The content of this book wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be based on the synopsis. But that ended up being fine. This book ended up being more cozy.
Remin and Ophele are two characters who've gone through a lot of trauma. Remin was orphaned over a lie, and Ophele was punished in her own way for that lie. Isolated and abused by the people assigned to care for her she grew up being unsure of herself.

I enjoyed reading about these two characters grow together and learn to trust. Both had been hurt, and they both needed to trust themselves as well trust each other. There are hints of a darker plot for later books, and I look forward to reading them.

This was such a good tale of loyalty, betrayal, and survival. The writer was superb. If you want a book that is rich with political intrigue, forbidden love, and the haunting legacy of war, Traitor Son delivers a powerful and heart-wrenching journey you won’t forget.

I was sent this ARC by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really interesting read. While I enjoyed the story, it took a good bit of time to truly grasp what was going on which was a little harder to stay focused. Overall, I’m glad I read this book & I appreciate the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this debut novel. I do look forward to continuing the story between Remin and Ophele and watching their characters grow. It was a 3.5 star book for me!

Traitor Son by Melissa Cave - first book in the Empire of the Stars series

This is an adventurous story, which deals with inner struggles and outward conflicts.

It is challenging in that the world that both protagonists have been born into, has not been easy. They each deal with these challenges in their own way.

I felt for both of the main characters, who went through emotional trauma, and are trying to find a way through it...living their lives (picking up the pieces). It's not always easy.

There are times of being reflective within the story, how their lives could've been/should've been.

There are a number of times that I truly felt sad the main characters...and what they were going through.

The story is faily well paced. Medium paced story.

This is a character based story. There is world building that is happening, and Fantastical elements, but truly, it is based in these two characters and their lives.

There is a lot of character development within this first book. I'm also curious to see what will transpire in the subsequent sequels...which are coming, soon.

The question can be asked, are the characters loveable? Well that's complicated. I loved them, but I didn't always agree with why they were doing what they were doing. I'd say that Ophele was/is more loveable than Remin, but then again...Remin is a damaged person...who is fighting the demons that have come against him, from early childhood.

The characters are diverse, but we were in a narrow set of people. I think the story will diversify more...in the sequels. They set the stage, and we are now grounded with the main characters...now we can explore...more.

Indeed, the flaws of main characters are a main focus of the story. We are inside their head, and we hear their struggles, and we (as the readers) want them to make better choices.

3.75 Stars

I do not usually read SPICY novels. Not to say that I haven't, but this one was VERY different from those others. I was actually VERY surprised that this WAS a spicy novel, for the setup, the character introductions, and the characters didn't feel like a spicy novel, but a Fantasy novel that had spice...and the spice is VERY spicy. IF this had been a visual story, this would be X-Rated.

Again, this is a Fantasy story. It is character based, and the main characters are Remin and Ophele.

It is an ememies to lovers trope. The reasons why they become involved with each other is fairly well developed...and believable. Again, this is a Fantasy story.

In some ways, it reminded me of Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge series). In that series there is a lot of sexual interactions (mostly abusive), but the story is the main focus.

In this story, the desire for Remin to build a land, and create that which was stolen from his family is so well done.

The Fantastical elements for this story were truly frightning...and fit well with the overgrown landscape and the idea that this land had not been cultivated by humanity (for a long time). Left to grow fallow, and the beasties have retaken the land from the humans.

There were portions of this story that I felt fell short in my opinion. There is a reasoning that Remin has (a trauma), from childhood, that doesn't allow him to trust practically anyone (other than the soilders that have been in battle with him). So this causes him to not trust the person, he really should be able to trust.

The story deals with this issue, but still...it caused me doubt that this could've/would've gotten this far (for the time).

Again, I enjoyed this story, and actually going to buy the book (since this is an eArc through Net Galley), and have even Pre-Ordered the sequel. If the sequel keeps the Fantasy elements and worldbuilding in tact, and doesn't go full cheesy Romance novel, I will continue to read this series.

Another "comp" that can be taken, is a Fantasy world...that Diana Gabaldon would write...when she lets loose on the sex scenes (which is saying something.

I had fun with these characters. Oh, and one last thing...the character of Minche is a favourite. A playboy, but a true friend to Remin (and Ophele). Really enjoyed their interactions.

👉 Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content

I'm really excited to see where this series goes! It's fantasy without the heavy world building, the Empire's most feared warrior and an exiled Princess all wrapped up in a marriage of convivence and some found family sprinkled in.

