Book Review: Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

BETRAYALS BY LILI ST. CROW

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (November 17, 2009)
Language: English
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She’s no angel . . .

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

BETRAYALS grabs you by the collar and hurls you along at a frightening speed. It's jam packed with nonstop action, mystery, tension and even a hint of budding romance. If you enjoyed STRANGE ANGELS and have been looking forward to the sequel, BETRAYALS will not disappoint. The story picks up exactly where STRANGE ANGELS left off. Dru and Graves are supposed to be safe at The Schola, or to clarify, as safe as any place where supernatural creatures are congregated can possibly be. To make matters more complicated, Dru’s own powers are getting close to “blooming”. This frightening experience leaves Dru wondering if she can trust anyone, perhaps even her own self?

The world of STRANGE ANGELS really took shape for me in BETRAYALS and evolved in a deeply mesmerizing, impressive manner. I loved learning more about the supernatural creatures lurking within the Real World and the mythology behind their capabilities. In STRANGE ANGELS there was mostly black and white. Either you arer one of the things that go bump in the night and bad, or you are a “Hunter” and good. In BETRAYALS, we learn there were more shades of grey. Take for instance, the heartbreaking plight of the Broken. I loved this story thread and can’t wait to see what happens with a certain Broken wulfen in the next book.

Dru also evolved in BETRAYALS. She was her same stubborn self, but honestly, I’d hate to ever see her ever turn soft. I love how Dru is a strong, gutsy and smart heroine. If I was caught in a bad situation, I’d definitely want to her to have my back. But in this novel you also see more of the vulnerable girl hiding behind the tough façade. This is a girl who has had to grow up so fast and has been constantly attacked, terrified and betrayed. It's no wonder she is the way the is. On a more lighthearted note, I desperately hope that Dru wake ups and smells the coffee, or shall I say -apple pie? In regards to Christophe, he was fascinating in the first book and I appreciated how we got to learn more about him as well as his dark past.

When you read BETRAYALS you are on pins and needles. The Schola, a small, isolated satellite school for delinquent wulfen and djamphir immediately made my skin prickle with nervousness. Knowing a traitor was lurking within the school’s walls only increased the mounting tension in the air. You just know that any minute the bell is going to alarm and all hell will break loose. And believe me, it sure does. Trusting the wrong person or being lulled into a false sense of complacency would be the end of Dru. I kept thinking that Dru might've been safer on her own- on the run. At least then, she’d always be sharp and ready for an attack. She’d know who was friend or foe. At the Schola, there are so many unanswered questions, conflicting behaviors and untold secrets, it’s almost impossible to know who to trust. But as a reader, that was part of the fun. I love being immersed in the novel and constantly being floored by all the unexpected twists and turns.

STRANGE ANGELS was a fantastic novel, but BETRAYALS blew me away and exceeded all my expectations by far. The storyline was so complex and well written, it left me breathless for more.I loved the world that Lili St. Crow has created within this series. Be forewarned though- while many questions are answered, you will be left reeling with so many more. Jealousy, the third novel will be released June 2010.


Lili St. Crow is the YA pen name for Lilith Saintcrow. Lili lives in Vancouver, WA, with children, cats, and a host of other strays. You can find her at http://www.lilistcrow.com.