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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Oh! I wanted to love this book, I really did. The Binding was my favourite book last year so I know I had really high expectations. But this... just falls flat in so many ways. There are storylines that don’t really make much sense and didn’t really have to be there because they’re so underdeveloped (The Rat?), and persecution of Christians for no apparent reason (other religions are mentioned so why isn’t it religion in general that’s being targeted by the government?). The whole “I hate you so much but I think I love you” trope worked well in The Binding but it can’t be used in every story, surely there are other ways of falling in love? As always, the language is beautiful, and I wish I had had more time with Leon and Carfax... and the ending somewhat makes up for what is otherwise a fairly boring book, but I just wish there had been more. Bridget Collins mentions at the end that a lot has been edited out and I wonder if that content is what’s missing!
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A wonderfully written book which grew in intensity throughout. Although the characters are far from loveable, I found myself totally absorbed by the world of Montverre. This dystopian fantasy romance left me feeling bereft when it ended and will stay with me.
I had to let go of a lot of needing to know everything before getting into the book and letting the plot take me away. The diary sections really made the book for me.
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is difficult to describe. It is Hesse's The glass bead game (credited in the acknowledgements) mixed with Erin Morgensterns The night circus and a hint of Hogwarts, slathered in an atmosphere of dark academia. Is it alternate history? Magical Realism? Fantasy? No idea, it seems to be its own thing entirely. And I loved it.
Full disclosure, I read The Binding as well and didn't get on with it. The world of that book felt underdeveloped and the romance was completely boring because the characters engaged in it remained flat to me. This book, I am happy to say, mended all of these faults in my opinion. The story was driven forward by its characters, who felt real and understandable. Their flaws, hopes and dreams worked as the driving force of the story and this is what made the push and pull between them so interesting. I will say that the storyline of the rat felt completely superfluous and, in my opinion, the story would have been stronger without it, but because the bulk of the book still focused on the main storylines between Leo, Claire and Carfax, this didn't bother me.
Within the contained world of Montverre, the aspects of the world that were not explained in detail didn't irritate me. In this world, I liked it that things weren't overexplained. Sure, I would have loved more detail on the grand jeu, but it worked in its current form because the "vibes" easily carried the atmosphere of the book, and these games, as experienced throughout the book, were understandable enough. I loved the mix between science and worship contained in them. Within the book's context of polical intrigue, this made it really interesing, and I loved the reflection on the sustainability of academia as a 'safe haven' in a time of political turbulence, which felt very fitting to our current situation.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in this book, and would recommend it to people who like any of the things mentioned in the first paragraph. I'm exited to pick up Collins' other books now.
Full disclosure, I read The Binding as well and didn't get on with it. The world of that book felt underdeveloped and the romance was completely boring because the characters engaged in it remained flat to me. This book, I am happy to say, mended all of these faults in my opinion. The story was driven forward by its characters, who felt real and understandable. Their flaws, hopes and dreams worked as the driving force of the story and this is what made the push and pull between them so interesting. I will say that the storyline of the rat felt completely superfluous and, in my opinion, the story would have been stronger without it, but because the bulk of the book still focused on the main storylines between Leo, Claire and Carfax, this didn't bother me.
Within the contained world of Montverre, the aspects of the world that were not explained in detail didn't irritate me. In this world, I liked it that things weren't overexplained. Sure, I would have loved more detail on the grand jeu, but it worked in its current form because the "vibes" easily carried the atmosphere of the book, and these games, as experienced throughout the book, were understandable enough. I loved the mix between science and worship contained in them. Within the book's context of polical intrigue, this made it really interesing, and I loved the reflection on the sustainability of academia as a 'safe haven' in a time of political turbulence, which felt very fitting to our current situation.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in this book, and would recommend it to people who like any of the things mentioned in the first paragraph. I'm exited to pick up Collins' other books now.
Der Anfang war fesselnd, mit der Zeit wurde es ziemlich langatmig. Manche Wendungen kamen überraschend, halfen dann bei den vielen inneren Monologen auch nicht mehr.
Quite the enjoyable book. It was like "The Binding" in certain ways: mysterious, past and present interlaced, (a bit) queer, and also very dystopic. "The Betrayals" shares some problems with "The Binding" too though: It's world-building is left a mystery (and could be fleshed out much more; however having a protagonist in a dystopia who doesn't save the world is oddly refreshing??), part of the plot twists can be foreseen, and one is left a bit unsatisfied by the ending. And yet it is also magical, fascinating and very immersive. If you enjoyed "The Binding", read this one. Oh and it was inspired by a Hermann Hesse book. I really liked it, it helped me get my mind off things and that's particularly hard at the moment.
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars
When I was younger, my late mum had a strange habit, one I couldn't get my head around. She'd ring and tell me about some wonderful book she was reading or a TV programme she was enthralled by. That doesn't sound very strange of course, but the odd bit was that she'd tell me she couldn't bear to read or watch anymore. Her reason, because once she did, it would be done and the joy of it would be over. I'd constantly encourage her to keep going not really understanding her perspective. However, a few days ago, I finally got it.
I've been reading The Betrayals by Bridget Collins, her second adult novel and I didn't want it to end. I was desperate to reach a conclusion, but part of me wanted to hold back because once it was done, that would be it and the world the author had created would no longer be available for me to escape to. I did finish the book, but it has left me feeling somewhat bereft (I think some describe it as a book hangover).
This book is hard to describe, so I'm not going to try. I'm sure there are plenty of other reviews that will provide details should you want to find out more. All I can say is that the writing enchanted me. The story and the world the reader finds themselves in is mysterious, compelling and thought-provoking.
It's out today (12th November), and the hardback version looks as beautiful on the outside as the words are inside.
I've been reading The Betrayals by Bridget Collins, her second adult novel and I didn't want it to end. I was desperate to reach a conclusion, but part of me wanted to hold back because once it was done, that would be it and the world the author had created would no longer be available for me to escape to. I did finish the book, but it has left me feeling somewhat bereft (I think some describe it as a book hangover).
This book is hard to describe, so I'm not going to try. I'm sure there are plenty of other reviews that will provide details should you want to find out more. All I can say is that the writing enchanted me. The story and the world the reader finds themselves in is mysterious, compelling and thought-provoking.
It's out today (12th November), and the hardback version looks as beautiful on the outside as the words are inside.