Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Seek the Traitor's Son by Veronica Roth Narrator: Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Soler, Steve West
Series: Seek the Traitor's Son #1
Published by MacMillan Audio on May 12, 2026
Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy Romance
Length: 18 hours, 29 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
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Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.
She is happy with her life as a soldier. She spends her days fighting the Talusar, whose deadly Fever and mysterious gifts threaten her small country's very existence.
But then she's summoned to hear a prophecyāher, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other...but they don't know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.
In just one day, Elegy's old lifeāher job, her purpose, and her futureāis over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.
Seek the Traitor’s Son is the first book in a the new Dystopian/SciFi/Fantasy series The Burning Empire.Ā Iāve enjoyed Rothās writing in the past, but I was disappointed by the conclusion of her first series. I was pleasantly surprised by the growth in both her writing and storytelling here. Using four different points of view, Roth layers and builds the plot toward an explosive ending that left me eager for more.
Far in the future, Earthās population has been transformed and divided into two rival cultures. The Talusar have built an entire society around a new religion that worships a deadly virus. If youāre one of the lucky fifty percent who survive and return from death, you come back changed, reborn with a unique enhancement. In contrast, the Cedrae have turned to science and technology, isolating themselves from the virus and the Fever it causes. Though they control far less land, they have constructed a space station. A faction within the Cedrae now plans a pilgrimage into the stars, hoping to find the aliens who once visited Earth before the calamity that nearly wiped-out humanity.
Elegy Ahn was meant to be the backup heir to her sister, the designated āreplacement swordā of Cedrae. But fate and the oracles who glimpse possible futures, shattered that path in a single moment when they named her the Hope of Cedrae and set her against Rava Vidar, the Talusar general and daughter of their leader. Both women receive a prophecy that could free their people once and for all. Yet only one can win.
“Blame isn’t a precious resource to be stored up and given to the one person wo really deserves it.Ā It’s a thrashing many headed monster. Big and mean and sprawling.”
Theren is a man caught between two worlds. As a child refugee from the Talusar, his mother bargained for their acceptance into Cedrae by promising he would one day become a Knight for the Sword. He is the fulcrum of the prophecy and plays a pivotal role with both women. As the story unfolds, we slowly learn why. The romance between Theren and Elegy felt natural and earned. I loved the magnetic pull between them and how deeply Elegy understands his trauma, his PTSD, and the dissociative episodes caused by his brutal treatment at the hands of the Talusar. Therenās chapters were some of my favorites, watching his journey from broken boy to the man destiny demands, and exploring the strange gift the Fever gave him, was absolutely captivating.
The final two points of view belong to Hela, Elegyās adoptive sister and a Traveler. Hela brings welcome fun and whimsy to the story, lightening the heavier moments. Fiercely loyal to her sister, sheās also equipped with sneaky scout skills and a talent for odd jobs. She was instantly likable and serves as the perfect sidekick, filling in the gaps when Elegy and Theren arenāt present. There arenāt many Traveler chapters, but they cleverly hint at the larger direction the series is heading, enough to make me desperate to see how the characters will uncover the path laid out long ago.
The pacing and slow-burn reveals worked perfectly for me. I loved the seamless blend of dystopian, sci-fi, and fantasy elementsāit reminded me why I fell in love with Red Rising. Every character wrestles with personal demons and a destiny they never asked for. The final twist caught me completely off guard, and Iām dying to see how it will ripple through the next book. Those tricky oraclesā¦never trust anyone who claims to know your future.
The buildup to the ending was masterful. I was genuinely sad when the book finished because I was ready for so much more.
“If this seems like a dramatic move with little chance of success.Ā That’s because it is.”
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Sound Effects: none
Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Soler and Steve West are the ensemble cast for this series.Ā I honestly was so excited to listen as Steve West is one of my favorite narrators and I have loved Rebecca Soler in so many of her narrations as well.Ā I was only slightly familiar with Imani Jade Powers, she fit the voice of Elegy well and captured her heart and her reluctance to be the Hope of Cedrae.Ā I enjoyed Max Meyers’ work in another series he narrated and his voice felt perfect for Thelen’s character.Ā Each narrator did a great job at the pacing of the narration and the ultimate performance.Ā I loved the Traveler’s PoVs the most because of Steve West and hope that character gets more time in the next story but each narrator was able to carry their chapters adding to my overall enjoyment of the book.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Steve West
A London native, Steve began his career by winning the Stage & Television Today acting scholarship at the age of 17 (after ironically believing that he had bombed the audition!). What followed took him through one of London’s top drama conservatories, onto the West End stage in ABBA’s musical phenomenon Mamma Mia! and then to working opposite the likes of Chucky the killer doll and Don Draper in TV’s Mad Men.
Having moved to the States in 2009 he earned a place as a highly respected and award winning voice over artist working across commercials, films, documentary, audiobooks and video games. He starred as Galahad in Sony’s epic motion capture release The Order 1886 which took over 2 years to film and employed the most up-to-date filming and audio techniques in the field.
Versatile in a multitude of ways from acting to singing to dancing to dying 100’s of different ways in a sound booth he continues to enjoy work both on stage, screen and behind a mic. Check out his latest news on the home page, join the conversation on Facebook and twitter and even head back to the 1800s and ‘be’ Steve/Galahad on the PS4!
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I of course loved the Divergent series so I really need to try something else by the author. Great review!
I’m liking her growth as an author. I remembered why I liked Divergent so much.
Sometimes a slower burn works for the story. š
The older I get the more I like the smolder.