Scan barcode
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.toldinstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Police brutality
queenmackenzie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Suicide, and Misogyny
Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Mental illness
lilacsophie's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Vomit, and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Grief, Sexual content, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Police brutality
Minor: Death of parent
unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Collins does not shirk from her narrators' unlikeable qualities, which can sometimes make for uncomfortable reading. The plot of this story has definite weak moments, where either too much or too little is given away, and the central concept of the grand jeu remains an abstract mystery throughout, which may frustrate readers. Personally, the subplot of the Rat is a particular point of contention, as I feel that this thread added very little to the story. I also have a personal preference for more certain, definitive endings - but I won't go into too much detail, as I'd like to keep this review light on spoilers! These, however, are the main reasons I have not rated this book any higher.
Despite these criticisms, I genuinely think that this book is a fantastic achievement. What it does well, it does excellently.
The glory of The Betrayals is not in its plot, but in the way it captures themes, concepts, atmospheres, and emotions. The snatches of the grand jeu which we are allowed to understand contain sing with love for classical music, philosophy, mythology, modern art, and even mathematical principles. Collins herself notes taking substantial inspiration from The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse. I think the story also owes much to George Orwell's 1984, as the dystopian society framing Montverre is much like an infant version of Oceania.
The grand jeu is an ode to interdisciplinary work and divergent thinking. The plot of The Betrayals pushes its central characters further, to consider the moral obligations of scholars towards their art, pupils, and wider society. This book is a maze of intertextuality and social philosophy, and I think, in some ways, it might struggle to find its audience. But it's certainly found itself a loving home on my bookshelves.
Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Police brutality
btrz7's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I guess this is my way of saying I'm still not too sure how I feel about the latter part of the book, although I absolutely loved everything until then, and I am somewhat satisfied with the ending. It's not necessarily a bad feeling
Graphic: Blood, Xenophobia, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality