Books like A man betrayed by J. V. Jones

Prince Kylock, heir to the Four Kingdoms, murders King Lesketh and ascends the throne, setting a chain of events that deepens the political turmoil already disturbingly woven in the world of the Four Kingdoms. The novel picks up where "The Baker's Boy" left off, following a betrothal party that must travel across the lands to meet Kylock's bride‑to‑be, Catherine, the daughter of the Duke of Bren. The alliance is meant to solidify the Four Kingdoms’ power in the Known Lands. Meanwhile, Jack and Melli, former subjects who fled the kingdom, chart separate paths: Jack joins a smuggler and black–market network, while Melli becomes a prized asset for a slave trader en route to Bren. Nabber pursues Tawl westward only to discover Tawl fighting as a pit‑fighter for survival. As Kylock reignites conflict with the Halcus, a full‑scale war threatens the realm. Before the wedding takes place, loyalties shift, new marriages are arranged, and Kylock displays his Machiavellian grasp on power, while Jack grows closer to understanding his own powers and origins.

First publish date: 1996