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reading_ladies_blog's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, and Death
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
informative
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? Yes
4.0
You can always tell that Ruta Sepetys does her research for any of her historical fiction novels. She also tends to highlight moments in history that aren't usually taught in schools, at least in the United States. I had no idea about the state of things in Romania in 1989, and Sepetys just has a writing style that pulls you in and keeps you invested until the very end.
Pretty much anything foreign was forbidden in Romania at this time, and the sense of being watched permeates throughout the majority of the novel. The reports between chapters throughout help to add to this idea that Romanian citizens were never quite sure who to trust; their neighbors, their family members, their friends could all be informants for the Ceaușescu regime. The reports also show how closely all of the citizens were being watched. Sepetys adds a bit of mystery to the story by having Christian try to figure out who informed on him. But in a society where everyone could be a suspect and you can't talk freely, it's not so easy to figure out.
This might be historical fiction, but it definitely has aspects of a thriller as well. I'd definitely recommend reading the author's note at the end because it also gives context for the novel and why Sepetys was inspired to write this particular story. 100% recommend this to any fans of YA historical fiction.
Pretty much anything foreign was forbidden in Romania at this time, and the sense of being watched permeates throughout the majority of the novel. The reports between chapters throughout help to add to this idea that Romanian citizens were never quite sure who to trust; their neighbors, their family members, their friends could all be informants for the Ceaușescu regime. The reports also show how closely all of the citizens were being watched. Sepetys adds a bit of mystery to the story by having Christian try to figure out who informed on him. But in a society where everyone could be a suspect and you can't talk freely, it's not so easy to figure out.
This might be historical fiction, but it definitely has aspects of a thriller as well. I'd definitely recommend reading the author's note at the end because it also gives context for the novel and why Sepetys was inspired to write this particular story. 100% recommend this to any fans of YA historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
albon's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Genocide, War, and Police brutality
maddiet425's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Excrement, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol and Cancer
leahjanespeare's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Sepetys illuminates the real vampires in Romanian history; the tyrannical reign of the Ceaușescus that spanned decades and made Stalin’s actions look mild. This is a history that is so recent (ending in 1989) yet so buried that you’ve probably never heard of it. The regime built on fear will unsettle you as a reader, and carve deep horror into the marrow of your bones. Through this era though, the bravery and strength of young people led to a bloody revolution and ultimate freedom from Romania’s isolating Iron Curtain of communism. It’s a tough read but ultimately full of hope and dreaming while living in a country where your every movement is monitored and no one can be trusted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Torture, Death, War, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Genocide
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Damn Sepetys did it again. Her writing and books are phenomenal.
I Must Betray You takes us to post WWII Romania where Ceaușescu's reign is still going strong. But the people are overworked, being starved and harassed by Ceaușescu's secret police agents. The country is governed by isolation and fear. When Cristian Florescu is blackmailed to become an informant, he feels even more lost. His choices seem impossible, but when the opportunity to expose what is happening in Romania to the world, he jumps into the revolution.
All of Sepetys's books have taught me something. I love that most of her books have focused on Eastern Europe because US public schools hardly talk about these subjects. Even though I took AP European history in high school, I knew nothing about this. This book takes place in 1989 and focuses on the Romanian revolution of December 1989.
Cristian was an easy character to empathize with. We see the horrible things happening in Romania through his eyes and with his sense of compassion. He is such a cinnamon roll. I loved how much he loved his family, especially his Bunu (grandfather). Their relationship was one of my favorite things in this book. Among all the fear and paranoia, these two were bright stars. The love they had for each other was always palpable.
This is a heavy book, but wow I sped through it. Sepetys is a masterful writer, never shying away from the hard truths, but also doing so in such a way that the characters' humanity is always preserved. My heart hurts so much for 1989 Romania and the people who went through these real life events. Sepetys also weaves in reports throughout Cristian's narrative. So not only do we get his POV, but we see how the Securitate see him. And wow, it was menacing. The environment created in this was so tense and fearful.
There's not a ton of action in the beginning of this. Don't get me wrong, things happen and we get to know all the characters. But the first half of the story really sets in tension and depicting just how awful conditions were for the average Romanian citizen. The juxtaposition is made clear whenever Cristian interacts with Dan Van Dorn, the son of the American embassy delegate. The way the Van Dorns are treated and the access they have compared to Cristian is wild. It really slams home the point of how privileged the American delegates are treated.
I highly recommend reading the historical and author note at the end, it is amazing to see a glimpse of the research process and the real people whose lives have been touched.
Rep: All Romanian cast, male side character who loses an arm, chronically ill elderly male side character, Roma male side character.
CWs: Blood, confinement, death, death of parent, emotional and physical abuse (government to its people), genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, murder, police brutality, stalking, violence. Moderate: torture, gun violence, chronic illness, war. Minor: cancer.
Damn Sepetys did it again. Her writing and books are phenomenal.
I Must Betray You takes us to post WWII Romania where Ceaușescu's reign is still going strong. But the people are overworked, being starved and harassed by Ceaușescu's secret police agents. The country is governed by isolation and fear. When Cristian Florescu is blackmailed to become an informant, he feels even more lost. His choices seem impossible, but when the opportunity to expose what is happening in Romania to the world, he jumps into the revolution.
All of Sepetys's books have taught me something. I love that most of her books have focused on Eastern Europe because US public schools hardly talk about these subjects. Even though I took AP European history in high school, I knew nothing about this. This book takes place in 1989 and focuses on the Romanian revolution of December 1989.
Cristian was an easy character to empathize with. We see the horrible things happening in Romania through his eyes and with his sense of compassion. He is such a cinnamon roll. I loved how much he loved his family, especially his Bunu (grandfather). Their relationship was one of my favorite things in this book. Among all the fear and paranoia, these two were bright stars. The love they had for each other was always palpable.
This is a heavy book, but wow I sped through it. Sepetys is a masterful writer, never shying away from the hard truths, but also doing so in such a way that the characters' humanity is always preserved. My heart hurts so much for 1989 Romania and the people who went through these real life events. Sepetys also weaves in reports throughout Cristian's narrative. So not only do we get his POV, but we see how the Securitate see him. And wow, it was menacing. The environment created in this was so tense and fearful.
There's not a ton of action in the beginning of this. Don't get me wrong, things happen and we get to know all the characters. But the first half of the story really sets in tension and depicting just how awful conditions were for the average Romanian citizen. The juxtaposition is made clear whenever Cristian interacts with Dan Van Dorn, the son of the American embassy delegate. The way the Van Dorns are treated and the access they have compared to Cristian is wild. It really slams home the point of how privileged the American delegates are treated.
I highly recommend reading the historical and author note at the end, it is amazing to see a glimpse of the research process and the real people whose lives have been touched.
Rep: All Romanian cast, male side character who loses an arm, chronically ill elderly male side character, Roma male side character.
CWs: Blood, confinement, death, death of parent, emotional and physical abuse (government to its people), genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, murder, police brutality, stalking, violence. Moderate: torture, gun violence, chronic illness, war. Minor: cancer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Stalking, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Torture, and War
Minor: Cancer
infinitegoldenfloors's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Genocide
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Police brutality, and Murder
celebrationofbooks's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m starting to think that I’m getting to the point with Ruta that I did with Elizabeth Wein. I still love her books, but I may be outgrowing them. While both authors were ones I always wholeheartedly recommended to adult readers as well, I’ve felt that their latest books will be most loved by high schoolers, even middle grade readers. So please know, this is a good book, it’s just not hitting the same notes with me now that I’m on the other side of 30. If Ruta ever wants to retool this as an adult book, I’d love to get it from Cristian’s sister’s perspective.
I Must Betray You is most akin to Salt to the Sea in its style of short chapters, each ending with a cliffhanger. It is, in and of itself, a compelling story. My best friend studied abroad in Romania in 2005-6 and from what she told me of the Romanian people, you would never have imagined that they had gone through such hell only 16 years before. While reading, the only comparison I could think to make was to what I had read about North Korea in My Holiday in North Korea, as well as the cult of personality created by the orange buffoon who was in office before Biden.
It’s a dangerous thing, to have people so wrapped up in what their neighbors are doing, what their family members are doing, ratting each other out to gain favor with the party. To live in terror, it must have been beyond exhausting, it’d be a shock if you didn’t go paranoid. You could do everything correctly, and people would frame you, make things up, lie about you. Our protagonist, Cristian, is a compelling character and it is interesting to see how his life unfolds in the lead up to the revolution of 1989.
His relationships with his friends, a girl he likes, and his family, all shed light on how fearful the people were about being disappeared. His grandfather remembers the time before Ceaușescu and is outspoken about the changes that he despises. Cristian’s parents have all but shut themselves out of the world, not wanting to engage or give anyone any ammunition against them.
When Cristian joins his mother at her job cleaning for the American ambassador, things really get interesting and Cristian becomes even more suspicious of who may have given his name to the secret police and ultimately, it was a surprise to find out who the traitor in his circle really is.
Ultimately, it’s a great book, perfect for high school students, but not so perfect for me. I found the overall reading less disengaging, though I do understand why Ruta wrote it as she did. I will wholeheartedly recommend it to schools, students, and teachers, but will probably hold off on encouraging adult readers to purchase it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
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