From the very first page, A Throne Betrayed sinks its claws into the chaos of a crumbling empire and doesn’t let go. I absolutely ate it up. War. Betrayal. Honor. And Sacrifice.

The characters are gold. Raw, emotional, deeply flawed, and so richly developed. I found myself especially gutted by Yakamo and the plight of the Crab Clan. Their sacrifices are gut-wrenching, and yet the rest of the Empire seems blind to it. It’s tragic, and it’s brilliant.

“You did not fail. We were betrayed.”

The emotional weight of this book sits heavily in your chest. And despite the depth of worldbuilding (and it is dense), I never felt truly lost. That said, I did find myself Googling quite a few terms. A glossary or footnotes would have been a helpful touch for newcomers, especially to the Legend of the Five Rings universe.

The pacing leans more epic than fast, and while some passages meander without much dialogue, I personally didn’t mind. As someone who loves emotionally driven writing, those moments added tension and gravity. But I know some readers prefer things snappier!

This book has me setting a new goal: I want to read more of the Legend of the Five Rings books. This world is so rich and textured and I can tell there’s so much more still to explore.

Final Thoughts:
Heavy, heartfelt, and utterly gripping. A Throne Betrayed is an epic of loyalty, loss, and legacy—and I’m desperate for the next installment.