‘The Traitor Queen’ by Danielle L. Jensen
Title: The Traitor Queen
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Series: 2 of 6 book series
Synopsis
Lara, once queen of Ithicana and now branded a traitor, seeks redemption by rescuing her husband, King Aren, from her father's clutches and liberating her former kingdom.
Content Warnings
General Rating: Adult (18+ / TV-MA)
Spice Rating: Severe (one scene only)
One open-door scene with explicit content in ch. 50
Violence Rating: Severe
War and bloodshed, injury detail, natural violence from the elements, physical and psychological torture
Profanity Rating: Severe
Use of f*ck
Book Review
Overall rating: 4/5 stars
What I Liked
I loved Lara. She's a wonderful, fierce protagonist, and I loved each moment that she and Aren were on the page together. I also loved her sisters; they are amazing, strong women who don't flinch when trial come their way. Found family is one of my favourite tropes, and Jensen delivers here!
Lara transitions from the traitor queen to the beloved and respected leader of Ithicana, alongside Aren. Aren struggles with reconciling his love for Lara with his duty to his people... is there a way for them to reconcile? Ah, the difficulties of love and forgiveness, all wrapped up in this beautiful adventure.
“Awake or asleep, all I see is your face. All I hear is your voice. All I feel is you in my arms. All I want is you.”
Major Themes
Redemption and Forgiveness: Lara struggles with having been branded a traitor and seeks to earn forgiveness from Aren and Ithicana. Aren, on the other hand, is understandably hesitant to trust her.
Trust and Betrayal: What happens when trust is broken? We find out through Lara and Aren's treacherous trek through the desert and across mountains. They have to trust each other despite past betrayals.
Identity and Duty: Is Lara the princess of her homeland or the queen of her new land? To which family does she belong? She asks all these questions as she grapples with her identity.
Writing Style
Jensen writes in an immersive, emotional style that masterfully combines political intrigue with personal risk and love. As with most of her writing, this book is character-driven; we explore the depths of Lara and Aren's relationship through the crucible of Lara's untimely betrayal.
Tropes
Enemies to lovers
Found family
Political intrigue
Redemption arc
Books like this
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Buy on Amazon here! Jensen is a Calgarian, so fellow Canadian and Albertan readers, send your love her way by supporting her work!
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A romantic fantasy about an arranged political marriage, a forbidden love, and courtly scheming