud and my bsf was like “wait what part are you at” and i went on a long rant repeating my confused question “WHAT?”
second…. when it’s revealed apparently basil and trina were together
i kind of just stared at the paper, and then smiled because it was like the only happy thing of that chapter so
ok, now that I’ve covered most of the romance part
it’s now time for the plot
just this entire series has one of the best stories told ive ever read. i understood the politics and everything, but there’s a lot and it’s really hard to explain lol
but when i was at the chapter when endrick FINALLY died and i saw how much i still had left of the book, i let out a very long, deep sigh and said “oh well time to move on”
i feel like endrick was more of a side character who filled in for the villain. he definitely had his action and everything, and we knew about the corruption and stuff, but we didn’t really get a lot of backstory. all we know is that he killed all of the endreans and absorbed their power. cool plot and quick backstory, but im just curious what’s the whole backstory. I’d just want a summary though, because that would make the books longer lol
but the overall plot of this whole series is just amazing. the twists and turns and the characters and worldbuilding is just so cool!
also like what is it with the characters being named after their race/clan/country 😭
Harlyn the Halderian
Endrick the Endrean
those are like the only two people who have names like that but
yeah that was just one of the random stray thoughts in my mind
in conclusion, yes this was a terribly messy review. i finished the book literally like fifteen minutes ago and began writing this like two seconds after I closed the book.
i know this is marked as spoilers, but if you haven’t read this series, READ IT PLEASE ITS LITERALLY THE BEST
and if you have read this let’s make a toast to a happy ending for this painful yet absolutely amazing trilogy. and also please recommend it to someone who hasn’t read it the fandom is freakishly small and there’s literally like two pictures of fanart on pinterest 💀
thank you for reading this chaotic jumble of thoughts i jammed down into a review!!!
(also are the things on the cover the disk blade things? just wondering bc that’s cool)
at first this book ripped my heart away and i was cringing so bad at CHAPTER THREE UGH 😭
and then kestra had an entire corruption arc?? i was so mad at her the whole time and i had given up on any future she and simon had together but then in the last chapter jennifer was like “hehe u can have ur heart back im done with the series now :D”
this first forty chapters i absolutely hated all the characters bc they were annoying and were making me cry my eyes out
and turns out harlyn actually isn’t that bad? HER AND GABE THOUGH OMGGG
also i got jumpscared so many times in this book like
first, when kes and joth were connecting their magic it was like
“he was holding my hand, and when i opened my eyes i realized we were kissing”
and i literally laughed out loud and my bsf was like “wait what part are you at” and i went on a long rant repeating my confused question “WHAT?”
second…. when it’s revealed apparently basil and trina were together
i kind of just stared at the paper, and then smiled because it was like the only happy thing of that chapter so
ok, now that I’ve covered most of the romance part
it’s now time for the plot
just this entire series has one of the best stories told ive ever read. i understood the politics and everything, but there’s a lot and it’s really hard to explain lol
but when i was at the chapter when endrick FINALLY died and i saw how much i still had left of the book, i let out a very long, deep sigh and said “oh well time to move on”
i feel like endrick was more of a side character who filled in for the villain. he definitely had his action and everything, and we knew about the corruption and stuff, but we didn’t really get a lot of backstory. all we know is that he killed all of the endreans and absorbed their power. cool plot and quick backstory, but im just curious what’s the whole backstory. I’d just want a summary though, because that would make the books longer lol
but the overall plot of this whole series is just amazing. the twists and turns and the characters and worldbuilding is just so cool!
also like what is it with the characters being named after their race/clan/country 😭
Harlyn the Halderian
Endrick the Endrean
those are like the only two people who have names like that but
yeah that was just one of the random stray thoughts in my mind
in conclusion, yes this was a terribly messy review. i finished the book literally like fifteen minutes ago and began writing this like two seconds after I closed the book.
i know this is marked as spoilers, but if you haven’t read this series, READ IT PLEASE ITS LITERALLY THE BEST
and if you have read this let’s make a toast to a happy ending for this painful yet absolutely amazing trilogy. and also please recommend it to someone who hasn’t read it the fandom is freakishly small and there’s literally like two pictures of fanart on pinterest 💀
thank you for reading this chaotic jumble of thoughts i jammed down into a review!!!
(also are the things on the cover the disk blade things? just wondering bc that’s cool)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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