Scan barcode
shaylac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
To start off, I was excited to read this book just by the description it seemed like the book was going to be about adventure, love, and mystery. However, as I was reading, it was slow-paced with no world building or character building.
The entire book is based around the grand jeu but it was never explained how it was played or what is involved with making a grand jeu. I felt that I was left confused half the time trying to figure out who the characters were and how they fit into the story. With that, there were 3 different perspectives which "The Rat" would not have been missed if their perspective wasn't written.
It seemed like there wasn't enough thought put into writing the storyline and how the book would have ultimately ended.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicide, Bullying, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Classism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
jessiereads98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The Betrayals’ merits begin and end with a gorgeous cover. There is somehow both a lot and nothing going on here. Crucial elements are vague for the sake of vagueness, so much of the book both in major and minor elements is offensive, and the craft itself isn’t even particularly well done.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Bullying
Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Classism, Grief, Suicide, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Vomit, Self harm, Alcohol, Death of parent, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
glammster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Death, Alcohol, Abandonment, Self harm, Grief, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Classism, Deportation, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Colonisation, and Misogyny
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Genocide, Grief, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Police brutality
While the book itself does not handle transphobia and related topics, a particular reveal late in the book comes across as transphobic on the part of the author.books_and_fairy_lights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
It's the type of writing I love, the type of story I love, I cannot wait to read more of Bridget Collins' masterpieces!
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Self harm
ladymickbeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
My main issue, though, is the allusion to Holocaust-style religious prejudice, complete with having to have a symbol on your clothes to indicate you belong to a certain “other” religion — for the most part, this was Christianity. That subplot and its necessity makes NO sense to me and was uncomfortable, especially with it being set just a decade before WWII began (even though there is no confirmation that this story takes place in a universe where that war happens). I was here for the slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and the rest of the time I was left reeling about the plot points and character decisions.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Self harm