The Endless War – Danielle L Jensen is the fourth book from The Bridge Kingdom series. We continue the journey in the relationship between Keris Veliant and Zarrah Anaphora.
Keris, the inadequate heir, now Maridrina’s King has to choose between his love for Zarrah and his political duties regarding his kingdom.
Zarrah, accused of treason is sent to pay for her sin on the Devil’s Island, a place worse than Hell itself
We are introduced to Devil’s Island world, where surviving makes the rules. We meet new characters, we fight and we survive.
The next step is Zarrah taking over Valcotta’s throne. That leads to a road full of surprises and discoveries, the most important one: Zarrah’s father is very alive and also the leader of the Resistance He’s actively fighting against Empress Petra Anaphora, trying to return the throne to the rightful heiress, his daughter Zarrah Anaphora.
The story
Zarrah is accused of treason by her aunt and sent to prison in Devil’s Island. It is not a prison with walls, ii is an unapproachable island. The territory is divided between two groups of people and supplementary inhabited by criminal monsters. Keris, as Maridrina’s King, leaves one of his sisters to rule in his place. He joins forces with Lara and Aren and together decide to save Zarrah from Devil’s Island. We go through many twists and turns, but we all emerge victorious: heroes and readers. Zarrah is saved and comes back to Valcotta’s territory. The first price paid by Empress Petra is her son who dies trying to annihilate Zarrah.
Zarrah meets her father and learns new details about her mother, her grandfather, and her aunt. Petra Anaphora has been led through her whole life by ambition and a hint of crazy. In her need to be worshiped, to be the first and the best, Petra offered Silas all the details for killing her sister and her niece. But Silas with his own brand of cruelty, has left Zarrah alive. That gave Petra the chance to mold a child into a weapon to fight her wars and the perfect worshiper.
For Zarrah to take her rightful place, on the throne of Valcotta, annihilating Petra is not enough. People have to learn the truth, armies have to reconsider their loyalties, and everybody’s trust has to be restored. Helped by Keris who proves himself to be a master of political tapestries, Zarrah’s truth becomes Valcotta’s reality.
On the other hand, Keris is always by Zarrah’s side, offering her support, advice, loyalty, and real love, simple and passionate, with no conditions or obligations. Zarrah, Valcotta’s Empress becomes his wife. Kerris, Maridrin’s King, makes his and everyone else’s dream come true, peace and alliances that benefit not only the royals but also the people. But what puts Keris’ mark on the history of Maridrina is changing the law and giving women equal rights as men. Also, the succession to the throne is determined by the birth order of the successors and not by their gender. So he assumes the role that brings him happiness and fulfillment, being the husband of Empress Zarrah Anaphora. He gives up Maridrina’s crown in favor of one of his sisters.
The Endless War of one generation of rulers became a powerful alliance based on trust, loyalty, friendship, and yes love – the feeling that transformed three enemy kingdoms into family.
What I loved
Keris. I liked him. Brilliant politician, skilled warrior, passionate lover, dedicated husband, and loyal friend. Keris, is the man who gave up a kingdom to support the woman he loves. The king who gave up his crown to be the adviser of the newly crowned Empress.
The relationship born between the couples Keris-Zarrah and Aren-Lara proves that loyalty and love can change worlds, can rule kingdoms, and can change history.
At the end of this series, I had a very funny revelation. All the political tapestry of maneuvers and plots ended up with an alliance between three kingdoms. Ithacana is led by Aren and Lara, the daughter of King Silas of Maridrina. Maridrina is ruled by one of King Silas’s daughters. Valcotta is ruled by Zarrah and Keris, son of King Silas of Maridrina. I believe King Silas is doing a little happy dance in his grave because his heirs rule three kingdoms. But I also believe he’s green with envy because he is not alive to rule all three kingdoms by himself.
Dear Silas, life is a bitch!
What I didn’t love
The series ended. Yes, I have never liked the last page of a book. A world ended! But it was a beautiful end, no loose ends, leaving behind a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment. Good and love have won! Justice and loyalty have won!
Buy the book here: https://l.profitshare.ro/l/12348538
