Book Review: I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Title: I Must Betray You

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction

Pages: 321

Publisher: Penguin

Year Published: 2022

Format: Hardcover (Own it)

"Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren't free to dream; they are bound by rules and force.

Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear,  Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He's left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves- or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe. 

Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?

A gut-wrenching, startling window into communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the number one New York Times best-selling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray."

My Rating: 4/5

It's been a while since I've read a Ruta Sepetys book. This story follows our main character, Cristian, a teen who dreams of a world he's not even sure exists. In communist Romania, human rights are unheard of, and so is trust. Trust in your neighbours, friends and family. Isolation is king, well, that and their leader, Nicolae. But what happens when this teen is recruited to inform and begins to get a deeper look at what his country may lack? 

This was a book my husband and I read together. He chose this one because it wasn't something that either of us knew a lot about. One thing about this author is that she doesn't shy away from reality; she paints it in all its unforgivable light. Which was eye-opening. That being said, I had some issues with the pacing of the book. I felt a lot of the book was a lead-up, and then the main "action" was quick and not even fully over before the epilogue. I was hoping for a little more information in the revolution section of the book. I look forward to reading more from this author and seeing what else I've yet to explore from her. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Publisher: Speak
Year Published: 2011
Format: Audiobook

"It's 1941 and fifteen-year-old artist Lina Vilkas is on Stalin's extermination list. Deported to a prison camp in Siberia, Lina fights for her life, fearless, risking everything to save her family. It's a long harrowing journey and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?"

My Rating: 5/5

Books like this are hard to rate. Especially because it's based on so much horror and historical truth. I'm under the opinion that we must read about the past so we can stop the same tragedies from taking place in the future. It is horrifying to think that something like this could go unnoticed for 13 years. Or if it was noticed the amount of fear that was in the remaining citizens was so high that they felt they could not help for they were protecting their own. I appreciate the fact that the author often tells stories that people haven't heard of before. Or historical events that are not as well known. I will continue to read her works and learn more about our past as humans. Some may argue that she is brutal and violent in her writing and I agree with those statements. But I believe that this a positive aspect in a historical fiction author. We need the whole truth. It's important especially due to our changes in our government and laws today. It was also important to note that many atrocities take place today and we are so privileged to live in the world that we do. 

Thank you for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 348
Publisher: Philomel Books
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook

"It's 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan to get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodly, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny."

My Rating: 4/5

Last year I had the chance to read another book by Ruta Septys and I loved her ability to transport me to another time completely. This time I decided to borrow an audiobook and was excited when I started it to realize that it takes place in the 50s. It's an interesting time in the lives of people all over the world. After the war and with rights for people beginning to shift, Ruta Sepetys shows the lives of so many different people in one of the most popular holiday destinations of the time.
I loved the characters and the setting. I was fully entertained and interest in the story. The only reason that I knocked off a star, is that I felt this was marketed as a mystery and I just didn't find it that mysterious. There wasn't much of a mystery at all in fact. 
I would recommend this to anyone who loves the time of the setting and is interested in a great audiobook with an amazing narrator.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

So this book is marketed as a mystery and I would have to disagree with that. I think that this is a wonderful book that follows characters that you grow to love so incredibly quickly. As I was telling my boyfriend about the storyline I kept getting drawn into all the characters and how well developed they were. I also loved the setting the idea of New Orleans after the war and the difference between the Quarter and the rich areas. The narrators had wonderful accents that were natural and not overdone. The whole book was very well written. 
I will warn anyone going into this book that while it is marketed as a mystery, I wouldn't say that that is it's the strongest aspect. 

Characters (excuse the spelling, it was an audiobook):
Jo: I love that she is willing to push herself to be more than anyone expects, she is smart, cunning and ambitious in the best ways possible. But she doesn't push it too much. She wants what she deserves and doesn't use people to get it. I was annoyed that she didn't just go to Willie when she got the mark, but in some ways, I understand why she felt she had to do it herself.

