T13: Retellings

The Fairy Tale genre has always been my favorite; throughout my childhood I've read multiple retellings from different cultures as well as encountered enchantingly new ones that have totally influenced my literary palette. Below are 13 of my most favorite YA Fairy Tale Retellings (and other retellings such as Robin Hood, which is not strictly a fairy tale). I tried to vary my selections, but alas, Cinderella is quite popular.

 Click on the title for more information!

      

Ella Enchanted

Cinderella

“That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift. When I cried inconsolably through my first hour of life, my tears were her inspiration. Shaking her head sympathetically at Mother, the fairy touched my nose. "My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient. Now stop crying, child."

I stopped.” 

Court of Thorns and Roses

Beauty and the Beast

"“Would you like me to grovel with gratitude for bringing me here, High Lord?"

"Ah. The Suriel told you nothing important, did it?"

That smile of his sparked something bold in my chest. "He also said that you liked being brushed, and if I'm a clever girl, I might train you with treats."

Tamlin tipped his head to the sky and roared with laughter. Despite myself, I let out a quiet laugh. 

"I might die of surprise," Lucien said behind me. "You made a joke, Feyre."

The Wrath and The Dawn 

A Thousand and One Nights 

“So you would have me throw Shazi to the wolves?”

“Shazi?” Jalal’s grin widened. “Honestly, I pity the wolves.” 

Scarlet 

Robin Hood

“I do what I do because I will always believe that no matter how awful life gets for however many of these people, there is something I can do about it. There is something I will do about it.”

Cinder

Cinderella

“Steadying herself with both hands on the table, she managed an awkward bow....
'Your Highness,' she stammered, head lowered...
The prince flinched and cast a glance over his shoulder before hunching toward her. 'Maybe, um...' - he pulled his fingers across his lips - 'on the Highness stuff?”

The Amaranth Enchantment

Cinderella 

“Come, come," I said. "You may be a lord someday, but you aren't one yet. No need for the courtly manners, and certainly not the moody temper. If you're to be my escort tonight, I insist you be a cheery one. You can even insult me if you like. It always makes you feel better.” 

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest 

Swan Lake 

"Swan Lake" meets Robin Hood when the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant by day becomes the region's most notorious poacher by night, and falls in love with the forester.

The Fairest Beauty

Snow White 

“Let Valten go save his own damsel in distress. I'm sure there are other maidens he can fall in love with.” 

Bella at Midnight 

Cinderella

In the little village of Castle Down, in a kingdom plagued by war, lives a peasant girl called Bella. Blessed with a kind family and a loving friend, she manages to create her own small patch of sunlight in a dark and dangerous world. Bella is a blacksmith's daughter; her friend Julian is a prince -- yet neither seems to notice the great gulf that divides his world from hers.

Princess of Thorns 

Sleeping Beauty

“What? Is something wrong?"
"You're ominous-looking is all. Like a plague rider. Or Death's little brother."
"Really? Are you scared?"
"Terrified."
"Don't be afraid, Niklaaaaasssss. Death has not come for you tonight."
"Stop that."
"Why? Death only wantssss to be friendssss."
"There's something damaged in that head of yours.” 

Winterspell 

The Nutcracker

“You cannot shy away from yourself. Look the world in the eye, and it can do nothing to hurt you.” 

Entwined 

The Twelve Dancing Princesses 

“Down with tyranny!' Bramble cried. 'Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!” 

East

East of the Sun and West of the Moon

“The joy I feel is immense; it burns inside me as though I have swallowed a piece of the sun.” 

A School for Unusual Girls By Kathleen Baldwin

Title: A School for Unusual Girls (Stranje House, #1)

Author: Kathleen Baldwin

Date Published: May 19th 2015

Publisher: Tor Teen

Rating: 5 out of 5 

Goodreads Blurb: 

 It’s 1814. Napoleon is exiled on Elba. Europe is in shambles. Britain is at war on four fronts. And Stranje House, a School for Unusual Girls, has become one of Regency England’s dark little secrets. The daughters of the beau monde who don't fit high society’s constrictive mold are banished to Stranje House to be reformed into marriageable young ladies. Or so their parents think. In truth, Headmistress Emma Stranje, the original unusual girl, has plans for the young ladies—plans that entangle the girls in the dangerous world of spies, diplomacy, and war. After accidentally setting her father’s stables on fire while performing a scientific experiment, Miss Georgiana Fitzwilliam is sent to Stranje House. But Georgie has no intention of being turned into a simpering, pudding-headed, marriageable miss. She plans to escape as soon as possible—until she meets Lord Sebastian Wyatt. Thrust together in a desperate mission to invent a new invisible ink for the English war effort, Georgie and Sebastian must find a way to work together without losing their heads—or their hearts...

This book was surprisingly awesome. I totally expected a stereotypical plot (no offense but Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriager was what I was anticipating from reading the blurb) and dull characters but I was so wrong. The genre is historical fiction (one of my favorites) and had three important elements- balls, science, and spies. Ahem, sorry. Diplomats. 

So when Gerogie (yup we're on a first name basis) was sent to the finishing school by her abominable parents, I was hooked. I totally felt her emotions as my own and her character was extremely endearing, not only because she was incredibly smart, but also because she had a crazy passion for science. That was pretty awesome, since most MCs rarely come off as being blue stockings. She was prodigious but wasn't a super ninja like Tess, or a wonderful diplomat like Maya. She just seemed like an ordinary girl, and that, more than anything else, emphasized the fact that she was absolutely brilliant.

Another well done factor in the book was the finishing school. The peculiar characters, like the headmistress, Madame Cho, Ravencliffe, and the girls were extremely dynamic and all of them clearly had depth. Although the specifics and history of a few characters, like Jane and Maya, weren't thoroughly enough described to satisfy my curiosity, the resulting, enigmatic persona only added to their charm. The General and his nephew, Sebastian (OMG, I think Cassandra Clare has well and truly ruined that name for me. Sigh. I totally forgive her though, her novels were wondrous) were ruggedly noble characters. 

The secret spy vibe going on was too cool, and all the parts of the book (the espionage, the war against Napoleon, Stranje house, Georgie's life, Sebastian's still murky past) were all combined seamlessly and left me wanting to know a looooot more about each and  every character. Especially Headmistress Stranje (what is up with her and the Captain), who I adored. 

This book was uniquely its own and I believe it is easily on my top 25 list for 2015. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of any of Gail Carriager's novels (either the Finishing School series or the Parasol Protectorate series, which btw is FAB) or a fan of steampunk, Regency London, bluestockings, and teenagers with superpowers (I know that this doesn't seem to fit in with anything I previously described but trust me, this was the most germane description I could think of).

Rook by Sharon Cameron

Title: Rook

Author: Sharon Cameron 

Date Published: April 28th 2015

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal? Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she. As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.

To put things into perspective: the ONE about this book that I absolutely hate is that it is a stand-alone. No sequel, trilogy, series, NOTHING. That being said, here's why I absolutely loved this book: 

Setting
It was beautifully crafted- the Sunken City and the Commonwealth (the two main locations) were very well written and both had such a historical feel to them, with an abundance of balls, mansions, and elegant, Regency era clothing. The charming country setting where the MC Sophia lived and the gritty slums of the Sunken City (where the villain resided) contrasted each other perfectly and while they were supposed to be loosely based actual locations, they were also wonderfully unique. 

The Guillotine 
I absolutely LOOOOOVE allusions, so I couldn't help drawing parallels to the French Revolution (from the perspective given by the Tale of Two Cities) to the social unrest occurring in the Sunken City, which BTW is the post apocalyptic version of Paris. When I say post apocalyptic I automatically think zombies, DNA alterations, and all that futuristic stuff BUT this is nothing supernatural. At times, I almost felt as if I was reading historical fiction. 
Back to the Revolution.The over-arching plot is a battle against the old and new; technology is considered the bane of humanity and responsible for the division of the rich and poor. So in the country this book was taking place in, all past relics (such as watches, light bulbs, and other tech) were illegal. 
Another startling parallel was that the government/Ministry was made up of wackos who were
1) were fanatical believers in fate, luck, and other nonsense, 2) sadistic murderers, 3) lazy, rich people, or 4) a combination of the aforementioned descriptions. 
These wackos responded very poorly to criticism and... wait for it.... chopped off the heads of thousands of so-called rebels. Similar to its purpose in the French Revolution, the Guillotine was used to consolidate power, instill fear, and keep rebellion to a minimum. 

That being said, the antagonist, who was one of those previously mentioned wackos (number 4, to be specific), wasn't as crazy as he could have been, and luckily there wasn't much psychological warfare going on (which at times, drives me absolutely nutty). 


Characters
The two main characters, René and Sophia definitely had layers and different images that were shown in different situations. René especially came as a biiig surprise. Even though I read the blurb before starting the novel, I was waiting for the actual hero/male lead to step in.... I waited until the chess game, and that's when it became obvious to me [SPOILER] René wasn't a silly headed ninny, he was just acting... You guys will probably realize that sooner than I did. But aside from their many, many interesting personas, all the characters were, for the most part, very simple. I don't mean to contradict myself, but the characters seemed too straightforward. There really wasn't much doubt to what each characters motives were (René and Spear being brief exceptions). Sophia's brother was an awesome brother and her "protecter", Spear, also had a strong voice throughout the book, especially near the end, when I couldn't discern his true feelings towards Sophia. I was able to understand and empathize with the characters and I felt their emotions as my own, which for any reader, is a big determining factor in judging a book. 
I also like the the dialogue between René and Sophia, it was refreshingly witty and non-gooey until the second half of the books, where they decided they didn't hate each other anymore. Sigh. Both were strong characters and had spunk, which I definitely appreciated. However, one thing about René I didn't like too much was that he was careless and pirate-like. I didn't see much of his serious side, unlike Sophia who was serious and witty in appropriate measures. 

Ending
It wasn't much of a memorable ending BUT I did shed a few tears over a character's death, which was surprisingly devastating. Also, it was near the end when I realized how long the book was and how the author could have stopped this book multiple times, and waited for a sequel to continue the story. I'm really glad she didn't, but with all the action going on, there were plenty of possible cliffhangers. 


VERDICT: This book is a fun, light read that successfully combines multiple genres (historical fiction, post-apocalyptic, fantasy). It was very long, but at the same time packed with action so there was never a boring moment. I recommend this to anyone who's finding the YA fantasy shelf a little lacking this summer/winter (whichever hemisphere you're in) and is ready to have their mind blown away by something that's actually satisfyingly good. 

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1)

Author: Marie Rutkoski

Date Published: March 4th 2014

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

This is one of my all time favourites.
Why, you ask? 
Because of the realistic and beautiful setting. 
The believable, intelligent characters. 
The style of writing- engaging and poetically elegant. 
The fast, unbelievably unique plot.
And (an equally contributing factor to my adoration of this book), the fact that this book is (loosely) based on a phenomenon called the "Winner's Curse."


DEFINITION OF 'WINNER'S CURSE'
"A tendency for the winning bid in an auction to exceed the intrinsic value of the item purchased. Because of incomplete information, emotions or any other number of factors regarding the item being auctioned, bidders can have a difficult time determining the item's intrinsic value. As a result, the largest overestimation of an item's value ends up winning the auction."       
(Source: Investopedia.com)


From a historian's point of view, the world-building was incredible. Almost as good as Narnia. Almost. And the history between the two countries, the war, the enslavement of a whole race- it was almost textbook perfect. But, note that I said "unique" while I was listing the wonderful qualities of this book. It was unique: every dialogue, action, scene, and character was literally incomparable to those of any other book. While the structure of the society and the conflict was based on that of historical societies, all the small details of this book were remarkably distinct. I absolutely loved Kestrel's home- it was described beautifully and if I had to compile a list of fictional vacation sites, her home would be on it. 

Kestrel was an awesome female protagonist, comparable to my other favorites (Calaena, Penryn, and Tessa) solely because they were all wonderfully brave and witty. But the similarities end there. Kestrel is the daughter of the General, living among the nobility of Valoria. She's pressured by her father to join the military, but all she wants to be is free from the constraints of society. She doesn't believe in the subjugation of the Herranis and defies the rules of her society by showing them kindness. She's also incredibly manipulative and is tightly wrapped in armor- she doesn't give away any feelings and is constantly on guard. 

Similarly, Arin is extremely reserved at the beginning of this book solely because he had a BIIG secret to hide [won't give it away this time]. He is kind but also resents the Valorians for stealing away his home and country. This resentment fuels his secretive actions, but by the end the tables are turned and Arin's character changes significantly once he starts to trust Kestrel. 

