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The Betrayals

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The Betrayals

By: Bridget Collins
Narrated by: Bridget Collins, Sam Woolf, Sarah Ovens
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*PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF BRIDGET COLLINS' STUNNING NEW NOVEL, THE NAKED LIGHT*

LOSE YOURSELF IN THE MOST EPIC BOOK OF THE YEAR.

‘Mesmerising’ Erin Kelly

‘Sumptuous’ Observer

‘Dizzyingly wonderful’ The Times

WINNING WAS EVERYTHING…

UNTIL IT DESTROYED THEM

Two young men, Léo and Carfax, close friends and fierce rivals.

A family ripped apart by madness and tragedy.

One woman, her life built upon a lie, with a mysterious connection to them all…

‘INGENIOUS’ GUARDIAN

‘A STORYTELLER OF RARE IMAGINATION’ MAIL ON SUNDAY

'BEAUTIFUL' JOANNA CANNON

‘BRILLIANT’ WOMAN & HOME

‘A RICH DELIGHT’ SANDRA NEWMAN

'TOTALLY ADDICTIVE' JOANNA GLEN

‘CAPTIVATING’ DAILY MIRROR

‘AN IMMERSIVE, IMAGINATIVE SLICE OF STORYTELLING’ DAILY EXPRESS

‘MAGICAL’ IRISH INDEPENDENT

20th Century Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Magical Realism Political Fantasy Magic
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Critic Reviews

‘Dizzyingly wonderful … a perfectly constructed work of fiction, with audacious twists that clumsier hands would fumble, and irresistibly moving emotional beats’ The Times
‘Another sumptuous act of imaginative world-building … If you’re looking for an absorbing, transporting work of fiction – and why would you not be? – The Betrayals is just the thing … settle in, and enjoy getting lost in this captivating book’ Observer
‘Ingenious … Collins’s story holds everything up its sleeve for as long as possible’ Guardian
‘The Betrayals is a beautiful dystopian romance about coming of age as an artist and the love affair artistic collaboration can be, while also being an acute political novel about the fate of spiritual values in a totalitarian system. A rich delight’ Sandra Newman
‘Captivating’ Daily Mirror
‘An immersive, imaginative slice of storytelling’ Daily Express
‘It’s just beautiful – written with such elegance and poise. What I love about Bridget's books is her ability to write the most magical worlds of escapism and yet anchor those worlds very much in today’ Joanna Cannon
‘She’s done it again: this is another triumph from the incomparable imagination of Bridget Collins. The Betrayals sinks its teeth into you and won’t let you go. It’s a mesmerising, intimate and ambitious story about art, love and what it means to be human. If you loved The Binding, you’ll adore The Betrayals’ Erin Kelly
‘More lavish magical escapism from the unit-shifting author of The Binding’ Irish Independent
‘Brilliant … a captivating, imaginative tale’ Woman & Home
‘A storyteller of rare imagination … This intricate symphony of a novel is both a disturbing portrait of fascism and a soaring meditation on artistic expression’ Mail on Sunday
All stars
Most relevant
Whilst the ideas behind the story are intriguing I found the characters were not fleshed out enough. There would have been ample opportunity to include more of the minor characters and develop them fully, for example the rat, who I personally loved and was disappointed at how infrequently it came up for such a major part of the plot.
I, like others, found “the game “ to be a little difficult to understand and feel that the author knows this, thus the epilogue with the explanation. While the concept was good, the details left much to be desired. Perhaps more details for such an important component of the novel would help those who struggled to comprehend what it was all about.
Loved parts of this but not sure if I will read the next one as I was constantly frustrated by the numerous time shifts and disliked the way minor characters switched to end up being the main focus of the book. I much preferred The Binding although it too changed focus from the main character at the end.
The really bright light in this? For me, the narrator, loved her.

Sadly not what I expected

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I read the The Binding some time ago and was so impressed with the storyline and concept, so expected something a little theatrical but I don’t think the two books are in the same arena at all. This tale is set around an ancient cold French castle that is a school for composers if I understand it correctly. The theatrical stuff is all about the art of composing in a political environment that’s not far from Hitler’s ideals. Look past this and the story is a little lacking with a weak love affair. Maybe I’m being too picky but it really wasn’t a book I would recommend to readers of mystery or romance. Narrators were excellent and the title was apt.

Strip away the complex stuff and it’s a mild story

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another world: similar, but with different rules, gradually unveiled in a narrative in which you feel the characters. i loved it.

great follow up to The Binding.

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I really had to concentrate on this book. We went back and forth between characters and also time. I see why some reviews were that people were confused. But stick with it!!!! Rich and intelligent and took me away. I gasped several times at the twists and emotion.
The Binding was a book I will always cherish....this way just as haunting and clever, maybe too clever for some.

Unique story....very clever

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This book is quite unlike anything I have ever read . It draws a you in the more you dip into it .
The narrators add a richness , which keeps you on track . Not an easy read but one worth persevering with

An intricate masterpiece

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