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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
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
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I honestly only got halfway through the book BC’s writing is incredible but I felt so lost with her world development for this book.
The Binding was one of my top books of 2021, so I went into The Betrayals with very high expectations.
You have to just accept that you have no idea what a grand jeu is and not try to think too much about it.
I thought The Rat reveal was really good - who she is and who her mother was and how that tied into the overall story. But I did think she would be a bit more significant and generally, I didn’t understand the point of her chapters.
I didn’t like the ending. I thought it was unrealistic for Claire to tell Léo to just go ahead and take her job and she was fine with it, and that’s the last we hear? It felt like such a flat ending.
I did guess the big reveal about 3/4 of the way through, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of it. I really enjoyed the relationship between Léo and Carfax, possibly because it felt reminiscent of The Binding.
There were parts I really enjoyed, but overall it couldn’t compare to The Binding.
You have to just accept that you have no idea what a grand jeu is and not try to think too much about it.
I thought The Rat reveal was really good - who she is and who her mother was and how that tied into the overall story. But I did think she would be a bit more significant and generally, I didn’t understand the point of her chapters.
I didn’t like the ending. I thought it was unrealistic for Claire to tell Léo to just go ahead and take her job and she was fine with it, and that’s the last we hear? It felt like such a flat ending.
I did guess the big reveal about 3/4 of the way through, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of it. I really enjoyed the relationship between Léo and Carfax, possibly because it felt reminiscent of The Binding.
There were parts I really enjoyed, but overall it couldn’t compare to The Binding.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a hard book to rate… It was brilliantly written but at the same time difficult to read because for 70% of the book you don’t know what’s going on. The slow pace worked for character development but at the same time I would have loved to hear more about the world outside of Montverre and it’s politics. This is a good book, but would I recommend it, I’m not sure…
One last thing, the Rat’s chapters were insufferable and I don’t think the book would lose much if her character was removed…
One last thing, the Rat’s chapters were insufferable and I don’t think the book would lose much if her character was removed…
This definitely did not like up to the expectations i had. I was so confused as to what the grand jeu was supposed to be, I didn’t particularly like the characters either. I liked the plot and the school setting, the politics and the betrayals you knew would be inevitable but that was it.
Lots of people called it stunning and spectacular and I can’t help but feel like we read different books.
Lots of people called it stunning and spectacular and I can’t help but feel like we read different books.
Different writing style. I felt like I was watching a theatre show.
Beginning was much too long and I was confused for majority of the time (poor world building). This could be because the grand jeu was referenced from another book and so relied on its explanation of it.
Saw some of the plot twist coming but that portion was super entertaining.
I don’t know if I loved the way this book ended.
Beginning was much too long and I was confused for majority of the time (poor world building). This could be because the grand jeu was referenced from another book and so relied on its explanation of it.
Saw some of the plot twist coming but that portion was super entertaining.
I don’t know if I loved the way this book ended.