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kindra_demi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Honestly, if it weren't for my curiousity in what the Grand Jeu was and how to play it, I would have DNF'ed this book. The twist/surprise only really caught me because I had also spent the 300+ pages before it trying to piece together the game. And all of that was to ultimately never get a complete answer.
I do appreciate a slow paced book, but there are points where it is so slow that I put it down and didn't pick it up for a couple weeks. There are 4 different pov:
- The Rat: her point of view doesn't really matter until the end of the book though you did get to see her grow with it starting in her pov and ending in it.
-Léo (in the past. His journal from when he attended school): probably the pov where you see the most growth. It was typically the only pov I looked forward to because it actually built the story.
-Léo (present day): a man who is so self absorbed he can't see 2 inches past his nose to realize he is being set up in a trap. I get there was a tragedy where it could have stopped his growth at the end of his journal and into present day him, but that being said, seeing him grow in the journal only to be so ignorant in present day was frustrating. He held records. Played this complex game that was worthy of an elite school (the one he attended). With all of this, I would hope that he would be smart enough to realize that him being forced into quitting his job and return to his old school to "rekindle his love of the Grand Jeu" isn't just that...
-Magister Ludi: One of the heads of the school Léo attended/was forced to return to. And don't forget that SHE must do it alone because SHE is a WOMAN and SHE is going to be the future of the Grand Jeu because women aren't allowed to play but SHE worked for it. Did I mention that the Magister Ludi is a woman? This pov gave me "written by a man" energy. It felt like there wasn't an understanding of being a woman actually, but every time this pov came up, it was overly emphasized.
I don't know if it should be called miscommunication, but that is about the closest thing to describe this whole background of the problem in the book. One character was purposely left in the dark by another. Another character took their understanding of Léo's journal and ran with it in a total opposite direction than the original meaning. It's a journal but in this character's mind, they could have been purposely misleading (like the purpose of a journal is for other people to read).
Before I got to the twist, I was weirded out by the fact Léo went from having feeling for Carfax to having feelings for Claire. After it is revealed she is Carfax, it makes sense, but it just wasn't something that sat right with me.
I know Bridget Collins has another book, and I've seen good reviews for it, but I don't have hopes for it and won't be picking it up any time soon after this book.
I do appreciate a slow paced book, but there are points where it is so slow that I put it down and didn't pick it up for a couple weeks. There are 4 different pov:
- The Rat: her point of view doesn't really matter until the end of the book though you did get to see her grow with it starting in her pov and ending in it.
-Léo (in the past. His journal from when he attended school): probably the pov where you see the most growth. It was typically the only pov I looked forward to because it actually built the story.
-Léo (present day): a man who is so self absorbed he can't see 2 inches past his nose
-Magister Ludi: One of the heads of the school Léo attended/was forced to return to. And don't forget that SHE must do it alone because SHE is a WOMAN and SHE is going to be the future of the Grand Jeu because women aren't allowed to play but SHE worked for it. Did I mention that the Magister Ludi is a woman? This pov gave me "written by a man" energy. It felt like there wasn't an understanding of being a woman actually, but every time this pov came up, it was overly emphasized.
I don't know if it should be called miscommunication, but that is about the closest thing to describe this whole background of the problem in the book. One character was purposely left in the dark by another. Another character took their understanding of Léo's journal and ran with it in a total opposite direction than the original meaning. It's a journal but in this character's mind, they could have been purposely misleading (like the purpose of a journal is for other people to read).
I know Bridget Collins has another book, and I've seen good reviews for it, but I don't have hopes for it and won't be picking it up any time soon after this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
victoria_tsonos's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Suicide
julesmae's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.75
While Collins' prose is as dazzling and intricate as ever, I will admit I did not love this book quite as much as The Binding. Keeping some bits of a story's magical realism to the imagination is a great device, but in the case of the book I became frustrated that the game around which everything hinged is never properly explained. I understand that is part of the appeal, part of the intention, but it made it difficult to be immersed in the book for me at least. I also struggled to really connect with the main character's arc - given the "party" was such a vague picture of any oppressive regime and his motivations within it never really became clear. Still, the plot and relationships were carefully and beautifully developed, and overall it was a stunning portrait of what it is to want something so desperately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual violence
dandelionseeds's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, and Grief
theres_claire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
*Minor spoilers below*
I have a lot of thoughts about this book!
Bridget Collins is fast becoming one of those authors I know I'm going to read, no matter what type of book she's bringing out.
I really enjoyed The Betrayals! First of all, building tension and relationship dynamics is clearly Collins' forte. The central relationship in this book and in The Binding are so well executed. The characters themselves are lovable but flawed, sympathetic but occasionally cruel.
I had to sit with my thoughts for a while on this book, because it subverted my expectations of the genre. I'm so used to reading fantasy where the political world-building, the big fantasy issues, are used as the main stakes in the narrative itself. I was constantly waiting for the political atmosphere of the world to take up more space in the narrative. For the book to turn into a 'save the world', revolution story and it never did. In this world, politics and problems are used to colour the smaller, individual narrative of the characters and the Montverre Academy. The larger fantasy world works to provide context for the character's individual stories. Because of this, the narrative doesn't tie up all the problems developed within, and at first I found it unsatisfying. Sitting with this for longer has made me realise how clever the writing is in doing this. It feels like it more closely resembles stories that could be happening in the real world - smaller by comparison to the big picture stuff, but still coloured and contextualised by it.
I think it gives the characters and the plot space to breathe.
