THE BETRAYED, by Kiera Cass

4.5 Stars

You curl up with a Kiera Cass novel to inhale the literary confetti of a fairy tale romance. Like cotton candy, it’s gone before you know it, and you’re left with the sticky satisfaction of a well spun treat.

Betrayed offers up the second book in Cass’s Betrothed series, with Hollis, a young widow on the run from the kingdom of Coroa, after an attack on her wedding feast that kills her young promising groom. Hollis escapes with the survivors of her in-laws, the Eastoffe’s, into the adjacent kingdom of Isolte which has long been at war with Coroa. Along for the ride, her grooms’ cousin Etan Eastoffe, who cannot keep a running criticism and snarky dismissal of Hollis. Etan views Hollis as a ditsy debutante, who courted and then spurned the king of Coroa’s marriage proposal. Hollis views Etan as imperious, condescending, and shallow. The lines have been drawn.

Ensconced in the Eastoffe’s manor in Isolte, the family faces danger as they’re the last direct bloodline to the Isolte throne, and the evil king of Isolte has engaged a band of knights to kill off any threats to his power. The Eastoffe’s have to save both themselves and their beloved kingdom. And of course, Hollis will have to rise up to play a crucial role in this effort.

Dramatic plot twists ensue as Hollis and Etan move from hostility to friendship to admiration, political battles mount to save the people of Isolte as well as Coroa, and a frothy confection of plot twists ensue to bring both the competing kingdoms and Hollis and Etan to a harmonious heart-warming, joyous end.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy. 

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.