Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading The Betrayals is like watching a game of chess without knowing the rules. For most of the book, I had lagged one or two moves behind, following red herrings and derailed imagination. The more you read, the more you become like the characters and spaces in the story: paranoid, eager, claustrophobic. Collins masterfully transfers the atmosphere of Montverre into the veins of Léo, Claire, the Rat and Carfax, through whom we relive long rainy nights spent studying, hiding, playing a game of betrayal and trust.
I read The Betrayals together with Aïda and I think I wouldn’t have become this invested in it without someone to bounce of theories like madmen. Thanks so much for the experience love!
*spoilers*
I must admit I feel conflicted about the LGBTQI+ representation in this novel. I loved Léo’s pan/bisexuality and think it makes sense for his couldn’t-care-less character. I also like to interpret Claire as non-binary, based off the end of the book when she hints at wanting to return to a more masculine gender expression because she felt comfortable as Carfax. BUT I do think it was kind of weak to not write Claire as transman. Seeing how Claire feels uncomfortable with female gender expressions and considering the motive of transformation (also seen in The Rat), it would’ve made more sense for them to be trans or more clearly non-binary than simply playing into the motive of crossdressing. That would’ve justified all the “oh no I hate menstruating!” and “I’m a woman but I’m not like the others!” energy a lot better than it does now.
I read The Betrayals together with Aïda and I think I wouldn’t have become this invested in it without someone to bounce of theories like madmen. Thanks so much for the experience love!
*spoilers*
I must admit I feel conflicted about the LGBTQI+ representation in this novel. I loved Léo’s pan/bisexuality and think it makes sense for his couldn’t-care-less character. I also like to interpret Claire as non-binary, based off the end of the book when she hints at wanting to return to a more masculine gender expression because she felt comfortable as Carfax. BUT I do think it was kind of weak to not write Claire as transman. Seeing how Claire feels uncomfortable with female gender expressions and considering the motive of transformation (also seen in The Rat), it would’ve made more sense for them to be trans or more clearly non-binary than simply playing into the motive of crossdressing. That would’ve justified all the “oh no I hate menstruating!” and “I’m a woman but I’m not like the others!” energy a lot better than it does now.
medium-paced
After reading first The Binding, and now The Betrayals, I'm ready to declare Bridget Collins (or more likely: her publisher's marketing department) the master of the bait & switch.
Is The Betrayals a decent story? Sure.
Does it live up to the blurb on the back cover? Eh... not so much.
What makes this so frustrating for me is that the main appeal of these books was the core idea, the main thread of story promised in the summary. To have something close but not quite there feels like a tease. If, like me, the blurb makes you expect magic and mystery, you're likely to be disappointed.
Well. On the plus side, the artwork is pure cover porn. Gorgeous.
Is The Betrayals a decent story? Sure.
Does it live up to the blurb on the back cover? Eh... not so much.
What makes this so frustrating for me is that the main appeal of these books was the core idea, the main thread of story promised in the summary. To have something close but not quite there feels like a tease. If, like me, the blurb makes you expect magic and mystery, you're likely to be disappointed.
Well. On the plus side, the artwork is pure cover porn. Gorgeous.
I liked the first three chapters but didn’t care a single bit about reading from a student’s pov. The book sounded otherwise interesting, written in a beautiful way, but I’m beyond reading about teens with swarming hormones.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
That was a good one. Slippy, with multiple threads and hints and nods, themes that run in circles with twists and turns and gosh, true to the title. Enjoyed it a lot!
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A pleasingly dark story, this is set in a kind of alternative history where France has been taken over by an oppressively authoritarian regime. This forms the backdrop of a story about friendship, suffering and love.
I found it frustrating that the character of the Rat was so poorly developed - the story ends on such a jarring, incomplete note with her and Simon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Kidnapping