The Betrayal

by Pati Nagle

Book Overview

The noble and magical aelven were riven by war when a rogue clan embraced a forbidden source of magic: the drinking of blood. In the bitter fighting that ensued, the vampiric Clan Darkshore were cast... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345503856
• ISBN13: 9780345503855
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Interesting and Original, but Needs Backstory!

This is the first time that I read Pati Nagle's work and I have to say that it was an interesting fun read. I liked the ideas that she put together and the Aelvan themselves are interesting and keep you attention. However, this book does have its problems. It lacks a lot of backstory/origins, which is sometimes tedious, but is quite necessary in the first novel of a series. The story thrust you into this magical world without a paddle, and I found myself floundering a bit before I could catch my bearings. The chapters are named after the places in which they take place, and I had wished several times that the author had included a map in her book, just so I could keep up with the locations. I couldn't tell what was a city, what was a country, and what was a building until much later. Also, a lot of new fantastical terms are introduced, and it isn't until about 5 or 6 chapters in, that one can understand what these terms mean. They are just spit out by the story and after a time, a very astute person can use the few given context clues to understand the term's meaning. I was also sort of disappointed in the fact that in the beginning the character development and involvement is a little one dimensional. Eliani, one of the stars of the book, is kind of flat to start out with, and not very flushed out until the book was half over. Turisan, the male lead, did not suffer as much so, but he still seemed flat. Other characters like Felisan, hardly get any screentime, and I was disappointed in the lack of interaction. The alben are the same way, as Shalar's character began to get a little tedious in the beginning. I could only seem to see three things about her; she has dubious morals, is kinda slutty, and is sometime a good leader. Dareth, her consort, is a much more 3-D character, but has little time within the book. Finally, both the action scenes (what little there were), and the romance was a little convoluted. Eliani and Turisan hardly spend any time together, before they are suddenly in love with each other. This is especially evident with Turisan, who goes from just being courteous to Eliani, to wanting to kiss her, in little more of than a second. He wants to be handfasted (permanent marriage) to her after only knowing her for 4 days and (supposedly) being in love with her for only one or so. Eliani's attraction and love is more easily seen and understandable, however, her previous relationship with Kevelon is constantly only glanced over, so one can't really understand her plight or why she doesn't want to get involved with Turisan. Well, now that I have ragged on this book enough, I shall say what I did like about it. After the confusing and slightly boring first act, the book really picks up and grabbed my attention. The plot was quite interesting, and one can't help but feel compassion for the wronged, ostracized, and mistreated alben, whose only fault was contracting a disease that causes them to need blood for survival. I also felt a

Almost better than "Oz!" [ SPOILERS ]

Well most everything has been covered so far, but here are my thoughts: the cover is gorgeous, the back cover intriguing enough to make me buy it and the prose and vivid world Ms. Nagle creates in "The Betrayal" is enchanting! I do disagree and was somewhat disppointed in the pace and lack of action in places. That is the only thing that I would have rated this 4 1/2 vs. 5* had I been able. And like one reviewer mentioned I was very disappointed to get near the end and realize 'this is NOT the end.' While I read trilogies and series books too, it's nice to be able to pick a book up once in awhile, have a good read... period! I thought that's what I was getting when I picked up "The Betrayal." I even checked the last couple pages of this book before buying, seeing there was no "read on for the next..." so I thought "Yeah!" A good book! Single quick easy read. =( By the time the next book comes out, sadly, I will have forgotten most of the details of this book. And an interesting question as to the title "The Betrayal" to whom I wonder does it really refer? Shalar who wants retribution for herself and her clan? After all, they supposedly could not help what happened to them and only now are council members beginning to further question, "should we have asked more? Been more understanding or offered more suppport?" And while Shalar is what she is, she does not come across as needlessly cruel, only needlessly surviving. So could Dareth be the betrayer then? And it is only at this point that Shalar seems to or will turn harder. Kelevon? Whom has already betrayed Eliani, his clan... his loyalty seems to change with the wind. But thank you so much for not letting "Luruthin" linger in his pain at least! Aside from that, *sigh* well I guess I will to have to wait...for the rest of the story! =)

