Prisoners of Betrayal

by Berlyn Hayes

Book 3 of 5 in the Heirs of Secrets series.

---------------------------------

A Sorceret unlocking her power.
A furious king with a vendetta.
And a villain unlike any other.

You’ll fall before me. On your knees or into my arms, it’s your choice.

Ceralya's missing and Kasimir has never been more desperate to find her. Leaving his kingdom behind, he embarks on a perilous journey to find her. He's prepared to destroy anything and anyone in his way—but what he's not prepared for is what's waiting for him at his journey's end.

Now that they know the traitor's identity, it's too dangerous for Ceralya and the Harvester to return to Creseair. Knowing that travesty will fall if they don't return soon to warn the people, they travel to a mortal kingdom for help. What starts as an innocent encounter quickly turns deadly.

Just when they think things can't get any worse, an unforeseen betrayal reveals a shocking truth about Creseair's past. Kasimir and Ceralya are forced to face a reality they never knew existed—a reality that demands sacrifices they're not willing to make.

If they don’t prioritize the kingdom above their feelings for one another, then the traitor will win and the enchantment around Blackscar will disintegrate, unleashing devastation and turning the realm to ash.

Genres: Fantasy

490 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2025

About the author

Berlyn Hayes is an American author who loves reading and writing YA and NA books, particularly in the fantasy, dystopian, and sci-fi genres. She learned Spanish while living in Boston, Massachusetts for a year and a half and was a two-time state power tumbling champion before receiving four major knee surgeries. During the time she spent relearning to walk, she began drafting "Heirs of Secrets". When she's not spending time with her amazing husband and hilarious family, she's fantasizing about vacationing at the beach.

Website: hayesberlyn.com

Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest: @hayesberlyn
Twitter/X: @berlynhayes

Reviews

[kaitlyn :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to staying up late to finish a book, episode 323 😂 But that's how you know it's a good book 🤷‍♀️ This one was my favorite of the series (so far ;) and I'm so excited to see the direction it'll go in. Shout out to my boy Syl for providing some of the best humor, for Kasimir for being his usual attractive self 👀, and countless other characters that you'll have to read about 🤭 If you've been looking for a fantasy book—that feels unique—then here's your sign. Plus, there's two more books left to come out in the series, so it'll provide you with a lot of reading material and is perfect for a new series to get consumed by (and have take over your life haha) There was so much action in this, it'll keep you on your toes! I'd rate it—like Kasimir—a 10/10!

[Berlyn Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey, it's me, the author! Of course I'm going to rate my own book 5 stars😂 But in all seriousness, thanks a million for your support for the HEIRS OF SECRETS series—I never would've made it this far were it not for you guys!🫶

You're about to embark on a crazy adventure with this book! The plot twists will shock you, the battles will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the romance will make you swoon. Or, it'll break you. I'll let you be the judge😉

I'm crossing my fingers that you'll enjoy the third installment in the series! And I hope you'll emotionally survive what's to come😉

[Ryan Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh the end. Or is it. Very fun read.

[Annie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride that was! I just finished the book so I'm still processing the ending...

I love how the characters in this series grow but don't change into characters I don't recognize anymore... Kasimir and Ceralya are still who I feel in love with in book 1 and that's shockingly refreshing. Sure they've been through some stuff now but I feel like the character development is organic and believable.

Best book so far.

[Jessica Ulery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story just keeps getting better! Of the three books so far, this one felt most like a movie or TV series. Someone needs to get on that! I almost stopped reading at a happy part halfway through after some ominous foreshadowing, but I'm glad I finished because that ending...wow! Can't wait for the next book!

[Talon Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

In anticipation of this sequel, I was fearing that there might be a letdown or a lull in the action. Thankfully, this story continues at the same intensity as the previous books. This latest book in the series is the best one so far. It has even more action, deception, revelations, romance and plot twists etc.

Kasimir is tracking down Ceralya as Syl teleports them from village to village, traveling incognito to avoid Rahm and his spies. Kasimir has to pretend to be a mortal to blend into the crowd. Portraying a peasant is a challenge for the Mark of Death. He continually struggles to keep his Prodigies and his anger under control in each conflict that arises.

We learn more about Syl, his family and his background. He is the most endearing character, and my favorite. His humor, even in the midst of the most heated battles, is entertaining. He performs double-duty as both Kasimir's bodyguard and personal healer. He is driven to the point of complete exhaustion several times. He is the epitome of loyalty and dedication.

