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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I DNFed this book at 25%. That’s over 120 pages of the physical book. I still have no idea what’s going on. Idk if I’m just too dumb for this book or what, but I still have no idea what the grand jeu is or why it’s so important. None of the characters have any sort of personality.
I just couldn’t force myself to continue.
Unfortunately I preordered 2 special editions of this book. I will be reselling them to give them to people who actually enjoy the book.
I DNFed this book at 25%. That’s over 120 pages of the physical book. I still have no idea what’s going on. Idk if I’m just too dumb for this book or what, but I still have no idea what the grand jeu is or why it’s so important. None of the characters have any sort of personality.
I just couldn’t force myself to continue.
Unfortunately I preordered 2 special editions of this book. I will be reselling them to give them to people who actually enjoy the book.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it’s not my usual type of book but i was captivated by it.
i only have one thing to say : wow
i only have one thing to say : wow
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fun read and interesting world but the ending felt rushed and a bit of a let down. I did enjoy the twist in the middle though!
challenging
dark
emotional
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
I am convinced that Bridget Collins is not capable of writing a bad book. That being said, I have only read two and none of their work published under B.R. Collins, so it may be an overstatement on my part, but [b:The Binding|39964740|The Binding|Bridget Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524759055l/39964740._SX50_.jpg|61870369] was amazing, and now The Betrayals. This whole fantastical and historical fiction genre that she has immersed herself and her last two novels in is so well suited for her I am excited to read more of what she has to offer.
From reading the blurb I wasn't 100% sold on this one, but then again I had some mixed feelings about [b:The Binding|39964740|The Binding|Bridget Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524759055l/39964740._SX50_.jpg|61870369] and loved that one so when I eventually got to picking it up after having it on my wishlist for months, I knew I had to get to it as soon as possible. No regrets there. Admittedly, there is only one thing that left me confused, and that was the inclusion of the character of 'the Rat' which, aside from playing an important part in one of the final chapters, seemed like an odd inclusion and I am still uncertain of their relevance to the tale. Over the course of the novel, there are references made to a crying sound that could be heard within the walls of the crumbling institution, but they are so brief that even if these are allusions to 'the Rat', even to me that assumption seems a little far fetched.
The novel is split into chapters of different perspectives going between the present-day accounts of the main characters and diary entries of one of them, and of course 'the Rat'. Despite these splits, it's still really easy to follow, everything flows, where the retrospective entries add to the readers understanding of the actions between the characters, as well as forming a background on the protagonist, allowing readers to form a visual of those within the tale as well as the surrounding settings. Collins forms beautiful connections between the luxury that the institution was in the past as well as those of Léo's life and the crumbling nature of the present-day walls of the school, the surrounding government, as well as the secrets long-kept secret.
Elements of the fantastical like the grand jeu (which, I am still a little uncertain as to what it actually is), transport readers to another world so close to the one we live in, it's easy to forget it is all fictional. Along with romantic and mysterious notes flowing through the novel, there is a perfect balance between all its features. The language flows from page to page, no embellishments necessary to convey the messages of the text to its readers.
Overall it's a very enjoyable book, and it's really hard to find a fault with it, as usual, I seem to be able to find at least one thing to pick on, yet nothing really comes to mind with this one. Everything connects nicely, and in essence, no loose ends remain, the plot trickles away into a nice unknown between the characters that the readers are not privy to, and in some ways, I like the open-ended-ness of it, remaining hopeful of another chance encounter between the characters. A great novel for any day, any season, for any reader, there is something in it for everyone.
From reading the blurb I wasn't 100% sold on this one, but then again I had some mixed feelings about [b:The Binding|39964740|The Binding|Bridget Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524759055l/39964740._SX50_.jpg|61870369] and loved that one so when I eventually got to picking it up after having it on my wishlist for months, I knew I had to get to it as soon as possible. No regrets there. Admittedly, there is only one thing that left me confused, and that was the inclusion of the character of 'the Rat' which, aside from playing an important part in one of the final chapters, seemed like an odd inclusion and I am still uncertain of their relevance to the tale. Over the course of the novel, there are references made to a crying sound that could be heard within the walls of the crumbling institution, but they are so brief that even if these are allusions to 'the Rat', even to me that assumption seems a little far fetched.
The novel is split into chapters of different perspectives going between the present-day accounts of the main characters and diary entries of one of them, and of course 'the Rat'. Despite these splits, it's still really easy to follow, everything flows, where the retrospective entries add to the readers understanding of the actions between the characters, as well as forming a background on the protagonist, allowing readers to form a visual of those within the tale as well as the surrounding settings. Collins forms beautiful connections between the luxury that the institution was in the past as well as those of Léo's life and the crumbling nature of the present-day walls of the school, the surrounding government, as well as the secrets long-kept secret.
Elements of the fantastical like the grand jeu (which, I am still a little uncertain as to what it actually is), transport readers to another world so close to the one we live in, it's easy to forget it is all fictional. Along with romantic and mysterious notes flowing through the novel, there is a perfect balance between all its features. The language flows from page to page, no embellishments necessary to convey the messages of the text to its readers.
Overall it's a very enjoyable book, and it's really hard to find a fault with it, as usual, I seem to be able to find at least one thing to pick on, yet nothing really comes to mind with this one. Everything connects nicely, and in essence, no loose ends remain, the plot trickles away into a nice unknown between the characters that the readers are not privy to, and in some ways, I like the open-ended-ness of it, remaining hopeful of another chance encounter between the characters. A great novel for any day, any season, for any reader, there is something in it for everyone.
dark
mysterious
reflective
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:
No