Review: Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #2
Published by Henry Holt and Co. on 2015-07-07
Length: 470 pages
Reviewing eBook from My Book Shelf
Rating:

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.

It took me a long time to really get into this book. I’m not sure if it’s because of time or because the plot is a slow, arduous, uphill climb. Once I got into it, it only took me a couple of days to get through it because I could not stop reading. I don’t really enjoy a love triangle, because I want everyone to get along and true love to be a clear beacon (though it rarely is IRL). It feels like Rafe and Lia are MFEO, but there’s a lot of doubt interlaced with her certainties (if one can have any at all in that environment). And then there’s the tiny little revelation that KADEN HAS THE GIFT. Thank you for CONFUSING EVERYONE, Mary. 😉  

In this installment of The Remnant Chronicles, we have the Princess Lia, abducted by the brigand Assassin Kaden, and they’ve arrived in Venda, in the capital city. Kaden is second in command in the kingdom of Venda, second only to the Komizar (who raised him, incidentally). Rafe has miraculously appeared as they were crossing into Venda, and they then the prisoners are taken their separate ways. Venda never takes prisoners. Kaden brings Lia to the Komizar, an unyielding, power-hungry tyrant filling the bellies of his people with false hope instead of food. How will he use Lia to his own advantage? Rafe is taken prisoner and makes up an identity for himself as an emissary to the kingdom of Dalbreck. Rafe plays to the Komizar’s greed for power and buys them enough time to devise and escape and allow his men time to rescue them. The whole plot is devoted to Lia finding her way out, somehow, while playing a convincing character for the Komizar and Kaden. Woven into their plight is the ever-complicated gift, which has earned Lia respect among the Vendans. She is now forever connected and endeared to the people she grew up reviling. How will this new revelation change her, if it changes her at all?

The story ends on a horrifying cliff-hanger, and honestly, I’d rather be digging through the next book instead of doing all the mom-things my life is calling me to do. 😉 But, alas, I have to put down the Kindle so I can go do the things.

I give this book four stars because the lore is a bit vague and confusing, hard to wrap my head around. I also don’t love a love triangle, mostly because I’m not sure who she should pick. I like both Rafe and Kaden for their own reasons. I also am really confused about who she should trust, or rather, who the author wants me to trust – because right now I don’t really trust anyone. I don’t trust the manuscripts she was fed as a girl that frame her entire beginning, I don’t trust who she trusts – it’s all very confusing and frustrating. That being said, I cannot stop thinking about this plot, these characters, and this universe. I HAVE to know what happens. And so I will read on (right after I fold all these clothes)! *prays for satisfying ending and tied up loose ends*

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