Remain prisoner to your own scars, or break free.
Captive Traitor King
Braided Fate
Romantasy
Avon
November 3, 2026
Hardcover, Ebook, Audiobook
336
Brigid Kemmerer returns with the sizzling, high-stakes sequel to the #1 international bestseller Warrior Princess Assassin—where the betrayals are deeper, the magic burns brighter, and love might be the most dangerous weapon of all. CAPTIVE. Asher has always sworn loyalty to Jory, the princess he’s loved from afar—but now the King of Incendar has claimed a place in his heart too. Someone wants them both dead, and only Asher’s blade can keep them safe. Yet his past won’t let him go, and he must decide if he can break free—or remain prisoner to his old scars. TRAITOR. Princess Jory of Astranza agreed to marry the King of Incendar to secure peace, but betrayal runs closer than she ever imagined. With her own brother unmasked as her enemy, two kingdoms teeter on the edge. To protect her people, she must take the throne. But there are still dark secrets to unravel that will force Jory to confront where her true allegiance lies. KING. Maddox Kyronan has discovered trust—and something more—with his reluctant bride and her deadly protector, but the fragile alliance between their nations threatens to unravel. His people are starving. His enemies are circling in. Torn between the crown and his heart, Ky risks losing it all. As buried truths surface and tensions reach a breaking point, Jory, Asher, and Ky must confront the desires that could save their kingdoms—or shatter them forever.
Welcome Back to Incendar
Friends, we’re so back. I have been desperate for the next installment of the Braided Fates series since the moment I closed the cover of “Warrior Princess Assassin”. Need a recap of my swooning? Read my review of “Warrior Princess Assassin” *here*.
Want the TL;DR?
Incendar is barren from long-term drought, and it’s people are suffering. There isn’t enough food, water, or soldiers to support the kindgom. The King of Astranza, and his heir, Prince Dane, have promised magical aid to Incendar in exchange of a marriage alliance between King Maddox Kyronan and Princess Marjoriana.
Things are bleak. Trust is fragile. The wolves are circling.
Structure
“Captive Traitor King”, like “Warrior Princess Assassin”, is written in multiple points of view. Ky, Jori, and Asher all have their own chapters, so we’re all privy to what’s in their heads and hearts.
Multi-POV is extremely tricky to get right, and Brigid Kemmerer nails it yet again. It’s been my experience that the momentum of a story comes to a crashing halt at the end of a chapter, but not when Kemmerer is at the keyboard. She’s clearly an expert, because we don’t lose momentum at all; in fact, I find the opposite to be true. I inhaled page after page, and chapter after chapter, because each one was better than the next. The voice changes chapter to chapter enhance the emotional and romantic connection between this thrupple, while also subtly adding layers to the overarching plot.
Like I said, Brigid Kemmerer nails it.
Romance
Yes, I said thrupple. “Captive Traitor King” is a why choose.
Jory and Ky are engaged. Jory and Asher have been best friends since childhood. Asher has been in love with Jory as long as he can remember, but Asher has also experienced pain, tragedy, and horrors that no one can imagine. He’s a little bit broken, but slowly and surely he’s being pieced back together with the love and care from Ky and Jory.
These three are H-O-T-T hot.
Final Thoughts
This part is for Brigid herself — if you’re not Brigid, skip to the bottom…. Brigid Marie Kemmerer (probably not your middle name, but I needed it for emphasis) first of all, HOW DARE YOU leave me with that cliff hanger?! I have been loyal, enamored, and excited to read all of your stories and you reward me with THIS!?!?! How dare you! I am furiously looking for the preorder option for book three, because I need it yesterday.
Second of all, thank you for Asher not being alone. I can’t explain further, but my heart was in my throat for the entire last chapter.
Asher needs to be protected at all costs.
“Captive Traitor King” is the second book in a series, not a standalone. You must read “Warrior Princess Assassin” to understand how we are where we are, and to know where things are headed. Do yourselves a favor and go read the first book to fall in love and get invested in the drama of these braided fates. It’s a beautiful mix of fantasy, romance, magic and love, and I can’t wait to see sparks fly where we go next.
I’m Val, and I’m excited to share my love of books with you! I’m a sassy Sour Patch kid from New Jersey, dog mom to Chance the beagle, and much like the rest of the Hive, I’m a coffee lover (I think it’s a requirement to be here). The first book I remember reading voluntarily involved a boy wizard who lived in the cupboard under the stairs, and I’ve been chasing magic ever since. I love Happily Ever Afters, and I love love. My favorite genres are romance and rom-coms, fantasy, and young adult/new adult. If I’m not reading, I’m probably kayaking, watching the Great British Baking Show, or discovering a new craft beer.
