This is a masterpiece that deserves much more exposure. Filipino culture and history are acquired into the story in a wonderful way. I loved it.

Unfortunately this didn't work for me as a novel. More than anything, I think I just couldn't/didn't connect with the characters. I actually quite liked the beginning of the book, but after that I felt like the plot was a bit fragmented and confusing to follow, which made it hard to follow these characters and track their personalities and development. It felt a bit scattered as a story to me, flitting from one character to the next, from one moment to the next, one scene to the next, with few interstitial moments to really do the work of connecting together those moments and making the narrative as a whole more cohesive.

This book was beautiful. The story revolves around two sisters who fall for the same man and get caught inthe trivialities of it set against the Phillipine background. The prose was free flowing and captivating. Loved the book.

In the post-Marcos era, the Philippines have been plunged into darkness and turmoil, political division is rife and society has reached a breaking point. But even with all of this, sisters Lali and Pilar have miraculously found love - unfortunately with the same man. Their loyalties to each other, to their family, to their fight against the regime, are all being tested and this may be the point of no return for them both.

Both are seeking their place in this ever-changing world; a world that is corrupt, bloody and violent. But how far can they go to find it? And how will they truly know once they have?

This stunning novel was a passionate, fiery tale of love and hate, brimming with visceral, rich detail that transports the reader into the pages instantly. Told through perspectives of both sisters, the similarities and growing differences between them is apparent and intricately written, allowing us a sense of familiarity with the characters and developing a deep sense of connection and care for them. They are contradictory, and at times hypocritical but perfectly crafted to be unequivocally human.

The prose was beautifully descriptive, but almost rhythmic and poetic in it's way.

The Betrayed explores the the beauty and corruption of our world, the power of choice and genuine human connection. Delving into the murky truth about our fate, our destinies and how they are crafted. Are they by design, through our own choices or our backgrounds, or is it all just chance?