Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Royal intrigue, mild romance in action-packed fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 24 kid reviews
Kids say that while the book offers an engaging medieval fantasy romance with clean themes and exciting twists, opinions are polarized regarding the main character and the romantic elements, with some readers finding them overly dramatic and unrealistic. Despite mixed feelings about character depth and the perceived forced nature of the romance, many agree that the storytelling is compelling and action-packed, making it worth a read, especially for fans of the author's other works.
- engaging story
- mixed romance
- clean themes
- captivating characters
- enjoyable read
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE TRAITOR'S GAME, Kestra, who's 16, has been happily living away from her tyrannical father, second in power only to the king. Unexpectedly called back home, Kestra suspects that she'll have to face an arranged marriage when she gets there. But a rebel faction has other ideas about how Kestra can be useful, so they kidnap her while she's on the road. Using threats against the people she cares about, the rebels force Kestra to undertake a dangerous mission, one that will force her to betray her family. As her feelings for the rebel Simon grow, she becomes less and less sure of whom to trust, and whom to betray. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Kestra will have to navigate a tangled web of dark secrets, including a shocking truth about herself.
Is It Any Good?
A veteran of fantasies for kids, author Jennifer A. Nielsen makes a switch to older middle-grade kids by adding a dash of romance to this action-packed fantasy adventure. The Traitor's Game offers intrigue, plot twists, secrets, magic, an evil king, a ruthless rebel leader, and two teen protagonists struggling to find their way through it all.
Kestra, 16, and Simon, a year or two older, take turns narrating the story. But instead of adding insight to events and motives, the voices of Kestra and Simon are too similar, and the reader may sometimes have to pause to remember who's talking now. The plot moves along at a good pace, with some predictability especially for teen readers, but some surprises along the way, too. Fantasy action/adventure fans will enjoy the rollercoaster ride to the open ending that doesn't satisfy but should leave them eager for the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why fantasies like The Traitor's Game are so popular. Which fantasy series are your favorites? How does this trilogy start compare?
Is Kestra a good role model? What are some of her character strengths and weaknesses? What about Simon?
How much violence is OK in books? Does violence in a fantasy story affect you differently from violence in a real-world story? What about violence in books vs. in movies or TV?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Press
- Publication date : February 27, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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