Fans of Lynette Noni will not be disappointed with book three of the ‘Prison Healer’ series. The Blood Traitor picks up the story of Jaran Vallentis and Kiva Corentine and charts their journey across Evalon as they make their way back to each other.

The full cast of characters returns in The Blood Traitor. Good must triumph over evil. But as Kiva soon learns, it is not always easy to recognise when evil and betrayal are close at hand. As Kiva and Jaren fight the evil taking over their lands, they must somehow find it in their hearts to forgive each other and decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for the other person. Will Jaren recover his magic or will he learn to live a life without it? Will Kiva learn to control her magic and use it to save those around her?

Noni has deftly woven love, betrayal, trust, and loyalty into this addition to the series. She asks her characters to question their worth and their purpose, while ultimately allowing love and family to shine. This is a very popular series that is a modern form of the fantasy genre and it well deserves the accolades it has received.

The Blood Traitor had a hard act to follow after The Gilded Cage (book two) but it manages to continue the story in a natural and inventive way. As the book ended I felt the story had reached a natural conclusion. However, I’m pleased to say there is scope for a further book. Something I’m sure Noni’s fans will clamour for!

Reviewed by Kathryn Eyre
Age Guide 13+