A Familiar Betrayal

A Familiar Duology #2

by E.M. Rinaldi

Kaya Thornton’s life isn’t going according to plan. Her forced return to the community was a less than smooth transition—shocker— and now she stares at the world from the inside of a dingy cell. With Bast’s whereabouts unknown and Auden turned mute with rage at just the sight of her, it’s safe to say operation Save-Her-People is an absolute failure.

When the punishment for her betrayal is revealed, she knows what she must do even if the consequences mean losing Auden forever. The prince promises to hunt her, never resting until she’s brought back to face the justice she seeks to run from; but Kaya has no choice. Lost secrets of her world are waiting, hidden amongst new allies that promise to fight by her side and teach her all she needs to know about who she really is. Their very fate rests on her shoulders and one wrong decision will risk it all.

Can she master the power within and become who she was always meant to be? Or will she crumble under the pressure and bow to the reign of the demon king?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2022

Reviews

[E.M. Rinaldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I wrote this. Kinda have to give it 5 stars

[Ash_Azalea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome rollercoaster! The plot and storyline are strong which meant it was hard to put down. I loved how the fight to keep going was supported by all of the main characters. There was also good diversity in characters appearance and couples. It was so good and refreshing! The found family and slow burn was great and worth the build up. The spice is definitely there and worth it and is distributed through the book at a good pace. The author’s descriptive details were on point and captivating. I love E. M. Rinaldi’s writing style. This story doesn’t drag on. It is fast and pulls at you. Check the TW! This one gets dark at times. I felt that the darkness was a good balance and made this feel so personal and realistic. This was an adventure and an epic battle. I finished book one and two in the matter of two days and at the very end I was shocked. I am still thinking of this book and the characters. All the details come together and I think even re-reading this would give me another perspective on Kaya’s epic journey. Wow! This is a must read! Definitely a keeper that I will be coming back to.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I spent most of this being feeling like there wasn’t really much at stake. And then I got to the last third and was like, oh there they are!

I do like that Kaya’s powers were explained. And it certainly wasn’t the explanation I was expecting. But now I want backstory on how those bloodlines mixed.

The smut in this book was fantastic. Though I didn’t like that Auden was always saying things like “good girl” it just made it a tad creepy for me.

So Kaya was also told she was going to make a choice. One that either killed everyone or saved everyone. And honestly, I’m not sure what that choice was supposed to have been.

So the ending between Auden and Kaya was not what I expected. I was ready for them to instantly get married and start having babies. But I think it really matured Kaya that she kind of acted as an ambassador before finally settling down with Auden.

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a let down after book one. The main character is whiny, the love interest is a jerk, and I was ACTIVELY rooting against them.

[Trinity · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶/5

TW - violence, death, torture, death of a parent (mentioned), mention of SA, SA, panic attacks

Tropes - fantasy / paranormal, betrayal, Prince MMC, forced proximity

Overall, I enjoyed this duet and, following my review of A Familiar Magic, Kaya and Bast's friendship is my favourite thing about these books. I love their friendship, their support for each other and just the way they are when they were together. I was salivating for any mentions of Bast and Theo and, honestly, I'd love a novella of them two to see what they get up to together.

I wouldn't say this book is romance / smut heavy and more that the romance is a subplot to the setting, the different witch lines, the demons, the royals, the politics. It's all very interesting and makes for a good plot imo.

At times, I found Kaya (FMC) annoying and whiny, I felt like a lot of her decisions and feelings were conflicting each other and, whilst sometimes understandable, it could get annoying. I felt like, a lot of the time, she was just being difficult despite the amount of people around her willing to support and help her. For me, she kinda needs to get over herself. She’s said and displayed so many times that she is the type of person who helps, doesn’t want the people she cares about to get hurt, wants to help these people but when told she can have a significant role in doing that, she starts to act like a petulant child. I understand the pressure she’s under but more times than not, that’s not her reason behind not cooperating. She goes onto to acknowledge that she isn't alone and she wants to fight and she wants to make an impact so it just didn't make sense to me.

I was kinda disappointed to find out that the demon king's plans were all just for a food source; idk, I feel like I was expecting more from that.

The ending kinda threw me through a loop because I hate when people make decisions that will have a significant impact on someone else without discussing it with them first but, the epilogue made up for it.

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this weeks ago bc EM is my best friend and gifted me an ARC and I wanted to thank her so much first and foremost for not only being an awesome author but a great friend too ❤️

A Familiar Betrayal picks up with A Familiar Magic dropped off, with Kaya in trouble (again) and looking for a way out. In her quest to save her community, she navigates through long lost history and secrets as she discovers that *she* is the key to saving the people she loves.

I missed Kaya and Auden so much and EM delivered above and beyond— they’re honestly one of my favorite book couples and I’m so glad I found this duet. EM was tossing in plot twists left and right and all I could do was sit back and enjoy the ride. The world, the magic, the romance, everything was spot on and I couldn’t ask for more. Actually, I could ask for more of Kaya and Auden… cough cough.

EVERYONE GO READ THIS DUET YOU WON’T REGRET IT.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the first book but unfortunately this was a total let down for me🥲

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the story

Loved the story. Wish there was more in this world.

Two items: I wish there was a few more chapters dealing with the epilogue and her family.

Second item:

some more character development in regards to what Auden did to her. He went too far and crossed a red line for me and I never had a chance to forgive him. He didn’t show that he was sorry.

So for me there still was a small disconnect throughout the book that a couple chapters could’ve fixed.

Overall loved the book and the duology and look forward to the next story by this author

[Elina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the previous book way better. This one had a weak start. Kaya was being held captive for such a long time and somehow got no psychological damage from it. Not even a little bit, she walked away like it wasn't a big deal at all.

Auden was insufferable. For someone who can "read her like a book" he didn't read shit when he let her rot in that cell for months and threatened to send her off for "repopulation". The way he forced her to do things she was unprepared for when they met again didn't sit well either. No amount of "sweetheart" could save those pages.

And Asiel having a they/them ex or something was also so irrelevant to the story. Only made it difficult to read for no reason other than trying to include as many diverse people as possible.

I liked Taryn and Bast and the fact that Kaya got to go explore the other covens for a few years before returning home. Wish she had visited her old sensei during that time. Would have been a cool reunion.

Overall not a bad read but not great either.

[Amber Keehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an impressive ending to a debut PNR (which I think we are now coining as Romantasy?) duology by EM Rinaldi. The first novel centered more around Kaya's reentry into an academy setting while the second novel was geared more toward her escape from said academy, betray by Auden (duh, as is stated in the title) and eventual redemption. All of this takes place pretty quickly in the novel so there's really no spoilers in that. This book is also significantly spicier than the original but I would not categorize as "steamy" or "spicy" since it's still more geared toward a YA audience. But it's grown up enough to appeal toward an adult audience as well, and has enough action, adventure and suspense to keep the reader engaged throughout. I'm excited to see where Rinaldi takes her passion- if this debut is any indication then we have a lot to look forward to!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have been able to read this book before it will be released. First of all, the plot was absolutely amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I was so mad at Auden in the beginning of the book and the way he was treating Kaya, (he does grovel) although I could understand where he was coming from. Shoutout to Asiel for coming though in the beginning and helping Kaya out, he’s a real one ☝️ Throughout the book I fall in love with the new character that gets introduced, Taryn, hopefully we can get a book about her in the future but for now her presence in this book is enough for me. Kaya has amazing character development throughout the story, her strength is shown and continues to develop. I loved her character and how independent and strong she was.
P.s.
I’d rate it 5 chili peppers for spice 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Kiarra-Lee Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow!

Okay, so you go from a YA book in the first one to this which is a little bit more adult fantasy and it did not disappoint!

I had to take serveral breathers in those book because I was about ready to PUNCH AUDEN IN THE HEAD (respectfully lol) because he was being such an ass!

I adore Bast with all my heart! That man is truly a great friend to Kaya! And when you find out Kaya’s shifting form! JAW WAS ON THE FLOOR!

The demon attacks, the king, the brother, Auden, the secret bloodline/ witch family! There is so much to take in this book!

And the SPICE!!!! Oh my lord, Auden can call me a sweetheart any day thank you! Maybe I’ll even run into a forest so he can pin me against the tree heheheheh….

