I put off reading The Inadequate Heir for a while. The Bridge Kingdom and The Traitor Queen set the bar so high, and Lara and Aren remain one of my favorite book couples. I wasn’t sure if the next duo could hold up. And while I was kind of right, I still enjoyed this return to the world. 

Zarrah and Keris have a very different dynamic—one that leans into Romeo and Juliet-style forbidden love. It’s built on mutual curiosity and respect, but also a quiet, underlying tension as they start questioning the war they were raised to fight. Zarrah trusts the Empress completely; Keris has never trusted his father. Watching them navigate their beliefs (and each other) kept me intrigued, even if their romance felt more like a deep friendship at times. 

The story itself was fascinating because it overlapped so much with The Traitor Queen. Honestly? I kind of wish I had done a tandem read because Danielle Jensen wove in little details that tied both books together beautifully. That said, there were moments where I caught myself thinking, “Okay, let’s move this along.” The pacing wasn’t quite as gripping as Lara and Aren’s storyline, but it still delivered. 

As for the characters—Zarrah was solid, but she didn’t quite match Lara for me. She feels younger, more naïve, but she has a strong foundation, and I have high hopes for her in Endless War. Keris, on the other hand, had all the makings of a great MMC—complicated backstory, sharp mind, undeniable charm—but his heroics in this book didn’t quite land for me. I liked him, but I didn’t love him. 

Overall, I’m glad I took my time between The Traitor Queen and this one. Jumping straight in might have made me miss Lara and Aren too much to appreciate Zarrah and Keris for who they are. That said, this was better than I expected, and I’m actually excited to see where the next book takes them.