Format: Hardcover, 464 pages
Release Date: June 14, 2022
Publisher: Clarion Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Dark Fantasy
Kiva thought she knew what she wanted—revenge. But feelings change, people change... everything has changed.
After
what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends
and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her.
But with the kingdoms closer to the brink of war than they’ve ever
been, and Kiva far away from the conflict, more is at stake than her own
broken heart.
A fresh start will mean a perilous quest, forcing
mortal enemies and uneasy allies together in a race against the clock to
save not just Evalon, but all of Wenderall. With her loyalties now set,
Kiva can no longer just survive—she must fight for what she believes
in. For who she believes in. But with danger coming from every
side, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, does she have what it
takes to stand, or will she fall?
She’d failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price.
The Blood Traitor is the third and final installment in author Lynette Noni's The Prison Healer trilogy. The story begins 5 weeks after the events of the previous installment. After being betrayed by her own sister Zuleeka, drugged with angel dust which is an addicting drug, and once again brought to Zalindov Prison where it is likely nobody will find her, Kiva Corentine no longer cares if she lives or dies. Especially since the evil Rooke is still the Warden of Zalindov and Kiva managed to escape his grasp in the first installment.
Especially since it was her own actions that helped her sister tear apart a country and leave her as Queen. Within the first several chapters, Kiva is assigned to be a tunneler where your life span is reduced to several years if you are lucky. Then a very angry Warden decides Kiva needs to be sent to the Abyss as punishment because she somehow manages to surprise him by living. While Kiva has basically given up on any hope of living, or making things right by those she hurt the most, Cresta Voss refuses to accept surrender from Kiva.
While Cresta Voss is attempting to detox Kiva and get her back to full strength, something unexpected happens. Kiva is released from Zalindov and sent to Stoneforge where King Navok awaits thanks to an agreement that Kiva's mother made. Thanks to the assistance of a maid who turns out to be Ashlyn Vallen, commander of the Army, and Galdric Shaw, who claims he was working with her mother, Kiva is able to escape her future's husbands march on her home where it appears that Zuleeka and Mirryn have a major problem with the local population not liking how things have gone.
With Tipp and Jaren not speaking to her, not even looking at her, Kiva, Caldon, Kiva’s brother Tor, Cresta, Ashlyn, and Naari must travel to 4 different countries where 4 pieces of the Hand of God can be found. In one stop, Kiva, Cresta, Ashlyn, and Naari are drugged and forced to face trained female warriors to the death. In another stop, Kiva and Jaren must put away their emotions and heartbreak to find the next key needed to defeat Zuleeka and get Jaren's powers back. In another stop, Kiva has to choose between her own personal demons in order to get the third piece.
There’s numerous sword battles, magic training and cloak and dagger schemes, all leading to a climax of epic proportions. There is also a choice that Kiva makes that I am angry about because she worked so hard to make things right for people, and learns so much about herself, her inner strength, and her magic, only to make the wrong choice when facing her own sister. It's not a spoiler folks. It's just my opinion that the author made the wrong choice regarding Kiva. Repeating what another reviewer said, I wasn't a fan of Jaren’s character for a large portion of this book. It isn't until the second challenge where things begin to get better.
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