When betrayal is the name of the game, can anyone win? As the tyrannical, man-made religion of Aaron-Lem spreads across the world like wildfire, banished shapeshifter Meg Portia struggles to come to terms with the weakening of her own powers. Her shapeshifting powers were what made her unique and special. Without them…who is she? When the power-hungry leaders of the Aaron-Lem cult turn on each other, Meg’s new home is caught in the crossfire. With her own powers fading, she must rely on her friends and allies to help her defend her home. What Meg doesn’t know is that unseen forces are at work, and her vanishing abilities have brought her closer to fulfilling a prophesy written thousands of years before. Read Betrayed, the second book in The Chronicles of Thamon , and fall in love with these characters that choose friendship, goodness, and faith in each other in order to defeat evil. Betrayal is the second book in Beca Lewis' Chronicles of Thamon series. A spectacle of true fantasy, the novel follows Meg and her gang of rebels as they fight back against the tyrannical rule of Aaron-Lem. With Meg's powers diminishing and the religious rulers reigning terror on anyone who disobeys them, the novel's twists and turns guide the reader across dimensions. Betrayed tells the story of a thousand-year-old prophecy, and the fight for peace in a world ravaged by evil. One of Lewis' many strong points is her characterization. You can feel the character's despair, share in their strength and mourn with them. Despite the characters being magic by nature, I still related to Meg's self-doubt and Suzanne's frustration towards her sibling. Lewis' talent for writing realistic characters shapes both her protagonists and antagonists alike into tangible people, whose flaws ground the fantasy genre. Even when her antagonists have the world at their feet, their interpersonal conflicts create multi-dimensional characters. As a reader, I felt for all of the characters, both the "good guys" and "bad guys", commanding my complete attention. This quality truly sets Lewis apart as an author. A common fault in fantasy novels is, ironically, their lack of realism, which loses the reader's interest. Lewis expertly constructs her novel's setting to avoid this, through relatable references - for example, she describes Silke as a "firefly", grounding the reader's understanding via the recognizable image of an illuminated insect. At times, I found that Lewis' narrative structure relied heavily on flashbacks. Though this establishes character motivations, it can distance the reader from the main action and make the pace feel slower than intended. However, with Lewis' talented world-building and characterization, the minor fault was heavily overshadowed by the novel's strengths. Betrayed is a novel not to be missed. Are there sentences that could have used the odd comma? Yes, as with every novel. But the draw of a mysterious prophecy and dystopian ruler made up for any grammatical preferences. Each character commanded my attention, thanks to their relatable personalities and complex relationships with one another. Infused with insightful metaphors and realistic backstories, Lewis has built a complete world for readers to indulge in. Her expert balance between the main plot and side stories makes the narrative feel all-encompassing, while Lewis' signature writing style complements the fantasy genre. Betrayed invites you to take part in a rebel uprising, then holds your attention until the very last page. Megan Lupton (ARC review from Reedsy)