Ruta Sepetys is an author that I will read over and over again. She knows how to take a true story that not many people have heard about and write it in such a way that you can feel the desperation and fear coming from the main characters. I Must Betray You takes place in 1980s Romania, which is under the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. The people live In constant fear, whispering in corners, not knowing who they can trust. They are all under surveillance by the government with neighbors, friends, and/or family members reporting on them which leads them to mistrust everyone. In the middle of all this, we have Cristian, a high school student who gets blackmailed into becoming an informer, but he still dreams of living in a free Romania. The fast pacing and short chapters keep the reader engaged while the setting and characters make you feel a part of the story. This is a powerful and well-researched story and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, and the publisher for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, and the publisher for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.