The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream by Stan Berenstain

His own relationship with Lara changes throughout the book, but the reasoning for that evolution never felt clear to me. Jensen puts Lara in so many uncomfortable situations and the dread for the end just piles up. Lara’s conviction is strong, but as she becomes more familiar with Ithicana and its inhabitants, we feel her horror as she realizes her actions will destroy them all. Jensen did a much better job showcasing the anxiety and stress of the arranged marriage in Lara’s chapters.

I couldn’t wait to see these two face off against each other, but the story quickly gave way to Lara’s POV which was more interesting and purposeful. I was downright giddy when I discovered the book would feature POVs from both Lara and Aren. Terrified but determined, Lara takes advantage of this opportunity to save the people of Maridrina from starvation and will stop at nothing to bring Ithicana to its knees. He plans to use Lara for intel and sends her off to infiltrate the opposing kingdom from the inside. The King of Maridrina wants control of Ithicana’s bridge and the wealth that comes through this incredible trade hub.

Aren, the king of Ithicana, demands a Maridrina princess as part of a peace treaty, and Lara’s father plans to send her not as a doting wife, but as a spy. Lara is a princess of Maridrina, but instead of living in a castle with gilded walls, she was raised at an isolated desert compound to become her kingdom’s greatest weapon. While I don’t think it lives up to the hype, it was still a fun and anxiety-inducing read as we watch Danielle Jensen pit two enemies against each other in the most delicate of situations. It’s another book that sat on my TBR for far too long, and I feel accomplished having finally read it. The Bridge Kingdom and I have been circling each other for years.

The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream by Stan Berenstain