Scan barcode
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the world building and the suspense elements. The world had parallels with Nazi Germany, a sinister totalitarianism creeping slowly forward and how easy it is to fall into complicity or be uninformed. A great game as a backdrop to very human relationships and emotions. I did get the twist, but I did not mind that. There was a lot of action at the end after a slow build up.
d0nt_be_so_rude's review
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
5.0
I love collins writing! The plottwists keep you guessing at every turn and it feels very satisfying to slowly figure it out as you keep reading.
larissabee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
oliviaclaire's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
meg444's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. Sort of hard to follow with ambiguous description of the grand jeu. Still don't even know what it is?
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘The outside world is a distraction, at best. At worst, it can destroy you.’
I’ll open my comments with a warning. If you only enjoy novels with clear endings and messages, with all the mystery solved, then you are unlikely to enjoy ‘The Betrayals’. This is the type of novel you can immerse yourself in, where your conclusions may depend on the interpretations you make.
Here’s the blurb:
‘If everything in your life was based on a lie would you risk it all to tell the truth?
At Montverre, an exclusive academy tucked away in the mountains, the best and brightest are trained for excellence in the grand jeu: an arcane and mysterious contest. Léo Martin was once a student there, but lost his passion for the grand jeu following a violent tragedy. Now he returns in disgrace, exiled to his old place of learning with his political career in tatters.
Montverre has changed since he studied there, even allowing a woman, Claire Dryden, to serve in the grand jeu’s highest office of Magister Ludi. When Léo first sees Claire he senses an odd connection with her, though he’s sure they have never met before.
Both Léo and Claire have built their lives on lies. And as the legendary Midsummer Game, the climax of the year, draws closer, secrets are whispering in the walls…’
The story is brought to us through four different viewpoints. The first character we meet is the Rat. She is important, mysterious and (when she appears) offers the reader a different perspective of Montverre and its people. The second character we meet is present day Léo Martin. We meet Léo as he is about to become a disgraced politician, exiled to Montverre, the school he left ten years earlier. The third character is Claire Dryden, first ever female Magister Ludi to hold office at Montverre. And finally, we have the viewpoint of young Léo Martin, desperate to fit in and excel at Montverre.
No, we do not know where Montverre is. Nor do we have details about the grand jeu. Ms Collins was in part inspired by Hermann Hesse’s novel ‘The Glass Bead Game’ and I recognise echoes of this in how I visualise the grand jeu with its unclear rules, with its combination of maths, music, and ideas. And the outside world is changing, becoming more authoritarian and less tolerant.
So, what else can I tell you without spoilers? Nothing. If you read it, approach it with an open mind, be curious about the people you meet, question your conclusions, enjoy the prose. Did I enjoy it? Yes, once I realised how elusive it was.
I am about to read Ms Collins’s next novel ‘The Silence Factory’, and I am looking forward to it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
mshaniak's review against another edition
DNF at around 50% Soooo boring. I really don’t see a point of this book
rabbithalliwell's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was a surprise from beginning to end and had me thinking about the characters for days. What does the Grand Game look/ sound like? I want to know more about the events after the book! I tweeted the author though, and she says it's a standalone book, so no sequel at this time.