Hiero leads Ceralya around the kingdom as he protects her and trains her in preparation for the inevitable release of Glazzer from his prison. We learn more about what Hiero has been up to since he disappeared many years ago. He has a few surprises that he shares and secrets that he is still concealing. Ceralya doesn't fully trust Hiero, especially since she is hearing voices from the Otherworld advising her to be cautious.

As lies and deceptions are unveiled, we see that there are more traitors in the kingdom than just Rahm. I had strong suspicions about a character in the last book, and I expected that there would be a major plot twist, which there is. However, I didn't expect a revelation of this magnitude. Along with that, Xathe appears as another villain, more heartless than Rahm.

The group of weary travelers is forced to determine who is friend and who is foe, as they fight one battle after another on their way to Blackscar. When they are not fighting endless battles, they are frantically searching for recruits to fight against Glazzer. They are forced to choose what to do with former enemies. The final battle is very costly and of epic proportions, as wave after wave of monsters emerge from their prison.

Overall, I was thoroughly entertained. Hayes has refined her writing and story-telling abilities. I especially like the fact that these books are not laced with any objectionable material. I hope that she continues this same pattern with the same level of standards that a large portion of young adults still want and need.

I strongly recommend this highly enjoyable book!!

[Belle (God's Girl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000000🌟
Berlyn Hays you are one of my top 3 authors. You have created such amazing works of art!!!! I love how you praise God in your acknowledgements. Bless you and Praise the Lord!!😊✝️
I really appreciate and adore your clean YA romantasy books as they are SO hard to find these days. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BERLYN!!!!!!!🥰🥰
Now onto how I felt about the book…
I AM UTTERLY DESTROYED!!!!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY MANIPULATED!!!!!!!
I spent most of this book crying, screaming, kicking, laughing, talking to myself and occasionally hitting the book (I apologised afterwards)
Where is the 4th book please and thank you!!!
This book is my EVERYTHING AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EVER READ!! It had action, romance, heartbreak, comedy, PERFECTION🥰🥰🥰

[Intisar K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED it! It was so enjoyable I was turning page after page after page, the plot is AMAZING. The small plots? Also amazing. I wasn't expecting any of them AT ALL! It kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing is a perfect balance between describing things poetically and keeping you interested. All the characters, including the minor ones developed their personalities soo well in this book, I love how each one has their own quirks and ways of dealing with things. The ending is written so well and the clean writing is a big pro. Recommend!

[Abbie :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much!!! The whole series is an absolute gem.

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOSH. THANK YOU JESUS HALLELUJAH BUT ALSO NOOOOOOO WHYYYYYY I NEEDED A DIFFERENT WAY. AUTHOR PLEASE IF YOU SEE THIS, I CANT WAIT ANY LONGER. IF YOU HAVE ARC READERS I NEED TO FIND OUT THE PROCESS CUZ I NEED THIS BOOK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOU LITERALLY HOLD MY HEART IN YOUR HANDS. It’s safe to say I will NOT be able to get this series out of my head until I get a happily ever after. I don’t even like fantasy, it is not a genre that I enjoy, but this series??? This series has made me completely change my mind and want to try reading more fantasy books. Im in shock at how underrated this series is. It truly needs to be talked about more and i WILL bring it up to anyone willing to listen. I CANNOT i repeat CANNOTTT wait until book 4 and 5 are out!! Went to check Mrs. Hayes instagram just to find out more about book 4 and genuinely leaped 10 feet above the ground when I found out it was being released this year!!!! Now we wait 😭💔

[Hailee W · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS!!

This book!!! Wow, I don't even know what to say. Berlyn did not disappoint when she mentioned more plot twists and action. I was not bored once while reading this. The action, new information, the romance. That made it all wonderful. Were there moments where I was yelling at the characters because they were about to do something reckless? Of course. But, it all worked out. While reading this book, I laughed, smiled, obsessed over some characters, cried, and just fell in love all over again with this world. I sincerely hope the characters figure everything out after this book otherwise, I might need therapy. But it's worth it. But, my heart aches for Kasimir as he's now the last one in his family. I cried with that sacrifice scene. Hopefully, with Ceralya and Syl, he can move past this. Though, I don't know if I'll be able to. My poor heart. And Xathe. Don't even get me started on how much this character irritated me in the way all villains should. I was just wanting them to beat him the entire time. But, I'm sure they will. And I really really hope Ceralya's memories are still intact. Because I don't want Kasimir to feel alone. Please, Berlyn. Make this right. Anywho, this book was definitely an amazing book. My heart would race as the book went on, keeping me wanting to read more. I can't wait for the next one!!

