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The Descendants #1
Betrayal
Where there is love and power, there is always... betrayal.
At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.
After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is – a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for – safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.
In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.
At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.
After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is – a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for – safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.
In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
148 people are currently reading
14748 people want to read
About the author
Mayandree Michel
3 books242 followersMayandree writes young adult paranormal romance and historical fantasy. When she's not writing, she's playing with her kids, reading or sketching. Her first novel, Betrayal (The Descendants, #1) & 2nd, Sacrifice (The Descendants,#2) are available now. The third novel in the series, Mercy, will release in September 2014.
Websites:
http://mayandreemichel.blogspot.com
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Twitter & Instagram: mayandreemichel
Websites:
http://mayandreemichel.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mayandr...
Twitter & Instagram: mayandreemichel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
September 16, 2011
Okay, I tried. I really, really did, but when Evan's liquid blue eyes practically leapt out at me, I couldn't take it any more.
Seriously, there are awful books, and awful self-pubbed books, and then there is Betrayal. It's truly in a league of its own. This is a book that should never have seen the light of day, let alone been given rave review after rave review. Think I'm being unnecessarily harsh? Why don't you try this on for size -
Something dashed right through me. Right through me! The vapor I’m composed of now, sensed the being that penetrated me. This person went through my phantom body, with only one desire, reaching my crushed and lifeless form. The person was wracked with agony yet it wasn’t the cries that demonstrated this fact, but the torment they left behind that mingled with my mist. Only one emotion could exude such grief, and it was love. I recognized the person the moment I saw her waver and then drop like a damp towel to her knees, on the asphalt beside my blanketed body.
"Drop like a damp towel"? Really? And I thought Nicole Ritchie's "puddle of funky juice" was the worst imagery I'd ever read! Obviously I was wrong. Michel's damp towels and "furrowed eyebrows in the center of her face" and "titanium eyes" and nauseating descriptions ad infinitum take the prize.
The first thing Mayandree Michel needs to do is take writing lessons. Or at the very least, google Writing 101. This book is chock-full of bad English, grammatical errors, typographical errors, overlong descriptions... you name it, it's probably in this 400-page atrocity. "Past" becomes "passed", "occupied" is used interchangeably with "preoccupied" "descent" has been substituted with "decent". I mean, seriously? Self-pubbed doesn't mean getting away with writing utter trash. I read about a hundred pages of this book, and about 85 of those pages could have been cut out without detracting from the storyline at all. There are pages and pages of description about the clothes every single character is wearing, their appearance (in minute, simile-laden detail), the freakin' weather...
And the writing. Oh the writing was so horrendous, I am left speechless. The tenses are all over the place, switching from past to present in the course of one sentence; massive snowball sentences run into one another; similes are tossed around like confetti.
I sobbed, wiped the tears away again, and went back into the cafeteria. I tried to look inconspicuous but met a few curious glances from the student body. I kept my eyes on the checkered linoleum. They saw the spectacle and wondered what happened. I prayed no one would ask me. No one did. Everyone reverted back to chatting. By the end of the day, I’m sure the tale will be tall and along the lines of hair pulling.
Say what?
As I approached the curb and waited for the light to change, I noticed him immediately. He stood motionless, like a mounted statue, on the curb directly across the street from where I stood. I’d never seen him before, and I was certain of that. If I had, I would’ve remembered those eyes, shimmering steel. When our eyes met, they locked for a brief moment. It had been brief because I was nervous and unsure, as usual, with having the unworthy attention of a good looking guy, so I shied away. But his presence tugged at me, with a luring gaze, for some unknown reason, and drew me in like a magnet. His eyes were unwavering, and my nerves were like a tangled mess of electrical wires with the awareness of this mysterious guy appraising me.
Yeah, that isn't even the love interest, by the way.
I'm not sure I can critique the plotline, if there exists one, since nothing remotely interesting or decipherable happens in the entire first quarter of the book, which is all I managed to get through. Unless you count the fact that the heroine supposedly dies, and then spends the next three pages bemoaning the fact that by dying, she has ruined her brand new white sundress. Cordelia (which, as we are told repeatedly, is her full first name), I salute you. Never in the history of Young Adult paranormals has there been a more useless piece of fluff passed off as a heroine.
Oh and Cordelia is in love with a mysterious handsome young man who appears to her in her dreams, and whose face she has never seen. Go figure.
I am not usually this harsh in my reviews, but this time I gotta say it. Betrayal is crap. Complete, utter, brain-numbing crap that barely even constitutes a book. I've read several thousand books in my lifetime, and I think I can confidently state that this is one of the worst things I've ever read, outside of a bored grade-schooler's "What I did Last Summer" essay. If I come off as being a hater, I am okay with that- because really, I hated this (book? Can it even be called that?) and I wasted several hours of a precious lifetime on it that I'll never get back. I can only thank god that it was free and I didn't have to lose money in addition to brain cells on this sad excuse for a novel. Amen.
Seriously, there are awful books, and awful self-pubbed books, and then there is Betrayal. It's truly in a league of its own. This is a book that should never have seen the light of day, let alone been given rave review after rave review. Think I'm being unnecessarily harsh? Why don't you try this on for size -
Something dashed right through me. Right through me! The vapor I’m composed of now, sensed the being that penetrated me. This person went through my phantom body, with only one desire, reaching my crushed and lifeless form. The person was wracked with agony yet it wasn’t the cries that demonstrated this fact, but the torment they left behind that mingled with my mist. Only one emotion could exude such grief, and it was love. I recognized the person the moment I saw her waver and then drop like a damp towel to her knees, on the asphalt beside my blanketed body.
"Drop like a damp towel"? Really? And I thought Nicole Ritchie's "puddle of funky juice" was the worst imagery I'd ever read! Obviously I was wrong. Michel's damp towels and "furrowed eyebrows in the center of her face" and "titanium eyes" and nauseating descriptions ad infinitum take the prize.
The first thing Mayandree Michel needs to do is take writing lessons. Or at the very least, google Writing 101. This book is chock-full of bad English, grammatical errors, typographical errors, overlong descriptions... you name it, it's probably in this 400-page atrocity. "Past" becomes "passed", "occupied" is used interchangeably with "preoccupied" "descent" has been substituted with "decent". I mean, seriously? Self-pubbed doesn't mean getting away with writing utter trash. I read about a hundred pages of this book, and about 85 of those pages could have been cut out without detracting from the storyline at all. There are pages and pages of description about the clothes every single character is wearing, their appearance (in minute, simile-laden detail), the freakin' weather...
And the writing. Oh the writing was so horrendous, I am left speechless. The tenses are all over the place, switching from past to present in the course of one sentence; massive snowball sentences run into one another; similes are tossed around like confetti.
I sobbed, wiped the tears away again, and went back into the cafeteria. I tried to look inconspicuous but met a few curious glances from the student body. I kept my eyes on the checkered linoleum. They saw the spectacle and wondered what happened. I prayed no one would ask me. No one did. Everyone reverted back to chatting. By the end of the day, I’m sure the tale will be tall and along the lines of hair pulling.
Say what?
As I approached the curb and waited for the light to change, I noticed him immediately. He stood motionless, like a mounted statue, on the curb directly across the street from where I stood. I’d never seen him before, and I was certain of that. If I had, I would’ve remembered those eyes, shimmering steel. When our eyes met, they locked for a brief moment. It had been brief because I was nervous and unsure, as usual, with having the unworthy attention of a good looking guy, so I shied away. But his presence tugged at me, with a luring gaze, for some unknown reason, and drew me in like a magnet. His eyes were unwavering, and my nerves were like a tangled mess of electrical wires with the awareness of this mysterious guy appraising me.
Yeah, that isn't even the love interest, by the way.
I'm not sure I can critique the plotline, if there exists one, since nothing remotely interesting or decipherable happens in the entire first quarter of the book, which is all I managed to get through. Unless you count the fact that the heroine supposedly dies, and then spends the next three pages bemoaning the fact that by dying, she has ruined her brand new white sundress. Cordelia (which, as we are told repeatedly, is her full first name), I salute you. Never in the history of Young Adult paranormals has there been a more useless piece of fluff passed off as a heroine.
Oh and Cordelia is in love with a mysterious handsome young man who appears to her in her dreams, and whose face she has never seen. Go figure.
I am not usually this harsh in my reviews, but this time I gotta say it. Betrayal is crap. Complete, utter, brain-numbing crap that barely even constitutes a book. I've read several thousand books in my lifetime, and I think I can confidently state that this is one of the worst things I've ever read, outside of a bored grade-schooler's "What I did Last Summer" essay. If I come off as being a hater, I am okay with that- because really, I hated this (book? Can it even be called that?) and I wasted several hours of a precious lifetime on it that I'll never get back. I can only thank god that it was free and I didn't have to lose money in addition to brain cells on this sad excuse for a novel. Amen.
