The Betrothed represents a welcome return for Kiera Cass

Popular YA author Kiera Cass returns with a new novel in The Betrothed, a story of a young girl who becomes engaged to a king, only to discover royalty may not be the life she wants.

Popular YA author Kiera Cass returns with The Betrothed, the first novel in a new duology that features romance, palace intrigue and great female characters. If you enjoyed Cass’ The Selection series, you’ll find a lot to like here – the plot is fast-paced and suitably twisty, and the heroine at its center is charming and easy to root for.

That said, this is a story that might have fared better without the romantic triangle at its center. This is a YA romance so asking for it to not have a love triangle is kind of like asking the sky to suddenly turn green, but there’s so much to like about this book, and it unfortunately gets dragged down by the unimaginative love story at its center.

Sudden inability to stay away from an unsuitable foreigner? Check. Rapid-fire falling in love with someone after roughly two conversations? Check. Original love interest becomes more jerkish to justify the heroine’s torn feelings? Check and check.

It’s unfortunate, because there’s actually an exciting story at the heart of The Betrothed. It’s just…not its romance.

The Betrothed follows Lady Hollis Brite, a young noblewoman in the kingdom of Coroa who has caught the eye of its handsome young King Jameson. At first, she’s excited about the prospect of being a queen, both in terms of Jameson’s affections and the chance to do good for her people. But when a refugee family from a neighboring kingdom arrives at court things begin to change.

As Hollis begins to settle into her duties as the King’s (future) intended, she finds herself repeatedly drawn to Silas Easthoffe, the son of that same refugee lord. She can’t stop starting at him, thinking about him, kissing him – even though she knows that she’s betraying her relationship with Jameson and potentially throwing away her chance at a crown.

This isn’t a new story, but it’s one that initially feels as though it should be more compelling than it is. Instead, Hollis and Silas’ relationship more often than not seems forced and bland. Their chemistry is nonexistent, their every meeting contrived. Why are they so obsessed with one another, considering all the risks involved? Who can say?

When the novel first begins, Hollis’ connection with Jameson seems legitimate enough, and if she’s somewhat overwhelmed by the idea of becoming his wife and Coroa’s queen, that’s understandable. It’s a big step for her, after all. But at no point does their affection seem as though it’s forced, or based more on her desire for a crown than a particular man.

However, once Hollis’ infatuation with Silas begins, the purported love triangle at the center of the story becomes quite lopsided, obviously favoring the new arrival to court over its king. Going in, I knew the plot of The Betrothed supposedly involved Hollis’ eventually divided heart. But the actual experience of the novel doesn’t live up to the complex emotional story it promises. Hollis always seems to favor Silas, and her instant crush on/obsession with him makes it obvious which way this story was always going to go.

Triangles are such a tired bit of YA fiction these days, and I was rather hoping that this one would at least try to be nuanced. Jameson is very likable in the book’s initial 100 pages, and the prospect of feeling equally torn between Hollis’ love interest was kind of thrilling. Alas, that doesn’t happen here, and her feelings for Silas are dull enough that her decision to risk everything for him doesn’t really work for me.

That said, the political intrigue angle of the novel is compelling enough, as are a handful of its side characters, most notably Delia Grace, Hollis’ best friend and handmaiden who fell from grace socially after a dark family incident. Valentina, a queen from a neighboring kingdom who appears briefly in the story is also especially fascinating, and someone I hope we see a great deal of in the sequel.

As for Hollis herself, she’s actually a tremendously likable heroine, which is part of the reason why it’s so frustrating that so much of her story is dedicated to who she’ll choose romantically. As YA heroines go, she’s not particularly smart or talented – she’s not crushing enemies with her archery skills, or weaving fine linen. She’s just a regular girl who’s adept at social situation and talking to others. (Skills, by the way, very necessary for a queen! Just saying!)

Hollis won’t save the day because she’s faster or more well-read than anyone else, but she might just save it because she’s taken time to be kind to someone, to listen to others, or to try and form relationships where others wouldn’t bother to do so. And that’s a very refreshing thing in a YA landscape where every girl has to be the absolute most beautiful or most accomplished or the utter best at some thing.

It’s so easy to root for Hollis, and want her to succeed. Except, maybe where her love life is concerned.

That said, thanks to some shocking developments at the very end of the novel, I’m deeply hopeful for where the series might go next. In fact, it feels almost as though The Betrothed only figured out the story it wanted to tell right at the very end, and I’m looking forward to the world of this story expanding in its sequel.

The Bethrothed is available now. Let us know if you’ve read it, and what you think of Cass’ return to YA fiction!