Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stellar writing and characters plus cool, moving castles.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In TRAITORS' NEST, Burr, a young farmer out tending his pigs, is shocked when the castle on the horizon disappears and is replaced with another one. While Burr knew it could happen, it's never happened in his valley. Unfortunately, the new lord is a shifty one. To provision his castle, Lord Stephen engages every trick in the book to steal the food from Burr's community. Even worse, when Burr's father leads rebels to fight back, he's hanged for treason. But when another castle takes its place, Burr knows he needs to act or his community will starve. The next castle proves far easier to storm, and suddenly a small group of rebels has upended a game that has endured for centuries. This game involves conniving, power-hungry Players in another realm controlling each castle's move, and these slighted Players plan to make Burr and his rebels suffer.
Is It Any Good?
This fantasy tale is the whole package: fascinating world-building with jumping castles and crafty magpie spirits, a stalwart main character, and truly stellar writing. Without the stellar writing, there's no pulling off ideas this intricate and ingenious. Players are in one realm, keeping watch on their castle pieces, moving them to gain power. Burr and his family are in the living realm, witnessing a castle disappear with their winter stores, feeling desperate and rebellious. A magpie spirit who used to orchestrate and revel in the chaos is suddenly, slyly choosing a side. Burr and friends can break the rules of the game she started, but only if they pass her tests. But will they? The farmers-turned-castle stewards are in over their heads and it shows. Some wily characters, including a fast-talking castle historian, a rogue knight, a vengeful lord, and some monstrous lion cubs, add to their trials.
It's a lot of layered storytelling to maneuver, and author Frances Hardinge does it with whimsical flair. Late in Traitors' Nest, mid-chapter, she even changes perspective to a pack of bloodthirsty lion monsters smelling their way through a besieged castle. You'd think the shift would be confusing or jarring, but instead it's a quirky delight. So many delights await readers ready to take a leap into castles unknown.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Sir Daegal and Whippet in Traitors' Nest. How do they represent the old way the game is played, and how do Burr and the other rebels represent the new way? Who comes around to the new way, and why?
When Robin doesn't order that a poacher's hands be cut off, Sir Daegal calls him weak. Is he weak, or is he showing empathy? What does Robin understand about the poacher's life that Sir Daegal doesn't? What are other times the rebels choose mercy? What are the results?
If you stormed a castle and made it your own, what rebels would you want with you? What tapestries, flag, and creed would you display? Who would you want your Player to be?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals ) , Competition , Family Stories ( Dads , Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic , Monsters ) , Travel
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Amulet Books
- Publication date : September 8, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 28, 2026
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