Betrothal and Betrayal Review Spotlight

Betrothal and Betrayal by

Janet McGriffin

Ultimate Tour

Betrothal and Betrayal is the first book in Janet McGiffin's The Empress Irini series. Get ready to meet a cast of characters that will quickly pull you into this story, as young (or not so young according to her family) Thekla goes on the search for her betrothed as he stands her up for the third, yes third, time! Prepare for an adventure that will be packed with danger, and more than a little drama.

Betrothal and Betrayal begins with Thekla and her family waiting, once again, for her betrothed to show up. For the past two years he's been a "no-show." Why? Well, his dedication to his Emperor and country. Well, her father has had enough. His threat? Either her betrothed shows up today and she gets married...or she's going to the convent...option three. Trust us, not even you, the reader, want option three. Cue shudder and cringe. LOL! 

Well, things go as expected. A spark of hope and then...in comes crashing reality. No show. So, what does Thekla do? She runs. She seizes an opportunity and runs with it. Where will this new path lead her? Only time will tell, but it won't be an easy road ahead for her. 

Betrothal and Betrayal is an interesting story as Thekla refuses to accept the path that her family has shifted towards. There are some sparks of humor. Thekla is determined to forge the path that she desires. She takes no guff from any of the other characters in this book. Male, or female, this girl will stand her ground. One of our favorite scenes was when a certain character tried to take liberties with her. Her blade made an impression and definitely will earn your respect. It was awesome! LOL! 

Thekla's journey is not an easy one, but she has help along the way. She goes from being a sheltered girl to carving out a place for herself in a male-dominated world. This book is truly fascinating as you follow her journey and watch her deal with a variety of situations. 

The author plants small details in this book that will pique your interest in what exactly will be Thekla's path moving forward. It builds a healthy amount of intrigue and does the job of keeping readers engaged in where things go from here. 

Love a good historical novel that delves into the Byzantine era? Then this is the book for you. 

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Janet McGiffin, and The Write Reads, for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to what comes next! 

                                                                    Book Info

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Length: 250 pages

Published: August 1st 2023

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146315755-betrothal-betrayal

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Betrothal-Betrayal-Empress-Irini/dp/1910895784

Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Thekla needs her quick wits and knife to track down her betrothed, a soldier who has left her at the altar for the third time. Elias the monk travels with her to Constantinople where she meets Irini of Athens, an extraordinarily beautiful orphan her same age who has been brought by powerful Emperor Constantine to marry his son, Co-Emperor Leon. The two women join forces to survive this vigorous capital of the Roman Empire of the East which is rocked by religious and political strife. But will Thekla help the ambitious and ruthless Irini of Athens find the power that she craves?

About the Author

Janet McGiffin divides her time between her apartment in Manhattan, her family in Washington State, and her friends in Athens, Greece. She was born in Fairfield, Iowa into a newspaper family and learned to write copy as a teenager by writing obituaries for the Ellensburg Daily Record in Washington state. After university, she worked for the Milwaukee Health Department where she gained first-hand knowledge for her best-selling mystery series published by Fawcett Press, NY, featuring Doctor Maxine St. Clair, an ER doctor in an inner-city hospital. She worked as a press officer for the Washington state senate, then moved to Athens, Greece where she wrote grant proposals for small non-profit women’s organizations in Mediterranean countries. She also wrote a humor column for the Athens News newspaper with field archaeologist Adrian Vrettos, wrote two English language easy readers for Cambridge University Press, UK, and a series of hiking articles for greecetravel.com. She researched her Byzantine-era Empress Irini Series through extensive travel in Greece, followed by six months of research at the Bodleian libraries in Oxford, England. She enjoys hiking in Greece, England, Wales, and Scotland.

Instagram: @janetmcgiffinauthor

Want to continue the tour? Check out everyone who's participating and see their thoughts!