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claudiusthegod's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While the premise of the book was interesting and not something I knew much about I found that the tension needed was not fully present. The characters' fear of being spied on wasn't shown very well (the narrator said they were being spied on all the time, but they still felt able to talk relatively freely & consume contraband etc on the stairs or outside). In addition there were some plot holes such as how Liliana was able to escape the concentration camp . As well as this the climax felt a little flat as lots of secrets were revealed very quickly at the end, almost as though the author hit the word count they wanted and just wanted to get it over with. Despite this it would be mostly enjoyable for YA audiences who like thrillers as the writing and plot are decent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer
kassidyreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, and Grief
jazzsonnet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Stalking
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
thisbookisbananas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Gritty, raw, and heartbreaking. This is a historical fiction YA novel that captivated me from start to finish. Set in 1989 Romania where the people are beaten down by an oppressive government and don’t know who to trust. Cristian is a teenager who by a small happenstance is stuck being an informant for his government. In a world where no one can be trusted, how can Cristian choose to do what is right? I think every high schooler should read this book. Wow.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
alexklinect's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
I read this in two days! I felt that the author did an excellent job at capturing the voice of a teenage boy, the pacing was perfect for this kind of story, and I could tell that she had done a multitude of in-depth historical research.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, and War
Minor: Excrement, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
nicoletacilibiu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Nu pot să mint în legătură cu faptul că nu mi-a plăcut absolut deloc cum a fost scrisă cartea aceasta. Capitolele sunt extrem de scurte, iar propozițiile asemenea de zici că citeam un poem. La început m-a lăsat destul de indiferentă scriitura, poate și pentru că este YA sau că mi se părea destul de nenatural modul în care protagonistul vorbea despre România. Pe parcurs, a început să îmi placă mai mult povestea, fiind că am aflat mai multe despre perioada comunismului. Nu mi s-a părut atât de violent finalul precum l-au descris alte persoane, ba chiar nu m-a impresionat deloc și mi-aș fi dorit să fie scris din mai multe perspective și mai detaliat. Totuși, apreciez că autoarea a ales să aducă istoria Revoluției în fața străinilor.
Nu am trăit revoluția, părinții mei erau mici când s-a întâmplat și își amintesc puține din comunism, însă mi-a venit deseori să plâng. Mi-am amintit de 10 august 2018, când multă lume a protestat, nici nu mai țin minte pentru ce, dar știu că mă șocase faptul că autoritățile stropiseră protestatarii, iar unii luaseră și bătaie. Nu pot să îmi scot din memorie imaginea de pe ecran a mulțimii de oameni adunați la București.
În acest moment sunt îngrijorată de soarta țării, a viitorilor tineri. Vin alegerile și sincer nu prea există variante convenabile. Mă neliniștește faptul că mulți rezonează cu niște scandalagii, oameni care nu fac ceva concret ca să ajute țara, ci doar știu să dea vina unii pe alții. Cunosc mulți tineri care disprețuiesc propria țară din cauza corupției. E trist când mă gândesc că alții înaintea lor au luptat pentru țara asta...
Întrebarea mea este: Cum putem aduce schimbarea aici?
Nu am trăit revoluția, părinții mei erau mici când s-a întâmplat și își amintesc puține din comunism, însă mi-a venit deseori să plâng. Mi-am amintit de 10 august 2018, când multă lume a protestat, nici nu mai țin minte pentru ce, dar știu că mă șocase faptul că autoritățile stropiseră protestatarii, iar unii luaseră și bătaie. Nu pot să îmi scot din memorie imaginea de pe ecran a mulțimii de oameni adunați la București.
În acest moment sunt îngrijorată de soarta țării, a viitorilor tineri. Vin alegerile și sincer nu prea există variante convenabile. Mă neliniștește faptul că mulți rezonează cu niște scandalagii, oameni care nu fac ceva concret ca să ajute țara, ci doar știu să dea vina unii pe alții. Cunosc mulți tineri care disprețuiesc propria țară din cauza corupției. E trist când mă gândesc că alții înaintea lor au luptat pentru țara asta...
Întrebarea mea este: Cum putem aduce schimbarea aici?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
jem_carstairs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse
lyramadeline's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was an incredible, moving, emotional, and necessary novel that shines a light on a time of history not many people know about. It had me hooked the whole time. This is only the second Rita Sepetys book I’ve read, but she’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine. This book was just as good as her book, Salt to the Sea, which I read earlier this year.
Full review to come on my blog.
Full review to come on my blog.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Blood
arthomas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I purchased a copy of this book from the library bookstore.
"I Must Betray You" follows 17-year-old Cristian in 1989 Romania. Cristian aspires to be a writer, but in Romania, there are other plans for people. Nicolae Ceaușescu is the dictator over Romania, and he rules his people by instilling fear and isolating them from the rest of the world. Cristian does not want to live this way anymore, and as he begins to learn more about what is happening in the world, he grows the urge to fight back and do something for the country he loves.
This was a difficult story to read because Cristian's life is made so difficult by a cruel and unjust leader. what is even more devastating, is that this book is historical fiction, and events like these occurred so recently. There were moments I was appalled and wanted to put the book down, but at the same time I was entranced by what was happening. I needed to know how Cristian's story ended.
I really enjoyed that this was written for the young adult sphere. I think it is important for young adults to be exposed to history, and historical fiction books are a great, entertaining way to do so. There were moments of violence and gore that were challenging to read, but again, I think it is important to learn that the world is not all sunshine all the time.
Ruta Sepetys is an immensely talented author, and I really enjoyed my first taste of her writing. Her eloquent prose is both beautiful and does not shy away from the truth. She writes raw stories about real hardship, but she does so in a way that makes it impossible to put the book down.
I could feel Cristian's stress radiating from the page, and I wanted to scream at him the truth that was just beyond his grasp. He is a strong protagonist, and I enjoyed his point of view. He was brave in the face of adversity, and he always sought the truth, even when that seemed impossible to do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Ruta Sepetys in the near future.
"I Must Betray You" follows 17-year-old Cristian in 1989 Romania. Cristian aspires to be a writer, but in Romania, there are other plans for people. Nicolae Ceaușescu is the dictator over Romania, and he rules his people by instilling fear and isolating them from the rest of the world. Cristian does not want to live this way anymore, and as he begins to learn more about what is happening in the world, he grows the urge to fight back and do something for the country he loves.
This was a difficult story to read because Cristian's life is made so difficult by a cruel and unjust leader. what is even more devastating, is that this book is historical fiction, and events like these occurred so recently. There were moments I was appalled and wanted to put the book down, but at the same time I was entranced by what was happening. I needed to know how Cristian's story ended.
I really enjoyed that this was written for the young adult sphere. I think it is important for young adults to be exposed to history, and historical fiction books are a great, entertaining way to do so. There were moments of violence and gore that were challenging to read, but again, I think it is important to learn that the world is not all sunshine all the time.
Ruta Sepetys is an immensely talented author, and I really enjoyed my first taste of her writing. Her eloquent prose is both beautiful and does not shy away from the truth. She writes raw stories about real hardship, but she does so in a way that makes it impossible to put the book down.
I could feel Cristian's stress radiating from the page, and I wanted to scream at him the truth that was just beyond his grasp. He is a strong protagonist, and I enjoyed his point of view. He was brave in the face of adversity, and he always sought the truth, even when that seemed impossible to do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Ruta Sepetys in the near future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail