A beautiful cover and a splendid idea but ultimately I DNF. It was confusing and slow but the magical elements were nice.

This book description involved everything that I love: magic, mystery, and competition. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the novel. My most significant gripe was that I could not understand how the magic worked. The grand jeu did not make sense to me, and it made the entire experience difficult to enjoy. The world was confusing because it centralized around the grand jeu and the development of the games leading to the pinnacle of the games. I couldn't enjoy it.

In The Binding, Bridget Collins did a fantastic job of conveying the feelings behind the characters, and that ability continues in The Betrayals. Part of me had expected something more similar to The Binding, but I was pleasantly surprised by the story of this book.

To some extent, for me, The Betrayals by Bridget Collins makes an attempt at an intellectual or spiritual point through the unexplained idea of a “grand jeu”. Either it does so unsuccessfully, or my intellect does not reach the understanding. At the end of the book, I am left wondering. What did I just read? And why? I walk away, knowing that I was clearly not the right reader for this book.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/12/the-betrayals.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

In some unnamed, Alpine nation, in an alternate version of the late 1930s/early 40s, fascism has taken control of the government. But at the prestigious, isolated school of Montverre, the outside world shouldn't matter. At Montverre, they study the grand jeu - the country's national game, a mysterious, divine process involving lots of words I had to look up in the dictionary. Leo Martin was once a student at Montverre, and a promising grand jeu player. Now, his political career is in tatters after daring to criticize the government's latest purity laws. Exiled to Montverre to "study the grand jeu" (but mostly to just be out of sight, because, you know, exile), Leo must face the mistakes he made back when he was a student - mistakes involving his one time enemy and best friend, Carfax de Courcy.

Among those at Montverre is the Magister Ludi, Claire Dryden. Claire's the first woman ever to hold a teaching position at Montverre, a school that doesn't admit women. She has a lot to prove. But all her plans are upended when Leo Martin shows up - a man who represents everything she hates. But there's more to it than that, because Claire is closely connected to Carfax de Courcy, whom Leo betrayed all those years ago...

Meanwhile, within the walls of Montverre lives the Rat. A forgotten girl who survives by scavenging what she can, moving like a ghost through the corridors, watching everything.

My God, this book! It's hypnotic, addictive, a little confusing at time (what the hell is the grand jeu, anyway? A dance? Chess? A musical composition? All of those things? None of them???) but it is overall an amazing read. Bridget Collins is a master at weaving together the past and present. Her writing flows so well that I was halfway through the book before I even knew it. The Betrayals is a gorgeous novel - I loved every minute of it and was disappointed when I ran out of pages. I must know what happens next to Claire and Leo and the Rat! Are they OK? I NEED THEM TO BE OK!

500,000 stars, one of the best books I've read all year. Can't wait to read more of Bridget Collins's books.

This review was originally published in mysteryandsuspense.com

"...I spent last night thinking about you, wondering if I could tell you...swear you to secrecy, sure that you'd never betray me...it's over...If they find out what I did...do I trust you? You've always been jealous...No one can ever know."


Desperate words that could honestly be written by almost any of the complicit characters in the very unique genre defying The Betrayals by Bridget Collins.

It is not easy to explain this story without giving anything away. The revelations, at least for me, were startling and should be enjoyed and digested by each reader on this literary journey.

This novel takes place in what I would describe as an alternate universe. The country sounds like France during the 1930s as fascism was trying to rule Europe. Leo Martin has just been forced to resign from his political post for disagreeing with the leaders of the new Party. He is sent to the all male academy Montverre, where he was once a Gold Medalist in the country's national game the Grand Jeu. He is not happy because the academy holds memories of a tragedy he has fought to forget, especially the part he believes he played in it.

Now this game the Grand Jeu I cannot explain because it is never fully explained in the book. It combines math, music, philosophy, dance, performance and life lessons. Men have been competing in the game for centuries trying to perfect it. They have lied, cheated, and maybe even killed to win it.

When Leo arrives at the school he meets Claire who is the first and only woman to become the Magister Ludi. This title is equivalent to a Dean of students. Leo feels something familiar about her and their relationship is the heart of this story. What Leo is slow to figure out, and I was completely oblivious to, is that Claire has many secrets including one about the tragedy that has haunted him for over twenty years.

Through Leo's memories of being a student we learn the pressures of being a participant of this abstract game and what one is willing to do for the highest score in it. Leo befriends Carfax, the school outcast, when they are forced to work together. He quickly realizes Carfax is a genius at this game but that may not be a good thing for Leo.

This novel has a bit of every genre in it. There is historical fiction, psychological thriller moments, murder, and every other page is filled with mystery.

I asked to read and review this book because of my love for the author's debut adult novel The Bindings. Though The Betrayals is a completely different type of story the one thing consistent in both books is mesmerizing prose that keeps you drawn into the story. There were times I was not sure what was going on like the first time The Rat is introduced as a secretive character. I was fascinated and intrigued by where The Rat would lead me. I was not disappointed at all with the journey.

The ending gives us assumptions as to where some of the players are headed but I could not help but feel that without the political climate being resolved nothing was guaranteed for anyone in this world. Hopefully, the author will consider a sequel with a more definitive conclusion.

If you enjoy slow burns, character driven plots, secretive government intrigue, backstabbing betrayals, unlikely love stories and riveting descriptive writing this book is worth your time.

I just couldn't get invested in the story and ultimately abandoned it. It felt bogged down and slow, the characters were boring, and I was also lost and confused. Was this a sequel to another book in which the world has already been explained? I'm sure some readers out there will like it, but it wasn't for me.

I absolutely loved The Binding and was so excited to see that The Betrayals was available as an egalley. As usual, Bridget Collins creates a rich and immersive atmosphere, and despite never truly grasping what the grand jeu is, you somehow feel as if you understand its importance to the culture and relationships of the novel. I sometimes find multiple perspectives jarring, but Collins crafts a unique voice and perspective for each character that makes the transitions between chapters seamless, and I don't believe the story could have been told quite as skillfully with only one narrator. I tore through this book in a matter of days and cannot wait to see what Bridget Collins writes next.

Not as enjoyable a read as I had expected. Interesting premise but somehow lacking narrative thrust. Would have liked the political background fleshed out, rather than hinted at.

"An intricate and utterly spellbinding literary epic brimming with enchantment, mystery, and dark secrets from the highly acclaimed author of the #1 international bestseller The Binding.

If your life was based on a lie, would you risk it all to tell the truth?

At Montverre, an ancient and elite academy hidden high in the mountains, society’s best and brightest are trained for excellence in the grand jeu - the great game - an arcane and mysterious competition that combines music, art, math, poetry, and philosophy. Léo Martin once excelled at Montverre but lost his passion for scholarly pursuits after a violent tragedy. He turned to politics instead and became a rising star in the ruling party, until a small act of conscience cost him his career. Now he has been exiled back to Montverre, his fate uncertain.

But this rarified world of learning Léo once loved is not the same place he remembers. Once the exclusive bastion of men, Montverre’s most prestigious post is now held by a woman: Claire Dryden, also known as the Magister Ludi, the head of the great game. At first, Léo feels an odd attraction to the magister - a mysterious, eerily familiar connection - though he’s sure they’ve never met before.

As the legendary Midsummer Game approaches - the climax of the academy’s year - long-buried secrets rise to the surface and centuries-old traditions are shockingly overturned.

A highly imaginative and intricately crafted literary epic, The Betrayals confirms Bridget Collins as one of the most inventive and exquisite new voices in speculative fiction."

I am always here for a great game!

I found the writing itself absolutely lovely, as was the case with the author's last book, The Binding. Bridget Collins does an excellent job at crafting a mysterious, poetic landscape against which the characters of The Betrayals, and the elusive "grand jeu", is set, though it remains ultimately vague and unknowable. Do I feel as though I came away from this book understanding the story and world? Not especially. It was difficult to get a grasp on what the grand jeu is, and whilst I appreciate that it's likely the point not to have answers, it made the reading feel obscure and unreachable at times. I did like the idea of Montverre, though again, there is a lot of metaphor and description that clouded what was happening.

I enjoyed the switching points of view in the narration, though the Rat's chapters confused me at first, as it felt like a lot of description without much contribution to the story (until later). The world it's set in could have been developed with more clarity, too. We are very focused on the characters and their past mysteries throughout. Overall, I found The Betrayals to be steeped in atmosphere, but ultimately, the vague and distant feeling was something I couldn't shake. The author does write beautifully, and I found myself racing along to enjoy some of the more lyrical passages.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this ARC.

In searching for the best way to describe this book I have come up with simply identifying it as abstract. That explanation sums up the book and the elusiveness of the "grand jeu". There are underlying tones of the rise of the Nazi party and of religious persecution. The book contains four points of view: the Rat, young Leo, adult Leo, and Magistr Ludi. Mystery oozes from every page. This is partly due to that which is left out of the narrative and partly due to the creative ingenuity of Bridget Collins. While at times I felt lost in my attempts to follow the storyline, Collins writes with such beauty that I couldn't stop reading. The plot does take a long time to unfold and I believe that is one of the largest downsides to it. If the character building took place at a faster pace I think that overall the book would have been more enjoyable. Some of the twists at the end of the book are predictable and others will blow you away.
The overall theme seems to be one of survival. All three main characters, within each of the four narratives, are striving to simply survive in the world that they live in. Love exists in the world, but it is the grit and determination of each of them that allows them to succeed.
This sophomore book of Bridget Collins isn't a smash hit like her debut was but there are plenty of readers who will enjoy it.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

This book was not for me. I found most of the characters boring and dull. I just could not get into any of it. I was thankful to get the audio after I started reading, but unfortunately, it wasn't able to bring any life to the characters. I am sure there are readers out there that will love this one, but it didn't work for me.

The author, Bridget Collins, said that Herman Hesse's The Glass Bead Game influenced her book, The Betrayals. The Glass Bead Game takes place in the future where an isolated group of individuals perfect play of the Glass Bead Game. The game is mysterious, its rules never described but it combined music, mathematics and cultural history and requires years of study.

The Betrayals takes place in an unnamed European country in an alternate timeline where the grand jeu, similar to the glass bead game looms large. It too combines music, math and other cultural arts. It's part of popular culture sort of a bit like religion and sports.

The Betrayals is told with multiple points of view and dual timelines. What could have been a mess to follow is actually skillfully woven together. At no point was I confused about when or which character I was reading.

This is a slow burn, wait for the revelations story. Your heart aches for some of the characters while you'll root for the downfall of others. The writing is lovely and descriptive but don't expect to finish with all of the answers. If you enjoy atmospheric stories that focus on people, their impact on one another and how their actions have long ranging consequences, this is for you. For fans of the Amberlough Dossier by Lara Elena Donnelly.

#TheBetrayals
A slow starter, but once it gets going it is worth it. A very detailed and thought focused book. It has a lot of information and plot to it.

Do yourself a favor and avoid getting too caught up in what it is. You'll miss so much that's good about the story if you try to squish it into your reality. I preferred The Binding, but this effort certainly cements the notion that Collins is one to watch.

À la The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse, this novel is set in an isolated, venerable institution which teaches the “grand jeu”, the great game. What exactly the game entails is unclear to me and apparently to the characters themselves. Although the author states that her novel owes “a huge debt to Hesse’s masterpiece” I would have preferred a jargon unique to The Betrayals rather than the terminology used in Glass Bead Game. Bridget Collins borrows from many other aspects of Hesse’s novel but this is a non-spoiler review so I’ll leave it at that.

The novel’s most fragile character is eerily reminiscent of the main character in Patrick Rothfuss’ wonderful The Slow Regard of Silent Things. Again I would like to have seen more originality.

In the world of flowery similes, a little goes a long way and in this novel there are too many. I was also put off by some dense, unclear phrasing, e.g. “ Any one of the servants could be a spy - or an archivist, a scholar, a magister.”

How the main themes resolve and what the surprise twist turns out to be are pretty easy to guess early on. There’s no need to wonder how the characters feel, or what they’re thinking; it’s spelled out. Unfortunately all of the above left me feeling unengaged with the characters and the plot.

Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House for the opportunity to review the ARC via Netgalley.

As someone who thrives on world building and developed fantasy systems, this book really fell flat for me. I think if you are a more casual fantasy reader, you might enjoy this one but I ultimately didn't really love this one as much as I hoped I would.

Going to be honest here, this one was a struggle to get through. The Betrayals is the second novel I’ve read by Bridget Collins, and it was more disappointing than The Binding.

For starters, I found the world-building incredibly lacking. The entire novel centers around something called a 'grand jeu,' though it never once explains what that means or entails. It seems like a sort of musical/interpretive dance/scholarly (?) composition/production/output, but I genuinely could not tell you. Students at an all-male academy study this 'grand jeu' and compete against each other to create the best...grand jeu.

There is also an extremely clunky political atmosphere in the novel, which seems to take place in a sort of alternate 1930s Europe. The 'Party,' led by 'The Old Man,' rules over the region, and the main character Léo is a disgraced former head of cultural affairs whom the Party banishes to the grand jeu academy, his former school. The Party discriminates against Christians (no explanation here as to why) and is obsessed with nationalism and cultural unity. I cannot see how this was not a loose reimagining of the late Weimar era and the rise of the Nazi Party -- it so blatantly replaced Jewish people with Christians and the 'Old Man' was so obviously a Hitler-esque demagogue.

As a student, Léo fell in love with his former rival, another talented student, who died at the end of their term. Upon returning to the school, he sees that his former crush's sister is now the head of the school, and they begin to kindle a connection. I won't spoil anything more, but I will say I was expecting canon queer content and was disappointed at the route it took.

Also there was a girl who lived in the walls of the school and called herself The Rat and I have no more to say about that.

0.5/5: If this were not an ARC, this would have been a DNF for me. It is not well-written, the world and plot is inscrutable, the changing POV chapters provide nothing of note, the characters are not fleshed out nor likeable, the grand jeu is completely incomprehensible, and the weird parallels to Nazi Germany are super uncomfortable and just weird. I really wanted to give this a chance, but it was not good at all. It seems that some fans of dark academia are enjoying this, but for me it failed on all levels. It read like a draft rather than a completed book. The most frustrating part was that some plot points showed slivers of promise, but it failed on every front for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bridget Collins has a style all her own. She is detailed, descriptive, and draws readers in. Collins spends time introducing the characters, their motivation, and personality before diving into the story. That is where I have trouble keeping with it.

All in all this novel is entrancing, but the style is not what I prefer.