The first novel in a new fantasy/romance series. The story centers around the world of the aelven and is told from three points of view, Eliani and Turisan, both aelven but from different clans, and Shalar, an alben. The story takes place hundreds of years after the Bitter Wars in which the clans of aelven united to fight against a clan (now a separate race, the alben) who went against the aelven ways and drank the blood of other creatures. Now, Shalar is amassing an army to retake her lost homeland of Fireshore. When the aelven convene a council meeting of clans and no one from Fireshore send any word Eliani and Turisan reveal they have the gift of mind speech and Eliani is sent to Fireshore. The story moved along at a good pace if a bit slow at times but overall a very entertaining read. I will definitely continue with the series. ( )

The Betrayal is a romantic fantasy told from three main point of views, Eliani, Turisan and Shalár. They live in a world where the aelven are the dominate race but divided. The aelven consider themselves to be a race of good elves, who rule their world by trying to do no harm and staying inline with nature. The alben are elves who have gone against the aelven creed by drinking the blood of kobalen. The kobalen are primative, hairy man-like creatures with questionable intelligence. The aelven do not consider the alben to be part of their aelven race anymore, ever since the Bitter wars, which was caused by the blood drinking.

Eliani hasn't been so lucky in the love department, so when she discovers the gift of mindspeech with Turisan, she is very hesitant and scared about accepting it and the love Turisan has to offer. The road to acceptance for Eliani is littered with ghosts from her past, so Turisan has many obstacles in his way while he tries to convince Eliani of his love for her. But Eliani has to decide quick, because the use of mindspeech could be the deciding factor of who will be the victor, if her people have to go to war.

Shalár, the queen of the alben, wants to reclaim the land, Fireshore, that was lost to her clan during the Bitter wars. She has been plotting to bring Fireshore and prosperity back to her dwindling clan, that begins to unfold unbeknown to the aelven. Shalár can be a fierce ruler and at the same time a compassionate soul.

The book cover for The Betrayal caught my attention at the bookstore but I didn't buy it then. Later that same day, I read a review on it at Romance Book Wyrm, which got me very interested. So, I ordered it online and I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed reading The Betrayal, it reminded me of the Dragonlance worlds but with much more romance mixed in. The storyline moves along at a good pace, Pati Nagle keeps your interest peaked as you turn each page. You'll find yourself wondering just whose side are you on, the Aelven or the Alben.

The Betrayal is the first book in the Aelven series, the second book Heart of the Exiled is due out late spring/early summer of 2010 according to Pati Nagle's web site. There is a map, cast of characters, a glossary and more on the Aelven web site, good references while reading the book. ( )