Kiera Cass is known for sparkling romance that is often forbidden or unlikely to succeed. She shadows her stories with secrets that help drive the romance forward along with the rest of the story. This was no different for The Betrothed or its sequel, The Betrayed. We’re sure you’re wondering, is it worth the hype?
Part romance, part royal drama, and all wrapped up in a beautifully written package, The Betrothed will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With its richly detailed world-building and compelling characters, it’s sure to capture your imagination and leave you craving more.
Hollis Brite, just your average girl from Keresken Castle, suddenly finds herself in the royal spotlight when King Jameson drops the bombshell—he’s head over heels for her! Of course she is thrilled to have the king in love with her, but she never thought she would actually win his affection.
At first, Hollis is all swept up in the fairytale fantasy of becoming queen. Who wouldn’t be? But, pretty soon, reality kicks in, and she realizes that ruling a kingdom isn’t exactly a walk in the park. There’s politics, expectations, and enough drama to fill a whole season of reality TV.
Just when Hollis thinks she’s got it all figured out, in walks this mysterious guy from Isolte who sees right through her royal facade. Suddenly, she’s questioning everything she thought she knew about love, duty, and what it means to be happy.
And, let us tell you, navigating the choppy waters of courtly life isn’t easy, especially when your heart is torn in two different directions. Hollis finds herself in a real pickle—stick with the safe, predictable path, or take a leap of faith into the great unknown?
As the story unfolds, Hollis embarks on a journey of self-discovery that’s equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. Will she find true love? Will she find herself?
Hollis is the kind of character you can’t help but root for. She’s smart, she’s independent, and she’s not afraid to go after what she wants—even if it means breaking a few royal rules along the way.
As for the other characters, each one is so well-developed and multi-dimensional that you’ll feel like you know them personally. From Hollis’s struggle to find her place in a world of royalty to the enigmatic allure of the mysterious commoner, every character leaps off the page and into your heart.
In the end, The Betrothed isn’t just your run-of-the-mill love story—it’s so much more. It’s a journey of self-discovery, a tale of courage, and a testament to the enduring power of love.
Sure, at its core, there’s romance aplenty—swoon-worthy kings, forbidden love, and all the heart-fluttering moments you could ask for. But, beneath the surface, there’s a deeper narrative at play.
As Hollis navigates the twists and turns of courtly life, she’s forced to confront some tough questions about who she really is and what she wants out of life. Through it all, she discovers a strength she never knew she had—a courage to follow her own path, even when it’s scary and uncertain. In the end, it’s this courage that leads her to find true happiness.
Does The Betrothed get our stamp of approval?
Engaging Plot: Does the book have a compelling storyline that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end? From the first setup to the final payoff, as well as the cliffhanger for the sequel, this book was hard to put down. The plot was executed well,and had us giggling like teenage girls while reading.
Well-Developed Characters: Are the characters multidimensional, with realistic motivations, flaws, and growth throughout the story? The characters feel like they could be someone you went to high school or college with. We wouldn’t be surprised if the bases for the characters were real people Kiera Cass interacted with because of how realistic they are.
Strong Writing: Is the prose well-crafted, with vivid descriptions, realistic dialogue, and a consistent narrative voice? Per usual, the writing of Kiera Cass spoke for itself. She is an amazing writer.
Emotional Impact: Does the book evoke a range of emotions in readers, from laughter and joy to sadness and empathy? There were punches to the gut, giddy laughs, and smiles that crept up to our eyes. We couldn’t make ourselves emotionally unavailable.
Originality: Does the book bring something fresh and unique to its genre or subject matter, avoiding clichés and predictable plot twists? The royal cliche of women competing to be a princess and the next queen is nothing new to YA fiction, let alone to the works of Kiera Cass. However, she put a unique spin on the situation, which was refreshing.
Pacing: Is the pacing of the story appropriate, with a good balance of action, exposition, and character development? The characters were developed at a pace that fit with the progression of the story. Everything lined up well and was paced nicely.
World-Building: Does the book create a richly imagined world that feels immersive and believable? We’ve been dreaming about it since Kiera Cass painted the first picture in our heads. Who doesn’t love a beautiful castle?
Theme and Message: Does the book explore meaningful themes and deliver a message that resonates with readers? Stick to your guns, know your worth, love will prevail – the list could go on and on. Hollis was a very strong female protagonist with plenty of lessons to learn.
Resolution: Does the book provide a satisfying resolution to its central conflicts and story arcs? If we read this without reading the sequel – absolutely not. Knowing there is another book out there, we rushed to start it.
Overall Enjoyment: Most importantly, did we enjoy the book? Did we enjoy the book? What kind of question is that? Of course we did! While some say this series isn’t as good as others Kiera Cass has written, we beg to differ and encourage you to read it for yourself.
Have you read The Betrothed yet?
If you’ve read The Betrothed, what did you think of it? If you haven’t read it yet, are you going to?
