Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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This book was offered to me by the author for review, and I am so happy I accepted.
Book Description
Do the promises of war ever survive the peace?
At the end of a brutal war, Remin of Andelin promised his knights that he would build them a good place, far from the carnage of war and the poisonous intrigues of the Empire. But the only thing more difficult than winning a war is securing the peace.
Welcome to the Andelin Valley, where the days are filled with the backbreaking labor of building a city and the nights bring monsters summoned in the waning days of the war. The Andelin devils dare even the sacred soil of the Empire, and it takes all of Remin’s military genius to keep his people alive. Yet even in the face of bandits, traitors, and the coming winter, the greatest danger to Remin might be his new wife.
Princess Ophele Agnephus. Daughter of the Stars, the Exile Princess, she is the daughter of the Divine Emperor who executed Remin’s family. Raised in secret and given in the place of her sister as a reward for Remin’s war victory, Ophele carries a secret that could topple the his family was innocent. But will she risk her life to reveal her family’s crimes to the most dangerous man in the Empire?A tale of love and redemption. As the summer bleeds on and the walls of their city rise, Remin finds himself drawn to Ophele, who shares so many of his dreams and sorrows. She could be his love and his wife, the mother of his children, the foundation of a dynasty that will last forever. Or she could be the Emperor’s weapon, placed at his side to destroy everything he has left.
A marriage built in the ashes of betrayal. A land built on the ruins of a century of war. And a people determined to rise, with shattered trust and an unquenchable hope…if Ophele can only make them believe it is possible. Traitor Son is the story of a people broken by tragedy, a hero torn between his duty and his dreams, and a young woman who must find the courage to take her place at his side, before their own devils tear them apart.
Begin an unforgettable journey with Traitor Son, the first book of the Empire of the Stars. Perfect for fans of epic fantasy, knights and nobility, and tales of resilience and redemption.
About Melissa J Cave
Melissa Cave is a writer and a veteran who has spent most of her life traveling, first as a military brat and then in the Air Force and Department of Defense. She has always been fascinated by new places, cultures, languages, and history, and there is no better place to indulge that interest than in fantasy writing. She currently lives in Virginia, where she is failing to grow strawberries for the third year running.
My Thoughts
When I first heard about Melissa Cave’s Traitor Son, the description alone had me hooked: a battle-scarred knight, a secret princess, and a marriage steeped in blood and betrayal. As someone who appreciates epic romantic fantasy, the promise of a tale that blends the monster-hunting grit of The Witcher with the political intrigue of Kushiel's Legacy and the sweeping romance of Outlander was irresistible. And I'm thrilled to say, this book delivers.
It took me a moment to settle into the world and its characters, but once I did, I was completely swept away. We meet Remin of Andelin, a formidable knight burdened by his family's reputation as traitors. His drive to reclaim his family's honor and rebuild his home is palpable, even as he navigates the Emperor's treacherous "gifts," which include a marriage to the mysterious Princess Ophele Agnephus. Remin's wariness of Ophele is understandable; he suspects she might be another of the Emperor’s poisons.
Ophele, the Emperor's illegitimate daughter, carries her own heavy secrets. Having lived a life of seclusion and pain, she knows Remin and his parents were innocent, a truth whispered by her mother. Her desire to atone for her father's cruel legacy is clear, but she quickly learns the depths of the Empire's corruption run far deeper than she imagined.
Watching Remin and Ophele navigate their arranged marriage is truly captivating. As they strive to build a life, a tentative love begins to blossom, alongside the daunting task of building trust when neither has truly known what it is. Their growth as individuals and as a couple, against the backdrop of this richly imagined fantasy world filled with intriguing creatures, is a testament to Cave’s storytelling. My only complaint? The ending left me desperate for more! While I know this is the first book, the immediate craving for the next installment speaks volumes about how thoroughly I enjoyed Traitor Son. I can't wait to continue this journey with Remin and Ophele.
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