The Traitor's Game (The Traitor's Game, Book One) (1) Paperback – January 29, 2019

Jennifer Nielsen does a great job of creating fiery characters who almost immediately find themselves in trouble up to their eyeballs. The Traitor's Game is no different. But this story follows the fortunes and misfortunes of two main characters, Kestra, the daughter of a very powerful man in the country of Antora's government, and Simon, a member of the resistance group called the Coracks. After three years in exile, Kestra is on her way home when she and her entourage are waylay-ed. With her servants' lives on the line, Kestra is forced into agreeing to help the Coracks retrieve a magical item supposedly hidden at her home of Woodcourt. Simon and a girl named Trina are sent with Kestra to ensure that she follows orders. But Kestra has plans of her own and they don't involve helping traitors and betraying her own family.But as so often happens the plans of Kestra, Simon, and Trina don't go off without a hitch. The tension between Kestra and Trina threatens to derail all their plans and Simon's feelings about the girl he used to know aren't all hatred. The point of view switches between Kestra and Simon, giving the reader a glimpse into the mind and heart of each as they struggle to accomplish their objectives. The tension between Simon and Kestra goes back and forth between attraction and loyalty to their respective causes. But as Kestra faces her father again and even Lord Endrick, the evil ruler the Coracks are sworn to destroy, she starts learning things that shake her faith in the life she's always known.Finding the Olden Blade, which offers the only hope of defeating Lord Endrick, offers Kestra a chance of rescuing her servants and helping her country. But both Kestra and Simon are walking a very fine line between loyalty and betrayal. Is there any way out of this mess that leaves them both alive?Nielsen has written an action-packed, thriller of a novel. Kestra and Simon are both sympathetic characters that I found myself caring about, even though they are on different sides as the story begins. But the author does a fantastic job of writing a compelling story that I read quickly with lots of twists and turns. There are hints about where the story is going to go but interestingly, the characters know more about certain things than the reader, which makes the reveals all the more of a shock. I can't wait to read the next book!Note: There is some violence in the book because of the nature of the story (revolution). There is also some kissing.

THE TRAITOR’S GAME is instantly and completely riveting, immeasurably intriguing, and filled to the brim with action, deception, secrets, lies, betrayal, and heartbreak. The dual POV both reveals and teases. The world is elaborate and interesting and dangerous and thrilling. The characters are captivating, mysterious, challenging, defiant, and a bit untrustworthy. The story grips and twists and surprises and leads to a phenomenally astonishing ending that hints at just some of the amazingness to come in the sequel.Kestra knew the Dallisors had enemies. With her father willing to do Lord Endrick’s bidding, there were bound to be those who despised her family. She just never imagined how many or who she’d have to protect herself against. And she never thought a time would come when she could be coerced into helping them.Simon took an oath to stand with those looking to take back the throne, those seeking to defeat Lord Endrick. The rage he felt toward Kestra Dallisor for her betrayal was just fuel on a fire already burning. He never imagined his allegiance would be questioned or that he’d be the one to question it. He never dreamed he might one day have to protect the person he hated most in the world.Jennifer Nielsen went so far above and beyond with this first book in her new series. Her world and characters stand out - corrupting magic, remarkable and deadly creatures and weapons, an alluring myth, exciting and treacherous and conniving friends and foes. The plot is electrifying and jam-packed with harrowing chases, lethal assaults, intricate plans, difficult choices, shaky alliances, unanticipated outcomes, devastating losses. The pace is fast, the writing suspenseful and engaging and detailed, and the ending worth every nail-biting moment leading up to it.If you like your heroines fierce, your heroes protective, their loyalties divided, their missions complex, their motivations hidden, their lives full of secrets, THE TRAITOR’S GAME is an absolute must.

This book was a surprise. Found it on Amazon, liked the cover, title and blurb, so I went and bought it. Haven't intended on starting reading it immediately.But I did.And I was hooked.Kestra is the daughter of a hated man. At first, she too is a bit on the insufferable side - there were times I liked her, but also disliked her. However, she changes throughout the story, and, when reaching the end of the book, you can't believe it's the same character.Simon. Oh, Simon! He's on the other side of the on-going battle. Is it the good side, while Kestra's on the bad one? No one can tell, really. Okay, so maybe Kestra's side is a definite bad, but Simon's side isn't all pink and rainbows and unicorns.As the story evolves, there's twist after twist, one intrigue after another. Secrets are revealed, certain truths surfacing. You have hunches and sometimes, they come true, other times they don't.While it did end on a cliffhanger, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - yes, I, who hated cliffhangers (still not a fan), have come across so many type of cliffhangers since switching to YA fantasy that this one didn't bother me. Plus, book two comes out in March, so there is that.Battles, kidnappings, bad guys, good guys - or relative good guys, a feisty heroine and swoon-worthy hero. There's magic too. And annoying side characters.But it's a good one and I can't wait to see what happens next! 4.5 stars.