I just finished this amazing book and I needed to get a review up as soon as possible. This is a spoiler free review but there will be spoilers from the first book.
The Heart of Betrayal
Written by Mary E. Pearson
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/High Fantasy
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Pages: 470
Source: Library
Recommended Age: 12 and up!
Summary:
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 of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.
Review:
Let’s just say for this entire book I felt like I was in Episode 9 (Season 2) of Agent Carter.
I loved this book so much. It was everything I was expecting and much much more. This happens to be the second book in The Remnant Chronicle series and it is literally just as good as the first book or perhaps even better.
In this book we get to see a lot more of the world that Lia lives in. In the last book she was taken to Venda and now we get to see this mysterious enemy kingdom. I love how we get a lot of information in an interesting and fun way. Yes, there were times when I was like WAIT WHAT? Information overload. But we needed those moments.
LIA
Lia is one of the best female protagonists. I admit I did not think that she was that strong and could easily do things on her own when I read the first book but now she totally stands up for herself and shows she doesn’t need a man. Lia is intelligent, cunning and manipulative which gives her a certain advantage in Venda. Enough to even weasel her way into the leader and people’s brains once and awhile. She is also kind and compassionate and really cares for others. But watch out cause she can be totally lethal with a sword.
RAFE
I adore Rafe. I do feel really sorry for him in this book sometimes. He has to go through a lot and he still attempts to stay strong for Lia no matter what the Vendan people do to him. He is a lot different in this book as he has to suppress his true identity. He does the unthinkable to save the one he truly loves and I am so excited to see him as himself.
KADEN
I love Kaden even more in this book. I enjoyed seeing him in his true habitat (Venda). He’s bruised, scarred and blinded by vengeance for those who have done him wrong in the past. We get a lot of his past in this book and let's just say a lot of it shocked me a ton. Lia was basically the turning point for him. His love is evident to everyone, including her. Lia is his downfall and his savior.
We also meet some new characters but I will not go into them as you all probably have not read it and I do not want to give anything away.
PLOT
The plot is beautifully done. We get to see a new part of the land which Mary E. Pearson describes so well. We also get to see how all our characters react to the new setting and how they act in that setting. The history of Venda both thrilled and horrified me and it was all so much to digest that I’m not sure I even got it all.
ROMANCE
Well, this book went from a love triangle to somewhat of a love square. First we have Rafe who will do anything to save Lia as he so proved in the last book. Then we have Kaden and he has changed a ton. He has feelings for Lia and they are definitely real. And lastly we have the Komizar who doesn’t love Lia but he seems to desire her.
The romance that is shown in this book sometimes had me cringing in disgust or aweing.
Of course this ‘love triangle’ isn’t really resolved. I am #TEAM_KADEN all the way but I am starting to like Rafe a lot more. But in some of Kaden’s visions he kind of proved who Lia will end up.
I feel like this is Lia:
Final Thoughts:
Everything about this book deserves five stars. It had me in tears, laughing and thinking about ripping the book to shreds. I highly recommend this series.
Quotes from the Book:
“It was worth it, Lia,” He said. “Every mile, every day. I’d do it all again. I’d chase you across three continents if that’s what it took to be with you.”
“There are no rules in survival.”
“I beg your forgiveness, Your Eminence. I would not truly feed your face to the hogs. It might make them sick.”
“They’ll pay for this. All of it. I promise. One day they’ll pay.”
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns
