Betrayed

by Abigail Carter

"Bonded by our secrets, our failure to fit in anywhere else, and our apparent death wish, we become more than friends. More than family even. A union to be born of bloodshed, what could be stronger?"

Dark born. Cursed. Witch. Alessandra King lives under constant threat of sharp edged tongues, lethal side eyes, and an endless pit of loneliness. She is one of them. But her mother's legacy, the magic in her veins, it makes them fear her, hate her, want her dead. The academy for demon Hunters is no place for a Witch, so when it is time to flee, she learns not everything was as it seemed.

Travel through the lower world as Alessandra finds her past, her present, and her future wrapped in a bow of blood and lies. Can she claim her power, her love, her destiny before the darkness claims her?

Beware the demons of the lower world.

438 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2025

About the author

Abigail Carter was born in Georgia but was raised in many different states like Florida, The Carolinas, Massachusetts, and Texas. After serving in the U.S. Air Force and meeting her husband, she returned to a somewhat civilian life where she finished her first book Betrayed and her Master's in Clinical Counseling. Still residing in Texas with her husband and son, Abigail is currently working on the second book in The Lower World Rises series, working as counselor associate, spending time with her family, and reading all things fantasy and romance!

Reviews

[Cody Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t typically read fantasy that includes vampires, werewolves, witches or demons, but I enjoyed this one. I am a “vibe” reader, so I don’t spend much time critiquing books.

I really enjoyed the world building of this books and felt the plot/setting was pretty unique. I thought the variety of relationships were great, many platonic, romantic, cis, lgbtq, etc, many types were represented.

I really wanted more when it came to the friend group, I wanted to see more from their perspectives, see what they were up to when the FMC was off on her own. I also wanted more background on FMC family and their relationship to other characters in the book (Royals).

[Leigha Lennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abigail Carter’s Betrayed is a riveting dark fantasy that delves into themes of isolation, power, and the quest for identity through the eyes of Alessandra King, a witch navigating a world that both reveres and reviles her. This novel skillfully blends elements of magic, betrayal, and survival, creating a compelling narrative that grips the reader from the very first page.

Alessandra King, the protagonist, is portrayed with a deep complexity that makes her both relatable and intriguing. Born into a world that fears and despises her kind, Alessandra’s life at the academy for demon Hunters epitomizes her struggle: she is caught between her innate powers and the hostile environment that seeks to suppress them. Carter excels in illustrating the weight of Alessandra’s loneliness and the stark contrast between her inner strength and the outer rejection she faces daily.

The plot thickens when Alessandra is forced to flee the academy, a pivotal moment that propels her into the treacherous lower world—a beautifully crafted setting replete with darkness and danger that serves as the perfect backdrop for Alessandra’s journey of self-discovery. As she travels through this perilous landscape, Carter weaves a fascinating tale of discovery, revealing layers of Alessandra’s past and her mother’s legacy that challenge everything she believed about herself and her powers.

The narrative strength of Betrayed lies in its rich world-building and the dynamic characters Alessandra encounters. Each character adds depth to the story, from allies with questionable motives to enemies with unexpected complexities. The themes of trust and betrayal are explored with a keen insight, mirroring the inner turmoil and transformation of Alessandra as she navigates alliances and confrontations.

Carter’s prose is evocative and sharp, capturing the dark essence of the fantasy world and the intensity of Alessandra’s emotions. The pacing is taut, with action sequences that are both thrilling and thoughtfully placed to maintain momentum. The development of Alessandra’s magical abilities and her internal battle with her identity are particularly well-handled, providing a satisfying arc of growth and empowerment.

However, the novel occasionally struggles with balancing its ambitious plot with character development, particularly in the secondary characters, whose motivations and backgrounds could be fleshed out further to enhance the emotional resonance of the story.

Overall, Betrayed earns a solid four stars for its gripping plot, complex heroine, and the masterful intertwining of dark fantasy elements with a profound exploration of what it means to find one’s place in a world that fears difference. Abigail Carter has crafted a compelling tale that is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy seeking a story that combines magical intrigue with deep, personal struggles.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great book, I typically don’t read fantasy books but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. There was plenty of character development and I really felt immersed in another world while reading it. I look forward to the next one!

[Jessica Heaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. But it was almost a DNF for me, and I hated that. It did pick up towards the end and the writing definitely evolved from the beginning.