The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom, #1)

by Danielle L. Jensen

He’d thought he’d known which traits mattered most—but he’d forgotten one.

Saw that coming

“You were mistaken in your choice, Father.” Lara stood tall as she addressed her king. She stared him down, allowing the dark, grasping, and selfish part of her soul to climb to the surface and stare out at him. “I will be the next Queen of Ithicana. And I will bring the Bridge Kingdom to its knees.”

Oh heck, get em girl!

“For Maridrina.” Then he pulled his knife across his own throat.

Well thats dramatic

“Such dramatics.”

HAHAHA

If Lara found excuses to linger to ensure their safety, she would only risk discovery, and then all of this would be for naught.

Ohhhh i knew it. This might come back to bite her though

“You murdered your sisters for the good of our country?” His voice was amused. Lara forced a dry chuckle from her lips. “Hardly. I murdered them because I wished to live.”

Damn shes good at lying

“Come to terms with the fact that I am all who remains of the girls you trained, and then I will not need to refresh your memory.”

I love the feisty

“It may not come in the form of pain, as you understand it.” Her father took her hand and turned it over to reveal her palm, studying it. “Be wary most of all of their kindness, Lara. For above all, the Ithicanians are cunning. And their king will give up nothing without demanding his due.”

This paragraph intrigues me. Especially from this character. Its ironic

Killing was her specialty.

EDGELORD

“While your ruthlessness makes you desirable for this role, your lack of honor makes me question whether you’ll put our people’s lives above your own.” Grabbing her arms, he twisted her toward him, nothing on his face betraying that this was anything more than a conversation between a loving father and his daughter. “If you betray me, I will hunt you down. And what I will do to you will make you wish that you’d died alongside your sisters.”

REAL FUNNY coming from YOU, dude

It had a snout like a lion’s, open to reveal glittering canines, and horns like a bull sprouting from both temples.

Beauty and the beast?

His palm was calloused, the skin, like hers, covered with tiny white scars. The nicks and cuts that couldn’t be avoided when combat was one’s way of life.

That alone could give her away

He shouted, “Do you, Aren Kertell, King of Ithicana, swear to fight by this woman’s side, to defend her to your dying breath, to cherish her body and none other, and to be loyal to her as long as you both live?” “I do.” The king’s words were punctuated by the hammer of a hundred swords and spears against shields, and Lara twitched. But the shock of the noise was nothing compared to what she felt when the soldier turned to her and said, “Do you, Lara Veliant, Princess of Maridrina, swear to fight by this man’s side, to defend him to your dying breath, to cherish his body and none other, and to be loyal to him as long as you both live?”

Oh i love these vows

Sadist, because wearing it was like having his head stuffed in a cooking pot that smelled of sweaty socks.

As someone who wore fencing helmets, this is accurate

“With tits like that, I’d suggest bedding her,” a gravelly voice interjected.

Straight to the point lol

The bastard would probably sacrifice a dozen daughters if it saw us lowering our defenses.”

Yeah the number was much bigger than that dearie

And there was one thing he was certain: Lara Veliant was not that woman.

HAHAHA BOI YOU IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING

An extraordinarily striking woman, perhaps five years older than Lara, with long, curling dark hair, stood in the center of the room wearing one of Lara’s dresses.

Well that's rude. Don't touch my stuff. Don't WEAR my stuff

She wore not a scrap underneath, her body all curved muscle, her breasts small and pert.

POWER MOVE. okay maybe i like her

“Maridrina will starve before it ever sees the benefit of this treaty.”

I bet Silas is terrible with money and just blames the bridge kingdom for his countries' starving people

Dragging your ass back from Southwatch was sweaty business. You’re heavier than you look.”

Rude

“The towel, too.”

GET IM GIRL

the false bottom concealing tiny jars of poisons and drugs,

Did they not search her?

“Woman?” Ahnna supplied. “You’ll find we hold to a different way of life in Ithicana. What’s between your legs doesn’t determine the path you’ll walk in life. Half the garrison at Southwatch is made up of women.”

Yaaaaas

She was met by Aren’s cursed enormous cat staring at her with golden eyes. Lara held her breath, but the animal only leapt onto the windowsill and slipped out into the courtyard.

Kitty dont care about weird naked lady

“I forget how young you are, Your Grace. You were only a boy kept safe in Eranahl the last time we went to war with Maridrina. You didn’t fight in those battles where they threw their entire navy against us, blockading Southwatch and stymying trade, all while our people starved. You weren’t there when Silas Veliant realized that he couldn’t win by force and took his vengeance on the outlying islands, his soldiers slaughtering families and stringing their bodies up for the birds to feast on.”

