The traitor's game

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The traitor's game

Title:

The traitor's game

Author:

Nielsen, Jennifer A., author.

Series:

Traitor's game ;

Series Number:

Summary:

After three years in exile Kestra Dallisor has been summoned back to Antora by her father, right-hand man of the seemingly immortal king, Lord Endrick, but she is intercepted and kidnapped by the Coracks who want to use her to get the Olden Blade, which they believe can be used to kill the despot. Simon, one of the rebels with his own grudge against the Dallisors, is assigned to accompany her, but Kestra has her own plans and she does not intend to let anyone get in her way.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

388 pages ; 22 cm.

Genre:

Action and adventure fiction.

Fantasy fiction.

Subject Term:

Weapons -- Fiction.

Conspiracies -- Fiction.

Kidnapping -- Fiction.

Friendship -- Fiction.

Publisher:

Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.,

Publication Date:

2018

ISBN:

9781338045376

Publication Information:

New York : Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., [2018]

Call Number:

YA NIELSEN

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003313494	Young Adult	NIELSEN	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Hearts and loyalties collide in this electrifying new YA series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen. Jennifer A. Nielsen's New York Times bestseller The Traitor's Game , which Entertainment Weekly called "the next big YA fantasy," is perfect for fans of the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard and the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Kestra Dallisor has spent three years in exile in the Lava Fields, but that won't stop her from being drawn back into her father's palace politics. He's second-in-command to the cruel king, Lord Endrick, which makes Kestra a valuable bargaining chip. A group of rebels knows this -- and they snatch Kestra from her carriage as she reluctantly travels home.The kidnappers want her to retrieve the lost Olden Blade, the only object that can destroy the king, but Kestra is not the obedient captive they expected. One of the rebels, Simon, has his hands full as Kestra tries to foil their plot, by any means necessary. As motives shift and secrets emerge, both have to decide what -- and who -- it is they're fighting for.

Author Notes

Jennifer A. Nielsen was born in Utah. Her first book, Elliot and the Goblin War, was published in 2010. She is the author of The Underworld Chronicles, The Ascendance Trilogy, and the Praetor War series. She also wrote the sixth book of the Infinity Ring series, Behind Enemy Lines.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 6-8-The world has been engulfed in perpetual war. Kestra, the daughter of the emperorlike leader of the Dominion, is blackmailed into stealing a powerful artifact called the Olden Blade which can tilt the balance of power in the region. Between the onslaught of warring tribes and ever-changing loyalties, the book is replete with tense moments that propel the story forward. Nielsen does a masterful job keeping readers off guard while tightening the screws of tension throughout, satisfying even the most reluctant readers. The dialogue can read dry at times, but the plot-based twists and turns more than make up for it. An otherworldly story with a side of fantasy on the surface, the setup and struggle feels universal. Small plot reveals are meted out every few scenes to keep teens intrigued and thirsting for more. This is clearly the first of a series, as the ending is just the reckoning that some much larger battle is at hand. VERDICT A competent addition to any middle school library, especially where there are fans of Cassandra Clare and Suzanne Collins.-Brian Hoff, Elmwood Park High School, IL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Kestra Dallisor is the defiant 16-year-old daughter of Sir Henry Dallisor, chief counsel to Antora's evil and possibly immortal ruler, Lord Endrick. Kestra is returning home following a three-year exile when Corack rebels ambush her carriage. Her attackers kidnap and threaten to kill Kestra's driver and handmaid unless she smuggles two insurgents, Simon and Trina, into Sir Henry's estate and helps them find the Olden Blade. The Blade is purportedly the only weapon capable of killing Lord Endrick, and it's rumored to be hidden in the Dallisor dungeons. Kestra only cooperates because she must, but the longer she spends in the Coracks' company, the more she questions what she knows about her kingdom, her family, and herself. First in a trilogy, this entertaining but uneven fantasy novel from Nielsen (the Mark of the Thief trilogy) advocates tolerance while championing female self-empowerment. Kestra and Simon's alternating narratives are engaging and distinctive, but although Nielsen's characters harbor plenty of secrets, they are somewhat one-dimensional, reducing the emotional impact of an otherwise action-packed, romance-laden tale. Ages 12-up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Excerpts

Like everyone in Antora, I feared Lord Endrick, but I'd be a fool not to respect his power. Lord Endrick could not be defeated. He could not be killed or even wounded, certainly not by the Coracks. At best, they were like fleas to him, a persistent irritation, but a pestilence he would eventually crush between his fingers. Sooner than later, I hoped. "Endrick is no ordinary man," I said. "Bring an army of a hundred thousand against him if you want. It will do you no good." "Not yet, my lady. That's where you come in." Almost unwittingly, I sat up straight, shaking my head as fiercely as possible. "What you want cannot be done." Tenger leaned in to me. "It will be done, and you will do it. The Coracks have not yet decided who will replace Endrick as ruler of the Scarlet Throne, but he will be replaced." "You will hang for this." I tilted my head toward Simon, to be sure the message was clear. "All of you." "So you've said." Tenger had probably heard that threat as often as the church bells chimed. "You'll attend our hanging, I assume." "I'll give the executioner his orders, gladly." My voice became ice. It frightened me to hear it, to realize I was capable of such words. Tenger smiled at my threat. "If you fail us, with similar enthusiasm we will execute your servant girl and driver. Only our methods are far more painful, I can promise you that. Now, what do you know about the Olden Blade?" My gut twisted, but I tried not to let my worry show. If the Coracks knew about that dagger, then they needed my help to complete their wicked plans. They intended to make a traitor of me too. If I was not careful, I would hang with them. Excerpted from The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.