Interesting idea and the world was kind of interesting but wasn’t very well explored.

The characters felt a bit flat and a bit like characters in other books. The magic system again was interesting but nothing new really. Again same goes for the love interest and main character - they kind of felt like every other character. There wasn’t really anything from this that really stood out to me or really interested me. That’s why it took me so long to read as I really struggled to motivate myself to read it and when I finish it, it just kind of felt meh.

I am sure there will be loads of people out there who will love this book, but it was just really not for me. I don’t think I would read any other books in this series.

I am reluctant to give it a low rating, but because I simply just didn’t enjoy it I am giving it 1 ⭐️

This was almost a DNF for me but I stuck it out. There a lot happening, and most of it I couldn’t really follow. I wanted to love this, I really did but it fell a little flat.

Fast paced story that kept me reading though it definitely wasn’t near as exciting as other books I’ve read from the author. I am excited to see the rest of the series and hopefully more character development. I haven’t been failed by any of Aldersons books yet whether they have been purchase by me or ARCs I’m always satisfied!

I liked this at the beginning but then the lack of world-building really lost me. The plot development was too boring and not fleshed out enough. The love interest was a shell of a man.

I found this enjoyable, but not as much as I'd hoped. After reading the synopsis, I had anticipated my next favourite epic fantasy, but it turned out to be a bit bland overall. I couldn't really get into the writing either, so that was a bit of a bummer as well. It was a solid read, though! I definitely did enjoy it.

This one took me a little while to get into, but once I got. past the first 100 pages, I was fully hooked. Anderson is a talented fantasy writer, weaving in twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The action was fast-paced and engaging with very good character development. Overall, a thrilling ride that flew by once I got past the slower start. Definitely worth the read for fans of action-packed fantasy!

Thank you to the publisher for the earc, all opinions are my own.

I struggled through the first bit but did not find myself connecting with the characters or the story in general.

Ben never lets us down with his books!

Now this is just perfect Magical and Spicy Humans hinting Fae. Very fast pace adventurous and action packed! Loved Robins character this book is a great set up for the rest of the series! I absolutely flew through this! I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the series!

A 4.5 star read for me!

I really struggled to get into this - usually I would have DNFed but I did keep going with this. By the end, I just felt so indifferent towards the characters and the plot - I do think it would work for other people though, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶

This is a common review for both A Betrayal of Storms and A Kingdom of Lies
Ben Alderson is an excellent fantasy writer and I like how he develops well rounded and intriguing characters. These series is fast paced, twisty, and full of power plays and political intrigues.
The author makes an excellent job in delivering a series that talks about fey and their power play in an entertaining and fresh way
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Betrayal of Storms by Ben Alderson completely hooked me from the start. The world-building is stunning—icy courts, elemental realms, and fey politics are so vivid it feels like you’re there. Robin Vale is such a relatable main character, sharp and determined, navigating a dangerous world of secrets and betrayals while discovering his own power.

The chemistry between Robin and Erix adds the perfect layer of romance and tension, and the twists kept me guessing until the very end. If you love fantasy with rich magic, action, and just the right amount of spice, this book is a must-read. I can’t wait to dive into the next one!

A Betrayal of Storms actually caught my attention due to the author being one I have seen around my tik tok feed and I'm very glad i gave it a read. The plot as a whole was really good and I enjoyed how he handles character development. The dialogue and over all pacing was a bit shaky but I had a good time and will definitely be recommending this one to my audience.

DNF - not interesting enough for me to continue. my apologies. I will not be picking this one back up, Ben Alderson if you are seeing this please do not take it personally.

I had high hopes for this book and overall, it wasn’t unpleasant, it just wasn’t for me.

I didn’t find that I particularly got into the characters and found it hard to place how I felt about Robin.

I really pushed myself to finish this one as I do like to see books to the end in order to give full and fair feedback, but from 11% onwards, I struggled.

I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this one and it has lots of potential, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you for the ARC and I wish the best of luck for the release.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a massive fan of Ben Alderson’s incredible novels, and I was certainly not disappointed with A Betrayal of Storms.

Packed full of character depth and an addictive story, this book has it all with found family, a murderous plot, politics and steamy romance. There was great character development - Althea by far was my favourite character.

Erix being glued to Robin’s side is both understandable but also annoying at times. I am aware that Robin’s character does have to be slightly helpless but it had me thinking that at some times it was overdone slightly.

The plot and premise is slightly basic in the romantasy genre, but the book did have a good balance between action and romance.

It did take a while to get going, but once the plot picked up it was an enjoyable read. I will definitely be looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I have a feeling the second book will be a greater read as this book was describing the setting and the tensions that I expect will be the main themes in the other books in the series.

A Betrayal of Storms serves as a solid introduction to The Realm of Fey series, appealing to fans of LGBTQ+ romantasy who enjoy familiar tropes in a fey-centric setting. While it doesn’t break new ground, its engaging narrative and accessible writing style make it a suitable choice for readers seeking an easy, enjoyable fantasy read. There is room for growth in character development and world-building, and future installments will hopefully delve deeper into these aspects. If you’re a fan of court intrigue, hidden magic, and queer romance, this book is worth considering.

Ben Anderson is the master of MM romance and A Betrayal of Storms does a great job of setting the stage for a new series. Robin Vale's story begins with a kidnapping and exposure that his whole life has been a lie. As he accepts his new life and what that means he makes a connection with Erix, a stoic bodyguard who is willing to do anything (yes, anything - iykyk) to make Robin happy. There are twists and turns throughout that kept me guessing and the court politics were complex and interesting.

I tried very hard to get into the book. Many times over, in fact, But it was very dry and rough around the edges for me. I'm used to immersing myself into the world the book portrays and while I did manage to enjoy it a little bit, it felt forced and a bit too much for the most part. It wasn't horrible, I'm not saying that. Because the plot was well thought out and it worked. So I don't give it a low score or anything, but I definitely can't give it a full five star rating the way I do for some books because personally, I could not really accept the reality of the world they were living in. And I read a LOT of fantasy books.

The depiction of being "like A Court of Thorns and Roses" was off the mark. By a lot. I have read and reread that series a hundred times over which is probably WHY this one wasn't as fully immersible as Ms Maas' world.

Honestly can give it a 3 star rating, rather than 5, because it's half-way there, it just felt a bit rushed. Too much, as I said.

This book was really good! It does follow a typical romantasy plot, so it was easy for me to enjoy. Robin was very relatable and I loved his character growth. I also enjoyed the plot twists that I was not expecting! I am eager to continue this series.
Thank you!

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the eCopy

I found A Betrayal of Storms to be a great read, it is a fast paced fantasy that I felt was written really well. The characters were created well and the development of them really lent to the storyline. The storyline progressed well and I really enjoyed it.