Review of The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom #1) by Danielle L. Jensen.
“I will be the next Queen of Ithicana. And I will bring the Bridge Kingdom to its knees.”
– The Bridge Kingdom
Danielle L. Jensen
“The Bridge Kingdom” by Danielle L. Jensen is a romance novel with a twist of fantasy and politics that will keep you entertained from start to finish
Synopsis
A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And the second is that she’ll be the one to bring him to his knees.
The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara’s homeland. So when she’s sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses. And the defenses of its king.
Yet as she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begins to question whether she’s the hero or the villain. And as her feelings for Aren transform from frosty hostility to fierce passion, Lara must choose which kingdom she’ll save… and which kingdom she’ll destroy.
Review
The Bridge Kingdom is a thrilling and captivating novel that had me hooked from the very beginning. The characters were well-developed and engaging, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the story. The world-building was intriguing, but at times, it was hard to imagine the complex political landscape of the kingdom.
What surprised me most about The Bridge Kingdom was the amount of action in it. I initially expected a slow-paced romance, but the plot was full of twists and turns, which made the story even more exciting. However, I must admit that the ending was a bit predictable, and I felt that the story could have been a few chapters shorter.
The world-building in this book was good, and I particularly enjoyed how the author described the political and cultural differences between Maridrina and Ithicana. However, at times, it was hard to imagine the more intricate details of the worlds, which made it sometimes slightly confusing to follow.
One of the best things about this book is the character development, especially of the main protagonist, Lara. She is a strong and capable woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself and fight for what she believes in. Lara’s journey throughout the book was captivating, and I loved the way she challenged other around her.
“Even if I’m a goddamned fool for it, there will never be anyone but you.”
When I first started reading the book, I had a hard time feeling the chemistry between the two main characters, Lara and Aren. However, as the story progressed, their relationship started to grow on me, and I found myself becoming more invested in their romance.
What I appreciated most about their relationship was that it wasn’t just a case of love at first sight. Lara and Aren had to work through their differences and learn to trust each other, which made their relationship feel more authentic and earned. By the end of the book, I was rooting for them to be together.
Although the world-building can be a bit confusing at times, the characters are compelling enough to keep readers engaged. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then The Bridge Kingdom is definitely worth a read!
Would I recommend it?
I would! The Bridge Kingdom is a well-written romance novel with a twist of fantasy and politics, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. I’ve heard the second book is even better so I’m looking forward to reading it.
Rating
7,5/10
Details
Trigger warnings
Child abuse, drugging, self-harm, violence
Representation
Side characters of colour
Genre
Romance, fantasy (new adult)
Pages
354
Publication date
August 1, 2019
Publisher
Context Literary Agency LLC
About the author
Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of The Malediction Novels: Stolen Songbird, Hidden Huntress, Warrior Witch, and The Broken Ones, as well as the Bridge Kingdom series and the Dark Shores series. She lives with her family in Calgary, Alberta.
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