Remin and Ophele are two complicated characters - they've faced horrific loss and pain yet despite this, they both want to find happiness and a place to call home yet their honour and secrets may just make this impossible for them.

Melissa Cave has managed to write a story that is fairly low stakes but with enough political intrigue an character development to keep you on your toes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Owl & Bear for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Traitor Son is a lot cozier than the synopsis would lead you to believe. It is a sweet romance, centering on what happens after the hero conquers the opposing army. It is very much a “slice of life” book, marketed as a with fantasy.

The beginning was incredible and had me hooked almost immediately, however after that the pace slows as we get perspectives from both main characters.

If you are in the mood for a cozier medieval fantasy romance with a little adventure, I think you will love this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.

Traitor Son is beautifully written with an accessible and complex magical world. Often fantasy novels get a little carried away with world building and rules, but the world of Traitor Son is easy to learn and enjoy instead of getting bogged down in the details (which has happened in many a popular fantasy book). The story weaves together two characters who are both learning to understand themselves and each other in the messiness of an arranged marriage, building a city from scratch, and super scary night time horrors. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel!

This book was amazing! The story and the world building was so well done! The main female character was so sweet and it was a nice change from other books I have read. And I loved the romance so much!

*Traitor Son* by Mellissa J. Cave is a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and destiny set against a richly imagined world. Cave’s vivid world-building and complex characters pull readers into a story full of intrigue and emotional stakes. It’s a thrilling, immersive read that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

This book was not what I was expecting-which can either be good or bad; thankfully this was good!
There was so much angst, the FMC had such a good heart and the MMC (understandably) could not trust it. I really felt for both characters and really hope to untangle more of each of their history and past experiences. A lot is eluded to, which make me incredibly intrigued as to more of the details as well as where the story will go.
The book goes into lots of detail on building an empire literally from the ground up. As well as politics, war, romance, and the occasional devil attack sprinkled throughout.
The only drawback for me personally was the FMC age, although being fantasy I understand it, but for me personally 17 is just too young for a main character. Plus with the MMC being 24…

Excited to read the next installment regardless!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

Book was good, but i would give it 3 stars. I think the storyline was a little bit too slow for me, but overall interesting plot kept me going :)

From the prologue, this book had me in its grip! I thought it was a sweet romance that tackles PTSD, Trauma responses and the feelings of abandonment. It teaches about trust even when the world is out to get you. Despite its premise, it ended up being a pretty cozy read about a woman trying to make up for the sins of her father against a man who wants to forget she exists while trying to build a city in a land that is trying to tear them down.

Despite the book grabbing me from the start, my biggest complaint is how long the chapters are. As someone who tends to not stop reading until she finishes a chapter, each one took 30 minutes to get through at my pace of reading. If you are a slower reader, expect 45 minutes to an hour per chapter. This was extremely frustrating as a reader, especially because there were so many moments the story naturally broke and yet it kept on trucking. I think that the writing was good but the structure of chapters in the Dual POV was a bit of a mess. The chapters flipped back and forth between Ophele and Remin and most of the time there was a break letting you know it switched, but occasionally it happened right in the middle of a paragraph. The timeline/timejumps were also inconsistent and there would be sections where they would tell you what happened over a span of a week and then randomly you would be in a conversation happening in the present, revealing the last bit of story was simply a flashback.

I was expecting more of a darker tone based off the description and there was a tension hovering over me as I read, waiting on the problems to really set in. I do think that the story ended up being exactly what it needed to, but I wish that we had more of a threat outside of the "devils" that laid siege to the city every night. The emperor was laid out to be this massive obstacle and outside of talking about him and referencing what happened in the past, he played no part to the story.

I think that Ophele is one of the better FMCs that I have read in a long time. She is shy and anxious which resonates with me on a soul level but watching her slowly grow out of that shell with people was amazing character development. Remin was your "Misunderstood Brooding MMC" and while he pulled it off well, I wasn't a big fan of him. He judged Ophele based off assumptions and refused to see what was happening at face value even though multiple men in his inner circle were telling him to give her a chance. This aspect of his character made it hard for me to resonate with him as a love interest. Granted, this was the plot point that kept them apart and is what they had to overcome to be together, and it was handled well storytelling wise.