[Abigail Hellrung · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! So action-packed! And the cliffhanger?!

[Chloe Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

when i tell you the ending of this book left me in tears. this is an amazing book and completely underrated. I loved it soooo much and carnt wait for the next in the series.

[Lafawnduh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally didn't think she could keep making her books better but here we are! This book took me on a wild ride and kept me up way too late at night but I completely devoured it in less than a day so you already know it was amazing. Alright let's get into it:

Romance 5/5: This had the sweetest scenes between Kasimir and Ceralya. I loved how their relationship progressed and they were more open with each other. Not to mention the pleasant surprise and development in their relationship towards the end (no spoilers, I'll let you guys find out on your own). Plus, there were some other adorable relationships in the book (Gaede & Abria and yet another surprise relationship). The open communication was perfect so don't be worried about the classic miscommunication trope here!

Action 5/5: This had some of the best actions scenes I've read in a book! There was far more action packed into this book than the previous two combined which I loved. The fighting sequences were epic to read and I really liked how Ceralya became more capable and confident in herself throughout the book. Kasimir's action sequences are always explosive and fierce which honestly makes me so excited my feet start kicking. Ceralya's developing fighting skills are awesome to read about because she isn't instantly good at fighting but gradually improves and makes mistakes which makes her more likeable and realistic.

Plot 5/5: The number of plot twists in here were insane! I did have uneasy feelings toward one of the characters in Prodigy of Revenge (you can probably guess who) but I never imagined that the plot twist would be that crazy. I was worried that Berlyn wouldn't be able to create more twists and turns while increasing making the plot more complex but I was pleasantly surprised. The plot continues to thicken and leave me craving more because of the major cliff hanger. The end was very bittersweet for several reasons and I am seriously a bundle of mixed emotions right now comprised of sadness, confusion, and relief. SPOILER: The last 100 pages had me stressing since I had a sneaking suspicion that a certain trope involving memory loss would come into play but fortunately, Berlyn did not let me down there although the next book will be most interesting....

Characters 4/5 (because I hate Kahali, Rahm, and Maren): As I said above, Kasimir and Ceralya had some great character development not just within their relationship but within themselves as well which is always appreciated since so many book characters develop too quickly and become bland. Syl is my absolute favorite and cracks me up. I will literally cry if he dies in the next one. Hiero was very interesting to learn about and I feel like we have yet to hear his whole story but I am excited. Gaede and Abria are always lovely to read about and they bring such a sweet aspect to all this war and fighting. Kahali, as usual, makes me want to punch someone which makes her an excellent villain even if she isn't the main villain. Rahm and Maren sure raised a sweetheart (eye roll). I liked that Berlyn brought in more scenes with the House heads so we can truly understand what side each person is standing on in this conflict.

I can't wait for the next one!

[Joan Gross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not As Good As Book 1

It felt like it could have been a duology and it just dragged on longer than it should have. I thought the plot was good and the politics were great. The plot twist of Xathe was the only surprise I didn't anticipate in book 2, but book 3 was just FULL of predictable moments. Not just that but there was no room for me to experience the characters. Everything was explained to me directly and then had descriptions tacked on top which felt super unnecessary.

For example, if someone was in pain she'd flat out say they were in pain and then over the next few paragraphs describe the pain and how the characters struggled through it.

The timeline did seem more realistic for this kind of progress in a book where a character doesn't know she has magic and learns to use it which I thought was better than most others. Where characters are experts in the first three weeks before a battle.

All that to say that the book has potential, but I really had to force myself get through the last 50% of book 3.

[Saba · Rating 3 out of 5]

In short: A good book, a good read. Solid 3.5.
In long: The book started off great. Fast pace and plots keeping you on edge. But by the end, it kind of felt like a drag, like you’re reading a bunch of words joined together. By the end of the book I started skimming passages to move the story faster. But other than this, just like the previous books, the plot twists delivered, the character moments were fun to read and ending almost stopped my heart.
In conclusion: Overall a good book, though book 1 is still the best in the series so far. Still excited for the next book!

[AnnaLisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

This book was full of lies, betrayals, and traitors, and I loved every second of it. There were lots of new character introductions, and we got to know everyone on a deeper level. The plot was great, and I was heartbroken when I found out there were two more incomplete books in this series. This KU series has surprised me, and the author has only improved with each entry, so I am excited for how the rest of the series will unfold!