Book Review :: The Traitor Game, by B.R.Collins

The Traitor Game by B.R. Collins
ISBN: 0747597251
Published by Bloomsbury
on 2009-09-07
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 294
Goodreads

Michael and Francis are best friends at school, drawn together by their common secret - a complete obsession with creating, crafting, adding to and poring over their joint fantasy world, Evgard. Their friendship is put to the severest test when Michael, thinking that Francis has betrayed their world, takes the cold, deliberate decision not to help Francis when Francis is the victim of a brutal attack. Michael then has to see the consequences of his mistake, and confront his own weaknesses. This absolutely compelling charting of the boys' friendship is reflected in the fantasy world, as the fantasy characters and their actions are a clear mirror of the boys' own actions in the real world. With one difference. In the fantasy world, one of the characters does not survive.

Last updated on 12 August 2019

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The Traitor Game – The Story

Michael and his friend Francis share a secret passion for Evgard, the fantasy world they have created together. But then Michael finds a note in his locker, revealing that their secret is out. He immediately suspects Francis, and tries to get revenge by telling the school bully that Francis is gay, which guarantees Francis is in for a pounding. But did Francis really betray his friend? Or is Michael really the traitor? – Good Reads

As well as Michael’s story, and his battle with coming to terms with the horrific thought that his one and only friend betrayed him and the world they created together, there’s another story told in The Traitor Game. That of Argent. Argent is captured in the world of Evgard, made to play a cruel and unfair game of chance, but manages to pass it. He is taken under the wing of Columan, the Duke’s son, and as the weeks go by, they become friends, even though Argent is seen as a slave in Columan’s part of the world. In Argent’s story line (told in first person, whereas Michael’s story is in third person), there is betrayal, there is invasion, there is misunderstands along with a great friendship.

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My thoughts on The Traitor Game

This was such an interesting book, because of those two story lines. While Argent was a character of Michael’s imagination, the parallels between the two worlds and the friendship of Argent and Columan, and Michael and Francis were undeniably well done. As well as being well written in that sense, it was amazing just how much I felt for the characters, and while I spent most of Michael’s story line being annoyed at him for keeping everything inside and not just dealing with his issues, I also understood what was going on with him, and why he couldn’t just quit whining about it all.

It made me think a lot about those people who get sucked into imaginary worlds and how, while that imagination and creativity is wonderful, it can sometimes draw people in so much that they lose track of reality, and the people and things that really truly matter.

While this book is a mix of genres, I think people who enjoy Young Adult fiction, fantasy and even possibly gaming alike will enjoy this book. It deals will some difficult issues, including bullying, discrimination, and dealing with general high-school drama. It’s about misunderstandings, and and misconceptions. About family, friends, and about trust. It’s about far off lands, and the ones right around the corner. While I didn’t know about this book until I picked it out of a list of audio books on my Borrow Box app, it was definitely a good read/listen.