I feel that this book wraps up the story quite nicely, but there is going to be more to come. I am unsure if I will continue with the series as I do feel that the strings are all tied up with no major loose ends. However, I wouldn't be against coming back to this world if the author can truly offer us something to keep the story going that doesn't require backtracking on the romance. It feels like we need to have a series of interconnected stand alones focusing on different couples, instead of everything focusing around Remin and Ophele as their story is complete in my eyes.

I did have a good time with this book and if you want something that is easy to follow with tension, this is the one for you!

"Traitor Son" by Melissa J. Cave is a gripping tale of resilience, romance, and the complexities of rebuilding a legacy tarnished by betrayal. The narrative centers around Remin Grimjaw, the son of a traitor, who strives to restore his family's honor by marrying Ophele, the Emperor's daughter, and building a new city from the ground up. This novel masterfully intertwines themes of political intrigue, personal redemption, and the challenges of forging a new path in a world fraught with danger and deception.

Set in a richly imagined world, "Traitor Son" delves into the post-war realities that Remin faces. His quest to reclaim his family's honor and establish a duchy is marred by constant threats, both political and supernatural. The world-building is meticulous, with a focus on the nitty-gritty aspects of city-building and the socio-political dynamics at play. The introduction of monstrous threats adds an additional layer of suspense, ensuring the reader is constantly engaged.

Remin Grimjaw is a complex protagonist. His initial coldness and emotional barriers towards Ophele create tension, but his gradual growth and the unveiling of his motivations make him a compelling character. Ophele, the Emperor's unwanted daughter, is portrayed with a blend of vulnerability and strength. Her journey from a bookish, naive girl to someone striving to find her place in a harsh world is both relatable and inspiring.

The supporting characters, particularly Remin’s loyal knights and the witty Miche, add depth to the story. Wen's humorous outbursts, especially his rant about pastries, provide much-needed levity amidst the heavier themes.

The romance between Remin and Ophele is a central element of the story. Despite the initial friction, their relationship develops organically, with moments of tenderness and mutual understanding. However, the imbalance in their dynamic, with Remin often unintentionally hurting Ophele, can be frustrating. This tension is a double-edged sword, adding realism but also making Remin occasionally hard to empathize with.

"Traitor Son" explores themes of honor, loyalty, and the rebuilding of a tarnished legacy. The narrative underscores the importance of community and the challenges of leadership in a newly established settlement. The exploration of the supernatural elements, though not fully resolved in this installment, promises an intriguing subplot for future books.

While the book excels in character development and world-building, it occasionally falters in pacing. The romance, though well-crafted, sometimes overshadows the political and magical elements, which could benefit from further exploration in subsequent books. The lack of female perspectives, aside from Ophele, and the predominantly male cast in the settlement, could be addressed in future installments to provide a more balanced view.

"Traitor Son" is a promising start to the Empire of Stars series. Melissa J. Cave has crafted a compelling narrative that balances romance, politics, and the challenges of rebuilding from nothing. The unresolved subplots and the potential for further character growth make this a series worth following. Despite its minor flaws, "Traitor Son" is a captivating read that leaves the reader eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Remin and Ophele's journey.

Ugh, this was such a great book! I loved the knights, courtly love aspects, and the characters' reverence for their ancestors. The story and characters were so compelling and I found myself nearly crying for Ophele's troubles several times. Her character is so selfless and sweet! The main plotline of the book follows the relationship of Ophele and Remin, which does get resolved right at the end of the book. There is definitely a big tee up of the next book in the series, which I am now impatiently waiting for! No cliffhanger. Only critique is that the intimacy scenes were only in missionary, though the author managed to keep the scenes fresh and they didn't feel too repetitive, plus it makes sense with Remin and Ophele's naivety..

I read this book within a day, the author's writing is chef kiss. I knew from the very first page that I was going to enjoy this book.
A grumpy Duke who's a traitor's son and a forgotten princess, count me in.
I didn't like the way the Duke behaved to the FMC but after seeing his back story, I understood why.
I didn't think it was necessary to add the devil and stranglers part.
I enjoyed reading about the FMC and MMC interactions and how they fell in love.
I can't wait for book two

This was instantly a new favorite. Within the first few chapters I was sucked in, and next thing I knew I only had 10% left and was dreading it being over. I loved the relationships and development between characters, and the banter was great as well. The story was amazing and left me wanting more, so I really can't wait to see what happens next in this series. Melissa - I'm a fan :)

Remin is a ‘traitors’ son who rises to fame and glory to win back his birthright to ensure his family name is never destroyed. To do this he bargained to marry the Emperor‘s daughter

I absolutely loved this book!! There’s a good range of politics, world building and character development. Plus honestly, the romance was absolutely top tier! The whole story revolves around Remin and his Knights building a new city while overcoming threats

I will say that this felt more heavy on the romance and the politics/ magical elements were more on the back burner. I’m assuming now characters are established the next books will include more focus and details on those things.