My only criticism is that a lot of the world building was a little vague and mysterious. I love that I didn't know what exactly the Grand Jeu was, I think that was intentionally vague so I didn't mind that. But I would have loved it to be situated in time more. I know it's a fantasy world so it doesn't need to reflect a real world time or place, but I struggled to visualise the period, what places looked like, what characters wore etc.
Overall an exciting, clever and beautiful book. Will definitely be re-reading.
I have a lot of thoughts about this book!
Bridget Collins is fast becoming one of those authors I know I'm going to read, no matter what type of book she's bringing out.
I really enjoyed The Betrayals! First of all, building tension and relationship dynamics is clearly Collins' forte. The central relationship in this book and in The Binding are so well executed. The characters themselves are lovable but flawed, sympathetic but occasionally cruel.
I had to sit with my thoughts for a while on this book, because it subverted my expectations of the genre. I'm so used to reading fantasy where the political world-building, the big fantasy issues, are used as the main stakes in the narrative itself. I was constantly waiting for the political atmosphere of the world to take up more space in the narrative. For the book to turn into a 'save the world', revolution story and it never did. In this world, politics and problems are used to colour the smaller, individual narrative of the characters and the Montverre Academy. The larger fantasy world works to provide context for the character's individual stories. Because of this, the narrative doesn't tie up all the problems developed within, and at first I found it unsatisfying. Sitting with this for longer has made me realise how clever the writing is in doing this. It feels like it more closely resembles stories that could be happening in the real world - smaller by comparison to the big picture stuff, but still coloured and contextualised by it.
I think it gives the characters and the plot space to breathe.
My only criticism is that a lot of the world building was a little vague and mysterious. I love that I didn't know what exactly the Grand Jeu was, I think that was intentionally vague so I didn't mind that. But I would have loved it to be situated in time more. I know it's a fantasy world so it doesn't need to reflect a real world time or place, but I struggled to visualise the period, what places looked like, what characters wore etc.
Overall an exciting, clever and beautiful book. Will definitely be re-reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Death and Suicide
queenmackenzie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
This book is an absolute masterpiece! When I picked it up, I was uncertain, because though I loved her first adult novel, The Binding, I was worried that this one would be a little too complicated, and that I would abandon it before getting fully into it. It doesn’t help that the last two books I read this past week -both of which I had really been looking forward to- disappointed me, and I just needed something to stop me sliding into a slump. I can absolutely say The Betrayals did that and more!
The book follows serval threads; The Rat, a shadowy figure living her life in hiding in the dark corners of Montverre, Léo Martin in the present, Claire Dryden in the present, and Léo’s journal from when he first attended Montverre ten years before the current events take place. All of these string together so beautifully, and actually the structure of the story made me think, by the end, of the grand jeu, the game the characters study and perform in their school. The book opens with a point of view from The Rat, and this was the perfect way to draw me into the world, because her narrative is immediate, simple; she is a young girl struggling to survive in a place she should not be, so she has become something that will slip beneath people’s notice: a rat. Despite this though, the Rat is intimately connected to Montverre, and through this unique perspective I was hooked. I enjoyed her chapters, and also really appreciated the fact that, apart from being just another perspective, her narrative thread was woven through that of the other characters, too.
Then there are the alternations between Léo and Claire, and this strange world of the grand jeu. It took me a long time to even begin to understand what characters might be describing when talking about it. They mentioned music, maths, movement, and I honestly still don’t entirely understand, but I gather that it’s something performed, something that they often refer to as worship, and something that creates metaphors to view the world with. In an author’s note at the end of the book, Collins says that ‘The Betrayals was in part inspired by Hermann Hesse’s brilliant novel The Glass Bead Game (also known as Magister Ludi),’ which I have not read and know nothing about, so I might investigate and see if that brings more to light for me. But not understanding this central element of the story didn’t take away from my enjoyment, because the way Collins describes it throughout the novel is so full of life that I can picture it in the abstract.
It’s hard to talk about this book without giving things away, because there are some achingly good twists in it. Essentially, though, the story follows Léo as he is banished to his old school Montverre after opposing a new bill being passed by his Party, which is currently moving the country towards a ‘pure’ society, eradicating religion and all foreign influence. At Montverre he meets Claire, who is the first and only woman ever to be appointed Magister, and though they have never met there is something familiar in their interactions, and they play a dance of power and information throughout. Despite the twists, the whole narrative has this great sense of inevitability in it, and the characters all feel as if they are spinning towards something inescapable. Collins is really skilled at creating this background tension, especially by using the contrast of past and present, so that even during scenes where the characters are full of joy, you can feel the next disaster looming. It makes for very emotional reading, and I loved the way it tugged at my heartstrings.
What Collins also does very well is longing. Each character wants something, and in some cases it is one of the other characters, and it can be hard to write pining and mutual pining in a way that isn’t repetitive or overwhelming, and I think The Betrayals (and The Binding, for that matter) does it perfectly. There is a sense of longing even in the ending, which can also be hard to do, but I was happy with the way it was executed. The final pages left me wondering, and in some ways wanting to see more, but I was also satisfied with it.
I’m so glad I decided to pick this up; I read it in just over a day and I’m sure I will be thinking of it for many more to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, and Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Police brutality
katherinehamilton's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
lilacsophie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Police brutality, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent
unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
The Betrayals is a fantastic book. I know there have been mixed reviews, and to an extent I understand them. Your ability to enjoy this book will be defined by your willingness to embrace abstraction, and so it won't be what all readers are looking for.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Misogyny, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
btrz7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I know they say it's about the journey, not the destination, and boy was this a journey. I'm not too sure about the destination.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Grief