December 20, 2011
Well, Cookie Monster said it better that I ever could:
There was awful spelling, overused similes, dragged-out descriptions, and pretty much non-existant plot. I was caught between laughing and launching the thing at the wall. I chose to laugh, because I read it on my laptop, and these things are expensive.
But honestly. What the crap.
'The periwinkle empire mini dress was made of delicate cotton, and was perfect for this profusely obscene weather.'
Profusely obscene...wait, what? I think that's just a BIT over the top, don't you agree?
'Right now, as I stare at myself in macabre, the weather seemed to react to my death. Gloomy clouds rolled onto the cerulean blue sky like shaken dice, masking it in several shades of gray. The rumbles of thunder seemed to protest my demise.'
The plural of dice is die. And that's the least of the problems with this book. I think this must be where adjectives go to die.
'I was kind of annoyed that my new dress was ruined; the idea had actually crossed my mind. Unfortunately, no one could admire my new dress now, sopping in all my blood which could easily be confused for cherry syrup if you were unaware of the carcass under the fabric.'
Seriously? Seriously. She's dead, hit by a car and KILLED, and she worries about her DRESS? And cherry syrup?
I'm sorry, but this book is awful. That's the truth.
There was awful spelling, overused similes, dragged-out descriptions, and pretty much non-existant plot. I was caught between laughing and launching the thing at the wall. I chose to laugh, because I read it on my laptop, and these things are expensive.
But honestly. What the crap.
'The periwinkle empire mini dress was made of delicate cotton, and was perfect for this profusely obscene weather.'
Profusely obscene...wait, what? I think that's just a BIT over the top, don't you agree?
'Right now, as I stare at myself in macabre, the weather seemed to react to my death. Gloomy clouds rolled onto the cerulean blue sky like shaken dice, masking it in several shades of gray. The rumbles of thunder seemed to protest my demise.'
The plural of dice is die. And that's the least of the problems with this book. I think this must be where adjectives go to die.
'I was kind of annoyed that my new dress was ruined; the idea had actually crossed my mind. Unfortunately, no one could admire my new dress now, sopping in all my blood which could easily be confused for cherry syrup if you were unaware of the carcass under the fabric.'
Seriously? Seriously. She's dead, hit by a car and KILLED, and she worries about her DRESS? And cherry syrup?
I'm sorry, but this book is awful. That's the truth.
May 24, 2011
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
I struggled mightily with this book. I liked the idea for the story (descendants of the Olympian Gods have a hidden, secret Empire in present day and also vampires, werewolves, etc). However, it was a good idea poorly executed in many parts of this looong book.
Coming in at 662 pages, this is far from the longest book I've read this year. However, I feel like I was counting every single one of those six hundred odd pages; it literally sapped my strength to finish this book. Why? Well, my first issue was the pacing. Incredibly, ridiculously slow and filled with little real content. The beginning suffers the most from the meandering pace, and thus made it hard for me to connect to the characters or to be invested in the outcomes for Delia, Evan, Beth, Niko and Victor.
Additionally, the writing itself seemed very awkward and stilted at times. It simply didn't flow the way a novel should; there were abrupt transitions and awkward dialogue and exposition many times in the pages. Also, THE GRAMMAR. Abysmal. Truly, truly abysmal. I am aware this is a self-published author so she may not have the same resources, but it was truly egregious. "There" for "their/they're" many, many times, "here" instead of "hear", not correctly using quotation marks, or not even using them at all, among other offenses. The amount of editing errors were very distracting from the story and also just plain aggravating after a while.
Delia is the main character of Betrayal, a descendant of Zeus and soon-to-be Empress of the gods remaining Empire. She is not original, there is very little to differentiate Cordelia from thousands of teenage protagonists in YA paranormal fiction. Delia is a distant and aloof character, both with the remaining cast and with the reader. She's hard to sympathize/empathize with, and tends to keep everyone in the book at arms length. She is more likable as the novel progresses, but continued to be a source of frustration for me. She's meekly accepting when she should be demanding and questioning. She relies on others to protect her constantly, never once taking an imitative to defend herself, and often flouts the protection that is extended to her. I know the author was striving to make Delia appear independent and determined, but she ends up more careless and self-centered. She has genuine chemistry with her love interest, Evander the descendant of Poseidon, and therefore, the second most powerful descendant besides herself. Evan himself and the centaur Nikolas are probably the only characters I came to care about throughout the course of the novel. However, Evan does seem a bit too perfect.
Evan's younger sister, Bethany, was one of my least favorite characters this year in any novel. She's a very unfriendly character and fails to connect with anyone in the book besides her brother and her lover. I found her actions and attitude toward her "best friend" Delia to be completely perplexing and rude. She was a veeeery grating character; demanding when she should be helping, controlling instead of supportive. She's ridiculously inconstant and secretive, only showing a softer side to her love, Niko.
All in all, this was a very mixed effort. I really, really wanted to love this book and in the end, all I feel is underwhelmed and relief that I managed to finish.
I struggled mightily with this book. I liked the idea for the story (descendants of the Olympian Gods have a hidden, secret Empire in present day and also vampires, werewolves, etc). However, it was a good idea poorly executed in many parts of this looong book.
Coming in at 662 pages, this is far from the longest book I've read this year. However, I feel like I was counting every single one of those six hundred odd pages; it literally sapped my strength to finish this book. Why? Well, my first issue was the pacing. Incredibly, ridiculously slow and filled with little real content. The beginning suffers the most from the meandering pace, and thus made it hard for me to connect to the characters or to be invested in the outcomes for Delia, Evan, Beth, Niko and Victor.
Additionally, the writing itself seemed very awkward and stilted at times. It simply didn't flow the way a novel should; there were abrupt transitions and awkward dialogue and exposition many times in the pages. Also, THE GRAMMAR. Abysmal. Truly, truly abysmal. I am aware this is a self-published author so she may not have the same resources, but it was truly egregious. "There" for "their/they're" many, many times, "here" instead of "hear", not correctly using quotation marks, or not even using them at all, among other offenses. The amount of editing errors were very distracting from the story and also just plain aggravating after a while.
Delia is the main character of Betrayal, a descendant of Zeus and soon-to-be Empress of the gods remaining Empire. She is not original, there is very little to differentiate Cordelia from thousands of teenage protagonists in YA paranormal fiction. Delia is a distant and aloof character, both with the remaining cast and with the reader. She's hard to sympathize/empathize with, and tends to keep everyone in the book at arms length. She is more likable as the novel progresses, but continued to be a source of frustration for me. She's meekly accepting when she should be demanding and questioning. She relies on others to protect her constantly, never once taking an imitative to defend herself, and often flouts the protection that is extended to her. I know the author was striving to make Delia appear independent and determined, but she ends up more careless and self-centered. She has genuine chemistry with her love interest, Evander the descendant of Poseidon, and therefore, the second most powerful descendant besides herself. Evan himself and the centaur Nikolas are probably the only characters I came to care about throughout the course of the novel. However, Evan does seem a bit too perfect.
Evan's younger sister, Bethany, was one of my least favorite characters this year in any novel. She's a very unfriendly character and fails to connect with anyone in the book besides her brother and her lover. I found her actions and attitude toward her "best friend" Delia to be completely perplexing and rude. She was a veeeery grating character; demanding when she should be helping, controlling instead of supportive. She's ridiculously inconstant and secretive, only showing a softer side to her love, Niko.
All in all, this was a very mixed effort. I really, really wanted to love this book and in the end, all I feel is underwhelmed and relief that I managed to finish.
March 1, 2011
I got to read this amazing novel pre-launch and as soon as it debuts I'm running out to get a copy!
M.Michel is a new author who has written a compelling story of love, deception, magic, greek myth, historical fantasy, and time travel - what a winning combination!.
I couldn't stop reading until I finshed, and then wanted more.
The protagonist, Cordelia, wasn't the average teenage girl you read about these days (weak and dependent on some guy she met yesterday - ugh!).
Cordelia was very likable because the author made her REAL. She was strong but also had vulnerabilities.
Cordelia's love interest, Evan, was the kind of guy I'd want protecting me ( sensitive, attentive and gorgeous too).
All of the characters were interesting in their own way and the setting ( a small town in Nevada) was perfect. I can't wait for the next installment!!!
M.Michel is a new author who has written a compelling story of love, deception, magic, greek myth, historical fantasy, and time travel - what a winning combination!.
I couldn't stop reading until I finshed, and then wanted more.
The protagonist, Cordelia, wasn't the average teenage girl you read about these days (weak and dependent on some guy she met yesterday - ugh!).
Cordelia was very likable because the author made her REAL. She was strong but also had vulnerabilities.
Cordelia's love interest, Evan, was the kind of guy I'd want protecting me ( sensitive, attentive and gorgeous too).
All of the characters were interesting in their own way and the setting ( a small town in Nevada) was perfect. I can't wait for the next installment!!!
May 6, 2011
Got this from Amazon as it has a fairly good rating, but found very quickly that the writing style is extremely stilted. Some weird expressions as well as very, very much telling. Not much showing at all. Further, it is badly edited. So far I have found 'where' instead of 'were', 'here' instead of 'hear'.
---
The book begins with our heroine Cordelia, while running towards her bus, bumping into a brick wall of a shadow (?) and she starts to shoot lightning out of various parts of her body before passing out:
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
She ends up in hospital but is quickly released and back to studying and working. She works in a souvenir shop, where time drags and we are told that she can't wait to escape the dreary Nickel City and go to college in a place where the seasons change (as opposed to Nevada) and where there is plenty of entertainment.
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
One early evening she comes home, ignore her parents watching a sit-com in the sitting room, grabs an apple and goes up to her room to study. Then her mum calls her on the mobile, as she is worried about her:
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
She goes to sleep and has a dream she has had before, apparently, in which she is walking with a dark-haired boy (with hungry blue eyes) in a forest. In the dream they are attacked by (were?)wolves:
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
Cordelia hurts her arm in the dream, and when she wakes up, she has real salt water (not sweat, she knows this) from the dream on her body and the wound from her dream is real...
....
---
Well, I shall leave her to ponder that on her own, because I can't bring myself to read any more of this crap.
---
The book begins with our heroine Cordelia, while running towards her bus, bumping into a brick wall of a shadow (?) and she starts to shoot lightning out of various parts of her body before passing out:
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
She ends up in hospital but is quickly released and back to studying and working. She works in a souvenir shop, where time drags and we are told that she can't wait to escape the dreary Nickel City and go to college in a place where the seasons change (as opposed to Nevada) and where there is plenty of entertainment.
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
One early evening she comes home, ignore her parents watching a sit-com in the sitting room, grabs an apple and goes up to her room to study. Then her mum calls her on the mobile, as she is worried about her:
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
She goes to sleep and has a dream she has had before, apparently, in which she is walking with a dark-haired boy (with hungry blue eyes) in a forest. In the dream they are attacked by (were?)wolves:
extract from book removed from this review at the author's request
Cordelia hurts her arm in the dream, and when she wakes up, she has real salt water (not sweat, she knows this) from the dream on her body and the wound from her dream is real...
....
---
Well, I shall leave her to ponder that on her own, because I can't bring myself to read any more of this crap.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2011
*First, I have to say a big thank-you to Mayandree Michel who gave me the chance to review her book per-launch. I’m very grateful and honoured to have had the opportunity.
I really enjoyed this book. Most of the time I found that I didn’t want to stop reading. I wanted to know what would happen next, all the way up to the end.
The writing itself was beautiful and flawless. It was detailed and interesting, painting a picture of exactly what was happening and the world the story was set in. The writing itself lends a lot to the time in which the book is set; maintaining that proper, correct pronunciation and word use.
I loved the idea of this novel. The story and concept was unique and not something I’d heard of before; it wove Greek Myth and Lore together with the popular supernatural creatures we all love nowadays, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and more.
The story starts out slow, and yet not in a way that leaves you bored. It’s a great setup for a captivating tale and once the story picks up, it gets very good. This book has an odd pace. It’s not exactly fast paced, and yet it’s not slow. The story progresses at a good rate, telling you things from time to time. I was caught from the moment Cordelia experiences her “life altering event” and eager to see just what was going to happen next. Just when I thought I knew where Mayandree was going or what she was going to do next, she threw something in that changed direction! I love books like that....stories where you never know what’s in store next.
I thought the characters were great too. Each one had a sole purpose within the story and was unique. Cordelia, Evan, Bethany, Nikolas, even Victor, Lucas, Sasha, Winston, Gerald and Evan and Bethany’s parents all had their purpose and role within the story.
I really liked Cordelia. She’s the type of heroine I’m always on the lookout for; normal, relatively tough girls, who react realistically and question everything that’s happening. They look at the world with an open mind and don’t just settle for what people are telling them. And yet they don’t go out looking for trouble....although it usually finds them anyway. I liked that she saw herself in a realistic manner. I felt she grew a lot too throughout the course of the novel, and it’s always great to see character building when you read a book.
I liked Evan, although for the most part I felt like I didn’t know too much about him. It was obvious that he was a good, honourable man, although I felt like there was a lot of him that was kept hidden. I hope we get to see this more in future books.
In the beginning I found it really hard to feel the romance between Delia and Evan. Even though it was nice and sweet, no matter how I hard I tried, I never completely felt it. There were times when thought I did, and yet for the better part of the novel I found it hard to get into. And then heading towards the end of the book.....I felt it! I think I felt it at the exact moment that Cordelia did and you know what—I think the author is brilliant! Her writing made it hard to feel at times and yet that went perfectly with what Cordelia felt. Towards the end of the book the relationship between Cordelia and Evan begins to form in the way that I love--growing gradually and beginning to take shape. There were a few moments between them that I thought were very cute and sweet and a few, “awwww,” moments on Evan’s part in my eyes. He certainly was swoon worthy on occasion.
The ending of this book was very exciting. From the moment the Masquerade Ball began all the way up until the final page, it was fast paced and heart racing. So many things came to light, questions that left me shocked and wondering just what is really going on in this world. Many things came to light and left more questions to be pondered. When Cordelia learned the whole complete truth, I was shocked. I hadn’t been expecting what she discovered, and get it’s all so brilliant. It was so dramatic and the final chapter of this book was breath-taking and heartbreaking—my heart cried for those hurt by the truth.
This book ends perfectly; ready for the next chapter in Cordelia’s journey and I think it’s going to be an exciting one. The one question that’s on my lips is considering everything that’s come to light and happened....just who will the next enemy be....
Can’t wait to find out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2011
I almost didn't spend the measly 99 cents for this book after reading a couple of 1 star and 2 star reviews. I do realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion so I decided to form my own. I succumbed to the gorgeous cover and finally bought the ebook for my Kindle.
I'm THRILLED that I did! Luckily for me, I didn't let those 1 & 2 star reviews deter me.
I didn’t think it was slow as others are describing. The story grabs you from the beginning with the detail. The author lays out the foundation of the blah western town where Cordelia the MC lives and drops the first bomb in like the first chapter. From then on it's a rollercoaster of unpredictable event after event.
This book turned out to be a beautiful story, and beautifully written. The author did a phenomenal job of creating a unique world of her own mythology largely based on Greek mythology, Vampires, shifters, ghosts, and magic. The break-down of the ancestry of the descendants and world building is extraordinary. I am in awe of this author for weaving everything so tightly!
I connected with many of the characters and liked Cordelia the best from the start. She's a smart and independent teenager. In one of the reviews, Cordelia is described as a whiny brat and selfish. This is a YA novel about teenagers. If you wanted to read a book about a grown, self-assured and experienced individual, well you should read an adult book about adults. In no way did I feel that the MC was selfish or a brat for wanting to know the truth and demanding it. She acted like an empress before she even knew she was one and never backed down to anyone. My kinda girl!
I do have one gripe though, and it’s Bethany, Delia’s so called "best friend". She's the only character that annoyed me for the entire book. Bethany seems to have no clue how to be a friend, but I won't give this book a lower rating just because I disliked a character. I loved Nikolas (the warrior centaur) and Winston (the disgruntled ghost). They're both excellent characters. Nikolas is hilarious! There is a place in my heart for both Evan and surprisingly Victor (the villain) too. Even the evil twins – Sacha (Victor’s girlfriend) and Lucas (Victor’s most trusted follower) were well rounded characters.
I have so many favorite parts of this book that I can’t pick one. When the truth and secrets of the betrayal began to surface, I couldn’t put it down. The ending was a shocker and AMAZING!
I’m jumping for joy that there is a sequel. This is a fantastic book. Just to think how I almost missed out on this! Ms. Michel deserves plenty of praise for an exciting first novel!
I'm THRILLED that I did! Luckily for me, I didn't let those 1 & 2 star reviews deter me.
I didn’t think it was slow as others are describing. The story grabs you from the beginning with the detail. The author lays out the foundation of the blah western town where Cordelia the MC lives and drops the first bomb in like the first chapter. From then on it's a rollercoaster of unpredictable event after event.
