Review - Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

Betrayals (Strange Angels, Book 2) by Lili St. Crow
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Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 308

Summary: 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?

Thoughts: I have such mixed feelings about the Strange Angels series.  Don't get me wrong, I love the books.  Dru is probably the most depressing teenager ever, but her stubborness and strength are really inspiring.  I love how she is still grieving her father's death from the first book - and her mother's death as a child.  I love the universe, filled with werewolves, dhampirs and vampires constantly at each other's throats.

St. Crow's universe is violent and gothic, and utterly immersive.  I read this book in a single day - I just couldn't put it down.  We learn so much more about the dangers Dru is facing - from enemies she didn't even know she had.  We also find out a lot more about her troubling new powers, how Graves is dealing with his new transformation and we get a bit of Christophe's fascinating background.

But I have some trouble with the love triangle.  When it comes to the whole Graves/Dru/Christophe thing, I have a feeling that I'm on the losing side of the love triangle.  A.k.a. the "I don't want to see Dru with either of them" side.

Okay, sure, if I had to choose: Team Christophe all the way.  But that's because I find him hot - seriously hot - and not because I think he is right for Dru.  As for Graves, I really have trouble seeing him as anything more than just a friend.  A totally awesome friend, but just a friend.

Unfortunately the non-epic romance and the shortage of Christophe meant Betrayals lost the edge that Strange Angels had.  Nevertheless, I can't wait to read Jealousy (which has an epically terrible cover) and hope to get some bloody answers in it!

Bottom line?  Filled with supernatural violence, a grieving teen, and a serious ammount of political intrigue - Betrayals is a great book.  And hopefully you'll find yourself choosing sides in the romance - I'm sure the book is more enjoyable when you aren't trying to fasten a chastity belt onto the heroine.