Synopsis:
In a world where writing disappears when the author dies, 22-year-old Cael Oberlan watches the last gasping breaths of his best friend. He pulls a scrap of paper out of his pocket as his friend’s signature fades. Cael only wants vengeance for his friend and to create a reality where he no longer has to bow before any man. However, the nagging suspicion that his father, who started this war, hasn’t given him the whole story about his role in this conflict threatens to unravel everything he ever thought he knew about himself and the people he is fighting to free.
As nephew of the King, 24-year-old Emil Trestinsen should be a hero. He should already hear his name echoing in celebration in the streets of the capital. In a young life already full of disappointment, the lack of recognition for ridding the kingdom of “Ruinous” Lorcen Oberlan may prove to be the final push he needs to seize his destiny. He will prove his worth to his family and his nation. He will end this rebellion and take his rightful place as the next governor of the rebels. When 18-year-old Merily Oberlan receives letters from the frontlines, and the top one is blank, she is devastated to realize one of her loved ones has died in battle. She is determined to help bring an end to this bloody war and be strong for her people, a cultural and religious minority in the kingdom of Harfal. What started as a simple rebellion transforms into a complicated web of lies, betrayal, and difficult decisions no one should have to make. It is a race against time and death as handwriting continues to disappear, erasing the contracts and historical records necessary for peaceful negotiations.
Review:
Overflowing with political intrigue, The Traitors We Are lives up to its title. In this multi-POV epic fantasy, we follow Cael Oberlan, guileless warrior of the Reachmen and his fed-up younger sister Merily as they fight their way to independence. But we also get to see the other side of the conflict through the eyes of a self-important royal Emil Trestinsen. Through the war and the complicated situation that follows, each character navigates schemers, egos, and the blending of cultures to vie for a better world for their people.
What stood out to me the most about Roberti’s writing was his nuanced characterization. At first introduction, one might’ve mistaken Emil as your stereotypical self-centered royal brat, but the more you read about him, the more you find out that he is trying to what he thinks is right based on his own societal and political pressures. The same could be said of Cael and Merily. They grit their teeth and follow the direction of their father and chief, distrusting his choices all the same. This meshes together to create a very human and relatable cast that drives the story in a beautiful way.
There was a delicious tension throughout Traitors as each character took risks and followed orders that were even bigger risks, but Roberti didn’t shy away from humor which perfectly balanced out the dark setting. In fact, the highlight of the entire story for me was any scene with Freia in it. Her devil-may-care attitude frequently brought levity to the page as the two very different cultures blended and bounced off each other.
And then there’s the magic. Having one’s death erase everything they have written is a wonderful premise for a story. Roberti only scratches the surface of the worldbuilding in Traitors, but what he does include is deeply satisfying. I hope that we will go much deeper into the societal implications of this magic in the future installments of the Crown And Tide series.
On the less positive side, there were a few instances, especially in the first couple of chapters where the prose was clunky and the scene blocking didn’t make much sense to me. But these small moments didn’t take away from the overall story.
I loved every minute of The Traitors We Are and am looking forward to the sequel. If you want the politics of A Song of Ice and Fire (A Game of Thrones) with a more reasonable number of characters, the you’ll love this story.
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