This review contains spoilers from both the Betrothed and the Betrayed:
After reading the first book in this duology I had very low hopes going into this book and I can’t decide if it was slightly better or worse. After reading the end of the Betrothed I was shocked that Silas had just died (and honestly believed that he wouldn’t stay dead) since that rarely happens to a love interest, but when Etan was first introduced I was instantly turned off because I knew he was about to become Hollis’ new interest even though he was now her cousin (through marriage). I felt that the first book was lacking but still wanted to see the storyline through because I remember really enjoying the Selection and I don’t always enjoy the first book of a series. After reading the Betrayed I learned that I was correct with my assumption that Etan was in fact the love interest after we spent a book rooting for Silas, who also did not end up not being dead. Which is fine at this point I don’t know if that would have made this book better or even worse (if possible). There was absolutely no conflict involved for a family that was supposed to be on the brink of being traitors should someone know what they were doing and I felt like the conflict that was introduced was resolved in the most boring or completely un believable ways. And do not even get me started in the ending, before the end I was content with staying meh on my opinions but the ending just made me so mad. It made complete sense to make Etan king but then there was everything with Hollis. I actually didn’t mind the whole Hollis being married to Jameson thing because the thought crossed my mind when Hollis was talking about contracts in the beginning, so it must have been foreshadowing. But that bothered me was the absolutely ridiculous ways that Jameson was dealt with, being the main antagonist of the series. Of all the ways he is going to go out, it’s going to be tripping on his rage in a fit of anger? To me that felt like a cop out. Once I felt ok with the idea of Hollis becoming a Queen in her own right, I really liked the idea. From my understanding of her character it is that while she used to yearn for the crown, she understood that not everyone is fit for it, while the readers knew that she would end up as someone’s queen (because that’s how it always works), but never once did it cross their minds that it might be her own. I was shocked that Keira Cass might actually have her main character end up single but I believe that it would have sent a great message out there to all of the readers that you can go through so much hardship, but at the end of the day you need to be the change that you want to see. BUT NO of course she makes Hollis unable to be truly happen without Etan by her side, even thought they had only known each other for what, a month? And we all know how well that worked out for her last time... My biggest issue with this is not that she gets a happy ending, but rather that the resolution was just to take these two countries that have not always had the best relationship and combine solely for two sovereign’s rash decisions and the fact that after attending one ball filled of diplomats believing that all citizens would be ok with it. It just rubs me the wrong way that all of those reading this book might believe that it’s ok to make these kinds of compromises if they think they are in love, and to me the ending truly ruined the book. At the very end Hollis was truly Etan’s equal, yet she still somehow found away to put him a over herself. Because of this I will have a harder time recommending this book to younger readers, especially young girls.

Since I feel bad for being so harsh above, some things that I did like about this book were: Hollis’ relationship with Scarlet and Lady Estoffe, Valentina is a great example of how you will never know anything about someone from how you perceive them, Hollis’ learning from her new family how to treat her subjects (the nod to them when she asks for the pagers name at the end), and just overall how pretty much every scene serves a purpose. But unfortunately for the many of the cons from this book outweigh the pros.

I received this book through net galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was miles better than the first one. First off there was an actual plot that was clear from the beginning and second, there was an incredible romance that was actually developed throughout the book.

Hollis and Etan were so freaking cute, I am always a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope.

*spoiler*

Seeing them work together to take down the kings was so satisfying I was going to be so upset if they didn't get their happy ending. Watching them both grow as people and learn to rule their kingdoms and then join then together was just wonderful. It made up for the travesty that was the first book.
*spolier*

In the sequel to #TheBetrothed, author #KieraCass brings Hollis’ story to a satisfying conclusion in #TheBetrayed. Warmly welcomed by almost all in the Eastoffe family except cousin Etan, Hollis travels with them to Isolte to live leaving her homeland Coroa behind. The family is quickly swept up into royal intrigue as they work to depose their cousin, the villainous King Phillip. Meanwhile, Hollis finds Etan much more than what she originally thought him to be. When Hollis finally is able to return to her homeland Coroa for what she believes will be the last time, she quickly finds that all is not as it appears to be. #NetGalley

After Hollis decides to flee Coroa, she must adapt to her new life in Isolte. That means living and spending every day with the surly Etan Northcott, a close relative to the Eastoffe line. While Hollis and her newfound family try to dethrone the Isoletan King, they find themselves on the edge of danger and death where new and old relationships will be tested.

This book is a huge step up from "The Betrothed." Action and political intrigue are so prevalent in this novel that I never came across a dull moment. I did have some theories going into this book which made me want to keep reading, and I ended up finishing this book in three hours.

Some of the side characters could have had more depth to them, but I'm so happy with how Hollis' character arc played out. After reading only the first book in this duology, many readers noticed how Hollis' arc seemed incomplete! That's because there's a second book, and this book wraps up everything perfectly (although maybe too perfectly) And the final confrontation with the enemy made me laugh out loud (iykyk).

Overall, this is a very entertaining duology and just what I wanted to read. Kiera Cass never disappoints!

As someone who was not too keen on the first book in this duology, I am so happy I went out on a limb and read the second. I am so proud of the character growth in this novel. There are many loose ends tied up, a twist in the ending, and a slow-burn romance. My only complaint is that the second twist in the ending just felt rushed-- again. I felt that the first book just plopped the death of the protagonist's husband of 2 hours. This ending felt rushed in that kind of "wait... why did that need to happen!?" way as well.

#TheBetrayed
#NetGalley
#Edelweiss
The second novel in the Betrothed series. I am not a huge fan of Kiera Cass, but I have to say that this series has pushed me into a category of enjoying this series immensely. The characters are well developed and the plot is on point. You don't want to novel to end. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I liked this so much more than the first on the douology! I will continue to read everything Cass writes and I was glad this felt more true to what made me fall in love with the selection series!

I received this novel as an ARC from NetGalley. It is the sequel to The Betrothed and lives up to the first novel. The characters are complex and the romance although set in a dystopian/historical setting is believable. There is quite a bit of action and adventure and lovers of Suzanne Collins and Kiera Cass's earlier series will cherish this series too. The heroine Hollis has a mind of her own and teenage girls will truly enjoy her quest for love and country.

Kiera Cass is the best of the best. This story, The Betrayed, picks up right where The Betrothed left off. Hollis Brite takes center stage again as she navigates life in a seemingly unfriendly Isolde. As she begins to unravel the truth behind her disastrous and murderous wedding day, she learns on more than one level that things are not always as they seem. I cannot express my delight with this story throughout its entirety...literally from beginning to end. It was what sequels rarely are for me: total perfection. This story is not to be missed. It is to be read and treasured, because you are sure not to be disappointed! Bravo!!

When I finished The Betrothed I was so upset and felt like The Betrayed would either make or break the series. Now some of my favorite series have been this way. I remember reading Girl of Fire and Thorns and not wanting to continue and a friend said don't stop read the next book and then decide. I am so glad I did. That is one of my all time favorite series. So after reading The Betrayed (which did not go at all how I expected and that was a good thing) I pre-ordered The Betrayed. I loved this book and enjoyed the growth and journey the characters went through.

This series is a little more emotional then Kiera Cass's Selection series. However, in Kiera fashion she delivers a swoon worthy novel with a satisfactory ending. I finished this book in one sitting.

The covers for this series have been stunning. The book picks up where the last one ended, Hollis is fleeing her wedding after her new husband, and parents are brutally murdered. I wasn't a big fan of the first book in this series. Hollis was a lame character (she was a pushover), and I had hoped that the second book would fix some of the issues that I had with the first book. I loved the found family message that this story had, and that the romance in this book had time to develop. It wasn't the typical "insta-love" that I've been seeing in YA so much lately. The ending was a little too convenient, and the resolution of the antagonist was ridiculous (I actually laughed out loud when it happened).

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a digital review ARC of this book via NetGalley!!

After the brutal murder of Silas and the rest of her family, Hollis heads into Isolte with the Eastoffe family- her husband's family being all she has left in the world. The adjustment is not easy, and Isolte is not always kind to her as a Coroan. It doesn't take long before she finds that her new family is not happy with the state of their country and she is roped into their plans to dethrone the king who has made life intolerable for so many.

This duology satisfied my need for more of the magic Cass created in the world of The Selection. That said, I would also say that it was very similar overall- so I would recommend it if you don't mind more of the same, but not if you prefer when authors take a leap into new territory. The end was satisfying to me and the narrative seemed tidily wrapped up. I will certainly be recommending this to my middle school readers.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

I wanted so badly to love this series. The Selection series was one of my favorite series, but The Betrothed let me down. I wanted to give The Betrayed it's chance, and to be fair, it did improve from the first one-barely.

