Rating: 91% | A- | ★★★★★
Warnings: + Violence + Suicide Synopsis (from Goodreads): At Montverre, an exclusive academy tucked away in the mountains, the best and brightest are trained for excellence in the grand jeu: an arcane and mysterious contest. Léo Martin was once a student there, but lost his passion for the grand jeu following a violent tragedy. Now he returns in disgrace, exiled to his old place of learning with his political career in tatters. Montverre has changed since he studied there, even allowing a woman, Claire Dryden, to serve in the grand jeu’s highest office of Magister Ludi. When Léo first sees Claire he senses an odd connection with her, though he’s sure they have never met before. Both Léo and Claire have built their lives on lies. And as the legendary Midsummer Game, the climax of the year, draws closer, secrets are whispering in the walls… Spoiler-Free Review: I love The Betrayals so much I have a Spotify playlist for it. This novel is an exquisite triumph, a re-examination of the magic boarding school genre. It begs comparison to Harry Potter for younger readers, but The Betrayals proposes a different reality, in which magic is beautiful but also corrupt—a fantasy but also a tool of the elite. Collins' writing brings the magical academy of Montverre to life, with all of its hulking shadows and dark whispers on full display. Each character, from Léo to Carfax to the mysterious Claire, is beautifully wrought in tragedy and spirit. This novel is not for the impatient. The first thirds of the story is achingly slow, as though Collins dares the reader to look away before she's finally unveiled her masterpiece. There is an element of showmanship present throughout the entire novel involving the reader as a mere pawn. The rules of the game are infuriatingly, perpetually unclear, but it's all part of the magic of The Betrayals. Montverre is a jealous mistress, and the interloper reader will never truly uncover all of her secrets.
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From the ArchiveWhile my main reviews are organized by seasons and I try to write reviews immediately after I finish reading, there are always stories that lose to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. From the Archive is a redemptive collection of mini-reviews of books I read in the past that continue to captivate me.
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