Book Review: Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

Penelope Leland had a successful first Season. She made it out alive, in any case, which was an unfortunately questionable point. She also managed to find her kidnapped governess, Melusine Allardyce, and simultaneously destroy a plot to subsume the will of the future queen with magic. Except, really, it was mostly her twin sister Persephone who did all the finding and saving. Her twin sister, who also happened to be engaged to the love of her life by the end of the Season.

Pen is ecstatic that her sister has found love and that Ally and Queen Victoria are safe. She’s only disappointed in herself, feeling that she was more of a burden than a help to her sister when they were in danger. Determined to change, Penelope follows Ally, now Mrs. Carrighar, to Ireland to more seriously pursue her magical studies. She quickly finds that in Ireland, magic comes to her more easily than ever before.

Unfortunately, it seems that Pen is fated to be distracted from her studies by the less fair sex. Dr. Carrighar, her latest magic tutor, has decided to allow her into the lessons he holds for male students, at least half of whom scorn and resent her for her English nationality and gender. There’s also the fascinating Niall Keating who seems equally intrigued by her. With distractions inside and outside, can Penelope become the powerful witch she wishes to be?

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At the beginning of the story, Penelope has some doubts about herself as a witch. She has a desire to prove her power and intelligence after a situation in which she felt helpless. It doesn’t help that she was rewarded for success that she feels was almost entirely due to her twin sister’s magical ability. For the most part, Pen believes she just has to stay focused in order to keep progressing, but sometimes she’s plagued with doubt about whether she can really be as powerful and knowledgeable as her sister, who’s loved learning since they were young.

Penelope deals relatively easily with the boys in class, neither allowing them to overprotect her ‘delicate sensibilities’ nor dismiss her intelligence and power. Though she finds it stressful to constantly be faced with condescension and resentment while trying to learn, she refuses to buckle under the pressure. Pen’s entanglement with Niall is more difficult to figure out. Like her sister, Penelope puts her magic first, then discovers that she actually doesn’t have to choose between power and love.

I’d give it 5 stars! Recommended to anyone looking for the power in themselves and ready to fall in love with wild Irish magic.

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