Morgan Rice, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0982953747
Available: New and Used
Betrayed is the third installment of The Vampire Journals. This one is a little bleaker and a bit more tragic, as we start into the really serious and down part of the story. After she was nearly killed by the sword, Caitlin Paine has been turned into a full vampire by Caleb. To make matters worse for Caitlin, it looks like Caleb’s ex-wife, Sera, is now back in his life. Meanwhile Kyle, who now possesses the sword, unleashes his revenge against his coven and starts a great battle in the city of New York, spreading the bubonic plague across the island of Manhattan. Caleb, for his part, must find a way to battle Kyle before he becomes too powerful and eradicates the good vampires from their castle in the Cloisters of Washington Heights. On Pollepell Island, Caitlin trains as a warrior as she considers her feelings towards Caleb. She must decide what to do about this war, as she is the chosen one. Caitlin’s brother Sam and Samantha have a delightfully evil little adventure in Kyle’s coven that is sure to blow minds.
I found this volume a bit different in tone than the first two. This one feels a bit more high stakes and serious. Whereas the first two volumes had more a cracking open mysteries and adventuring feel to them, Betrayed focuses on the here and now: the battle for Manhattan and all of New York City. If you’ve stuck with the series thus far, this is a great book to read. I would not recommend trying to pick up this book first, though: too much has already happened. Highly recommended for fans of vampire novels, particularly traditional vampire novels.
Contains: Profanity, Intense Violence, Brief gruesome images, Adult situations
Reviewed by: Benjamin Franz