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jem_carstairs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse
lovelymisanthrope's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I purchased a copy of this book from the library bookstore.
"I Must Betray You" follows 17-year-old Cristian in 1989 Romania. Cristian aspires to be a writer, but in Romania, there are other plans for people. Nicolae Ceaușescu is the dictator over Romania, and he rules his people by instilling fear and isolating them from the rest of the world. Cristian does not want to live this way anymore, and as he begins to learn more about what is happening in the world, he grows the urge to fight back and do something for the country he loves.
This was a difficult story to read because Cristian's life is made so difficult by a cruel and unjust leader. what is even more devastating, is that this book is historical fiction, and events like these occurred so recently. There were moments I was appalled and wanted to put the book down, but at the same time I was entranced by what was happening. I needed to know how Cristian's story ended.
I really enjoyed that this was written for the young adult sphere. I think it is important for young adults to be exposed to history, and historical fiction books are a great, entertaining way to do so. There were moments of violence and gore that were challenging to read, but again, I think it is important to learn that the world is not all sunshine all the time.
Ruta Sepetys is an immensely talented author, and I really enjoyed my first taste of her writing. Her eloquent prose is both beautiful and does not shy away from the truth. She writes raw stories about real hardship, but she does so in a way that makes it impossible to put the book down.
I could feel Cristian's stress radiating from the page, and I wanted to scream at him the truth that was just beyond his grasp. He is a strong protagonist, and I enjoyed his point of view. He was brave in the face of adversity, and he always sought the truth, even when that seemed impossible to do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Ruta Sepetys in the near future.
"I Must Betray You" follows 17-year-old Cristian in 1989 Romania. Cristian aspires to be a writer, but in Romania, there are other plans for people. Nicolae Ceaușescu is the dictator over Romania, and he rules his people by instilling fear and isolating them from the rest of the world. Cristian does not want to live this way anymore, and as he begins to learn more about what is happening in the world, he grows the urge to fight back and do something for the country he loves.
This was a difficult story to read because Cristian's life is made so difficult by a cruel and unjust leader. what is even more devastating, is that this book is historical fiction, and events like these occurred so recently. There were moments I was appalled and wanted to put the book down, but at the same time I was entranced by what was happening. I needed to know how Cristian's story ended.
I really enjoyed that this was written for the young adult sphere. I think it is important for young adults to be exposed to history, and historical fiction books are a great, entertaining way to do so. There were moments of violence and gore that were challenging to read, but again, I think it is important to learn that the world is not all sunshine all the time.
Ruta Sepetys is an immensely talented author, and I really enjoyed my first taste of her writing. Her eloquent prose is both beautiful and does not shy away from the truth. She writes raw stories about real hardship, but she does so in a way that makes it impossible to put the book down.
I could feel Cristian's stress radiating from the page, and I wanted to scream at him the truth that was just beyond his grasp. He is a strong protagonist, and I enjoyed his point of view. He was brave in the face of adversity, and he always sought the truth, even when that seemed impossible to do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Ruta Sepetys in the near future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Death, War, Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, Hate crime, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
mformato's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An exciting and fast paced story. I had no predictions for anything because it was full of twists and turns. I enjoyed being able to see inside of history, Sepetys really cares about accuracy in her literature. To know that the living conditions of this story were real is heartbreaking. I also like how the story wraps around if you go back to the prologue after reading the end.
Not a full five stars because of personal reasons. I felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing in the beginning. Also Cristian felt a little too American for the story. Plot points happened a bit too much out of convenience.
But overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend the book to someone who enjoys reading about revolutions, noir, and an undying spirit of hope in a hopeless land.
Not a full five stars because of personal reasons. I felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing in the beginning. Also Cristian felt a little too American for the story. Plot points happened a bit too much out of convenience.
But overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend the book to someone who enjoys reading about revolutions, noir, and an undying spirit of hope in a hopeless land.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Stalking, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, War, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Gaslighting, and Grief
befrazzledenby's review against another edition
read the trigger warnings first y'all whew
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Cancer, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, War, Child death, Genocide, Medical content, Body horror, Sexual violence, Death, and Confinement
heidifuglevand's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Vomit, War, Death, and Stalking
megmoore123's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking, Gun violence, War, Torture, Death, Genocide, and Police brutality
an_everyday_penguin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Medical trauma, War, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Death, Torture, and Murder
linnybear's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5
One of the best books I’ve read since a while. I set up my own expectations towards it pretty high based on the reviews and I was certainly not disappointed. Although throughout the entire book we read about sufferings of entire nation the writing and very short chapters make it so much more digestible to get through. Personally, I love almost lyrical style of the author and the way narration just flows naturally. The characters are lovable, each in their own little ways, and especially Cristian as a main character stay very authentic in his thoughts throughout the entire story.
Even though in the end I hoped for more depth of the plot and descriptions of daily lives in the oppressive system I think the way it was described was just enough from the main character’s point of view at 17 years old. The last few chapters gave just the perfect closure to the entire story and made me want to read more books of that specific genre (and definitely more of Ruta Sepetys’ books!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Torture, War, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, and Confinement
Minor: Sexism and Murder
julianh's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, War, Stalking, and Violence
jessgreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Title: I Must Betray You
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: Bucharest, Romania
Month Read: February 2022
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication: 2022
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 336
TRIGGER WARNING-
Murder / Illness / Genocide / Hunger / Abuse (there are more, but these are the bigger ones)
"WILL YOU REMEMBER ME? A boy with wings of hope.
Strapped to his back.
That never had a chance to open, denied Forever knowing,
What he could have become. What we all could have become."
No Spoiler Summary:
I Must Betray You is a historical fiction book about the Romanian Revolution in 1989. You follow Cristian, a 17 year old who is blackmailed into helping the Government against his will, and he decides that the only way in which he can survive this morally corrupt act is to burn it to the ground from the inside.
Review:
I'm blown away by how good every book Ruta Sepetys writes is. Every time I pick one up, I think that this can't be as good as the last novel, and every time I am speechless once I have finished because she has done it again.
I went into this book barely knowing where Romania is, never mind having any slice of historical knowledge about the country. I think it is absolutely wild that school in the United States barely touches on the Iron Curtain, and the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe in the late 1900s. How several countries were filled with dying, starving, walled off communities similar to what I assume we're being told is happening in North Korea nowadays.
This book is dark, but the moments of hope are such bright spots, and I think the love story subplot was absolutely necessary to keep you from being so incredibly sad the entire book. I think Cristian is SUCH a great character, and an amazing narrator for this novel, in particular, and I was also THRILLED to see Nick Van Dorn (a character in her previous novel, Fountains of Silence.)
If you love, or even like, historical fiction- this is for you. If you want to know about a history you've likely never heard of, this is a great book to learn from. It's technically billed as YA, but her books can 100% be read by adults. This book is fantastic. I'd also listen to her on the podcast: The Book Review by the New York Times. It was a great 20m or so of listening to her talk about this book, and also touch upon some of her others.
See more reviews at: https://jessgreads.wixsite.com
"Sorrow. Anger. An expanse of emptiness that takes form as a separate entity living inside of you. It digs, takes root, and dwells there. And somehow, you know that even if it worms its way out, there will be no relief. If it leaves, there will be nothing left but charred remains, like the inside of a house torched by fire."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Stalking, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Child death, Torture, Grief, Death, Confinement, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Infertility