I will absolutely be picking up the next one!

Wen had been in absolute stitches (especially his rant about pastry’s) I want to see more of his character for sure!

The is book deserves all the stars. I knew by Chapter 2 that I would love and by Chapter 4 I was already dreading the ending. I stayed up til 3am to finish this story and loved every single page.

This was a sweet little romance about trust and city planning. It's very cozy, which is not really what I expected from the description, and manages to be so in spite of literal devils besieging the city each night. If you want a fantasy romance where everyone's nice people trying their best, you'll probably have a good time.

I found it a little hard to get into, at first, because I was expecting a darker tone so I was waiting for another shoe when in fact all the shoes had already been laid before me. Additionally, the first sex scene was a mess of flipflopping povs, an issue that thankfully doesn't crop up anywhere else in the novel. The main couple is pretty clearly inspired by Daenerys and Drogo, which is fair enough, I also read Game of Thrones in high school and thought about that sex scene for years, but it's blunted somewhat by having the male pov, where we are constantly reassured that he's a good man and the tension is all a misunderstanding. It works well for cozy, but personally, I like tension, and I think there could have been more of it.

The webpage for the series asks, "Did you enjoy the Machiavellian politics and huge stakes of Game of Thrones, but wish that the heroes had been a bit more heroic?" And I'm not sure it delivers on that. The politics are very much background, the stakes are extremely localized, and the magical elements are puffed up at the beginning only to be occasionally trotted out and never resolved. The politics never tie into the personal aside from the initial setup: they don't trust each other because of their respective traumas related to the Emperor. I get the impression that some of the politics might matter in a later book, but it stubbornly refuses to matter in this one. I kept waiting for the demons or the magical nature of the land to impact our two protagonists and their relationship, but the most we get is him reassuring her that he's handling the devils problem and her agreeing yes it's your duty to be handling the devils problem. The danger is backdrop. It's there to contrast with how nice the city they're building is. Generally, with epic fantasy plots, you resolve some part of it in each volume so it feels like progress. I did not feel that progress here. All of the threads save the romance felt unresolved in a way that was unsatisfying. The heroes are, however, heroic, down to the last knight in the city, in a way that borders on saccharine at times.

I really liked the character of Ophele, and I felt like her shyness and anxieties were handled very well. I was lukewarm on Remin, not because there was really anything wrong with him, but because it's not an archetype I enjoy as much in my romance leads (I'm more of a Miche enjoyer, myself), and I didn't feel like he brought much new to the "big misunderstood gruff guy" space. But they were cute together, and the core misunderstanding keeping them apart made sense, which is what counts.

I get the impression that the rest of the series is also focused on Remin and Ophele, though. If that's the case, I will likely not pick it up. It was a good romance, but they hit their resolution. Because I didn't see any of the questions raised about the world ever get answered in this book, I'd be hesitant to pick up another out of fear that the politics will continue to be only hinted at or shunted off to the end, and four more books is a long time to be asking the same questions. But if you're here for the romance, I can happily say I had a good time with this book.

This is the first book I have ever received from @netgalley and let me tell you, I devoured this book in a day!

The story centres around Remin Grimjaw and Ophele. An unlikely match but a political win for Remin, despite her being the bastard daughter of an Emperor set out to kill him by any means necessary. I don’t want to put any spoilers in my review about what happens between the two of them but their journey was one that kept me turning those pages. Melissa has done a wonderful job carving out two central characters that you genuinely care about and also a story that keeps you completely hooked and entertained. Remin also has a found family who protect and care for him, in turn they also bring humour to the story too. There’s battles, friendship, love, and eerie creatures that I felt genuinely scared about!

I felt like the world building in the book was great too and I could picture exactly what Remin is building for him and his people in Tresingale.

It’s not too fantasy heavy but I would love to learn more about the Valleth, and origins of the stranglers! Very, very helpfully in the glossary Melissa not only explains the great houses but also how to pronounce the characters names!

After I finished this book I was happy to see that Stardust Child (Book two of Empire of the Stars) is out in April 2025! I can’t wait to read it! 👍👍