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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3 ⭐️ only because of the development of Carfax and Lèo’s relationship, which was lovely and could have been something beautiful had it not had a mangled and disappointing ending.
This book just fell flat overall. The threat of The Party never felt real because it was so removed from the central character plot. The Rat and Simon ultimately felt like superfluous characters and Simon’s persecution felt like an afterthought that never felt real because we never really felt the impact it had on him with everything happening off screen. The grand jeu itself just irritated me because of how little help we’re given to understand it. In the Author’s Note Collins reveals that it is heavily based on Hesse’s Glass Beads but it feels incredibly alienating to have to read this to understand even the vague concept of what a grand jeu is. I wouldn’t have minded the symbolism of an abstract game but the symbolism falls hollow if the game is so abstract and unknown that I have no idea of even how it’s performed.
There was too much focus on the characters without enough world building to back it up and as a result the whole story just felt very hollow.
This book just fell flat overall. The threat of The Party never felt real because it was so removed from the central character plot. The Rat and Simon ultimately felt like superfluous characters and Simon’s persecution felt like an afterthought that never felt real because we never really felt the impact it had on him with everything happening off screen. The grand jeu itself just irritated me because of how little help we’re given to understand it. In the Author’s Note Collins reveals that it is heavily based on Hesse’s Glass Beads but it feels incredibly alienating to have to read this to understand even the vague concept of what a grand jeu is. I wouldn’t have minded the symbolism of an abstract game but the symbolism falls hollow if the game is so abstract and unknown that I have no idea of even how it’s performed.
There was too much focus on the characters without enough world building to back it up and as a result the whole story just felt very hollow.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Beautifully written. Could use some more specific, concrete description of the grand jeu, but the story makes sense without fully understanding it. Clever character twist I did not see coming.
I believe at the time I felt this story was incredible, confusing but awesome, I would have to reread to know for sure.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am still confused about the ending
The betrayals is an intriguing book, well written, with good world building and sympathetic characters. Though the book doesn’t dive into the details of much outside of Montverre I wasn’t displeased. The plot twist that happens within the last 100 pages wasn’t my favorite but didn’t ruin the book for me, it still made sense within the plot. The end of the book is open ended in a way but still gives a satisfying conclusion. I would love to see a book based on the world outside of Montverre though I do believe this is meant to be a standalone.
Ooo I was so torn on this one. For the first 100 pages or so it was just fine, I wasn’t bored, but I wasn’t super into it. That could also possibly be because I went into this book with super high expectations based on how much I loved the author’s first book The Binding. But anyway, as the book went on, all these plot threads that the author had slowly woven into the story started connecting and it was masterfully done. I will say, I feel like one place the author kind of falls short for me is the world-building. It’s hard to get a complete grasp on the concepts she lays out because it’s just not fully explained. Also, I actually quite disliked the main character of this book. He does go through some character development, but only at the very end. The rest of the times he’s full of himself, selfish, and arrogant.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes