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    The Heart of Betrayal
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    The Heart of Betrayal
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    The Heart of Betrayal
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Heart of Betrayal

    Written by Mary E. Pearson

    Narrated by Emily Rankin

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together.

    Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw.

    Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.

    Read by Emily Rankin, with Ryan Gesell, Kirby Heyborne, Kim Mai Guest, and Ann Marie Lee
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJul 7, 2015
    ISBN9781101915554
    Unavailable
    The Heart of Betrayal
    Author

    Mary E. Pearson

    Mary E. Pearson is the international and New York Times bestselling author of the Dance of Thieves duology, the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, the Jenna Fox Chronicles, and more books for young readers. The Courting of Bristol Keats is Mary’s debut novel for adults. She writes from her home in California.

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    Reviews for The Heart of Betrayal

    4/5

    237 ratings21 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Previously, I attempted to read this is made it to page 160 and I put it aside. I decided to pick up the audiobook and give it a try, and I am so glad I did.I love Lia and that she plays such a strong and independent character. Yes, she still makes decisions due to the ones she loves, but she is also not relying on others to get things done. I love when books have strong female characters.I also love the cast of narrators, as it does bring a different feel to the story. I highly recommend this audiobook if you have a hard time with fantasy reads.This book made me smile and cry. Rafe hearing about his mother was heartbreaking, and brought tears to my eyes. There were some twists to keep it moving, but this is not a very action packed read. It focuses on the characters and being trapped and trying to get free.Overall, I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to wrap up this trilogy.
    • 4/5
      The first half of this felt like it dragged on a bit. It did help to develop the relationship between Lia and Kaden but it was too much traveling over the desert. Things definitely got interesting once they got to Venda and definitely once Rafe showed up. That Komizar is one evil bastard. Boy...and that ending. This is exactly why I wait until a series is over before I start reading it.
    • 4/5
      If you read my review of The Kiss of Deception, you'll know that I really was entranced by the first book in this series. Pearson kept the tension high as she didn't reveal Rafe and Kaden's true identities until almost the very end of the book. That really hooked me as a reader.I have to admit as I turned to Book 2, I had my doubts whether she could keep the tension as high. Admittedly the tension was different in this book in the series. But, despite the mystery being revealed, this book really focused on Lia and her growth as a character as she began to mature into a true heroine.In fact, all the main characters in this book really continued to develop. A great sequel to Book 1, I wonder how Pearson is going to bring this trilogy to a conclusion in Book 3.
    • 5/5
      OMG! It's a good thing the next book comes out in a few days because that cliffhanger ending has got me freaking out!
    • 4/5
      Lia's former assassin lobbies to save her life as Lia and Rafe seek a way out of Venda and Lia struggles with her gift, how she was raised, and who she might become.
    • 4/5
      Just as good as the first

      Great second book of a series. Left you eagerly wanting to read the next book. Waiting will not be fun!
    • 3/5
      I received a copy of this book from Book Riot.I am going to start this by saying I read this without having read the first book, which is something that I really do not recommend. With some book series, you can jump in whenever, and you miss some stuff, but for the most part you can get along. This book is not one of those. There were a lot of characters, places, and relationships that I had no background for which made the book harder to read. I looked up information I needed to know, but still feel like I missed out on important details having started with book two. With that in mind, it took me a long time to get into this book. I found the first half of the book rather dull and Lia's character really immature. This series seems to follow the standard formula for young adult books: a "special" main character who in reality isn't all that special, a love triangle (or whatever shape this ends up being), and that strange phenomenon where every man falls hopelessly in love with or is strongly attracted to the "special" female lead. The first half of this book didn't really seem to go anywhere and I was left waiting around for something interesting to happen.However, after the first 250 or so pages, the plot actually seems to start. Once the action gets going, the book is pretty interesting, despite the whole love triangle situation. Lia becomes a little more palatable, mostly because enough was happening around her that I could ignore most of her irritating remarks. But she also does seem a little more active the second half, not just sitting around thinking about Kaden and Rafe. She makes calculated choices and actually does things to further the plot, making her character seem at least a little worthwhile.Overall, this is an okay book. I gave it three stars, because I really got into it at the end, but struggled so much getting through the first half. I will most likely not be continuing the series, despite the cliff hanger ending.
    • 5/5
      It says something about a 496 page book when you start it Saturday at bedtime and finish it at 5 pm on Sunday. I could barely put it down. The perfect Sunday--a couple of stops for a dog walk and meals, but reading a thrilling page turner all day is wonderful!
    • 5/5
      Tell you what? It’s indescribable... I love every moment of this book.
    • 5/5
      LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT. I started reading the first book, but gave up because it was moving at an incredibly slow pace. 1 year later, I gave it another go and I regret not finishing it earlier because this one was amazing. Listening lia develop as a character was
    • 4/5
      I give this 4.5. It was so good and oh my goodness that ending!
    • 2/5
      You know, this one was actually better for me than the first. It moved at a painfully sluggish pace, the romance was just as uncomfortable and stilted as in the first (all of the romantic scenes are written the same way, with the same words), there was zero tension or sense of urgency, and I still don't really know what this series is about...

