The Traitor's Game (The Traitor's Game #1)

Kestra Dallisor is the defiant 16-year-old daughter of Sir Henry Dallisor, chief counsel to Antora's evil and possibly immortal ruler, Lord Endrick. Kestra is returning home following a three-year exile when Corack rebels ambush her carriage. Her attackers kidnap and threaten to kill Kestra's driver and handmaid unless she smuggles two insurgents, Simon and Trina, into Sir Henry's estate and helps them find the Olden Blade. The Blade is purportedly the only weapon capable of killing Lord Endrick, and it's rumored to be hidden in the Dallisor dungeons. Kestra only cooperates because she must, but the longer she spends in the Coracks' company, the more she questions what she knows about her kingdom, her family, and herself. First in a trilogy, this entertaining but uneven fantasy novel from Nielsen (the Mark of the Thief trilogy) advocates tolerance while championing female self-empowerment. Kestra and Simon's alternating narratives are engaging and distinctive, but although Nielsen's characters harbor plenty of secrets, they are somewhat one-dimensional, reducing the emotional impact of an otherwise action-packed, romance-laden tale. Ages 12-up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Feb.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 6-8—The world has been engulfed in perpetual war. Kestra, the daughter of the emperorlike leader of the Dominion, is blackmailed into stealing a powerful artifact called the Olden Blade which can tilt the balance of power in the region. Between the onslaught of warring tribes and ever-changing loyalties, the book is replete with tense moments that propel the story forward. Nielsen does a masterful job keeping readers off guard while tightening the screws of tension throughout, satisfying even the most reluctant readers. The dialogue can read dry at times, but the plot-based twists and turns more than make up for it. An otherworldly story with a side of fantasy on the surface, the setup and struggle feels universal. Small plot reveals are meted out every few scenes to keep teens intrigued and thirsting for more. This is clearly the first of a series, as the ending is just the reckoning that some much larger battle is at hand. VERDICT A competent addition to any middle school library, especially where there are fans of Cassandra Clare and Suzanne Collins.—Brian Hoff, Elmwood Park High School, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for The Traitor's Game

A New York Times bestseller

"The next big YA fantasy." — Entertainment Weekly

"One of the Most Anticipated YA Fantasy Books of 2018" — Bustle

"We were immediately caught up in Kestra's story, plotting beside a heroine made of strength, bravery and intelligence. Her complicated relationship with Simon and the danger sewn into every moment of her father's palace politics kept us flipping pages in time with each jaw-dropping plot twist." — Justine Magazine

"Fantasy, action and romance combine for a whirlwind ride in Jennifer A. Nielsen's The Traitor's Game!" — Girls' Life

"One of the Most Anticipated YA Books of 2018" — Hypable

"Nielsen creates wonderful characters in all of her novels, and she is especially talented at writing complex, intriguing females who refuse to fit into any neat categories. The first in her engrossing Traitor's Game series introduces readers to another fascinating heroine, who disrupts the plans and plots laid to trap her and insists on controlling her own narrative....Engrossing, emotional and offers plenty of promise for the series to come." — RT Book Reviews

"One of the Most Anticipated YA Fantasy Novels of 2018" — B&N Teen Blog

"[An] action-packed, romance-laden tale." — Publishers Weekly

"This rip-roaring tale has action galore with battle scenes, kidnappings, murder, intrigue, and romance....Nielsen has created a compelling world where little is as it seems." — School Library Connection

"Nielsen does a masterful job keeping readers off guard while tightening the screws of tension throughout, satisfying even the most reluctant readers." — School Library Journal

"The twists and turns of the plot make for compelling reading that should especially entertain fans of Nielsen's Ascendance trilogy." — The Horn Book

"The Traitor's Game is intrigue and adventure with a bold heroine, some forbidden romance and plenty of twists along the way." — Shelf Awareness

"The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen, is an action-packed story that leaves you yearning for more. The new book is an amazing addition to Nielsen's repertoire . . . Fit with a feisty heroine and some tough kidnappers, The Traitor's Game keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout." — The Missourian
"Kestra may be one of my favorite characters of all
time. She is courageous, bold beyond belief and also positively petulant, with a tendency for tantrums. The perfect protagonist for this adventurous, action-packed fantasy. Mixed with a bit of magic, a completely captivating saga is created; a stellar start to a tempting trilogy." — Buried Under Books

"If you like your heroines fierce, your heroes protective, their loyalties divided, their missions complex, their motivations hidden, their lives full of secrets, The Traitor's Game is an absolute must." — Fiktshun

Praise for the Ascendance Trilogy:

A New York Times Notable Children's Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" Children's Book
A Cybils Award Winner

* "An impressive, promising story." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[A] pageturner." — The New York Times Book Review

"Sage proves to be a compelling character whose sharp mind and shrewd self-possession will make readers eager to follow him into a sequel." — The Wall Street Journal

"A swashbuckling origin story... chock-full of alluring details for adventure-loving boys." — Los Angeles Times

"A fast-paced and thrilling read with twists and turns that never let up." — School Library Journal

"Gripping." — Kirkus Reviews

"Should appeal to fans of... Suzanne Collins... [A] surefire mix of adventure, mystery, and suspense." — The Horn Book

Praise for A Night Divided

"Like Anne Frank before her, Gerta is small but mighty, a hardheaded heroine who dreams up big ideas and refuses to give up in the face of adversity and danger. Nielsen (Mark of the Thief) evokes the constant unease of life in a divided Berlin through Gerta's sober narration... but the family never loses sight of the power of humility and forgiveness." — Publishers Weekly

"Nielsen, best known for her fantasy novels, proves she is equally skilled at historical fiction in this solidly structured, balanced account of the origins of an infamous historical landmark... The novel's strong setting and tense climax will keep readers engrossed and holding their breath until the last page." — School Library Journal

Praise for the Mark of the Thief Trilogy:

* "The fast-paced, ingenious plot, charismatic hero and highly diverse cast of characters... make this series opener a captivating joy ride." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Vivid... [with] page-turning twists." — Publishers Weekly

"Fast-moving fun with broad audience appeal, especially recommended for reluctant readers, Rick Riordan fans, and pedal-to-the-metal adventure aficionados." — Kirkus Reviews

"The novel's Roman mythology connections... will have great appeal for fans of Rick Riordan. Heavily plot-driven with a movie-script feel." — Booklist

Praise for The Scourge

"A strong, feisty main character... narrates a story that is equal parts adventure, mystery, and political intrigue." — The Horn Book

"Ani's willingness to help others, a hard battle in herself as she tries to get over long-held assumptions, demonstrates effectively how emergencies can bridge distances." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Nielsen's (A Night Divided) polished fantasy smoothly combines medieval elements with hints of mystery and romance... it delivers a significant message about how misinformation breeds intolerance." — Publishers Weekly

"Nielsen provides readers with a strong, three-dimensional heroine and a plot that will keep readers guessing." — School Library Connection

"The characters are well defined and memorable. Feisty Ani, a likable character who is thoughtful and strong, drives the story forward and keeps readers wanting to know more... A solid choice for readers who enjoy tales of strong heroines set in the ever-popular dystopian genre." — School Library Journal