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lizzy25d's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
all_time_mon's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
The world the author has created is very rich and interesting. The plot was fast-paced and the initial set-up was very intriguing, with characters keeping secrets and all the complicated relationships. However, I would have liked to see more character interactions and even more of their thoughts. Also, I would have loved to learn more history and mythology of the world.
thevioletfoxbookshop's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"The Betrayer" is a love story at it's core, but it's also about self-acceptance, trust, and power. When Ciara finds out that her dream of joining the war band will never be, she finds herself feeling lost and alone. The one person she's always trusted, Niall, has turned his back on her and the world. So she finds herself turning to his brother, Bleddyn. Although she never imagined herself caring for him, Ciara falls into Bleddyn's world quickly. What Ciara doesn't realize is that both brothers are carrying secrets and dark powers are at work. Ciara has to work out who she can trust before both her heart and the island of Pern Coen fall into the wrong hands.
I've been a fan of Hannah Carey's books for a while now, so I knew I was probably going to like this one. And honestly, it's her best work yet.
While "The Betrayer" takes place in the same world as all of her other books, you don't have to have read all of the previous books to enjoy this one, which I love because a huge series can sometimes feel daunting. Although I will say that I have read all her previous books (in chronological story order - more on this later) and I think it does make the world and the characters feel more rich. Having read all previous books gives you knowledge of the history of the world that we're in, the characters' pasts, and just a better understanding of the details.
That said, "The Betrayer" is a gorgeous love story all on it's own! As you read, your heart aches for the characters and you can't help but root for them. The slow-burn tension between the main characters is palpable. And I absolutely loved our hero in this book! He's a book boyfriend that I'll probably be fawning over for a while. The hair, the tats, the brooding... it's a whole vibe.
I loved that the heroine is strong (inside and out), capable, and recognizes that she doesn't need to rely on a man. In fact, Carey's books are chock full of strong female characters, including female war chiefs! There are some epic battles and more often than not, it's the women saving the day, which is both refreshing and important. Now that's not to say the women are lacking in femininity or the men are weak. Quite the opposite. Carey merges strength with softness in all of her characters. Because on the flip-side of the damsel in distress trope that plagues so many romances, is the toxic masculine hero. And thankfully Carey has surpassed that old trope as well. Instead, we get men who understand that there's more than one way to be strong, that vulnerability can be an asset, and that being in a relationship is a two-way street.
As much as there is to love about the main characters though, there's more to loath about the villain. In fact, I wanted to punch him in the face before the first 100 pages. Beyond the turd of a villain, we've got some seriously evil forces working in "The Betrayer," which give the whole story an eerie, magical feel.
The magic in Carey's books bears mentioning as well because it's not the magic that we're familiar with in most fantasy novels. There are no Fae here (yet)! This feels like an older, more nature-based form of magic, akin to Native American legends with a mix of Celtic influences. And those influences run impressively deep. The whole world of Pern Coen is built off of this particular type of magic and the spirits of the world. Even the language seeps with ancient tones with it's use of Welsh and Irish. If you're paying attention or care to look up place and character names, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the details. For example, you'll meet a white wolf named Rhew, which means frost in Welsh.
Finally the plot... you guys... the plot! This one hit me a bit close to home, if I'm being honest. Very mild trigger warning - there's a bit of what I would call domestic abuse. If that's a touchy subject for you, consider yourself warned. There's nothing graphic. I'd go so far as to say it's PG. But it's there. So the storyline was a bit heavy there for a moment, but with Carey, we all but know there's a happily ever after coming in some shape or form so you can keep reading knowing it's not going downhill. Beyond that, the plot in this one really made it hard to put down. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Carey breaks out a plot twist! You will not see this one coming, and I don't want to give any spoilers, but I cannot wait for "The Ascendant" to come out!
Alright, enough of my fan-girling. If you're into clean romance with some magic, I encourage you to check out any and all of Hannah E. Carey's books. You do not have to read them in this order, but this is what I would personally recommend for the fullest, most impactful reading experience:
I've been a fan of Hannah Carey's books for a while now, so I knew I was probably going to like this one. And honestly, it's her best work yet.
While "The Betrayer" takes place in the same world as all of her other books, you don't have to have read all of the previous books to enjoy this one, which I love because a huge series can sometimes feel daunting. Although I will say that I have read all her previous books (in chronological story order - more on this later) and I think it does make the world and the characters feel more rich. Having read all previous books gives you knowledge of the history of the world that we're in, the characters' pasts, and just a better understanding of the details.
That said, "The Betrayer" is a gorgeous love story all on it's own! As you read, your heart aches for the characters and you can't help but root for them. The slow-burn tension between the main characters is palpable. And I absolutely loved our hero in this book! He's a book boyfriend that I'll probably be fawning over for a while. The hair, the tats, the brooding... it's a whole vibe.
I loved that the heroine is strong (inside and out), capable, and recognizes that she doesn't need to rely on a man. In fact, Carey's books are chock full of strong female characters, including female war chiefs! There are some epic battles and more often than not, it's the women saving the day, which is both refreshing and important. Now that's not to say the women are lacking in femininity or the men are weak. Quite the opposite. Carey merges strength with softness in all of her characters. Because on the flip-side of the damsel in distress trope that plagues so many romances, is the toxic masculine hero. And thankfully Carey has surpassed that old trope as well. Instead, we get men who understand that there's more than one way to be strong, that vulnerability can be an asset, and that being in a relationship is a two-way street.
As much as there is to love about the main characters though, there's more to loath about the villain. In fact, I wanted to punch him in the face before the first 100 pages. Beyond the turd of a villain, we've got some seriously evil forces working in "The Betrayer," which give the whole story an eerie, magical feel.
The magic in Carey's books bears mentioning as well because it's not the magic that we're familiar with in most fantasy novels. There are no Fae here (yet)! This feels like an older, more nature-based form of magic, akin to Native American legends with a mix of Celtic influences. And those influences run impressively deep. The whole world of Pern Coen is built off of this particular type of magic and the spirits of the world. Even the language seeps with ancient tones with it's use of Welsh and Irish. If you're paying attention or care to look up place and character names, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the details. For example, you'll meet a white wolf named Rhew, which means frost in Welsh.
Finally the plot... you guys... the plot! This one hit me a bit close to home, if I'm being honest. Very mild trigger warning - there's a bit of what I would call domestic abuse. If that's a touchy subject for you, consider yourself warned. There's nothing graphic. I'd go so far as to say it's PG. But it's there. So the storyline was a bit heavy there for a moment, but with Carey, we all but know there's a happily ever after coming in some shape or form so you can keep reading knowing it's not going downhill. Beyond that, the plot in this one really made it hard to put down. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Carey breaks out a plot twist! You will not see this one coming, and I don't want to give any spoilers, but I cannot wait for "The Ascendant" to come out!
Alright, enough of my fan-girling. If you're into clean romance with some magic, I encourage you to check out any and all of Hannah E. Carey's books. You do not have to read them in this order, but this is what I would personally recommend for the fullest, most impactful reading experience:
- "The Duchess"
- "The Hunter"
- "The Huntress"
- "The Successor"
- "The Betrayer"
- "The Ascendant" (coming soon!)
If a whole series feels daunting, I hear you. You can easily pick up "The Betrayer" and read it without being lost or missing out on anything. If you love it, you can always go back and read the others!
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
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