This book turned out to be a beautiful story, and beautifully written. The author did a phenomenal job of creating a unique world of her own mythology largely based on Greek mythology, Vampires, shifters, ghosts, and magic. The break-down of the ancestry of the descendants and world building is extraordinary. I am in awe of this author for weaving everything so tightly!
I connected with many of the characters and liked Cordelia the best from the start. She's a smart and independent teenager. In one of the reviews, Cordelia is described as a whiny brat and selfish. This is a YA novel about teenagers. If you wanted to read a book about a grown, self-assured and experienced individual, well you should read an adult book about adults. In no way did I feel that the MC was selfish or a brat for wanting to know the truth and demanding it. She acted like an empress before she even knew she was one and never backed down to anyone. My kinda girl!
I do have one gripe though, and it’s Bethany, Delia’s so called "best friend". She's the only character that annoyed me for the entire book. Bethany seems to have no clue how to be a friend, but I won't give this book a lower rating just because I disliked a character. I loved Nikolas (the warrior centaur) and Winston (the disgruntled ghost). They're both excellent characters. Nikolas is hilarious! There is a place in my heart for both Evan and surprisingly Victor (the villain) too. Even the evil twins – Sacha (Victor’s girlfriend) and Lucas (Victor’s most trusted follower) were well rounded characters.
I have so many favorite parts of this book that I can’t pick one. When the truth and secrets of the betrayal began to surface, I couldn’t put it down. The ending was a shocker and AMAZING!
I’m jumping for joy that there is a sequel. This is a fantastic book. Just to think how I almost missed out on this! Ms. Michel deserves plenty of praise for an exciting first novel!
May 29, 2011
Betrayal, the debut novel by author Mayandree Michel, doesn’t read like a debut at all. This book has all of the necessary elements for a really great paranormal romance. It’s engaging, with a fantastic storyline and outstanding characters.Mayandree’s capability to create engrossing three-dimensional characters is spectacular. In my opinion, the characters drove the story as well as the plot. Evey single character was essential to the story and not a prop. With each introduction of every character, they come to life with depth and personality, making them totally believable. They each have their own secrets and stories woven into each other, adding to the complexity and anticipation of this intriguing tale.
The brilliantly constructed plot and intensity of some of the scenes adds to the suspense building throughout the story. There was a load of unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge, guessing, and nail biting. The superb mixture of many of the most adored elements of YA paranormal literature and the premise of Greek myth is refreshing.
Usually, I don't comment on the cover because I try to judge a book for the story and not the cover (the strongest marketing tool). But I must admit that I am quite smitten with this cover. It is just so stunning. This is by far one of the most striking covers I’ve ever seen and it matches PERFECTLY with the fantastic story.
The brilliantly constructed plot and intensity of some of the scenes adds to the suspense building throughout the story. There was a load of unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge, guessing, and nail biting. The superb mixture of many of the most adored elements of YA paranormal literature and the premise of Greek myth is refreshing.
Usually, I don't comment on the cover because I try to judge a book for the story and not the cover (the strongest marketing tool). But I must admit that I am quite smitten with this cover. It is just so stunning. This is by far one of the most striking covers I’ve ever seen and it matches PERFECTLY with the fantastic story.
April 23, 2011
Every once in a while you come across a book that is as brilliant as it is breathtaking. Betrayal is the one!!
I loved, loved, loved this book. I would shout it from the mountain tops if I could. At first I was thinking – what a gorgeous cover but 600 pages - yeah this will drag but a few chapters in and I was hooked! Just when I'm thinking OMG this book is amazing and it can't get any better than this - it got better and better! I couldn't put it down. I was reading it every free moment I had. I was dying to know what was going to happen next and then I didn't want it to end! Even after I was done reading the book, I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and their world. I'm so happy I chose to read Betrayal for so many reasons.
I'm a big fan of Greek Mythology and I’m so happy that it’s making a comeback in YA. You expect a Greek Mythology story to have powerful and stunning demigods, shocking family secrets and scandal, war and evil entities on the horizon, and forbidden romance. Betrayal has all that and more. So much more! Mayandree Michel's depiction is unique and beautifully executed. I really enjoyed the writing style.
This is a story about some of the descendants of the twelve Olympians and their struggle to maintain their empire while fighting a banished member. Cordelia is seventeen and leaves her present world in Nickel City behind and is taken a century into the past. She must remember all that has happened then, figure out who she really is, and who she can trust. I was engrossed in Cordelia's new world. Her journey of self-discovery triggers an emotional rollercoaster when she starts to figure out who she is and what it really means to be a demigod and its mind blowing.
Betrayal is not the typical girl meets boy, then they fall head over heels in love (like in one chapter), then they whip the bad guy’s ass, and you wonder where the heck is the story - kind of book. Cordelia's relationship with lovable and gorgeous Evan is strained at first, and then gradually develops at a steady pace which is refreshing comparing to so many rushed paranormal romance novels in the young adult genre. The explosive actions scenes are so well crafted and not rushed. I love how Mayandree puts you right at the scene. The plot is complex and the twists are unexpected, which is what makes a fantastic book and worth the purchase.
Betrayal met all of my expectations and exceeded them! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to everyone even if you don’t have a background in Greek mythology. Thank you Mayandree for an incredible YA book! Please keep writing! I’m so excited that this is a trilogy. I can’t wait for the second book – Sacrifice!
I loved, loved, loved this book. I would shout it from the mountain tops if I could. At first I was thinking – what a gorgeous cover but 600 pages - yeah this will drag but a few chapters in and I was hooked! Just when I'm thinking OMG this book is amazing and it can't get any better than this - it got better and better! I couldn't put it down. I was reading it every free moment I had. I was dying to know what was going to happen next and then I didn't want it to end! Even after I was done reading the book, I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and their world. I'm so happy I chose to read Betrayal for so many reasons.
I'm a big fan of Greek Mythology and I’m so happy that it’s making a comeback in YA. You expect a Greek Mythology story to have powerful and stunning demigods, shocking family secrets and scandal, war and evil entities on the horizon, and forbidden romance. Betrayal has all that and more. So much more! Mayandree Michel's depiction is unique and beautifully executed. I really enjoyed the writing style.
This is a story about some of the descendants of the twelve Olympians and their struggle to maintain their empire while fighting a banished member. Cordelia is seventeen and leaves her present world in Nickel City behind and is taken a century into the past. She must remember all that has happened then, figure out who she really is, and who she can trust. I was engrossed in Cordelia's new world. Her journey of self-discovery triggers an emotional rollercoaster when she starts to figure out who she is and what it really means to be a demigod and its mind blowing.
Betrayal is not the typical girl meets boy, then they fall head over heels in love (like in one chapter), then they whip the bad guy’s ass, and you wonder where the heck is the story - kind of book. Cordelia's relationship with lovable and gorgeous Evan is strained at first, and then gradually develops at a steady pace which is refreshing comparing to so many rushed paranormal romance novels in the young adult genre. The explosive actions scenes are so well crafted and not rushed. I love how Mayandree puts you right at the scene. The plot is complex and the twists are unexpected, which is what makes a fantastic book and worth the purchase.
Betrayal met all of my expectations and exceeded them! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to everyone even if you don’t have a background in Greek mythology. Thank you Mayandree for an incredible YA book! Please keep writing! I’m so excited that this is a trilogy. I can’t wait for the second book – Sacrifice!
October 19, 2011
"This was the worst book I've ever read." When people say that, they're usually exaggerating. But in this case, when I say, "This was the worst book I ever tried to finish but couldn't," I'm telling the complete, 100% truth. Betrayal sits in this rare bookshelf on my Goodreads account for all 8--now 9--books that I couldn't finish. To Mayandree Michel, the self-published author of this...thing, please go take an English class. Please.
I'm not saying my own writing is perfect. But I acknowledge my errors while Michel is under the illusion that she is a good writer. Betrayal is a combination of 1st grade grammar, misplaced grammar, ridiculous description, and a WTF-what-is-going-on plot. Do I need to describe how much I hated this? No,I don't think I can even describe to you the sheer stupidity of this book.
Now, even if I took away the grammar errors (which were so glaringly obvious, I wondered if Michel even bothered reading her drafts, assuming she didn't just publish the first version), I have to wonder where she was going with the plot. Cordelia has some strange recurring dream about some handsome boy named Evan. Then, she dies and ends up at her best friend's house. There she realizes some guy name Victor is after her, Evan is real, and suddenly everyone she knows talks in stilted, formal, language. And get this--all of Cordelia's friends are from the 19th century!!!! When the ragtag group of teenagers magically transport themselves back in time, I just had to put this book down once and for all. I mean, the genre tags say "mythology." But as of that point in the story, I saw a lot of 1) mysterious gargoyle boys, 2) evil wolf packs, and 3) references to the beauty of the Sierra Nevadas. But not so much of the "god" part. I mean, seriously. GET TO THE POINT ALREADY!
This book was crap. Just sayin'.
I'm not saying my own writing is perfect. But I acknowledge my errors while Michel is under the illusion that she is a good writer. Betrayal is a combination of 1st grade grammar, misplaced grammar, ridiculous description, and a WTF-what-is-going-on plot. Do I need to describe how much I hated this? No,I don't think I can even describe to you the sheer stupidity of this book.
Now, even if I took away the grammar errors (which were so glaringly obvious, I wondered if Michel even bothered reading her drafts, assuming she didn't just publish the first version), I have to wonder where she was going with the plot. Cordelia has some strange recurring dream about some handsome boy named Evan. Then, she dies and ends up at her best friend's house. There she realizes some guy name Victor is after her, Evan is real, and suddenly everyone she knows talks in stilted, formal, language. And get this--all of Cordelia's friends are from the 19th century!!!! When the ragtag group of teenagers magically transport themselves back in time, I just had to put this book down once and for all. I mean, the genre tags say "mythology." But as of that point in the story, I saw a lot of 1) mysterious gargoyle boys, 2) evil wolf packs, and 3) references to the beauty of the Sierra Nevadas. But not so much of the "god" part. I mean, seriously. GET TO THE POINT ALREADY!
This book was crap. Just sayin'.
April 23, 2011
I loved so many things about this book that I don't know where to begin.I was drawn to the beautiful cover and after reading the description I knew that I had to read this book.
It's one of those books that you know you'll read more than once just to re-live the imagery and beauty of the story. You feel like your actually watching the story. The author wove the Victorian era with Greek gods and goddesses, vampires, ghosts, werewolves and made it all work so well. It grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let go until the incredibly SHOCKING ending. The characters were so real, even the villain. The romance between Delia and Evan was sweet because... well I don't want to spoil it for who still haven't read it. All I can say is "What are you waiting for?". This is a must YA read!
It's one of those books that you know you'll read more than once just to re-live the imagery and beauty of the story. You feel like your actually watching the story. The author wove the Victorian era with Greek gods and goddesses, vampires, ghosts, werewolves and made it all work so well. It grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let go until the incredibly SHOCKING ending. The characters were so real, even the villain. The romance between Delia and Evan was sweet because... well I don't want to spoil it for who still haven't read it. All I can say is "What are you waiting for?". This is a must YA read!
September 21, 2011
What first drew me to Betrayal was the cover. I mean look at it, it is absolutely gorgeous! Then the second that I read the synopsis I was instantly intrigued and just had to read it. I must say I wasn't disappointed at all and Michel did a wonderful job!
Betrayal started out with Cordelia living in Nickel City and wanted nothing more than to save up her money and leave this city in the dust on graduation day. Then strange things started to happen and the book took a turn into the wonderful paranormal. When she starts having strange dreams and seeing shadows strangely come to life Cordelia believes that she might me going crazy.
After an accident that leave Cordelia dead she is pushed back through time to Nickle City in the late 1800s where we find out she is originally from. She finds out that she is one of the direct descendants from the Greek god Zeus and is part of an empire called the Ischeros. The Ischeros are all families made up of people that are direct descendants from the other Greek gods. Cordelia also finds that the mysterious guy Evan from her dreams wasn't a figment of her imagination at all but actually her betrothed.
There is only one problem with all of this and that is Cordelia cannot remember anything from her life here. She only remembers her life in the future and cannot fathom why her memory hasn't been restored to her like they all keep telling her it will. Cordelia remembers nothing of her life as a descendant and no one seems to know when those memories will return. Without her memories Cordelia finds that this new reality of hers is hard to accept.
Without her memory Cordelia is very vulnerable. She doesn't have the powers that she supposedly had before her trip into the future. It seems that her powers were directly linked to her memory and without those powers she has to rely on the family that has been pushed on her for safety.
There are quite a few evil beings in this story. The Appoluon who are vampires that are shadows during the day and human-like beings at night. Victor is another person who is out to get her, he used to be apart of the Ischeros' but that right had been taken from him when he decided to become power hungry and a murderer.
Even though Cordelia cannot remember much from her life before, she feels a strong attraction to Evan. She does not act upon the attraction because she is apprehensive of everyone. Without her memory she does not know who to trust. Evan never gave her a reason not to trust him, he was protective and thoughtful, gentle and sweet, and always gave Cordelia the same that she needed to come to terms with things on her own. Cordelia felt a little overwhelmed with the love Evan showed her because Evan was still a stranger to her in her eyes.
Evan wasn't the only love interest in Cordelia's life. There was Gerald, who was a human. He loved Cordelia unconditionally and wanted nothing more from her than to be happy. He does not give up easily though and Cordelia knew that. She is torn between two love interests, Evan who is her soul mate and makes her feel complete and safe and Gerald who made her feel normal again.
I have to admit that I loved this story. It was full of adventures and had the constant threat of danger at every page. There was betrayal and untold secrets and completely unexpected twists and turns throughout the entire story. You never knew what was going to happen next and I loved that most about this story. Michel wrote beautifully in this, even though there were a few editing mistakes they never took away from the beauty of the writing. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released! This story ended on a jaw dropper and I need to know what happens next because I was not expecting the ending to be like that at all.
If you haven't read this book yet then you need to! It is quite long but it is well worth it because there is never a dull moment. You wont be disappointed! :)
Betrayal started out with Cordelia living in Nickel City and wanted nothing more than to save up her money and leave this city in the dust on graduation day. Then strange things started to happen and the book took a turn into the wonderful paranormal. When she starts having strange dreams and seeing shadows strangely come to life Cordelia believes that she might me going crazy.
After an accident that leave Cordelia dead she is pushed back through time to Nickle City in the late 1800s where we find out she is originally from. She finds out that she is one of the direct descendants from the Greek god Zeus and is part of an empire called the Ischeros. The Ischeros are all families made up of people that are direct descendants from the other Greek gods. Cordelia also finds that the mysterious guy Evan from her dreams wasn't a figment of her imagination at all but actually her betrothed.
There is only one problem with all of this and that is Cordelia cannot remember anything from her life here. She only remembers her life in the future and cannot fathom why her memory hasn't been restored to her like they all keep telling her it will. Cordelia remembers nothing of her life as a descendant and no one seems to know when those memories will return. Without her memories Cordelia finds that this new reality of hers is hard to accept.
Without her memory Cordelia is very vulnerable. She doesn't have the powers that she supposedly had before her trip into the future. It seems that her powers were directly linked to her memory and without those powers she has to rely on the family that has been pushed on her for safety.
There are quite a few evil beings in this story. The Appoluon who are vampires that are shadows during the day and human-like beings at night. Victor is another person who is out to get her, he used to be apart of the Ischeros' but that right had been taken from him when he decided to become power hungry and a murderer.
Even though Cordelia cannot remember much from her life before, she feels a strong attraction to Evan. She does not act upon the attraction because she is apprehensive of everyone. Without her memory she does not know who to trust. Evan never gave her a reason not to trust him, he was protective and thoughtful, gentle and sweet, and always gave Cordelia the same that she needed to come to terms with things on her own. Cordelia felt a little overwhelmed with the love Evan showed her because Evan was still a stranger to her in her eyes.
Evan wasn't the only love interest in Cordelia's life. There was Gerald, who was a human. He loved Cordelia unconditionally and wanted nothing more from her than to be happy. He does not give up easily though and Cordelia knew that. She is torn between two love interests, Evan who is her soul mate and makes her feel complete and safe and Gerald who made her feel normal again.
I have to admit that I loved this story. It was full of adventures and had the constant threat of danger at every page. There was betrayal and untold secrets and completely unexpected twists and turns throughout the entire story. You never knew what was going to happen next and I loved that most about this story. Michel wrote beautifully in this, even though there were a few editing mistakes they never took away from the beauty of the writing. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released! This story ended on a jaw dropper and I need to know what happens next because I was not expecting the ending to be like that at all.
If you haven't read this book yet then you need to! It is quite long but it is well worth it because there is never a dull moment. You wont be disappointed! :)
April 29, 2011
I downloaded Betrayal right after I read the intriguing description. I finished reading it today and just ordered the paperback from amazon because this book is a rarity and must be displayed on my shelf. I just wished it was signed by the incredibly talented author. I'm currently stalking every UPS truck that goes by my house until I get my hands on my copy of Betrayal that is now my all time favorite book. I've noticed the variance in ratings and wondered why some readers thought it deserved just two starts while others were raving with 5 stars. Well I can't speak for anyone else but myself so I'll explain why I'm giving this AMAZING book FIVE whopping. I'd give Betrayal more but goodreads is stingy.
1 Star- for the gorgeous cover. The beautiful dress, the mystical background, the lightning in the girl's, simply breathtaking.
1 Star- for originality. This was truly a unique, original and intriguing tale. If you're exhausted with reading the same story over and over from different authors who are to lazy to come up with a unique and original story, order Betrayal now.
1 Star- for a beautiful and vividly written masterpiece that I could easily imagine. Ms.Michel's writing is compelling. I'm still trying to catch my breath after finishing it today. Simply astounding. I've already started to re-read it, but stopped just long enough to write this review for it.
1 Star- for excellent character development. I saw the growth of the main character as the story progressed. Delia went from a scared and unsure teenager due to the circumstances surrounding her finding out that she is indeed a goddess, to a strong and ass kicking heroine. The secondary characters were just as distict as the main characters. Delia's relationship with Evan is consuming, heartwrenching, intense and full of passion and I love Evan! Her relationship with her best friend Bethany is explosive. I also enjoyed Nikolas' humor.
1 Star- for unpredictable plot twists. Reading Betrayal is like watching a paranormal romance - action movie. Betrayal had a fierce grip on me from the first chapter.I had no idea what was going to happen next and I stayed up late - really really late to find out. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author shocked me with yet another twist.
Total: 5 well deserved Stars
1 (bonus) Star - for research. Ms. Michel didn't choose the lazy writer's route like a few other authors who have written Greek inspired books this year. I got a couple from netgalley - which I'm thankful for, but overall disapointed with after reading and seeing the author's lack of knowledge. I can appreciate an author who takes the time to research a specific time period and the multi-layered stories of Greek Mythology.
I'd give another star because Betrayal is THEE rare gem in the unsatifactory pile of rubble of Greek inspired stories that have been surfacing lately. Betrayal has meaning and gives new meaning to EPIC.
Mayandree Michel's efforts at constructing a fascinating world should be applauded. She is an author to keep your eyes peeled on.
BRAVO! to Ms. Michel for a phenomenal debut. You did not disapoint!
I have but one question.
When the heck is the sequel coming out?!?!!! I'm panting for more!!!
1 Star- for the gorgeous cover. The beautiful dress, the mystical background, the lightning in the girl's, simply breathtaking.
1 Star- for originality. This was truly a unique, original and intriguing tale. If you're exhausted with reading the same story over and over from different authors who are to lazy to come up with a unique and original story, order Betrayal now.
1 Star- for a beautiful and vividly written masterpiece that I could easily imagine. Ms.Michel's writing is compelling. I'm still trying to catch my breath after finishing it today. Simply astounding. I've already started to re-read it, but stopped just long enough to write this review for it.
1 Star- for excellent character development. I saw the growth of the main character as the story progressed. Delia went from a scared and unsure teenager due to the circumstances surrounding her finding out that she is indeed a goddess, to a strong and ass kicking heroine. The secondary characters were just as distict as the main characters. Delia's relationship with Evan is consuming, heartwrenching, intense and full of passion and I love Evan! Her relationship with her best friend Bethany is explosive. I also enjoyed Nikolas' humor.
1 Star- for unpredictable plot twists. Reading Betrayal is like watching a paranormal romance - action movie. Betrayal had a fierce grip on me from the first chapter.I had no idea what was going to happen next and I stayed up late - really really late to find out. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author shocked me with yet another twist.
Total: 5 well deserved Stars
1 (bonus) Star - for research. Ms. Michel didn't choose the lazy writer's route like a few other authors who have written Greek inspired books this year. I got a couple from netgalley - which I'm thankful for, but overall disapointed with after reading and seeing the author's lack of knowledge. I can appreciate an author who takes the time to research a specific time period and the multi-layered stories of Greek Mythology.
I'd give another star because Betrayal is THEE rare gem in the unsatifactory pile of rubble of Greek inspired stories that have been surfacing lately. Betrayal has meaning and gives new meaning to EPIC.
Mayandree Michel's efforts at constructing a fascinating world should be applauded. She is an author to keep your eyes peeled on.
BRAVO! to Ms. Michel for a phenomenal debut. You did not disapoint!
I have but one question.
When the heck is the sequel coming out?!?!!! I'm panting for more!!!
May 20, 2011
The Age of Innocence meets Percy Jackson.
This book is a great start to a brilliant new series. I plan to devour every book in this one.
I loved the YA voice and the way the author kept the teens as teenagers, allowing the phenomenal cast of characters to evolve.
I'm quite impressed with the Mayandree Michel for doing the research and incorporating a mixture of well-known Greek Myth, while creating an exciting new world that sucks you in.
Read this book and be prepared to be blown away.
This book is a great start to a brilliant new series. I plan to devour every book in this one.
I loved the YA voice and the way the author kept the teens as teenagers, allowing the phenomenal cast of characters to evolve.
I'm quite impressed with the Mayandree Michel for doing the research and incorporating a mixture of well-known Greek Myth, while creating an exciting new world that sucks you in.
Read this book and be prepared to be blown away.
July 20, 2011
I have to say I have not yet read a book with lots of mythological stuff in it but after reading this I have to say I LOVE IT! This book had me at the start I just wanted to see more and more what was going to happen. I keep turing the pages waiting for more!! Its a amazing story and just flowed so well. this is for sure a must read!!;))
October 2, 2011
My niece went thru a lets download a buch of ebooks the kindle faze. Therefore when I seen this cover I like it and once I started reading it I could not put it down. The story is a about a seemingly normal 15 year old Cordelia Tethersom living in Nickel City Neveda living in a small town where everyone knows everyone she is like every other teenager wanting to get out of small town and see the world. Cordelia is so she thinks is struck down by lighting one rainy night thinking it was a freak accident keeps to herself the dreams she has being attacked by wolfs in a forest she is running with someone she has no idea who he is but is romanticaly involved with him in her dreams when she wakes up feeling loss. Keeping this to herself is hard so when she is tells her best friend Beth about this the last thing she would expect is her dream is not a dream but her past. Cordelia is killed the very next day watching her parents mourn her death Delia goes to Beth house thinking to at least say her goodbyes and is suprise to find that not only can Beth see her she was going to go search for her. Delia is shock to see the boy from her dreams she only knows him as Evan there in the house but can also see her. Delia still confused from events of her death is quickly transported to old west victorian 1891. This point in the story is where I was hooked and could not put it down. Delia is throw into a life that she cannot remember and the only people she knows is her best friend Beth along with who she was lead to believe is Beth brother Nickolas but infact Beth's fiance. Evan who she only remembers from her vivided dreams is her fiance. I am sure to any person would be a shock but to a teenager this is overwelming to Cordelia. She is then informed she is a descendant to the Greek Gods and a first daughter of the Tieron family a Isheroe and is to be crowned Empress of the Isheroe. Delia is also being hunted by Victor a Ishero who has turned evil and is trying to kill her and take the crown. If you love reading about the greek gods then Betrayal if for you. As a child I loved to read about them and therefore this book was a one I could not put down. Corelia is doing everything possible to get her memory and powers back before her crowning and before victor can kill her and also remember her family and friends. Delia once before was a spoiled teenager is now a scared, mad and confused woman out in search of the truth and her memory before it is to late. All is not what it seems and those she felt she can trust may not be trust worthy Delia is forced to get her own questions answered and is very good at ease -dropping on conversations and is learning who she can trust and those who are on their own agenda has Delia using her gut instict not to trust. I had this book on my kindle which was the best way to take it with me everywhere I went. I am looking forward too book #2 Sacrifice will be out 12/2011
June 15, 2011
Warning: some spoilers
This book was mild entertainment for a dollar on my Nook color. However, it had some major flaws:
1. There were so many spelling errors that I wondered if it had been run through an editor at all. It really took away from the professionalism of the story. I don't know if it was just through the transition to the Nook - if this is the case, then disregard. The sentence structure was plain and could've been a lot better - see my below comment also.
2. There were some really, really bad metaphors - for example, "warm as a freshly baked muffin" to describe someone's eyes. My jaw literally dropped when I saw that one. I had to grit my teeth and ignore them to continue on.
3. In many instances, she referenced pop culture, which often didn't fit the scene or the mood. During the final scene she threw in a reference to the main character's MP3 player, which detracted from the scene's mood entirely and was unnecessary. Really, although this is a YA novel, your readers DO NOT need pop culture references thrown at them! They're annoying and it is plain the author believes that young adults cannot read a fantasy novel without pop culture references.
4. Pacing: the story was way too slow paced, and included boring descriptions of dresses, the house Dalia stayed in and all that. I love all this Victorian stuff, but it was too much. More action and less description, please! I also could've done with her memory returning a little faster - it seemed much of the book's plot depended on the fact that she had no memory, weakening the story as a whole.
Now there are some things she did well:
1. Characters: although Bethany annoyed me to no end at times, the author did a good job on keeping her three dimensional. Same goes for Dalia and Evan - I was expecting the stereotypical perfect boy that seems to be prevalent in many YA novels, but he had his flaws.
2. Plot: The plot was a bit slow, but the overall concept was good and I particularly enjoyed the ending when she came to know her powers. The beginning, when she died, was heart-wrenching for me and the author did a good job on that part. The middle was where it got slow.
3. The Gods - I felt it was a little rushed at times and unbelievable, but I liked how the author didn't over-include the Gods in the story and let the characters do things themselves. It was kind of cool to see how people's powers reflected the Gods.
Overall, the story was a nice read for the summer, but it has major issues that need to be fixed.
This book was mild entertainment for a dollar on my Nook color. However, it had some major flaws:
1. There were so many spelling errors that I wondered if it had been run through an editor at all. It really took away from the professionalism of the story. I don't know if it was just through the transition to the Nook - if this is the case, then disregard. The sentence structure was plain and could've been a lot better - see my below comment also.
2. There were some really, really bad metaphors - for example, "warm as a freshly baked muffin" to describe someone's eyes. My jaw literally dropped when I saw that one. I had to grit my teeth and ignore them to continue on.
3. In many instances, she referenced pop culture, which often didn't fit the scene or the mood. During the final scene she threw in a reference to the main character's MP3 player, which detracted from the scene's mood entirely and was unnecessary. Really, although this is a YA novel, your readers DO NOT need pop culture references thrown at them! They're annoying and it is plain the author believes that young adults cannot read a fantasy novel without pop culture references.
4. Pacing: the story was way too slow paced, and included boring descriptions of dresses, the house Dalia stayed in and all that. I love all this Victorian stuff, but it was too much. More action and less description, please! I also could've done with her memory returning a little faster - it seemed much of the book's plot depended on the fact that she had no memory, weakening the story as a whole.
Now there are some things she did well:
1. Characters: although Bethany annoyed me to no end at times, the author did a good job on keeping her three dimensional. Same goes for Dalia and Evan - I was expecting the stereotypical perfect boy that seems to be prevalent in many YA novels, but he had his flaws.
2. Plot: The plot was a bit slow, but the overall concept was good and I particularly enjoyed the ending when she came to know her powers. The beginning, when she died, was heart-wrenching for me and the author did a good job on that part. The middle was where it got slow.
3. The Gods - I felt it was a little rushed at times and unbelievable, but I liked how the author didn't over-include the Gods in the story and let the characters do things themselves. It was kind of cool to see how people's powers reflected the Gods.
Overall, the story was a nice read for the summer, but it has major issues that need to be fixed.
March 28, 2011
First off I would like to say thank you to Mayandree for letting me have the chance to read an ARC of Betrayal before it's release date.
When I first read the plot summary I was like I need this book NOW. I have to say god,goddess and myths are becoming my favourite book subject to read about and Betrayal didn't let me down although I found that it didn't hit the right pace until 100 pages in but then it was like a run away train and I just could stop reading It just was amazing. I loved all the characters even the baddies.
Betrayal is a must read for any YA fan. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't say I have to wait to long for book 2????????
When I first read the plot summary I was like I need this book NOW. I have to say god,goddess and myths are becoming my favourite book subject to read about and Betrayal didn't let me down although I found that it didn't hit the right pace until 100 pages in but then it was like a run away train and I just could stop reading It just was amazing. I loved all the characters even the baddies.
Betrayal is a must read for any YA fan. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't say I have to wait to long for book 2????????
March 29, 2011
I asked the author a chance to read this book and was lucky for the chance to read this AMAZING book pre-release. Thank you, thank you,thank you Mayandree! I loved this book from beginning to end.
There are points in the book with reflection and it gives you a really good view of the depth of Cordelia and her struggles. She was definately my fav character. Every character was important and well developed. I really enjoyed their interactions with each other in this greek myth inspired story - so different and so good. It is a tragic story and a romantic story with fantasic action scenes. What an ending - Whoa! It had me dying for more. I hope there will be a second book!
There are points in the book with reflection and it gives you a really good view of the depth of Cordelia and her struggles. She was definately my fav character. Every character was important and well developed. I really enjoyed their interactions with each other in this greek myth inspired story - so different and so good. It is a tragic story and a romantic story with fantasic action scenes. What an ending - Whoa! It had me dying for more. I hope there will be a second book!
May 7, 2012
That's it I am done I'm giving up on this freaking book. How the hell can you even call this a book? This is an epitome of junk, worthless. I mean who the hell rates these books. Self publishing a book gives you no right to write outrageous stuff like this. I read about 6 chapters of a book and consider that a accomplishment, its that damn bad. The only good thing here is that it was a free ebook I didn't pay anything for it, but you know what that is a bad thing a book such as this should never be given for free, innocents happen to have to tolerate shit. Yeah, I'm gonna stop here cause I'm gonna keep rambling otherwise.
But in short my opinion on this book is: WTF?
But in short my opinion on this book is: WTF?
May 20, 2011
The best way to describe this book is pure excellence. It was a page turner that I struggled to put down. I literally lost an entire night of sleep! It was action packed, romantic, and kept me guessing all the way to the end. The story line was unique and unlike any other book in the ya paranormal romance genre. Much better than the two most awaited books out this year that are also based on Greek Mythology . Betrayal is #1 and is simply A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Everyone should read it!
June 28, 2011
FINALLY something different! This is the one if you are as sick as I am (cookies tossed) of all the Twilight copy-cat YA books that have been saturating the book stores since it came out.
June 6, 2011
Overview: I must say I loved this book! Mayandree has an incredibly intricate and detailed writing style. She created world so vivid while reading I almost felt apart of it. In the Capius mansion, the Nevada Sierra, the desolate Tieron Mansion, the amazingly beautiful garden, no aspects was left blank. The clothing of the late 1880's era was described in great detail as well. I would have loved to attend the Masquerade Ball if just to see the costumes. The introduction of the Greek mythological lineage for the main characters was incredible and something I haven't seen very often. The characters were descendants of the Gods given powers that directly correlate with their deity. The powers givien to Cordelia were amazing. It was very entertaining as well as a history lesson in Greek Gods. I had to stop myself many times from skipping to the end of the book. I wanted to know would Cordelia get her memory back and who would betray her. Mrs. Michel was good at building suspense.
Characters: Cordelia's personal growth throughout the book was amazing to watch. In the beginning I didn't see her as a strong person (having amnesia and being told you are a demi-god might cause anyone to be a little weary) but I loved how her strength grew throughout the story. Toward the end I could finally see her as powerful. Nickolas was my second favorite character. He just seemed like the right guy to have on your side, very protective but not overbearing and he seemed like a lot of fun. The three other guys - Victor, Evan and Gerald - played their roles nicely. I found myself rooting for Victor in the end over Evan. Evan just didn't do it for me and Gerald, I just felt a little bad for him. Bethany I was a little leery of as well in the beginning but by the end I understood her. Sacha and Lucas were badass. That's all I can say about them. I would like to have known more about Sun Paw, Night Wind and Moon Rose, they could have a spin off story all of their own.
Plot: Cordelia was definitely someone to root for. Her story wasn't an easy one and I felt everything that she was feeling about what was happening to her. She didn't know who to trust or what to believe. She even had doubts within herself which is something that we can all relate to. In the beginning I had my own speculations about who would betray her. I must say, I'm glad I was wrong!
In the end it was a great debut. However, this isn't a easy one day read. It is well over 650 pages. It takes time and effort but is very enjoyable and worth the time! I really cannot wait to see what happens in the next book due out in December!
Characters: Cordelia's personal growth throughout the book was amazing to watch. In the beginning I didn't see her as a strong person (having amnesia and being told you are a demi-god might cause anyone to be a little weary) but I loved how her strength grew throughout the story. Toward the end I could finally see her as powerful. Nickolas was my second favorite character. He just seemed like the right guy to have on your side, very protective but not overbearing and he seemed like a lot of fun. The three other guys - Victor, Evan and Gerald - played their roles nicely. I found myself rooting for Victor in the end over Evan. Evan just didn't do it for me and Gerald, I just felt a little bad for him. Bethany I was a little leery of as well in the beginning but by the end I understood her. Sacha and Lucas were badass. That's all I can say about them. I would like to have known more about Sun Paw, Night Wind and Moon Rose, they could have a spin off story all of their own.
Plot: Cordelia was definitely someone to root for. Her story wasn't an easy one and I felt everything that she was feeling about what was happening to her. She didn't know who to trust or what to believe. She even had doubts within herself which is something that we can all relate to. In the beginning I had my own speculations about who would betray her. I must say, I'm glad I was wrong!
In the end it was a great debut. However, this isn't a easy one day read. It is well over 650 pages. It takes time and effort but is very enjoyable and worth the time! I really cannot wait to see what happens in the next book due out in December!
May 7, 2011
The story is centered around Cordelia, a modern day teen who gets murdered within the first pages of the book. She is brought back to life in the past, and then told that she is a descendant of Zeus. She discovers that she must stop Victor (the boy who murdered her) from reigning over her empire. The problem is Cordelia can't remember her life in the past, and without her memory, she is powerless. With so many unfamiliar faces stepping up to assist her, Cordelia doesn't know who she can trust and time is running out. Amazing!
I devoured Betrayal. I loved every minute of reading this book. I loved the plot twists, the brimming romance that wasn't rushed, the three dimensional characters, and above all that it was a refreshing and original book that didn't focus on vampires and fallen angels.
I devoured Betrayal. I loved every minute of reading this book. I loved the plot twists, the brimming romance that wasn't rushed, the three dimensional characters, and above all that it was a refreshing and original book that didn't focus on vampires and fallen angels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2011
This series chronicles the life of a 17 year old girl named Cordelia who seems to be a normal, average girl with a crappy job who just wants to get out of the small ghost town she lives in. She's so focused on graduation and college that she misses the signs around her that have been a warning sign for turbulent times ahead. When she begins have realistic dreams with a real hottie at night she begins to think she's going crazy...but sometimes what you might think is crazy becomes your reality.
I love this book! It was slow to start at the beginning because I wasn't sure where this story what heading but then BAM! Everything you think you know gets blown to bits and your left reeling along with Cordelia as to how things will ever right themselves again. I can't wait for the next installment of what is to become perhaps my favorite series thus far!
I love this book! It was slow to start at the beginning because I wasn't sure where this story what heading but then BAM! Everything you think you know gets blown to bits and your left reeling along with Cordelia as to how things will ever right themselves again. I can't wait for the next installment of what is to become perhaps my favorite series thus far!
May 9, 2011
All I can say is WOW WOW WOW! I don't usually read books with historical themes but this book has changed that. The writing is beautifully done with imagery that you could easily imagine.
Every new development was exciting and drew me in deeper. Betrayal had a unique and incredible mixture of all the paranormal creatures popular now with a Greek mythology theme that was refreshing.
It was fast paced, well plotted with fully developed characters and had an engaging voice of the main protagonist. I loved it. This is a must read!
Every new development was exciting and drew me in deeper. Betrayal had a unique and incredible mixture of all the paranormal creatures popular now with a Greek mythology theme that was refreshing.
It was fast paced, well plotted with fully developed characters and had an engaging voice of the main protagonist. I loved it. This is a must read!
January 20, 2012
I loved the idea behind this book. I've always had a soft spot for books that play off of Greek myths. This story was no disappointment. Aside from some grammatical errors (bear instead of bare, to instead of too) it was a great read with interesting twists and turns. The characters were different and well developed and the cover art is perfect for the story. This series has promise and I look forward to reading more from Mayandree Michel.
June 19, 2011
I made the time to read Betrayal because a friend said it's a lengthy one but well worth it. She was sooo right! It's one of the best books I've ever read and I consider myself to be an avid reader. I love a good book and the longer the better. I can't believe that this book is the first from Ms. Michel. It is sooo damn good!
February 10, 2012
This is a great book, expecially if you like Greek mythology. My only problem with the book is that it seemed to drag on and on due to the descriptions of every little thing. I just felt like some of the information was not neceassary. However, it was well worth the wait to get to the end. Great wrap up! Looking forward to the next book.
June 3, 2011
So, thanks to Meghann @ Absconditas (and the author herself), I managed to get my hands on a copy of this book. I’d been wanting to read it for a few months, so I guess you could call it luck? Anyway, this is one tome of a novel, and so it took me awhile to finish it, but once I did, it was satisfying.
Time travel! Late Victorian/Edwardian times (even though this takes place in the States, but whatever) and fashions! Greek mythology! This book has it all. I did have a few issues, though (one of which being the major need for an editor), which is why I can’t give it five stars.
I do like the fact that Michel isn’t afraid to literally kill off her heroine within the first few chapters of the book — that takes balls, especially in YA lit where the female market is huge and it’s kind of taboo to kill off one’s main girl right off the bat. I loved the fact that Cordelia really had to deal with something more human than being the Empress of a non-human empire — that of amnesia, but here’s where I felt the book crawled: the repeated conversations, fights, and threats related to aforesaid amnesia.
Yeah, I suppose it’s a big deal when an entire supernatural empire is at stake (and quite possibly, the human world too), but by the last 90 pages or so I was really ready to punch all of the characters that wouldn’t stop harassing her about the fact that she wasn’t able to immediately access her ‘suppressed’ memory of her life in the past. Bethany especially really got to me, but I suppose one has to have a character like that in books (especially with YA girls and that market) — the girl you want to hate but can’t because she’s got so many issues of her own.
That said, by the last 90 pages, I just kind of wanted Cordelia to get her memory back and instead deal with the other largest conflict: that of Victor and his threat to destroy everything. When Michel did get around to having the big showdown between Cordelia, Victor, and the others, I felt like she kind of rushed the entire thing and short-changed what could have been a great last third of the book had there been some rearranging of the subarcs and plots. For example, I’m not entirely sure that the entire Gerald-related subplot was needed (aside from the need for his dead brother) as much as it was represented.
But the good thing is, yay, there’s another book on the way! And I really love Michel’s style when it comes down to everything, faults and all. So perhaps the rushing of the evil!Victor showdown will be made up for in the second book with new adventures with our cast of characters. And hopefully maybe the gods will play a larger part in the next book than they did in this one. Therefore, for the ballsy and awesome plot alone, this has made it to my best of 2011 list.I seriously cannot wait to read the next one, regardless of my issues with this first novel. Combining all of the elements that she did here was absolutely brilliant and something I haven’t seen before in the YA market. So congrats to you, Michel — you’re awesome.
That, and I hope this gets a wider release. Self-publishing only gets you so far and so large an audience. Michel is extremely talented and deserves more attention for this book, which she’d get with a bigger press. So here’s hoping she gets all of this and more and brings us more fun misadventures with the Ischeros.
(crossposted to librarything, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
Time travel! Late Victorian/Edwardian times (even though this takes place in the States, but whatever) and fashions! Greek mythology! This book has it all. I did have a few issues, though (one of which being the major need for an editor), which is why I can’t give it five stars.
I do like the fact that Michel isn’t afraid to literally kill off her heroine within the first few chapters of the book — that takes balls, especially in YA lit where the female market is huge and it’s kind of taboo to kill off one’s main girl right off the bat. I loved the fact that Cordelia really had to deal with something more human than being the Empress of a non-human empire — that of amnesia, but here’s where I felt the book crawled: the repeated conversations, fights, and threats related to aforesaid amnesia.
Yeah, I suppose it’s a big deal when an entire supernatural empire is at stake (and quite possibly, the human world too), but by the last 90 pages or so I was really ready to punch all of the characters that wouldn’t stop harassing her about the fact that she wasn’t able to immediately access her ‘suppressed’ memory of her life in the past. Bethany especially really got to me, but I suppose one has to have a character like that in books (especially with YA girls and that market) — the girl you want to hate but can’t because she’s got so many issues of her own.
That said, by the last 90 pages, I just kind of wanted Cordelia to get her memory back and instead deal with the other largest conflict: that of Victor and his threat to destroy everything. When Michel did get around to having the big showdown between Cordelia, Victor, and the others, I felt like she kind of rushed the entire thing and short-changed what could have been a great last third of the book had there been some rearranging of the subarcs and plots. For example, I’m not entirely sure that the entire Gerald-related subplot was needed (aside from the need for his dead brother) as much as it was represented.
But the good thing is, yay, there’s another book on the way! And I really love Michel’s style when it comes down to everything, faults and all. So perhaps the rushing of the evil!Victor showdown will be made up for in the second book with new adventures with our cast of characters. And hopefully maybe the gods will play a larger part in the next book than they did in this one. Therefore, for the ballsy and awesome plot alone, this has made it to my best of 2011 list.I seriously cannot wait to read the next one, regardless of my issues with this first novel. Combining all of the elements that she did here was absolutely brilliant and something I haven’t seen before in the YA market. So congrats to you, Michel — you’re awesome.
That, and I hope this gets a wider release. Self-publishing only gets you so far and so large an audience. Michel is extremely talented and deserves more attention for this book, which she’d get with a bigger press. So here’s hoping she gets all of this and more and brings us more fun misadventures with the Ischeros.
(crossposted to librarything, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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