The Betrayed by Kiera Cass
(The Betrothed, Book 2)
Released: June 29, 2021 | Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
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Kiera Cass brings another sparkling romance to a stunning conclusion in this sequel to the instant #1 New York Times bestseller The Betrothed.
Can you follow your heart when it’s already broken?
After fleeing Coroa and leaving the memory of her beloved Silas behind, Hollis is unsteadily adjusting to life in Isolte. The Eastoffe family’s affection is a balm on her weary spirit, though Etan, a surly cousin with a deep distaste for Coroans, threatens to upset the uneasy peace she’s found.
While tensions at home ratchet up, disquiet in the kingdom of Isolte is reaching a fever pitch. The Eastoffes may have the power to unseat a tyrannical king—but only with Hollis’s help.
Can a girl who’s lost it all put the fate of her adopted homeland over the secret longings of her heart?
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Kiera Cass has said that The Betrothed and The Betrayed was originally one long story that had to be cut in half. And finding the right stopping point was a challenge because the story wasn't originally conceived as two neatly separate adventures.
REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ☆ ☆ ☆
Ugh 😩 I knew this was going to happen. (See my review of The Betrothed. I totally called it.)
At the end of the first book, Hollis went through a traumatic, character-defining event. By the time we reach this book, it is as if it never happened. There are no lasting effects and no consequences. If it does not matter to the story, why should it matter to the reader?
The pacing is a mess. I had hoped Kiera Cass had moved past the YA “instant romance” trope, but she has not. Relationship development amounts to:
“You like the color red?”
“So do I!”
“We must be soulmates.”
Beyond the weak storytelling, the biggest problem is that it is boring. Things do happen, but it rarely feels like there is any real progress. It is like watching a politician answer a debate question. They are talking, but they are not actually saying anything.
Without a third book it is hard to say for sure, but this feels like a filler entry that could easily be skipped. I am not sure if another installment is even planned, but the series would benefit from one to make this volume feel worthwhile.
And then there is the worst line in the entire book, right at the end:
“It is surprisingly easy to teach people not to hate.”
Um… have you met people?
