The Heart of Betrayal Book Review
The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS
Date: 5-05-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 8.3/10
Book Cover Rating: 6.3/10
(My personal opinion)
Title: The Heart of Betrayal
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Pages: 496
Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy
Subplots: Romance, Politics
Romance Level: 2/3 (no spice, but prominent part of plot)
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #2
Publisher: Square Fish
First Published: 2016
Number of Editions: 43
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audio, CD
Awards Won: Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction
Goodreads Rating: 4.16/5
# of Goodreads Ratings: 89,685
Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
# of Amazon Ratings: 6,328
Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 14+
Movie/TV Show?? : No
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Multi, First Person
Pacing: Medium (because I found the pacing uneven, some fast parts, some slow parts)
Generally: Trapped in foreign country, continues book one, love triangle, political unrest
Blurb:
Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save Lia’s life, her erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar’s interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.
Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: There’s Rafe, who lied to Lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be savages. Now that she lives among them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense on self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country…and her own destiny.
My Review
Main Characters:
Arabella Jezelia- Lia is a princess. After she ran away from a forced betrothal, she was captured by a hostile country. She is rebellious and does NOT like the thought of having no say in her future.
Rafe- Rafe is the prince Lia was betrothed to. Now, he is a prisoner as well. He is devoted, loyal, and protective.
Kaden- Kaden is an assassin for the country that kidnapped Lia and Rafe. Kaden had a troubled childhood, and struggles with loyalties to people he knows are evil.
I loved these characters SO MUCH again!! They had amazing personalities, and I loved seeing how they did under pressure. They were unique and driven. I noticed even more character development in this book, and was happy with how the characters were growing.
Character Rating: 9.5/10
Setting:
This book takes place in the kingdom of Venda
Wow!! This was such a well detailed and described setting. It had great contrast in comparison to book one. This book was atmospheric, tense, and unique. I loved how unrefined everything felt, and loved the depth it added to this book.
Setting Rating: 9.4/10
Plot:
To be completely honest, I liked this plot, but it completely lost me near the middle. The pacing was way off for me, and worse than book one (though, I’ve been reading other reviews and many people disagree saying this book was MORE captivating, engaging, and with better pacing, so this clearly isn’t a problem for everyone). I still enjoyed moments here and there, but think it could have used more uniform pacing and excitement overall.
Plot Rating: 5.4/10
Writing:
I definitely feel that this writing fit the book well. It’s clearly written as a young adult book, and would likely be lacking for someone with higher expectations. For a young adult book though, it’s written in an enjoyable way.
Writing Rating: 7.8/10
Ending:
This ending gave me EXACTLY what I was looking for, and CLEARLY led into book three. There were a TON of loose ends and unresolved problems, but there’s still plenty of room to wrap them up in book three. If you’ve made it this far into the series, I think it would be near impossible to stop reading here.
Ending Rating: 9.8/10
The Overall:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as book one. The characters and setting were FABULOUS, but the pacing and plot lost me near the middle. I still really enjoyed this young adult fantasy book, and can’t wait to read book three!!
Overall Book Rating: 8.3/10
I would obviously recommend this book
Help independent bookstores by buying on Bookshop: The Heart of Betrayal
Or buy on Amazon: The Heart of Betrayal
ChatGPT’s Opinion: The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson is a character-driven YA fantasy sequel that deepens the intrigue and tension introduced in the first book. Set largely in the dark and complex kingdom of Venda, it follows Lia as she navigates political deception, survival, and shifting loyalties. The story offers strong character development and explores themes of identity and power, though its pacing can slow due to internal monologues and extended focus on a love triangle. It’s a solid continuation for fans of romance-heavy fantasy, though less appealing for those looking for fast-paced action or plot-driven storytelling.
-
Mary E. Pearson is the International and NYT bestselling and award-winning author of multiple novels including The Remnant Chronicles trilogy, the Dance of Thieves duology, The Jenna Fox trilogy, and more. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages world-wide.
As a child she loved reading about and living in fantasy worlds. They were a portal to possibility that provided both escape and power. These days she loves writing about those worlds for the same reasons. She totally believes in magic, because, as one of her characters once whispered to her, “What is magic, but what we don’t yet understand?”
When she is not creating dangerous fantasy worlds, she enjoys the relatively safe pleasures of travel, gardening, friends, and family. Visit Mary on Instagram @maryepearson for the very latest book news and updates. -
The Kiss of Deception
View my Review: The Kiss of Deception
The Beauty of Darkness
Dance of Thieves
Vow of Thieves
Morrigham
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
The Fox Inheritance
Fox Forever
A Room on Lorelei Street
The Miles Between
Scribbler of Dreams
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions
The Rotten Beast
The Courting of Bristol Keats
View Mary E. Pearson’s books on her website: Marypearson.com
Or on Amazon: Mary E. Pearson’s Books
-
-
ChatGPT.com (ONLY for specified “ChatGPT’s opinion” portion of reviews and small information gathering)
What did you think of this book??
Reach out below anytime! Whether to share your opinion of this book, comment on mine, ask for similar suggestions, or ask for more clarity/spoilers for this book. I’d love to answer any questions, share more opinions, or hear your thoughts!! Thanks so much!!
More Reviews!!