Jesse: I like his character overall, but I'd be lying if I said that he was my first choice. I thought that he was a good fit for Jo because of their backgrounds and mutual understanding. I think that he is also willing to push Jo to be her best, and I hope that he will do the same for himself.

Patrick: His character was one of my favourites. I felt for him and his relationship with those around him. His fear about what people would do if they found out. And the loss of his father was almost too much to handle. I hope that he played the piano on the world stage at some point.

Willie: Now at the start I expected that I would hate her character and I didn't understand her attitude towards others, but as I continued I realized she was hard because she had to be. She felt as though she had to shut some out to be strong, that being said it didn't mean she didn't love anybody. Her relationships with some of the girls was so much stronger than I expected and I loved her. Up until the end.

Cokey: He's another character I just loved. He was well fleshed out and although he had a gambling problem he wanted to do good for those he cared about. I think that his singing was one of the best parts in the audiobook.

Charlie: I wonder about his life and how he got to know Willie so well. Were they just friends in the Quarter or had they known each other since he opened up shop? I wish that he hadn't met his end so soon, but I'm grateful that it was peaceful.

Loius: The things people will do to their own children never fail to frighten me. The way she acted as though she was nothing hurt me so deeply. 

Cincinnati: A sick freak who knows how to woo those who want his cash. Just sad that in the long run, he didn't end up behind bars.

Lockwell (I can't remember his name): By far the villain in this book. His character was well written and it made my skin crawl. To know the things he wanted to do to young women and how he thought he was entitled to do just that was horrible to read about. But I think extremely important. 

Charlotte: I hope that their friendship continue into the future. Because we all know you can't judge someone by their parents. 

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 393
Publisher: Philomel Books
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "Guilt is a hunter."

"Based on the 'forgotten tragedy that was six times deadlier than the Titanic.'-- Time

Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept...

Worl War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety. 

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. not country, nor culture, no status matter as all ten thousand people- adults and children alike- aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

Told in alternating points of view and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson's Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of Wilhelm Gustloff- the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shade of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shocking little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest hour."

My Rating: 4/5

This story is definitely hard hitting and not for the faint of heart. I noticed right away that the authors writing style were strict to the point and that she didn't cringe away from facts that happened during this time in history, she seems to just lay them on the table for what they are. I was interested in the storyline as I hadn't heard of this tragedy, but also wasn't expecting as many gruesome details as the author included. That being said, it made the tragedy hit closer to home. Slowly the author has us fall in love with characters and also begin to understand how some characters might think in this war-torn time period.
I'm interested to read more of her work and plan to continue reading her work throughout this year.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys

This book has taken booktube by storm by being one of the most hard-hitting young adult historical fiction. I certainly agree with these statements this is a tragedy that a lot of people don't know about and I'm certainly one of them. I had no idea that this had happened during the war and had affected so many people, more people than the Titanic. I'm also looking forward to reading more of her works, but I'm glad that I planned to read a light-hearted contemporary book for after this hard-hitting read.

Characters:
Joana: She is strong and wise beyond her years. She has guts and has given up so much to help those around her. I can't imagine living through something like that and raising two children that you rescued. 

Florian: I enjoyed his perspective a lot based on him being on the run from the rest of his peers. To realize everything that happened during his time in the art gallery. I was glad that he was the knight they needed.

Alfred: I hated him. With a fiery passion! He was the trained sociopath that I think we expect that the German soldiers would be.

Emilia: Her story is what broke me the most. To be traded in for someone else's safety. To live her life being told that she is nothing and no one. To give birth after the sexual assault from possibly multiple people. To give up her life for that of her child, it broke me.

Shoe Poet: His death broke my heart, but at least it was quick. He didn't freeze to death in the water, and he helped Klaus find someone else to take care of him.

Klaus: I wonder about his future and what his childhood was like. Did his life get better after the war, or did he traumatic stress disorders?

Ingrid: The first loss hit hard, I was really excited to see that she had made it so far, especially being hunted for being blind, but then after it all, it didn't work out.


Thanks for reading,
Sidny