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hannahbailey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very fun, not too serious! Reads like Wattpad, very quick and engaging to get through with a high-action plot. What let it down was the complete lack of world-building. I could not picture that bridge (yes, what the book is named after) for love nor money!
Don't waste your time on the sequel though, it's a mess.
Don't waste your time on the sequel though, it's a mess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, War, Misogyny, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, War, Xenophobia, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
britgirlreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and War
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Sexism, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
ktkncd's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and War
Minor: Misogyny
kaseybereading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, and War
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Rep: female MC.
CWs: Alcohol consumption, animal death (snake), blood, death, drug use (MC drugs others without their knowledge), misogyny, murder, sexual content, sexism, toxic relationship (parent/child), violence, war.
CWs: Alcohol consumption, animal death (snake), blood, death, drug use (MC drugs others without their knowledge), misogyny, murder, sexual content, sexism, toxic relationship (parent/child), violence, war.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
huntitled's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Audiobook:
A great new adult fantasy book which to be honest surprised me a lot and I could not stop reading it.
It has everything most romantic fantasy readers could ever dream of: "enemies to lovers" and "arranged marriage" tropes, tons of sexual tension, fast-paced story, tough main character, and intriguing world building which—despite the lack of magic—I enjoyed very much.
Lara is a princess, trained by her father to become a spy. She is supposed to marry the enemy king and help defeat his kingdom. She soon finds out that her husband is not the monster she believed him to be and that her true enemy is someone else. Now she needs to decide where her loyalties lie.
King Aren is my favorite character. I just wish he did not suffer from the "Jon Snow syndrome" so much. He is simply too nice and gullible, and often makes decisions that lead to serious issues which could have otherwise been prevented. On the other hand, the fact that Lara is reasonable, smart, yet not manipulative, is quite refreshing. The relationship between Lara and Aren was well written and felt very believable.
The narration of the audiobook is also amazing, both narrators did a great job.
Overall, The Bridge Kingdom has become one of my favourite fantasy books.
A great new adult fantasy book which to be honest surprised me a lot and I could not stop reading it.
It has everything most romantic fantasy readers could ever dream of: "enemies to lovers" and "arranged marriage" tropes, tons of sexual tension, fast-paced story, tough main character, and intriguing world building which—despite the lack of magic—I enjoyed very much.
Lara is a princess, trained by her father to become a spy. She is supposed to marry the enemy king and help defeat his kingdom. She soon finds out that her husband is not the monster she believed him to be and that her true enemy is someone else. Now she needs to decide where her loyalties lie.
King Aren is my favorite character. I just wish he did not suffer from the "Jon Snow syndrome" so much. He is simply too nice and gullible, and often makes decisions that lead to serious issues which could have otherwise been prevented. On the other hand, the fact that Lara is reasonable, smart, yet not manipulative, is quite refreshing. The relationship between Lara and Aren was well written and felt very believable.
The narration of the audiobook is also amazing, both narrators did a great job.
Overall, The Bridge Kingdom has become one of my favourite fantasy books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Death
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, and Misogyny
plutotoujors's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Misogyny
finnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia
baexlee's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I picked this up on a whim because of a recommendation I saw on tiktok, and I won't lie, I initially was a bit skeptical, but wow did Danielle Jensen absolutely steal my heart with The Bridge Kingdom. I think this is what I have been missing in my search for adult fantasy. Jensen doesn't pull any punches and from the very first chapter I was hooked.
Now I thought about this a lot and it almost doesn't feel fair, but I cannot help but to compare this to my recent rereads of a few other notable adult fantasy novels. I decided I will mention it though because the reviews and recommendations everywhere compare this work to those series and frankly this is a disservice to Danielle Jensen and The Bridge Kingdom. Both of those series left me frustrated at their conclusion (or current end point) because there are so many loose ends, randomly thrown in tidbits of information that feel important when you are reading them and then are just tossed aside, or inconsistently motivated characters but The Bridge Kingdom does not under any circumstances suffer from this same failure. Jensen masterfully foreshadows and builds a complex and unique fantasy world that acknowledges the intelligence of both the characters and the reader themselves. Lara and Aren do not feel any less than the capable, competent and deadly rulers that they are written to be and the politics and dealings of Ithicana are nuanced and realistic.
In a time when I am enjoying reading, but still struggling to find those really stunning reads that stick long after I close the page, this was a welcome reprieve that left me laughing out loud, cheering and gasping at Lara's journey and excitedly relaying the plot back to my husband (who was happy to listen even though he didn't really know what I was talking about). If you are looking for a happy ending, or even hope for one in the second novel, The Bridge Kingdom will not deliver on that front. But if you are seeking something that brings you into it's world, seduces you with it's brilliantly balanced characters and complexities, then I cannot recommend this book more.
Now I thought about this a lot and it almost doesn't feel fair, but I cannot help but to compare this to my recent rereads of a few other notable adult fantasy novels. I decided I will mention it though because the reviews and recommendations everywhere compare this work to those series and frankly this is a disservice to Danielle Jensen and The Bridge Kingdom. Both of those series left me frustrated at their conclusion (or current end point) because there are so many loose ends, randomly thrown in tidbits of information that feel important when you are reading them and then are just tossed aside, or inconsistently motivated characters but The Bridge Kingdom does not under any circumstances suffer from this same failure. Jensen masterfully foreshadows and builds a complex and unique fantasy world that acknowledges the intelligence of both the characters and the reader themselves. Lara and Aren do not feel any less than the capable, competent and deadly rulers that they are written to be and the politics and dealings of Ithicana are nuanced and realistic.
In a time when I am enjoying reading, but still struggling to find those really stunning reads that stick long after I close the page, this was a welcome reprieve that left me laughing out loud, cheering and gasping at Lara's journey and excitedly relaying the plot back to my husband (who was happy to listen even though he didn't really know what I was talking about). If you are looking for a happy ending, or even hope for one in the second novel, The Bridge Kingdom will not deliver on that front. But if you are seeking something that brings you into it's world, seduces you with it's brilliantly balanced characters and complexities, then I cannot recommend this book more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Confinement
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