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The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle Jensen Book Review
- Savannah Boone
- Apr 28, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 29, 2022
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Rating
Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Light smut scene
Review
This book was a little dry. But the premise and most of the other characters were interesting. I've heard such good things about it, but it didn't live up to the hype for me. I was expecting for sexual tension and enemies-to-lovers, but we didn't get much of that. We got some bonding and trust issues, but that was it.
Pros
>A map!
>Interesting premise
Cons
>Dry main character
>Political plot
Plot
It leans heavily on the political side of things and there's almost no romance. I found it to be quite dull and I was hoping there would be more of something the further I read into it. I was wrong. I was expecting more ruthlessness, blood, fighting, not idly standing by, miscommunication, lies even after being on the same side, etc. There was none of that.
Also the whole premise of taking a bridge kingdom was odd. Like, okay? It just seemed rather odd that the Ithicanan people were monopolizing the waters/bridge. And the lands/waters were so uninhabitable it was almost ridiculous that the people even stayed there. Like I get that it was their home, but if it's causing such big issues then they could find another place to live. And who even built the bridge anyways? That is a huge architectural defeat that it doesn't seem possible without the help of magic or aliens.
The ending tore at my heartstrings and is the only reason why I read the second book. However, it could have been avoided if Lara just told Aren about the letters! Something could have been done and all would have been dandy (except for maybe Lara).
Characters
Lara
Lara is a flat character throughout most of it, which made it hard to read. I will say, by the end of the book I did like Laura more. She felt more dynamic than in the beginning. But I wouldn't call her a "badass" or "strong." Yeah, maybe physically, but she didn't stand up for herself or her own people. She didn't even question the information she was given! She just accepted it and rolled with it.
Aren
Aren was actually okay. I didn't mind him as much, but he fell for bland ole Lara too fast. For a protective king, he gave his secrets up to Lara quickly and without questioning her.
Side Characters
The side characters were more interesting than the main characters. They had more personality, more history to them, but they weren't in the story enough to balance out the blandness.
Writing
Throughout this book, it felt as if I was super far away from the actions and characters and just looking in. I've read many 3rd person books, but this one pushed me out instead of pulling me in.
Conclusion
I had such high hopes for this book, but it let me down. While the book overall was dry and flat for me, the ending did entice me to buy the second book. I ended up liking Lara and the world a bit more towards the end when we were given some depth to the characters. Maybe the second book will provide what I need to be satisfied with the series.
Cover Art
The cover was designed by Richard Anderson. Personally, I love the cover art. It's abstract and has a retro video game vibe-- reminds me of Final Fantasy, to be honest. The cover played a big part in me picking up the book after hearing so many good reviews. I just wish the book matched the cover.
What did you think of the book? Do you have anything to add, good or bad? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
If you want a more brief review, view my "to-read" list, or what I’ve read before 2022, you can follow my Goodreads page by clicking the link below.
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