Reviews tagging 'Murder'

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

58 reviews

kpoppe's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder

c_serpent's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.0

This was very well written. However, the first 60% were just <i>constant</i> fear, oppressive and claustrophobic observation, and paranoia. Honestly, it was almost impossible to get through.

When the actual revolution started, and everyone was being tortured and shot and dragged around by police and imprisoned, things were actually happening, and even if they were horrible things, it became possible to continue the story. Anything is better than just paranoid obsessing over whether or not your family and friends are betraying you. (They always, always are.)

This book was well written, and it was hard to get through, and I didn't enjoy it. I'm gonna give Sepetys another chance, because her writing is great. But boy howdy. Wow. I'm glad this book is done.

Three stars for Cristian and Liliana. Two stars have been removed because this book might have shortened my lifespan.

Total score: 3/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

readingwithkaitlyn's review

dark emotional medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Excrement

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

yuna's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• 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

I wish New Adult was more accepted in tradpub because I think this might have benefited from being told from the POV of a university student rather than high school. Wasn't a fan of the super short chapters--didn't think they heightened tension or kept it feeling "fast" since a lot of the time it caused a hard reset. Drama felt more manufactured than natural and horrifying.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

barbarella85's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death and Blood

haley49's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was a good account of a teenager’s view of Soviet-era Romania. I didn’t know much about the time period and it was surreal learning what they went through. I like how the author clearly aims for authenticity and has a really thoughtful note at the end. It reminded me of why I love historical fiction and of it’s capacity to bring future change. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Torture, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

allisonw92's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective sad fast-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

5.0

This book is incredible. I read the whole book in a day. Absolutely beautiful, and heartbreaking, work of historical fiction highlighting the Romanian revolution. Highly recommend this wonderful book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and War

hazel_t23's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Violence

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gore, Terminal illness, Excrement, and Vomit

Tread carefully with this book, as with most of the content of Ruta’s book. Deffo be in the right headspace to read it though, because it needs to be read.

kimveach's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a fascinating story of Romania in the late 1980s under the dictatorship of Ceausescu.  Under Ceausescu's system, many people became informers.  It was a country where no one could be trusted, including your friends and family.  We've heard about the orphanages, but this young adult story tells more about what happened to the rest of the people living there.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

katrinaburch's review

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

More like 4.9 But while I did give it that, I understand why the author did it. I really enjoyed this so much. I was young when the revolution happened and part of my family is from Romania. So getting a historical fiction work about the revolution was great. I enjoyed Fountains of Silence more but this is an excellent book.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail