The Book Marketing Nook

Hello! Today is my stop on the blog tour review for Betrothal & Betrayal by Janet McGiffin. I am excited to share my review.

Many thanks to @The_WriteReads and @ScotStreetPress for gifting me a review copy and allowing me to participate in the blog tour. 

Book 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?

My Review

BETROTHAL & BETRAYAL is the first of four in The Empress of Irini series, based on the historical figure. The book gives readers a peek into the lives of everyday people of the Byzantine Empire. 

The author clearly spent an enormous amount of time researching this book. The reader can tell that McGiffin stays dedicated to writing a historically accurate and authentic novel. There are excellent illustrations before each chapter. These add a sense of authenticity to the period.

The novel vividly depicts 14th-century Byzantine society, blending romance and political intrigue. The author’s descriptive writing brings readers to this magnificent world. McGiffin describes the elegant imperial palace and its elaborate ceremonies to the bustling markets and vibrant public life. McGiffin expertly weaves the vivid backdrop of 14th-century Constantinople into the narrative. 

Set in the heights of Constantinople’s complex and treacherous political landscape, we meet Thekla. She is determined to find her betrothed, who had left her at the altar multiple times. Elias, a monk, travels with her and becomes a character the reader loves. Halfway through the book, we meet the eponymous protagonist, Empress Irini. Irini is a remarkable and strong-willed female character who navigates the delicate balance of power and love. 

The pacing is generally well-executed throughout the novel, but it occasionally falters. At times, elaborate descriptions take precedence over plot and character development, leading to a sense of stagnation. Additionally, the depictions of gender roles and societal norms are a little challenging to read. However, it is essential to consider that the novel reflects its era. 

Overall, Janet McGiffin has done an excellent job starting this series, and I look forward to the following three books. 

About the Author

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. Janet 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. Janet enjoys hiking in Greece, England, Wales, and Scotland.

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Please check out the other stops for this blog tour review for Betrothal & Betrayal!

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