Traitor Born

Secondborn, Book 2

By: Amy A. Bartol

Narrated by: Kate Reinders

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rebel warrior Roselle St. Sismode returns in the second book of the epic Secondborn series by USA Today bestselling author Amy A. Bartol. 

In the Fates Republic... 

Firstborns reign supreme. 

Secondborns kneel in servitude. 

Thirdborns face death. 

And Census shadows them all. 

Secondborn Roselle St. Sismode was pressed into military service to battle the rebel uprising threatening the society that enslaves her. Now, powerful factions conspire to subvert the lines of succession, positioning Roselle to replace her mother as leader of the Republic's armed forces. But the woman who bore her would sooner see Roselle dead than let her usurp her firstborn brother's command. 

The deadly war of intrigue between her new masters and her ruthless family is but one conflict challenging Roselle. A soldier for the rebellion has drawn her into a rogue army's plot to overthrow the Republic and shatter its brutal caste system. Targeted by assassins and torn between allies, Roselle will have her loyalty, love, and honor tested in the greatest battle of - and for - her life. 

©2018 Amy A. Bartol (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Better than the first

The first book was good. This one was great! The suspense and ability to make the listener question was might happen next is amazing! The performance was excellent!!

Boring

I am disappointed with this book.

Book 1, Secondborn was great. THIS seemed like filler before book 3. There was only the occasional action, and the rest was about the obvious love triangle and her being stuck in her rooms, basically on house arrest. Boring.

Really good

I enjoyed the first book and looked forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed. Good characters, amazing imaginary world and terrific narration.

Amazing

Without getting into spoiler territory, I'm just going to say that this was an amazing addition to this series. My ONLY complaint..... I have to wait until 2019 for the next installment....after that ending!?! That's just brutal!

Enjoyable with Room for Improvement

Traitor Born starts shortly after Secondborn ends. Roselle is now under the protection of the most powerful person in her world and the leader of Virtue, Fabian Bowie and seems like she is little more than a political pawn who can’t leave the elaborate palace where she resides indefinitely. She’s also dealing with a number of obstacles including her desire to protect her first born heir brother from her allies, avoiding the clutches of a tyrannical murderous mother, plots within plots, betrayals within betrayals, PTSD and multiple viable love interests (yay). Amy Bartol threw everything but the kitchen sink at us, it’s my favorite thing about many of her stories.

I really do like this series, there are certain reoccurring themes in Amy’s writing that I love and I loathe but Ms. Bartol is a great storyteller, what some of her stories lack in nuance they make up for in the fervor of the narrative. This book is a 3 for me, at best 3.5 stars. It feels very transitional in a chaotic and almost unsatisfying way. I can tell Bartol is writing us toward book 3. I love multi-part series where each book could almost standalone within the larger narrative, but book 2’s are often hard when the writer and her publishers have sequels in queue. This would likely be less of an annoyance if book 3 was already available for immediate consumption.

Pros and Cons

Cons

-Making stupid decisions for the sake of "love", it happens to the best of us but in Traitor Born there are moments of dialogue or situations that create these minor plot inconsistencies for the sake of a romance.

-Book 2 feels a little rushed and transitional. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is an undertone of chaos to this book. There are a ton of moving parts and layers that could be better organized. More time is spent describing outfits or elaborate architecture than streamlining the intricacies of the story-line.

- I still feel that there is a foundational weakness in the way in which the Second Born series explains a society built on filial cruelty (cruelty toward one's own child) and prolicide (killing of one's offspring). There were some inconsistent commentary on this within Traitor Born.

-The dialogue was kitschy or roll your eyes sappy at times.

Pros

-Multiple love interests. I love a writer who is not afraid to give a protagonist options and allowing her to explore them. Traitor Born gives Roselle the space to explore 3 enticing romantic relationships.

-Adding depth to the protagonist. Roselle is a strong lead. Her abilities and skills are hard earned. Book two exploits her strengths (combat, strategy, etc.), her weaknesses (familial ties, PTSD, etc.), and adds some much needed depth.

-Action packed with interesting subplots.

-Unexpected plot twists, the book is not predictable and I couldn’t put it down until I was done. (I finished by the next day)

I ended up liking the book, it’s good science fiction – escapist – new adult literature, however you probably won’t love it if you don’t like these types of books. You probably will enjoy if you liked Secondborn. Is there room for improvement… yes, but I have to admit that I enjoyed it and will definitely be reading Rebel Born (book 3).

Addendum:

I read a preview of book 3 Rebel Born... I'm excited! Looks like some of my cons will be thoroughly addressed.

Loved it!

I loved this book! I was completely riveted with it. I can’t wait for the next one to come out! Kate Reinders did a fantastic job of narrating the story!

can't stop

oh man, cliff hanger!! when does the next one come out?? such a great story

Disappointing

This book seems to be just a placeholder before the next in the series. The plot hardly advanced and the characters didn’t develop.

Reykin

This series is worth it for reykin because he is friggen hot. That is all.

eye rolling teen angst

What has to happen here is Roselle will bring down the current social system of the Fates and First and Second Borns and set up some more equitable society where all people can live and love and marry and have families. We knew that in the first book, even though Roselle claims here that she didn't.

But in order for all that to happen, we have to watch her nuzzle into the necks of at least 3 guys. She lurvs Hawthorn,and he gets to say things like, "I'm lost without you," but gee, how her pulse pounds when the other hotties get her alone. Little slut. Oh, there's some yawning action where she is always the best fighter and survives all sorts of hits.

But that's not all. If the ditzy, same-voice-for-everyone narration is correct to the writing, then the author doesn't understand English. Proof:
1. The breeze tussled his hair. (No, the breeze tousled his hair. Tussle means to wrestle, fight, struggle.)
2. The length of his hair hung to his shoulders. (That's just stupid. Length doesn't hang, hair hangs.)
3. I'm not so sure my mother perpetuated this crime. (It's perpetrated, you idiot.)

I can't stand it. There are so many well-written books out there where something really happens and the strong woman doesn't constantly melt into every bulging-biceps man. There are books where the language is used correctly and actually makes sense. This is not one of those books.

Brilliant

Amy always knows how to draw you in and creates complex characters and relationships. Love her story telling

Amazing

I loved this book. Story and the performance. I can’t wait to listen to the next book.

Can't wait for more...

Love these books (Seconborn & Traitorborn) so much...I've read them on Kindle, bought the paperbacks and now Audible! Can't recommend them highly enough, the imagination, imagery and plot are astounding. So excited for the 3rd book Rebelborn!!

Phew!

The twists and turns are coming fast and furiously now and it is difficult to put down. Although there are some inconsistencies, this second book has upped the pace - so many plots; so much going on. The only frustration is Roselle's apparent naivety. It is obvious that, apart from Hawthorn, Reykin is very much in love with her; and, of course, there is Saloway. Although he has an agenda, he obviously adores her. So, who will end up with Roselle and who will (I am sure) end up dead...... or worse? That is the question.

The only real downside to this trilogy is that (I have heard) it is going to be another year before the final audio book is released. Tooooo long. People tend to lose the thread when a long time elapses between chapters and the impetus is lost.

love it!!!

I love the whole series so far!
Well writen, imaginative, well round characters and great story archs, gripping from the first line. I can't wait for the next instalment.

Brilliant

Love this series! It’s written so well. There’s so many plots and twists! Can not wait for the next one

hole on tight

omg the first book was good the second was fantastic i was on edge right up to the end i didnt expect that ending like.