      There are threads, though. Buried underneath the hundreds of pages and needless scenes and uncomfortable romance is an interesting story. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be the story Pearson is actually telling. Or if she is, she's burying it underneath a pile of needless throwaway scenes.

      Though, my major complaint is: get real, YA authors who write protagonists who everyone loves. It's not realistic and it's just annoying. No one in this world is universally liked. Even the antagonists liked Lia in this book and it made absolutely no sense.
    • 4/5
      Not bad for book 2. There is a lot going on in this one, but it is still fairly easy to follow the different characters and their viewpoints. The chapters not from Lia's point of view are clearly labeled with the speaker's name.I loved the first book, but I had forgotten quite a few of the little details and what was going on, but I was able to catch up fairly well as I read through the first few chapters. Kaden and Rafe are still individuals with personal interests in mind, and it will make for a great read in book three as these are reveled to the reader.
    • 3/5
      Gah what to say. Heart of Betrayal kept seeming like it would go in a direction I wanted and then didn't. The love triangle gets worse, the plot was very reaction based, and I'm just not excited about book three despite that cliffhanger.... There are some cool new secondary characters and hints at the magic to come though.
    • 4/5
      Whoa! That was fantastic! And that ending?! Shut the front door!!! I need Book 3 ASAP!!!!!
    • 3/5
      Lia might be fascinated by 300 pages of Vendan culture, but I am not.
    • 5/5
      Holy cliffhanger batman!
      Ms Pearson is killing me
    • 4/5
      I thought that this much-anticipated second novel in The Remnant Chronicles totally delivers on everything I expected from the series. It is rife with suspense, intrigue, magic, mystery, murder, romance and a whole lot of emotion, The Heart of Betrayal packs some unexpected surprises. Our fierce heroine Lia, has been deceived by Kaden, one of the men she trusted the most, and now, she’s a prisoner being shipped off to Venda… the brutal barbarian kingdom. Meanwhile, the man she’s fallen for, is left behind and unaware. And as magic whispers around her, the weight of her decisions (and their consequences), becomes all too real.After a harrowing journey to Venda, Lia arrives in a place that is every bit as violent as she anticipated, but at the same time, nothing like she expected. So many people are hungry, so many children forced to accept situations even adults shouldn’t face. Myth and magic twine together, and the secrets Lia has uncovered begin to make sense in a way she never anticipated. Unfortunately, despite the goodness of some of the people of Venda, she’s held captive by the barbarous and merciless leader, the Komisar, who takes pride in humiliating her in his prideful position of power, a position of power he is not willing to share with anyone.The longer Lia's in Venda, however, the more she begins to feel a love for the people, a responsibility growing inside. The kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan are largely responsibility for the dire situation in Venda, as they keep the Vedans contained in their hell hole of a country. This is something that Lian could have never surmised. The people welcome her and her desire to escape becomes more complicated.In an attempt to rescue her, however, Rafe too is held captive,under the assumed identify as a representitive for the Prince of Dalbreck and now it’s his life that she must safeguard. And to make matters more difficult, the Komisar realizes he can use Lia as a political pawn, despite the protests of Kaden, who battles between his loyalty to Venda and his feelings for Lia, whom he loves.Matters of the heart and matters of allegiance war as betrayals run deep, and the only certain truth is that Lia must embrace her destiny… even though that destiny is still somewhat murky. Her own heart dithers emotionally between Kaden, Rafe and the Komisar, as each character betrays differing and often conflicting sides of self. And as her feelings search solid ground, the fate of her country, her family, the people of Venda… of Morrighan… of Dalbreck, precariously hang in the balance.I couldn’t put this novel down, driven by the need to find out what would happen next.I think Heart of Betrayal,despite the Sappy title, is a better book then the first. There are several gut-wrenching scenes that I didn't expect, but I loved them and the emotional depth they contributed. Pearson does an impressive job of twisting the plot suspensefully, concluding this book and making us want to read the next book in the Remnant Chronicles. I can't wait. Jack Murphy
    • 4/5
      Heart of Betrayal is the second book in The Remnant Chronicles. The first book was Kiss of Deception, which was a 2015 Lone Star novel. If you haven’t read book one, do not read any further! Stop!If you read book, one, you absolutely have to read book two. It’s riveting! Lia is now imprisoned in Venda and ready to die any moment because Venda doesn’t take prisoners. They are too poor and hungry to feed anyone. The Komizar, the man in charge, discovers that he can use Lia. Kaden knows that any false move could mean the end of Lia’s life and he cannot bear anything to happen to her. He works tirelessly to try and save her from everyone.Rafe has also been captured. He must keep his identity secret while also finding a way for them to escape so that they can marry and rule their kingdoms. What bothers him is that Lia seems to be slowly becoming a citizen of Venda. One tribe has “claimed” her and she dresses like them. The people flock to her. Rafe wonders if she wants to truly escape. When the Komizar makes an announcement that affects Lia, Kade, and Rafe, Rafe knows that in a few days, they must make their move and try to survive.You will be staying up all night finishing this novel and bemoaning the fact that you have to wait for book three, which I think is just cruel! You’ll enjoy it!
    • 5/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: An action-packed sequel that was just as good as the first book! With amazing characters, epic romance, and a captivating world this is one series high fantasy fans do not want to miss!Opening Sentence: One swift act.The Review:Please note that this is a sequel and it is impossible to not spoil some things from the first book. If you haven’t read the Kiss of Deception yet I strongly suggest you go and read it because it is amazing, but you shouldn’t read this review.Princess Lia has gotten herself into a bad situation. She is being held captive in the dangerous city of Venda along with prince Rafe. Venda is not known for taking prisoners, and the chance of either of them getting out alive is very slim. They have weaved a web of lies to help buy them time while they try to come up with a plan to escape, but their odds aren’t looking very good.As Lia explores the city of Vendra and gets to know the people, she comes to realize that they aren’t the barbarians she thought at first. She’s not sure who she can trust. Rafe lied to her about who he was, but he has risked his life to try to save her. Then there is Kaden, the assassin that was assigned to kill Lia, but instead he saved her life. He wants to protect Lia, but his loyalty to the Vendran leader runs deep and Lia is technically the enemy. Loyalties will be tested, hearts will be broken, and blood will be shed in this highly entertaining adventure!Lia is such a wonderful heroine that I grew to love and respect even more. She is extremely intelligent and very capable of taking care of herself. With her sharp mouth and head strong personality you never know what to expect from her. She was constantly surprising me with how well she could deal with any situation thrown at her. She is very compassionate and will do anything for the people she cares about. She is also very stubborn and there are times when it would be better if she would back down but refuses to due to her pride. She’s not perfect, but that just makes her more realistic feeling. She is a very well rounded character and she has become one of my all time favorite heroines.Rafe is just as wonderful as ever. He is loyal, ambitious, smart, and charming. I love how his relationship developed with Lia. They have crazy chemistry but they also both have tempers. I loved watching them hash out some of their issues. The parts where they are all lovey dovey is great, but the tense moments when they fight with each other were even better. It made them feel like a real couple to me because let’s be honest, all couples fight, even the ones that are perfect for each other. They give each other strength and bring out the best in each other. Rafe is the perfect package and I adore everything about him.It took me by surprise how much I fell for Kaden. You learn a lot more about him and his past, which I found very interesting. I understand him so much better now and while I don’t agree with all of his choices it makes sense why he made them. The way he treats Lia is so sweet. He does whatever he can to protect Lia and he always treats her with respect. With his position he can’t afford to appear weak, but he does show kindness when he can. I don’t see him ending up with Lia, but I really want him the get a happy ending!Komizar is the brutal leader of Venda. He is a very interesting villain and I felt drawn to him. He is cunning, dangerous and power hungry. But he also has a compassionate side and deep down I do think he cares about his people. To become the Komizar you have to kill the previous Komizar, so you have to be pretty ambitious to want the job. If you don’t surround yourself with loyal people and win over your subjects, you won’t live very long. I came to respect the Komizar and kind of fell for him. He is one of