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Michael and Francis are two disturbed teenagers, each with separate issues that they must face, whether they choose to or not. These two boys become fast friends with a mutual passion for creating a fantasy world, but their relationship is strained by the toughest test ever – the idea that one might have betrayed the other. There are all kinds of hurts we can inflict on one another, but betrayal is a really big one.
I was slightly alarmed by one of the characters vindictive and disturbing responses to this test. Still, in the end their relationship holds strong, and they both learn huge lessons, growing into young men in one season. This is a realistic tale, even though one world is a figment of a character’s imagination. The author portrays unique characters with unusual challenges in life, along with some side issues including family, sexuality and school stresses.
The Traitor Game by B. R. Collins is an unusual techno-urban fantasy novel whose twists and turns are laced with perceptions and assumptions that often have big consequences. The author is in her mid-20s, and as such she has substantial insight into today’s technology and both role-playing and virtual games. She is a graduate of both university and drama school and currently resides in England. The Traitor Game is her first novel, a wonderful gift idea for readers aged 14 years and older. This paperback provides a dark tale of relationships, technology and fantasy.
I was thrilled to see that publisher Bloomsbury USA has embraced today’s eco-printing options and chosen to use natural, recyclable materials harvested from well-managed forests. I would love to see this large and established publisher also embrace recycled content and perhaps some of the many other eco-printing options that are now available for publishers to choose from. In the meantime, kudos to Bloomsbury Publishing for taking a step in the right direction, one that benefits the planet.
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The Traitor Game