Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!

Kiera Cass has done it again. This book, like it's prequel, made me cry. I won't spoil too much, but I will say this time it was happy tears! Kiera Cass has a talent for writing romance and I can't recommend this one enough to those who enjoy her other books!
This book has made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with characters I wasn't sure about in the first book. I can honestly say this was a good follow up book.

What a resolution to The Betrothed! I liked this one much more than the first. It was fast-paced, entrancing, and the characters had me screaming, crying, and cheering altogether. I think this is a really great sequel--exactly what I was hoping for!

I read The Betrothed when it first arrived at my library, and I was torn on my feelings about it. When I saw The Betrayed pop up as a NetGalley title, I requested it more as a reflex than as an actual expression of interest for the series. I was pleasantly surprised, though, that this sequel was more engaging than the first. The story was more focused, though the characters were still rather one-dimensional. It will be a good series to have available for the ones who have read and re-read The Selection series.

The Betrayed is the second book in The Betrothed series by Kiera Cass. A fast-paced young adult fantasy that pulled me in from the beginning but was hard to finish reading. I was not a fan of the first book and wanted to see if the second book would redeem the series. The characters are well-written, but the story lacks something.

Well, I will at least say this book was better than the last one. I really thought twice about reading it, but I wanted to give it a chance, and I'm glad I did.

It starts right where the second book left off, which helped in making sure I remembered most of what happened in the first book. But the one thing that bugged me that within the first 5 pages, Hollis decides to call Silas mom, Mother. Didn't her own mom just die!?!?! Plus, you barely know her...it was just super odd to me.

They make the journey into Isolte, settle in, and Hollis is really welcomed into this family with open arms, save for Eton. I loved the dynamic within the family and that Hollis knows she has to prove herself to everyone and isn't really upset by it. It affects her because she has feelings, but she is brave to face everything head-on.

I enjoyed the shape of the story, but I did find Hollis' relationship with Eton odd. I don't want to give anything away, but I just didn't get it. Happy with how it all played out. It looks like another book could be in the works, but it could end in this way too...I hope the story continues though.

Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy!

The Betrayed is the second book in this duology by Kiera Cass. After that ending in The Betrothed, I knew things would be rough for Hollis, and oh my goodness, were they! What I loved though, was how accepting Silas's family was of her. With the exception of Etan, of course. He was a hard one to win over. For a two book run, this was a pretty intense and unexpected storyline. Also... Holy plot twists, Batman!! That ending? Not entirely what I expected. I'm sad that there were only two books, but at the same time, I can't imagine it any other way. I loved it just as it is!

Note: My review link will go live on release day, unless the publisher requests it to be posted sooner.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC of this book!

This was a good sequel to an underwhelming first book. The first book fell flat on all accounts and it was a struggle to get though. The overall tone continues with this sequel, although this was a better book than the first. The Betrayed did what The Betrothed couldn’t, make me invested in these characters. There was a much stronger plot and the character development was good. I actually found myself rooting for our new MCs and their relationship and I was genuinely surprised with some plot twists that weren’t as predictable as other parts of this book.

However, like the first, The Betrayed was lackluster in its overall plot and the pacing and timeline did not make sense at all. While there was better development with the romance and relationships, it fell flat in the page. It was a quick read, and I am looking forward to the sequel if only to answer my questions about that ending. I’m just barely invested enough, but I would only continue the series if you are curious like i am.

I loved The Selection series by Kiera Cast and was excited to read this second novel from the Betrothed series. It takes off immediately after the first one ends with Hollis Brite seeing her parents, husband and most of his family murdered on their wedding night. She flees to the neighboring Kingdom where her husband's cousin Etan lives. Of course they don't get along but she wants revenge for the murders and he wants to overthrow an evil king so maybe they can work together. This was very average for me. Most of the plot was predictable except I expected a more exciting ending. For teens and YA adult readers who want a quick read or are fans of Kiera Cass. I will remember scenes from the Selection long after I've forgotten I read this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperColins Children's Books/HarperTeen for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

"If nothing is the way it seems, then this life is nothing but a haunted dream." —Steve Winwood
The Betrayed by Kiera Cass is the compelling, and fast-paced finale to the tale of Hollis and the rivalry between the two kingdoms that was begun in The Betrothed.

This is one of the rare instances where you should absolutely read The Betrothed in order to fully grasp the setting in which The Betrayed begins. Hollis Brite has just experienced an excruciating blow of pain and devastation and therefore decides to leave Coroa with the only family she has left. Her remaining family have decided to find refuge in Isolte, so that they may face the challenge of King Quinten head on.

