The Bridge Kingdom

By: Danielle L. Jensen

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang, James Patrick Cronin

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

What if you fell in love with the one person you’d sworn to destroy?

Lara has only one thought for her husband on their wedding day: I will bring your kingdom to its knees. A princess trained from childhood to be a lethal spy, Lara knows that the Bridge Kingdom represents both legendary evil - and legendary promise. The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom controls all trade and travel between lands, allowing its ruler to enrich himself and deprive his enemies, including Lara’s homeland. So when she is sent as a bride under the guise of fulfilling a treaty of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture the defenses of the impenetrable Bridge Kingdom.

But as she infiltrates her new home - a lush paradise surrounded by tempest seas - and comes to know her new husband, Aren, Lara begins to question where the true evil resides. Around her, she sees a kingdom fighting for survival, and in Aren, a man fiercely protective of his people. As her mission drives her to deeper understanding of the fight to possess the bridge, Lara finds the simmering attraction between her and Aren impossible to ignore. Her goal nearly within reach, Lara will have to decide her own fate: Will she be the destroyer of a king or the savior of her people?

©2018 Danielle L. Jensen (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC.

Great story - listening challenge

I love this audible original and can not wait for the next edition. However it was disconcerting to hear the changes in the narration throughout the book. You develop a connection with the voices of the characters and to hear them change every few chapters interrupted the experience of the book.

Enchanting...

This is SO worth it! It is simply enchanting and I eagerly listened, spellbound, on the edge of my seat. I could not get enough!! It will be so hard to wait on the next in the Series.

Perfect!

I didn't want it to end!!!! I hope the second book comes out soon! Adventure, thrill, romance the whole shabang. It was perfect! Delightful read❤️can't wait for book 2!

Voices awkward

I enjoyed the story and the reading very much. Some of Lauren’s male voices need work. All I could think of was the guy at the bridge in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it. Didn’t enjoy the cliffhanger, though!

Where is book number two?

Unexpectedly amazed of how quickly one creates a bond with these characters as the navigate through the story! Great story!

I’m glad I found this new author to me…

The first chapter of The Bridge Kingdom had me grinning. I knew deep down it was a little sick that I was grinning because there were murder and mayhem all around. But, I saw (heard) beyond what I was supposed to see (hear). With my fingers crossed, and my heart pounding, I hoped that this evil creature could be a chameleon.

Happy dances…I found an epic tale!!!

Our heroine is portrayed as an intense, greedy and self-serving woman whose ambition leads her on a path of destruction. Now, most people would look at Lara and be horrified, me, I was rubbing my hands in glee. I’m all for a hero who jumps in to save his woman from the clutches of evil, but I also love a woman who can hold her own. Lara is strong, intelligent, sneaky and manipulative. As time goes on and we get to know Lara better, we see that she’s also a fierce protector of the underdog. I loved that Lara was tough but she also had vulnerabilities. Thank goodness she wasn’t perfect.

Now Aren, I found him harder to connect with. Ok, I’ll give him credit for having all the attributes of a good hero. Good looking, strong, bossy and arrogant, with a lot of sexy to get the heart pumping. He’s not a bad person, it’s just that I’m not sure he’s the right man for the job of King. Sure, I get Aren wants peace to save his people, but I found him a little weak and easily manipulated. It seemed like Lara’s pretty face was what he came to love, not Lara as a person. I think we haven’t seen Aren in the best light YET. There’s a good chance by the time we meet again, he will be a completely different man.

I’m not going to go too much more into the storyline because I think the blurb does a decent job to give you an idea of what the story is about. I really enjoyed how this story made me feel. It was intense in a way that made me slow the speed down and make sure that all the information was absorbed. The narrators are easy to listen to and the emotions came through making it even more exciting. Each chapter starts with the sounds of a storm, and I LOVED the intensity and excitement of the thunder and howling winds. It was a well-edited, directed and produced performance and it definitely made my *Top 10 Audios* list.

I found it hard to press pause or stop and I’m pretty sure I was scowling each time someone interrupted my listening time. To be honest, I even started to draw out the experience. I could see the end coming and I didn’t want it to arrive. Who knows how long it will be until #2 comes out but I will be waiting patiently…NOT!! Seriously, that ending…BLEW MY MIND!

This is an Audible Exclusive and Danielle L. Jensen hints that the ebook will be released in 2019. If you’re an audio fan who enjoys narrators that bring the story to life, I highly recommend The Bridge Kingdom.

The Bridge Kingdom

This book broke me. I picked it up and put it down several times, not because it wasn't good. On the contrary, it was excellent and I didn't want it to end. It broke me because I knew Lara was setting herself up for heartbreak, and I wanted to shake some sense into her. There were many times when she frustrated and angered me. However, Aren was sublime, I love this guy. He wanted much more than an alliance and his capacity to love and forgive was amazing. And that is why I fear for Lara and him because the plan she has set in motion can't be stopped, and when it smacks Aren in the face, will his capacity to love and forgive still be the same or will hate take over and consume him?

The narration was very good, and I love the storm sound effect at the beginning of the chapter. For me it helped to give me a visual of Ithicana. I also think the narrator did a good job of giving each character his or her own distinct voice; therefore, it allowed each character's personality to shine. In others the narrator embodied each character, and I didn't feel she was just reading a book but that she wanted to take the readers on a journey and allow us to feel like we were characters in the book. She made Ithicana and the characters seem like real people and a real place. I need book 2 immediately.

Action, Adventure and romance

Most of the book kept me on the edge of my seat I was only disappointed when I found out the 2nd book was not available yet. I cannot wait to find out what happens. Narrators were good.

SO happy with this book

Her writing is mostly hit with me. Always interesting worlds and creative characters.
Strong female lead and a good job of making sure everyone has believable flaws. Excellent growth and a good job at pacing to keep interest.
Glad to see the author branching out of YA a bit.
A fun and worth while read. Looking forward to the next book.

great story

this book left me with the desire for more. the book was great, but they ending left it to where even more e citement is heading their way.