My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Don't let the cover fool you, this is a story in the new adult genre.
The bridge Kingdom is your stereotypical fantasy story of kingdoms with fraying alliances, scarce resources, and you know, your assassin bride ready to bring down the wealthy from the inside, nbd.
Lara was trained in Maridrina to be a killer, assassin, seductress. Really she's a renaissance woman. Oh, except for her sea sickness. That'll get ya, yep.
She is wed to the King Aren of Ithicana who controls the prosperous Bridge. Any who seek to find it's secrets are barred. Those who control the bridge control mercantilism between all the Kingdoms.
Lara has watched her people starve and it's now time to put that heartless King and his people in their place. Except, not all is as Lara thought. The Bridge is a place with it's own culture and traditions. She slowly finds herself questioning everything she's been raised to believe.
The story involves a kind-hearted king, fierce women, betrayal, steamy scenes, more betrayal, BLOOD. GORE, ruthlessness, more betrayal! Really, can you ask for much more?
The middle was a bit tedious with the back and fourth "do I trust her/him?/ Do I not? "
"Do I love him? No I can't!" Pick a daisy and just have a damn answer Lara.
Side characters are realistic. Jor the body guard who wants to protect his King. Ahnna, Aren's prickly and suspicious warrior sister, The magpie, who should really be named "snake in the grass" but there are enough of those, literally (you'll see).
Once I pushed through the middle, the climax was very predictable, but I didn't mind too much since the pace of the book really picked up. I'd definitely recommend this for a good fantasy romance if you're not looking for TOO much war and gore. If GoT was too much inane detail, Bridge Kingdom might be just enough.
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