This book was a masterpiece and i was always on the edge of my seat!

And the ending killed me! but such a great fantasy duo-logy!

[Andrea Palermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Familiar Betrayal is a thrilling sequel to A Familiar Magic! I absolutely love this author's work. This book is well-written and she does an amazing job with creating this exciting world that really sucks you in! The characters are three-dimensional and I really felt like I could envision them and the world they're living in. The story between Kaya and Auden is beautiful and at time gut-wrenching - you will feel the full spectrum of emotions throughout this entire series. I felt the conclusion was wonderful and realistic and tied everything up beautifully. I highly recommend this series for those who love romance and fantasy! If I could I'd give this book 10 stars!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED A Familiar Magic and was so anxious to read the next book. When I received my copy, I devoured A Familiar Betrayal in a day. I love basically every aspect of Rinaldi’s work. Her writing, the story, the characters…it’s all really good.
I enjoyed how this book expanded on the first by introducing new characters and seeing a bit more of the history. The world building is fairly easy to follow which I really appreciate. I don’t really read much fantasy because I sometimes find it hard to follow but Rinaldi does an amazing job. The world is simple but still interesting and compelling.
Kaya and Auden….damn I love them. That’s all I’m going to say.

[Aviv · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked seeing the different covens, I felt like the plot didn't wrap up well. Kaya's heritage was never fully explained and the "life-changing choice" didn't actually seem like she made a choice. She stood there while her friends were tortured and chose not to do anything? Or was the choice to not give up the information while she was tortured? Still unclear. Also for all the build-up, the battle with the demon king was pretty short.
1 spice

[Rachel Desena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given how quickly i finished this book, I literally could not put it down. The character growth was so amazing to see and even the side character felt so fleshed out. Another amazing story in the journey between Auden and Kaya. It had such great romance, action, angst and everything i want in a book. I’m usually i little wary of sequels but this was absolutely perfect.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. It’s going to play with you. Hard. And you are going to be so glad you make it to the other side of this terrific ride. The twist is superb, the storytelling is chilling, the talent E.M. Rinaldi is outstanding.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was another great entry in the A Familiar Duology series, it had the magic that I enjoyed from the first book. I enjoyed the plot of the book and was glad I was able to continue this series. The characters were interesting and I'm glad I got to read this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[amanda Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved book 1 ! The vibes the characters I was just inlove . Book 2 kinda let me down . Over all yes I would read the series . The end wasn’t for me but that could just be a me thing . I love when characters are completely obsessed with each other and can’t fathom a life without the other sooo the end kinda just didn’t feel like that .

[Alison Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected ended

I thought with how Auden betrayed Kaya, she would find someone else to love, maybe even his brother as a plot twist. I did not particularly care for the real ending.
I woulda been happier if the story ended right after the war with the demon king.
Other than that, I thought the book was well written and evoked a lot of emotions.

[Kotori · Rating 2 out of 5]

so here's the thing

a lot of action but ultimately boring.
throws whole behind gender neutral theory
the book is written as if it's pitched at teenagers, but the spice is definately not appropriate.
skimmed just to see resolution (blah)

[kal · Rating 4 out of 5]

that ending really fucked me over

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imma be very frank about this one. Do not pick it up unless you have read A Familiar Magic. You need the whole story, just trust me on that. When we last left Kaya she was in deep trouble and Auden didn’t believe what she had told him. That is right where this one picks ups. Honestly I was ready to hate Auden with the way he left off in the last book, but I guess the prince redeemed himself. This was an amazing story that kept me hooked until the very end. Heck, I want more! Maybe a book for Bast? I am not ready to say goodbye so I will probably be rereading it again soon. I will definitely be waiting on more books by E.M. Rinaldi.

[Wendy Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to have an early read of A Familiar Betrayal. I was excited to dive in after the last book's ending and I wasn't disappointed! The author has a magical way of making you feel strongly about her characters whether it's sharing their pain or wanting to perhaps punch them in the nose ;) Once again her word choices and character arcs felt realistic, relatable, and enjoyable, and the spicy scenes were delicious. I have thoroughly enjoyed Kaya with her wit, feisty spirit, and giant heart, and once again I'm keen to see what this author does next.