those redeemable villains and that’s always been my favorite kind of villain.The Heart of Betrayal is an epic high fantasy that you don’t want to miss. This is the sequel to the Kiss of Deception, which was my favorite read last year. I had really high expectations for this and luckily it did not disappoint. The story picks up right when the last book ended and from page one I was hooked. I instantly reconnected with all the wonderful characters from the previous book, and gradually fell in love with all the new characters introduced. The word that comes to mind when describing the romance is perfection. The world that Pearson created is captivating and so easy to get lost in. You are introduced to a new city and I could easily picture everything from the vivid descriptions Pearson provided. The pacing of the story is spot on and there was never a dull moment. I actually tried to pace myself while reading this because I wanted to savor it for as long as possible, but once I started reading I just couldn’t put it down. I ended up finishing it in one day. Once again there is quite a cliffhanger ending, so of course I am dying to read the final book! This is one of my all time favorite series and I would highly recommend it to all young adult fans!Notable Scene:“You act as if it happened ten years ago! You have such an interesting way with words. Your life isn’t complicated. You’re the blazing crown prince of Dalbreck! You call that a complication? But you went on and on about growing melons and tending horses and how your parents were dead. You shamelessly told me you were a farmer!”“You claimed you were a tavern maid!”“I was! I served tables washed dishes! Have you ever grown a melon in your life? Yet you piled on lie after lie, and it never occurred to you to tell me the truth.”“What choice did I have? I heard you call me a princely papa’s boy behind my back! One you could never respect!”My mouth fell open. “You spied on me?” I whirled around, shaking my head in disbelief, crossing the room, then whipping back to face him. “You spied? Your duplicities never end, do they?”He took an intimidating step closer. “Maybe if a certain tavern maid had bothered to tell me the truth first, I wouldn’t have felt that I had to hide who I was!”I matched him step for angry step. “Maybe if a self-important prince had bothered to come see me before the wedding as I had asked, we wouldn’t be here now at all!”“Is that so? Well, maybe if someone had asked with an ounce of diplomacy instead of commanding like a spoiled royal bitch, I would have come!’FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of The Heart of Betrayal. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      This is the second book in the Remnant Chronicles by Pearson. I didn’t like it quite as much as the first book, in fact the first half of the book is pretty slow. Things really pick up towards the end though and I ended up engaged and curious in the story again. I would actually give the first half of the book 3 stars and the second half 4 stars.Lia and Rafe are held captive in the kingdom of Venda, Kaden’s home kingdom. Kaden has told the Vendan leader, Komizar, that Lia has the Gift in order to increase Komizar’s interest in Lia and ensure that she is protected. Lia, Rage, and Kaden have woven a complicated set of lies which makes everything tougher. Lia is also realizing that the Vendan people are not the barbarians everyone has assumed and it is affecting the choices she needs to make to survive. What will happen in the kingdom of Venda? Will Lia and Rafe escape, will they survive their capture or even make a life in that forsaken country?I found the first half of this book to be incredibly boring. Lia wanders around awaiting rescue. Rafe wanders around pretending to be an ambassador from his home country. Both of them are waiting for Rafe’s supporters to rescue them and neither are doing much productive.This changes in the second half of the book when Lia gets a chance to have some serious political power it leads to her having to make some tough decisions.This wasn’t the easiest book for me to read. I had trouble engaging with the characters and story for the first half of the book and really struggled. The writing just didn’t flow all that well. This changed some towards the end of the book when the characters finally started taking action and doing something.The story is mostly intrigue and politics with some romance. The kingdom of Venda is pretty much a typical Norse-like kingdom (very cold, trouble finding food, lots of wearing animal furs, etc). There wasn’t anything super creative here.Overall this was an okay book. I didn’t like it as much as the first book. I thought the first part of the story was very slow and had a lot of trouble engaging with the characters. Things picked up in the second half and I am curious about what will happen given Lia’s choices in the second half of the book. I would tentatively recommend to fans of political fantasy.