The Heart of Betrayal

The Heart of Betrayal

by Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, Book 2
Published: July 7, 2015 by Henry Holt
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Goodreads
My Rating: ✪✪✪✪✪

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Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together. 

Desperate to save her life, Lia’s erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw. 

Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.

Although I have deviated majorly with my plans for reading this summer (so many good books and so little time to read them!) I have decided to majorly edit the time frame if not the books included in my revolutionary summer, with The Heart of Betrayal being the first big addition!

Review:

"'Welcome to Venda, Princess,' he jeered. 'I promise you, things will be very different now.'"

Before I get into the thick of the review, let me start of by suggesting that anyone interested in this book read the first book in the series,  The Kiss of Deception.  The introduction to the characters and the events preceding this novel are key to understanding the situations the main character finds herself in.

From the first chapter, the growth of the author from the previous novel was strikingly apparent. The intricacies of the new world Princess Lia encounters (after having been kidnapped by her supposed-to-be assassin), were described in detail contributing to a full and immersive realm. Her connection with the people in her new surroundings provided an interesting twist to the powers hinted at in the first installment.

While the first book read as more of a love story than fantasy novel, in The Heart of Betrayal, Lia knows who she wants and is determined to do whatever it takes to ascertain her happy ending. Her struggle redefining the perceptions her old society had instilled in her about the "barbaric" Vendans added another facet to her character growth, as she must learn the difference between the truth what she was taught growing up. While walking the thin line between life and death, she must discover the secrets of Venda before they can be used to destroy her former kingdom.

"Every hour was wrung with fear and I had to hold back from what I wanted to do more than anything else."

The flashes to her friend Pauline's storyline provides interesting insight into what is happening in other parts of the kingdom, providing a further look into the turmoil about to be unleashed in the conclusion to the series. The lack of faith in Lia's loyalty to her kingdom and friends provides an insight into her home life which had been previously unexplored other than her relationship with her older brother Walther (*cries*).

 Lia's circumstances led to major character growth, effectively evolving her from the sniveling runaway princess to the fearsome future queen. I found her altogether more likable and relatable in this contribution to the series. Her struggle to discover herself and understand the powers and forces at work supply an enthralling story and understandable character, setting up the world for what promises to be a stunning conclusion in The Beauty of Darkness.


Final Thoughts:
I would recommend this book, although I would like to warn any potential readers of the cliffhanger ending (you may want to wait for the conclusion to come out before starting this one if you get frustrated with waiting). It was a wonderful continuation of an interesting series! I can't wait to see what the last book will have in store!