So whos people are actually starving?

A shadow seemed to pass over the older servant’s gaze, but she only inclined her head. “As you say, my lady.”

Oh i bet its not Lara's people starving. There's no way

And three, a coddled little princess like you doesn’t know the first thing about taking care of herself.”

I cant wait for her to knock him on his ass

Ithicana was showing its true colors. Not peaceful courtyards and soothing hot springs, but violence and cruelty. And Aren was its master. But she would be his doom.

Shes not seeing the red flags that this isnt what it all seems yet cause she CANT

“I can respect you and still think your shit stinks just as bad as the next man’s.”

I like this man

Of Erik, the man who’d been like a father to her, taking his own life in front of her because he believed she’d been driven to murder her own sisters.

Oh...oof

“How about you take your bridge,” she said sweetly, “and shove it up your ass.” His eyes widened right as she straightened her leg, shoving him out of her space.

YES GIRL BE SASSY

Eleven shovels flung sand at her from all sides. Striking her. Hurting her. Filling the hole.

Ohhh her sisters. She feels shame for leaving them i bet

“Who did this?” The heat in his voice made her skin prickle.

I LOVE THIS TROPE

“Hmm,” Lara hummed, then clicked her tongue against her teeth in mock disappointment. “I’d hoped to wait until the dementia had taken over so as to spare myself the memory. But one must do what one must do.”

I love her

“Next time let her puke.” Her gaze shifted back to Lara. “They all call me Nana, so you can, too.” Then she pointed a finger at one of the guards. “You, pluck and dress that bird. And you two”—she jerked her chin at another pair—“finish picking these and then wash them up. And you.” She leveled a steely gaze at Lia. “There’s a basket of laundry that needs scrubbing. See it done before you go.” Lia opened her mouth to protest, but Nana beat her to it. “What? Too good to scrub the skids from an old woman’s drawers? And before you say yes, remember that I wiped your shitty ass more times than I care to count when you were a babe. Be grateful that I can at least still do that much for myself.”

I love her

“Built for bedding if not breeding.” She leveled a stare at her grandson. “Which I’m certain you’ve noticed, even if you haven’t availed yourself.” “Grandmother, for the love of god—”

GRANDMA KNOWS ALL

Now she wondered if the variable her father had most wanted to control was her.

YES GIRL REALIZE THE MANIPULATION

She knew that what her father and Serin had told her about the King of Ithicana had been a lie—though she understood why. It was easier to stab a demon in the back. A much harder thing to betray a man whose actions and choices were driven by a desire to do right by his people. But she also knew that her homeland and Ithicana were at odds, and what would save one would damn the other. The welfare of her people was her priority, her mission to give them the one thing that would ensure their future. And for that reason, Aren could never be anything to her but the enemy.

Lobe this character development

“I was just washing it off. Certain muds are good for the skin. They cleanse the pores.”

Man i wish i was that smooth

as she applied a leech to the swelling on his cheek,

EW

Not because she didn’t want him to kiss her, because she did.

YAAASS

“We’ll go when the Queen of Ithicana says it’s time to go.”

Yeeeees

“Perfect cocks?” Nine sets of surprised eyes turned to look at Lara, who shrugged.

I love this girl

There was, Aren thought, nothing the Great Beyond could offer that would be more perfect than her.

“It appears a smuggler’s prize has lost its way.” The old soldier held up something that glittered red in the lamplight, then he tossed it Aren’s direction. “There’s a buyer at Northwatch who’s going to be very dissatisfied with his wine purchase.” Aren held up the large ruby. He was no expert on gemstones, but judging from the size and color, it was worth a small fortune. A very unhappy smuggler, indeed. Shoving it in his pocket, he said, “This should cover the taxes the individual was trying to evade.”

This is important, not sure why.

She was leaning out of the bunk next to him, her eyes lambent in the faint glow of the lamp. Wordlessly she caught hold of his hand with hers and tugged him upward, drawing him onto the bunk.

Get him girrrrl

She closed her eyes, her face clenching for a moment as though she were in pain, then she opened them and nodded. “It changes everything.”

“Get out of my way.” She shoved two soldiers to the side and ran toward Aren.

Awww

“Got it!” Jor said, and a second later, Lara’s knees buckled and she fell back, Aren landing on top of her. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved, Aren’s breathing labored in her ear, his body pressed against hers. She held him, clung to him, an irrational desire to hunt down and destroy those who’d done this consuming all other thought. Then Jor and Lia were hauling him off her.

Now kiiiisssss