Original and engaging

_The Betrayal_ tells the story of a conflict between the aelven (elves, of course) and their exiled kin, the alben, who were outcast from aelven society in the distant past when they became afflicted with vampiric urges. I'm a little sick of vampires in general, but Nagle's take on them is original, and it makes sense. The magic of the aelven is based on exchange of "khi", or energy, and the alben's blood drinking is a logical corruption of that. There are two intertwining narratives here. One follows Eliani and Turisan, two young aelven who are drawn together by the rare magical gift of mindspeech. This gift creates an instant bond between them that eventually leads to romance, and it also has the potential to become a powerful weapon in the hands of the aelven. Eliani struggles with the gift; she knows that accepting it would be advantageous to the aelven, but due to past heartbreak, she is resistant to the close relationship it would forge between herself and Turisan. The other plotline is told from the point of view of the alben queen, Shalar, who has two fervent desires: a child (the alben have been infertile for long years), and the return of her clan's homeland. The aelvan live alongside a lesser race called "kobalen." The name reminded me of kobolds, and so I was initially picturing goblinlike creatures, but I quickly began to suspect that the kobalen are...something else. The ethical treatment of kobalen is a recurring issue in _The Betrayal_. The aelven think of them as just above vermin, while the alben hunt them for blood and enslave them, yet some are beginning to wonder whether they should be regarded as sentient beings. The question of "personhood" comes up in regard to the alben as well. The alben are considered to be aelven no longer, but several aelven characters find themselves wrestling with the knowledge that the two races are closely related, and with the possibility that the alben's blood drinking may not be voluntary. This leads to another issue: war, and the need to consider all the available information before taking up arms. I like that Nagle questions the "giant epic battle solves everything" trope that sometimes appears in high fantasy. Nagle's prose is a treat. It's elegant; she's great at using just the right amount of "archaic" or "elevated" language to add to the mood without impeding the flow of the story. She's also skilled with descriptions. The beauties of nature and of aelven handiwork, from embroidery to palaces, are vivid throughout the novel. The plot is tight and well-executed, with several threads that promise to come together in interesting ways. I hadn't realized this was a series and hoped it would be resolved in one book, but when I realized I was near the end, I knew it was not to be! Alas, this means I'll have to wait to find out how this story ends, but I'm looking forward to it.

A Fabulous Romantic Fantasy!

With hints of a looming invasion from a clan that was once part of the Aelven and long ago ousted for their vampiric ways, their leader, Shalar is determined to provide survival for her clan with whatever means she can provide. Feeling unjustly persecuted and aiming for revenge, the leader of Clan Darkshore plans an overtaking of the Aelven land her clan once governed. Eliani is nextkin of her father to govern one of the Aelven lands known as Alpinon. She meets Turisan, the son of another governor from another Aelven land when he travels to honor and witness the ceremony that marks Eliani as nextkin. Learning that she and Turisan have a very special, very rare ability called mindspeech, Eliani is afraid that if she should give in and allow herself to speak with Turisan that she will lose herself, opening herself up to heartache that would far surpass what she has already experienced. Now with the fear of an attack from the Aelvens enemy, the kobalen (an inferior race of beings), and quite possibly the beginning of a new war, Eliani is faced with a decision she is reluctant to make. But if she doesn't choose to mindspeak with Turisan, and accept this ability they now share, she could be making a most grievous error. With the land and its people in turmoil, Eliani and Turisan have the ability to sway things in the favor of the Aelven people. What an awesome new world to get lost in. Pati Nagle really has a wonderful, vivid, and extremely imaginative creation in The Bertayal and the world of the Aelven. A very well fleshed out story with fantastic world-building. Never that I can recall have I read a book where I felt a strong compassion for the antagonists like I did in this book. Shalar and her people are not evil bent only on destruction and revenge, and I am very intrigued to see how the story further unfolds in future books. The romance was not a strong one, meaning it was not what drove the plot forward, but it was a fine romance. It was enough that kept me in tune to see how the plot would unfold as well as the relationship between Eliani and Turisan. Being that I primarily read romance, I find it necessary to have it in my reading, and The Betrayal had a very nice, slow building romance that added to the overall plot. I thought this was an amazing first book!

exciting romantic fantasy

Eliani's spirit was shattered when her beloved rejected her after their after cup bonding. Despondent and feeling like she wasted a year and a day, Eliani enlists as an Alpinon Guard warrior, one of the most dangerous jobs an aelven can accept as death is a typical outcome but that no longer matters to her. She vows no male will ever get her heart again except her father whom she has become his top aid. Turisan leaves Glenwhollow feeling upbeat about life as he goes to deliver a message from his father to congratulate the daughter of a family friend on her election as governor. He journeys through the invigorating woodlands but realizes someone is following him, whom he identifies as an Alpinon Guard. However, instead of an assault, he is taken to Hightstone where he receives great honors. When he and Eliani meet they are not just attracted to one another; they share the legendary mindspeech. Both are appalled and frightened yet euphoric. Neither realizes their paranormal connection as much as their respective heart ties will be the main hope when the outlawed exiled former aelven clan Darkshore led by the bloodsucking Queen Shalr are crossing the Ebon Mountains to reclaim more than their lost status; they come to conquer and dine on the blood of their once allies. This is an exciting romantic fantasy starring two intriguing protagonists and a solid support cast who add societal depth to the aelven clans or the vampiric alben. The reactions to the mindspeech between Eliani and Turisan are terrific as each covets the link but also fears what is going on. Fans will appreciate Pati Nagle's appropriately titled tale and look forward to me adventures in Alpinon and beyond. Harriet Klausner