The Betrayed is a continuation of the “nothing is as it seems” storyline. First impressions are often wrong, and the people that Hollis had once brushed off, are now allies, and perhaps even friends…some are deadlier than they appear. In the case of Etan Northcutt, Hollis needs an ally as well as an escort, and Etan is put to the task. As Etan and Hollis butt heads, a begrudging friendship emerges that slowly and beautifully blooms into something more.

A rebellion is mounting against the wicked King of Isolte. Hollis finds herself in the midst of the plot to gather evidence in order to bring his reign of terror to an end. Etan also finds himself there with her, and eventually finds himself leading the efforts to overthrow King Quinten.  I’m saving the juicy bits for everyone who reads The Betrayed. I will say that at 75%, I was shocked. By 90%, I was gobsmacked and utterly flayed out, desperate for the ending that I hoped would happen. By the very final pages, I was glued to the page and totally in awe that Kiera Cass had tied up everything perfectly.

Perhaps the The Betrayed could have been a hundred or more pages long. The quick-paced plot meant that only necessary details were given within the book. This story is undoubtedly about Hollis and the experiences that shape her. The Betrayed is the culmination of Hollis’ journey to not only find her voice, but her place as well as purpose in life. While I know that there are readers out there who disliked The Betrothed (you know who you are), I believe it deserves another look. This duet needs to be read it with an open mind in order to fully understand and engage with each of these books. Kiera Cass creates and writes amazing characters that are full of depth, as well as wonderfully addicting plots. I loved this duet, and I cannot wait for more.

4.5 stars!

The Betrayed is a wonderful conclusion to the story started in The Betrothed. Lady Hollis is a fantastic character. While she starts in the first book as a shallow young woman who is only focused on the superficial aspects of courtship and friendship, she grows so much over the course of the series. She discovers both love and loss, not just in her romantic relationships, but also in her friendships and family. I particularly admire her ability to love graciously, even when betrayed. I can't wait to recommend this series to my students!

I admit to being a little bit disappointed with The Betrayed, finding it a step down from the first in the series. The protagonist, Hollis, didn't really seem to experience much character growth this time around, and to be honest, I found her personality to be quite grating. I feel that the story was so plot-driven (lots of murder, violence, and persecution going on) that it sacrificed interesting and engaging characters in order to be seen as exciting.

Fans of Cass's The Selection series absolutely will enjoy the sequel to The Betrothed, The Betrayed! Hollis, Etan, and the other supporting characters are well developed as they change throughout the book. Her attention to detail regarding the setting/time period adds to the story. The Betrayed brings this duology to a great conclusion, wrapping up all the loose ends. As an adult, I enjoyed it as much as I know my students will! Thanks so much to #NetGalley for the opportunity to review #The Betrayed by Kiera Cass!

I did not love this book. I was anticipating the sequel to The Betrothed to find out what happens to Hollis after her family is murdered the day of her wedding. However, I found this book hard to get through. It was sluggish through most of the story, and rushed through the parts that were interesting and exciting. All in all, it was not a favorite book.

After I read "The Bethrothed," I admit I was unsure about the story and the ending because something just didn't vibe with me as I read it. Yet, I was intrigued to learn about this sequel and figure out how things ended. I'm so glad I gave this series another chance because I did quite enjoy this action-packed novel.

Here, it picks up quite literally where Book 1 ended up with Hollis fleeing Coroa after her husband Silas' death, where she's been living with his mom, sister, surly cousin Etan who's distrustful of her and all Coroans, aunt, and uncle in Isolte. While attempting to move forward with her life, a growing distrust in the Isoltean kingdom threatens the future of her new country and her old one. As tensions rise, she learns that the Eastoffe family could unseat the tyrannical Isoltean king and take over, but only with her help to stage a revolution among the people.

From the minute it started, exactly where we last left off, it is full of exciting language that pulls me back into this fantastical world. It's a quick YA read and way more action-packed than the first book (to me, at least), which helped to keep my interest.

Hollis Eastoffe was married for one glorious hour before her wedding ended in bloodshed. Now widowed, she flees Coroa with her in-laws in hopes of finding a shred of safety. While majority of her in-laws are caring and loving, Hollis quickly finds that not everyone is welcoming her to Isolte with open arms. Despite how welcoming some people are, she quickly finds her place and helps usurp the king responsible for the death of her husband and parents.

While I preferred the secondary characters over Hollis in the first installment, I needed to know what happened after her wedding ended in a bloody disaster. Fortunately for me, I loved Hollis this time around. I think she grew a lot very early on due to unfortunate circumstances, which ultimately made her a great character to follow. It was interesting to follow her in a new setting, see the Isolte we heard so much about in the first book, and meet the family Silas always spoke highly of.

I also found the romance to make a lot of sense this time around. Without spoiling the romance and what two characters it is between, I will say that they had so much chemistry that I wondered if they’d make their feelings known or if it’d be left as unrequited love. It was a huge improvement from the romances in the first book.

There were also couple of really good twists that left me reeling in addition to an event that was so crazy that I had to put the book down and process it despite wanting to continue reading. I do think that it suddenly wrapped up very quickly and probably could’ve been a trilogy rather than a duology, but I’ll live. Overall, I loved the story and didn’t want it to end.

Today in reviews, we have a not-so-rousing rendition of “wow, I was disappointed by an author I used to love.” And that, ladies and gentleman, is the best way to describe book 2 in the Betrothed duology by Kiera Cass. Hollis has escaped from Jameson, her husband Silas was killed on their wedding night, and now she’s going to do other things and end up in high places within the course of 300 pages, skipping entire plot points around like rocks on water.

Spoilers ahead…obviously. Like…lots of spoilers. I’m going to RUIN IT ALL for you.
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When we left Hollis Brite at the end of book 1, she had just witnessed her parents, new husband, and most of his family being MURDERED on their wedding night. She escapes with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, they team up with Silas’s cousin, Etan, who is also royalty-adjacent, and of course, this being a YA novel, they decide they need to overthrow the king of Isolte who they think had Silas, et al, killed. So they scehem and plot but only for a bit because this book’s pacing is terrible, and Hollis and Etan “hate” each other but grow to love each other somehow? Suddenly? And they overthrow the King but then they realize the other KING did it, so off Hollis goes to handle that, but then SURPRISE they were MARRIED all along because her parents signed a contract in her home country. But then, literally it the next scene, like two pages later, Jameson FALLS ON HIS SWORD ACCIDENTALLY AND DIES. And Hollis immediately becomes queen? And then we jump to three months later, Etan is his own king, Hollis is her own queen, and she MISSES him so when he comes ot visit they decide to just be together and unite their two countries that have been at odds but not at war for ages. And they kiss and the book/series is over.

Are you impressed I could condense the whole thing in a paragraph? Well get ready, cuz that’s exactly how the book feels. Seriously, the structure of the book is in shambles. The pacing is bad, I’m PISSED she ended up with Etan because King to commoner back to commoner’s cousin who ends up king is a LOT for like 500 pages of story, total, ya know? I like Hollis, but I thought it was hard to find her existence reasonable wiht the plot falling apart at the seams. When it turned out that the Isolte King didn’t kill Silas, but he still basically went to the dungeon willingly? And then etan just became king? andthen immediately left the country to follow Hollis to the other country? With no journey time–just like it was on the other block? And then the Jameson stuff happened SO QUICKLY it was insane. Like…unbelievable but also way too fast.

Like, I think the bare bones of this story could have been COOL but why did she do it like this? Why in a duology and not a trilogy? Why not make them LONGER if only two books? So much was sacrificed to tell this story that it was almost laughable by the end. I was not invested in the romance because I was still trying to catch my breath from the 30 second sprint across the border.

Ultimately, I gave this 2.5 stars. It was just…wow. And I LIKED The Betrothed well enough. This one just…sigh. I’ll wait and see what Cass has next and hope she takes her time with it.

Thanks to Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The Selection series was my whole life when I was in highschool, so when I saw Cass was releasing another royalty fantasy, I was sold from the start.

The first book left me with whiplash with that ending, but this book tied it all up so nicely and cleverly. The end was a little bit... unbelievable, but I thought it was fitting and a great way to end the duology. This book was exactly what I needed right now. Entertaining, light, and frivolous - but still engaging and beautifully written.

I ultimately gave the book four stars and I think it will be a comfort read for me in the future, just like the Selection.

Unfortunately, this series is not living up to other books that Cass has written. This book is just okay, there wasn't anything that gripped me and made me really want to find out what would happen so what should have been a quick read for me dragged.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I absolutely could not get through this. I didn't enjoy the first one, but I loved The Selection series, so I wanted to persist and see if this series got better. Unfortunately, it didn't get better at all, and I had to DNF at about 30% because it just wasn't worth continuing. The main character is super unlikable, there's no romantic chemistry, and there's just no world building.

I think Kiera's books are becoming the equivalent of fast romance reads? There seems to be elements that are too simplistic and would be more enjoyable if drawn out and given more depth. For example, her romance with Silas was fast-paced and desperation (ok, we can forgive this--she was trying to get away from King Jameson and needed a way out...), but after her romance with Etan seemed to turn on a dime, it just seemed to need a little more push/pull between the characters to go from hating to liking each other. Once instance does not a romance make.
Also, it ended extremely quickly! Like too quickly to be satisfying? I still felt there was a story there at the end, or even it needed a real conversation between her and Etan when Jameson died. I liked it, but because I wanted more depth, I can't say I LOVED it, despite still thinking that it's a mashup of Ruth/Boaz and Esther retellings and really wanting to love it.