Series Name: The Traitor’s Circle, #2

Review By Veronica

If you are looking for a book that is full of action, betrayal, and romance, then you need to read, The Traitors Ruin.

Favourite Quote:

From her seat within the giant willow tree, Sage watched Alex pace the garden path, pausing often to look in the direction he expected her to come from. She’d arrived several minutes before him and loosely braided her bath-wet hair as she waited. Maybe it was cruel, but she wanted to watch him for a few minutes, remembering the way he must have been spying on her in the tilting yards for quite a while. 

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Sage Fowler has proven herself to be a clever spy and a strategic matchmaker. Sage is now the royal tutor, a reward for her part in stopping the plot to overthrow the kingdom. She is happy with her new position; the only problem is she is separated from her fiance Captain Alex Quinn who is off fulfilling his military duties. However, an unknown threat is trying to destroy the fragile peace that exists between the three kingdoms. Sage is once again asked to become a spy to keep an eye on young Prince Nicolas, who will be travelling to the border and keeping the Queen informed of what is going on. The mission takes a turn for the worse when Sage and Alex are separated during a fight. Trying to escape from their enemies’ clutches, Sage and Prince Nicolas make an unlikely alliance with a soldier from Casum. Things aren’t what they appear to be, and those who were thought to be the enemy may turn out to be an important ally in the fight to keep the Kingdom of Demora safe. 

I always get this nervous, unsure feeling when I read the second book in a series. Will it be as good as the first book? What if I hate the direction the author takes the series in? What if the characters I love die?! But I am happy to say that The Traitors Ruin is just as captivating, adventurous, and unforgettable as the first installment. I love the direction that Erin is taking this series. As a reader, you can tell that Erin is building the series up for some epic battles, heart-stopping betrayals, and a finale that will have you on the edge of your seat. Erin did a fantastic job when it came to world-building within this book. She is expanding the world that Sage lives in with such vivid details, and I loved being able to learn more about the neighbouring kingdoms. 

It was wonderful to reunite with Sage and her circle of friends. I love reading a book series because, as a reader, you get the chance to watch as characters grow and find their place in their world. This book really focused on Sage and Alex as they both try to navigate their new roles: her as the royal tutor (and spy) and his as a squadron commander. They have to deal with a lot of  pressures and responsibilities, the fate of the kingdom literally rests on their shoulders, not something I would want to have to deal with at 18 and 20 years old. I loved, loved, loved the new characters that Erin introduced into this book, especially Princess Lani (she is just so sassy, confident, and funny). These new additions to the group added more diversity, depth, and fun that it felt like they always belonged there. 

Even though Sage and Alex do have a few swoon-worthy moments in this book (that I couldn’t help re-reading), they spend most of the book fighting with each other. I was getting frustrated with how much Sage was snapping at Alex and Alex for not trusting Sage. I know that both characters are under a lot of pressure, and both are trying to prove that they can handle their new roles, but I was hoping they would work together to deal with the challenges they face, not fight with each other. I loved their relationship in the first book; I felt that it added a sense of richness and depth to the story. I wasn’t as fond of the couple in this book, but I will chalk it up to growing pains in a relationship and hope it gets better in the third book.