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bellarosereichart's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Took me a while to get into this but ended up quite enjoying where the story went, especially as some parts were quite unexpected to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Blood
lateromantic's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.5
Could've been a 5* book if it had fewer twists, strands, characters. I liked the voice, it was kind of Arthur Koestler x Dan Brown. as a bridge player, I'm obsessed with the idea of grand jeu now. wish it had been queerer tbh.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
added a trigger warning for antisemitism because the persecution ofangry_tortoise's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
phoe_bees's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Blood
adamm's review against another edition
1.0
It seems like the author is a TERF, and it shows in this one :/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- 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
What I liked about the book: the richness of the language and the complicated system of roles and reversals that kept me reading. What I disliked: literally everything else. The attempt at Holocaust imagery is absurd, the love story completely overshadows the setting and the threats, and the characters are completely forgettable and ordinary. The author is also a TERF and you can see it in the way that the final reveal is played out. Honestly want my money back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Police brutality, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
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
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
I honestly love Bridget Collins, her (adult) books are truly amazing. The characters are great, the mystery is palpable but not impenetrable, the romance is on point. Didn't see the plot twist coming and yet it feels like I unconsciously knew and that's a great mastery from the writer. I've got to say The Binding remains my favorite but The Betrayals was really good as well. I really loved that I could really get into the story (I don't remember reading a book that size so fast for my pleasure) and see and understand it although it's centered around a completely abstract concept. What I loved the most, however, was everytime I closed the book the atmosphere of Montverre was still present, hanging in the air around me.
It's the type of writing I love, the type of story I love, I cannot wait to read more of Bridget Collins' masterpieces!
It's the type of writing I love, the type of story I love, I cannot wait to read more of Bridget Collins' masterpieces!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Self harm
albixiusa's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
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
stephelyse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's so beautifully written, but I'm still confused. I enjoyed reading it, but at the end the confusion is still here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt