Traitor Son

This was a strong start to the Empire of the Stars series, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. The overall feel worked as a romance novel in this world. The overall story worked with the characters and their world perfectly and thought it was written well. I enjoyed the way Melissa J Cave was able to create a story and keep the reader entertained. I’m excited for the sequel in this book.

TRAITOR SON is a fantasy novel about what happens after the war is won. Remin Grimjaw is both a hero and the son of a traitor. After service to the emperor that wants him dead, he desires three things: land for his duchy, the river for his own, and the emperor's daughter for his wife. He's going to make something of the land he fought so hard for, and build a noble house no one will be able to tear down. Ophele is the emperor's unwanted, uncared for bastard daughter and they have to make the best of an uneasy marriage.

TRAITOR SON is the story of Remin and Ophele's marriage and the start of the building of their new home. In some ways this story is kind of cozy and exactly the kind of thing I like--the nitty gritty of how to carve out out a new home from nothing, and how to build a relationship from a lot of preconceived notions. And much of the book worked for me, which is why I managed to read it in the course of a day.

Two niggles I had problems with were Remin's attitude towards Ophele--for much of the book he is pretty cold to her and emotionally stunted in general, and he does a lot of things that end up hurting her. I could have bonked him on the head multiple times. He does eventually come around and we see his reasons for it, but I wanted to hit him over the head a lot. He'd better spend the next five books in this series walking over broken glass for Ophele. And he needs to learn to trust and have faith for other people, not just for Ophele. He's got some more growth to go through.

My second niggle was Ophele's general naiveté and her youth, I guess is the best word. She's seventeen and a bit of a bookish mouse and very easily crushed by unintentional cruelty, which is relatable, and we understand why over the course of the book. But I kept expecting and hoping for her to stand up to him, to insist on being treated as an equal, and making him talk to her, for goodness's sake, but she never does. I think this was so apparent because once we reach her new home in the valley, there are no other women in the story at all. It is literally a huge settlement full of men. And as the remnant of an army, it kind of makes sense, but I REALLY hope the next installments have more women to provide their perspective to her. Miche filled the councillor role for both Remin and Ophele (and I LOVED his character) but boy I hope we get more women. I really hope we get more community building in general. I love stories focused on community.

There is also a subplot about monsters that felt a little inconsistent but we've got five more books to flesh that out.

Anyways, I had a good time and it was very readable, four stars!

Heat level: 4

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! 👍👍

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.

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!

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 :)

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..

"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.

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

*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 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 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 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

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!

There are fewer things better than starting a new book with no expectations and it delivering something great. Melissa J Cave's 'Traitor Son' does exactly that and was a brilliant read.

Thanks to excellent world-building, superb characterisation, and political machinations, I was quickly gripped and thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this new series.

Whilst the romance element of the plot took centre stage (something I'm not normally into), I was engaged throughout and the fantasy and political elements woven around this were very well done, with the potential of what's to come a very exciting prospect!

I'm really looking forward to the next instalment and would give this 4.5 stars if I could. A very nice surprise and a huge thank you to NetGalley and Owl & Bear for an ARC of this novel.

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.