The Traitor Queen

Geographically, the Bridge Kingdom series’ world consists of two continents connected by a long bridge controlled by the kingdom of Ithicana (the Bridge Kingdom). The northern continent consists of Harendell and Amarid, while the southern continent consists of Maridrina, Valcotta, and Teraford. Due to Ithicana’s control of the bridge, the kingdom oversees international trade between continents. Holding the bridge means holding the ultimate power—the bridge kingdom gains wealth as it controls the world’s economy—which is why the surrounding nations go to great lengths to influence and control it. Thus, the Bridge Kingdom series follows the political machinations of the kingdoms as they engage in an endless power struggle, while also following three separate love stories among the key players.

The Bridge Kingdom is a series of six installments divided into three connected duologies. Each duology follows a specific couple. The Bridge Kingdom (2018) and The Traitor Queen (2020) follow a warrior-princess of Maridrina, Lara, and King Aren of Ithicana. The Inadequate Heir (2022) and The Endless War (2023) follow Lara’s brother Keris, prince of Maridrina, and Zarrah Anaphora, niece of the Valcottan Empress. The Twisted Throne (2024) and The Tempest Blade (2026) follow Aren’s sister, Ahnna, and a love triangle between her betrothed—Harendell’s crown prince William—and his half-brother, James.

The first installment in the series, The Bridge Kingdom, establishes not only the geography but also several key characters who each play a role in the complex political landscape that controls their world. The first novel explores the relationship between Ithicana and Maridrina, showing how ruthless the world’s kingdoms can be when faced with the opportunity to control the bridge. The romance between Aren and Lara is introduced in The Bridge Kingdom, and her struggle to choose between loyalty to her father and to her new husband sets the stage for the accidental betrayal that gets her labeled “the Traitor Queen.”

Given the ruthless depiction of Marylyn in the first installment, the outcome of Lara’s plan to ask her sisters for help in saving Aren and Ithicana is uncertain. King Silas returns as the primary antagonist, while Serin, the spymaster who trained and tortured Lara and her sisters, is less prominent but a key antagonist all the same. In The Traitor Queen, Silas dies, but Serin is still alive, posing a danger to both Maridrina and Lara’s sisters, whom he’s been tasked with assassinating. Other key characters from Ithicana—such as Nana (Aren’s grandmother), Ahnna (Aren’s sister), Jor (Aren’s bodyguard), and Taryn (Aren’s cousin and Lara’s friend)—are introduced in book one and return in The Traitor Queen to play important roles in Aren’s rescue and Ithicana’s liberation.

Meanwhile, The Traitor Queen explores new characters who will shape the rest of the series, including the second duology, which follows not only the political aftermath of The Traitor Queen but also the love story between Keris and Zarrah—the heirs of two enemy nations. Keris is introduced as a highly intelligent but inscrutable prince whom people often underestimate. His mysteriousness, intelligence, and ability to use being underestimated to his advantage inspires distrust in others, including his own blood—his sister, Lara, and his half-sister, Sarhina. Though not much is known about his machinations behind the scenes, it is clear to the primary characters of The Traitor Queen that he has an emotional soft spot for Zarrah that could cause future conflict between their warring kingdoms of Valcotta and Maridrina.