Trigger Warnings: Abuse, forced marriage and graphic images of war. I feel I have to put the final one in due to the circumstances going on in the world.
She has been trained to kill, and he has been trained to govern his kingdom and rule. Do you expect them to be King and Queen? Most likely, the answer is no.
Laura is trained under the guidance of her father to kill the traitor who’s killing and starving their people. Now a deadly spy under her father’s watch, she has to marry and then murder her husband. The Bridge in King Aren’s land provides a legendary status and promise to the land, which Laura has to obtain. But at what cost? Especially when Laura’s true purpose is slowly revealed as she falls in love with the one she is supposed to kill.
Ok, what I’m about to say relating to this book I’m sure will be unpopular, but before I go any further, I will say I found Laura’s father insufferable and loved King Aren’s family. It’s almost like Danielle L. Jensen wanted the two kingdoms to be two time periods. Laura’s seems rather old-fashioned, where women were in little to zero power, whereas it’s entirely the opposite in King Aren’s kingdom. Women are on the frontline in combat, which according to Laura, doesn’t exist (I think). The King’s daughters seem to be an exception. Even her husband’s subjects find it strange how Laura is excellent in combat and has vast medical knowledge.
What I found hard to wrap my head around is a general thing with fantasy. I’m finding it isn’t only this book – I couldn’t keep up with the world’s politics. I get lost, forgetful, and sometimes lose the plot altogether. I still can’t work out other than hiding the secrets of King Aren’s land and keeping their elders’ safe significance of the Bridge other than symbolic is hard to make sense of.
You can tell that I didn’t have the best experience with this fantasy romance. The problem I have now is there are two more books in the series. I’ll say, please, don’t let this review put you off reading the books. The strong female characters are a sight to behold for the imagination. But don’t you just hate it when books end on a cliffhanger?