The biggest issue I had with the first book lingered in this book-the pacing was absolutely atrocious. Everything happens way too fast. Sure, fast pacing is a good thing when you are trying to steal a kingdom. But when you're falling in love? No thank you! I don't care for instant love, though The Betrayed did better with the development of the relationship-again, barely.

The character development was also marginally better in this book. Hollis is still shallow and Etan is still arrogant, but they do get better.

I will grant that the twists caught me a little off guard. I should have seen them coming, at least one of them was heavily foreshadowed, so I'm going to give Kiera a little credit for that.

The best thing about this book is it is a really quick read. If you can't get past the characters and the pacing, it's a semi-entertaining read. I probably won't end up rereading this series though.

3.5 stars
Let me be honest: I did not like the first book of this duo, The Betrothed. I only gave it two stars, and began to think that I might have finally gotten too old to enjoy YA novels.

In the first book, I found the protagonist, Hollis, to be a shallow, vapid pushover. I didn’t like her “bosom friend” Delia Grace at all—talk about conniving. And there was a nagging plot hole about a certain set of deaths that really, really bothered me.

By the end of book 1, I knew pretty certainly who Hollis would end up with. (Narrator voice: Vicky was right.)

Really, I only requested an ARC of the second book because there were a couple of characters that I did enjoy, and did want to know the fate of.

Reader, Kiera Cass redeemed herself in this one.

This book picks up immediately after the first book’s end. So many of the things I disliked about the first book were resolved in the second. Delia Grace was barely present. Hollis matured from a vapid girl into a responsible woman. The plot hole was resolved, in a twist that might have even surprised me. Just a little.

And there was one heck of a plot twist near the end that, although I realize now that it was heavily foreshadowed, I was not prepared for.

Is it a perfect book? No. Middle-aged person that I am, I tire of the “instant love” of YA novels, in this case with Hollis and Silas (first book) and to a somewhat lesser degree here. At least, with Hollis’ ultimate pairing, there was a little bit more time for the relationship to blossom.

What I did like, though, was that Hollis learned what she was good at—caring about making people feel comfortable and safe—and she used it for the good of those around her. When she stopped thinking of all her weaknesses, she really bloomed. I loved the lesson about the importance of “found family” as well.

If you didn’t like the first book—and I didn’t—definitely give this one a chance. It was a great three hours of a lazy Sunday morning.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Lots of murders. A little fighting. Plotting and scheming. Kiera Cass is pretty squeaky clean, so the romance scenes don’t go beyond kissing.

Who might like this book:
Fans of the author, of romance, of women who learn to stand on their own two feet.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great story about two neighboring countries. Both were ruled by evil, murdering Kings. I won't spoil the tale! Just know that Hollis' story is filled with sadness, courage and love. There is a great supporting cast too!

I received this ARC free from the publisher.

This book finished the duology on such a good note. Were there tears? Yes, so many tears were shed. So much heartbreak and drama and loss. Did Hollis overcome? Yes she did. She shone like a bright star. She is like the energizer bunny who will not give up-no matter what hand is dealt to her.
This quote especially stood out to me in this book.

“ People were not their introductions. They were not their lineage or country. They were but themselves. And we had to dig past all the rest to find them.”

I really enjoyed this book, Book 2 in this series (The Betrothed & The Betrayed). I just couldn’t put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Author, Kiera Cass, is such an amazing storyteller & I haven’t been disappointed so far.
In book 1, we meet Hollis who has caught the eye of the young king but so much happens. And even though she thought she wanted the king, she found live somewhere else.
In book 2, Hollis has gone through so much. Lost her love & family, all she has is her love/husband’s mother & sister, & their extended family. And her destiny becomes bigger than herself. She started out as a fun loving, free young woman but life & a new love call for something greater.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys this genre of books.

In this, tjhe second book (be sure to read The Betrothed first) we again find Hollis as she was at the end of the last book: newly widowed after her very brief marriage to Silas. Hollis finds herself without a family, save what is left of Silas's family. The fiirst book was good, but this book is better. What will become of Hollis as she tries to adapt to life in Isolte? And what about Jameson? All questions are answered and of course there is a new love story here. I just hope there's a third book.

This stor.y did not grab my attention I couldn't get into the story I was actually underwhelmed. I usually like Kiera Cass books but not this one.

I received this book as a NetGalley digital ARC. This book was amazing!! I loved the entire book from beginning to end. I could not put this book down. In "The Betrayed" the sequel to "The Betrothed" we see the main character, Hollis, figure out who she is, and what it means to love. This book is brimming with adventure, romance, and plot twist. A must read for 2021!