By the end the two characters seemed incompatible, especially since once was a slave while the other, a master. But hopefully everything works out well in the next book (which I have already read, but I'm trying not to let it influence this review). 

Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was Kestrel's love of playing the piano and her skill at the game of Bite and Sting (check out Marie Rutkoski's website to play this interesting game!) I also adored the Herrani Gods, and although there wasn't very much information about them, it helped add to the culture and background. The idea of such gods is similar to the idea of Saints; for example, there is a Herrani God of Lies. 

If I had to choose, I would say the end was the most enjoyable part of the book. Because literally everything was falling apart, I was truly in a tailspin and everything that happened from the last ball (that's right, there are balls, who doesn't like balls?) to the end of the book was wonderfully unexpected. It was however infuriatingly incomplete and I was raging at the cliff-hanger, because believe me, the last few pages are so crazy they will knock your socks off. 

I recommend this to fans of historical fiction as well as those who enjoy witty banter. Actually I recommend this to EVERYONE, because this book has drama, love, wit, and war. At the risk of sounding like an ad, this book has something to suit everyones's tastes.    

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

Title: Princess of Thorns 

Author: Stacey Jay 

Date Published: August 19th 2014 

Publisher: Random House Children's

Rating: 5 out of 5

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Goodreads Blurb:

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.
Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

I loved this book. It was a blend of the classical Sleeping Beauty fairy tale and the contemporary heroine-based novel. And, truthfully it rocked in both those aspects.

Both the main characters, Ror and Niklaas, were fantastic and extremely well developed. They both had a lot of depth and I loved the parallel fate- both were cursed and both had to fight for their future. Ror (Aurora) was a strong heroine and although she was somewhat of the stereotypical YA heroine, I absolutely loved her wit, fighting skills, and character. This book didn't have much depth- it was a lot of fluff. Enjoyable fluff, but still fluff. And other than the prologue/backstory and ogre scenes, it wasn't a very serious book.

Another aspect of the book I loved (and this honestly could have been explained better) was the ogres who took over. Although the setting was beautiful, there wasn't much history or explanation and that really bugged me, because I wanted to more about the kingdom/ogre takeover. SPOILER. The ogres were the "villains" and Ror's destiny was to defeat the ogre king/priest. The ogre Queen, however, was an intriguing character who I ended up really liking.

Aurora's history with the faeries was something that was barely explained and, truthfully, warrants a novella. SPOILER. I definitely did not expect them to ever show up in this book, but I was so glad when they came to the rescue at the very end of the book- I want to know more about these mysterious faerie warriors.

To conclude, this was a fantastic, fun, and unique read. I feel as if it was very different from Ms. Jay's Of Beast and Beauty, and in my opinion, much much better. This book is perfect for those who want a fast-paced, loosely-based fairy tale retelling with an amazing heroine and awesome plot. (Yes, this book deserves every single adjective I have used in this review.)

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Title: Seeker (Seeker #1)

Author: Arwen Elys Dayton

Date Published: February 10th 2015

Publisher: Random House Childrens

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Goodreads Blurb:

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’. 

Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.

When I first read the blurb for this book, I was expecting Shadowhunters. But I was extremely off- there was absolutely nothing in this book that even hinted of Cassandra Clare's City of Bones. To sum it up in two words: futuristic ninjas. 

It stared off as a typical YA book, and I expected it to be unoriginal and boring but I was wrong once again. The characters had great backstories, which were shown through the wonderful flashbacks (my favorite part of the book). The flashbacks also served to add more depth to all the characters and were extremely interesting.  

Although the main point of the story was unclear (the biggest problem I had with the book), there were many side plots that introduced new twists and turns and kept the book exciting. Content-wise, the middle of the book was exponentially better than the beginning or end. The beginning, in my opinion, was too slow and lacked a plot. And the end threw way too much stuff at the reader, failing to competently wrap-up the book (it was NOT a cliffhanger, just an inconsequential ending) and the end did absolutely no justice to the quality of the author's writing.  

To address my biggest problem, I did not see the point of this book- I failed to see the big picture and literally have no idea what in the world a Seeker is supposed to do. And while the characters were wonderfully developed, the setting and the World could have been explained a LOT more. 

To sum it up:

Awesome:                                                                                                                    

• interesting, fully developed characters 
• flashbacks
• continuous action
• Quin was awesome
• amnesia
• the Young Dread (I absolutely despised the other two)

Shabby:

• ending
• lack of main conflict
• continuous action
• dialogue

This book isn't very captivating, and, at times, I found myself struggling to finish. 

But, overall the book is surprisingly original and I recommend it to anyone who wants a break from the stereotypical YA fiction. 

  

Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Title: Storm Siren (Storm Siren #1) 

Author: Mary Weber

Date Published: August 19th 2014 

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Rating: 4 out of 5 

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Goodreads Blurb:

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you."

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

SPOILERS.
So when I first read the blurb on Goodreads, I was expecting a heroine similar to Celaena Sardothien (from Throne of Glass). But I wrong, and not regrettably so. I was pleasantly surprised with this book after I got over my disappointment. The MC, Nym, is an Elemental who has the power to control, wrong word, summon lightning. She struggles to rein in her emotions and often her rage unleashes storms that always end in death and destruction. She accumulates guilt and that causes her to hate her ability and herself. Nym was definitely not self-assured and at times seemed weak and fearful. But her caustic humour, sarcasm definitely wins some points and her need for redemption is admirable. 

When she is bought by a madwoman at a slave auction after unleashing her "thunder", Nym is given the option of either being executed as punishment for the deaths she's caused. Or a chance to seek redemption by fighting for the kingdom Faelen. When she "chooses" to help, the madwoman aka King's war adviser aka Adora hands her over to her Elemental trainer, Eogan, and the training begins. 

Along with Colin, another Elemental with the power of Earth, Nym learns to control her ability and they both prepare to take on invading forces. After a test on the mountains, Nym explodes with righteous anger at being manipulated and being used as a weapon and causes an avalanche that nearly destroys a nearby village. After another bout of self doubt, Nym lets the curse control her and refuses to use her ability to kill anyone. 

But Eogan complicates everything with secrets of both his and Nym's pasts and then the King of Faelen is betrayed and the legendary, accursed Draewulf attacks. 

I like the history and the world building was adequate but what needed the most improvement was the explanations and background of the characters- I felt as if there was a slight case of info-dumping. 

Personally, the last couple of chapters were the most suspenseful and tense moments of the whole book. And that ending. That Ending. The Ending. Like I totally thought it would be a happy ending but who was I kidding? Definitely myself- that ending was so brilliantly unexpected and so artfully done. I mean, it wasn't a great ending in and of itself but how the author springs it on you the very last minute/paragraph was what made me decide I really liked this book. 

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) 

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Publication Date: July 8th, 2014

Publisher: Henry Holt 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.
She flees on her wedding day.
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love. 

Although the story isn't particularly different from the usual YA reads, I loved the author's style and the world building and characters, which all added up to equal one of the most delightful reads this year.

I usually enjoy books told from different perspectives, and The Kiss of Deception was no exception- although I had a hard time figuring out which alias belonged to which character, I loooved the different POVs.  

I really liked Princess Lia's character and her spirit but it was very similar to all the other YA heroines nowadays. Both Kaden and Rafe aka he assassin and the prince were interesting additions and I loved the prince but I felt like strangling the imbecilic assassin during the second half of the book. He needs to figure out his priorities. 

Pauline, the best friend, was truly loyal and should have had a larger role in this book. SPOILERS. Walther, Lia's brother, was a supremely supportive and awesome brother and I felt really awful when he died.  

The kingdoms- Vendan, Dalbreck and Morrighan- are already suffering from shaky relations with with each other and Lia's escape from her marriage to the Prince of Dalbreck sparks even more conflict. The savages (Vendans) believe that Lia was able to escape because of her strong powers as the First Daughter so they send the assassin to kill her. But predictably, nothing goes as planned (antithesis? :D) and both the prince and assassin fall in love with the princess.

To those who hate love triangles, it wasn't much of a triangle- it was pretty obvious the prince was the One. Regardless, I personally felt that this book didn't emphasize much on the romance but rather Lia's refusal to be "a soldier in her father's army" and her burning desire to decide her own destiny. But alas destiny is hard to control and an ancient prophecy threatens to take over Lia's life.

The book ended with a slight cliff hanger but throughout, it was peppered with questions that I can't wait to see answered in the next book, The Heart of Betrayal.