The Betrayed
by Reine Arcache Melvin
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Pub Date 10 Feb 2022 | Archive Date 10 Feb 2022
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Description
A novel about sisterhood, familial duties and love
“[Melvin's] beautiful, sensual, visceral writing shows us that the past is not really a foreign country, but our own country in an eternal loop.”–Jessica Zafra, author of Twisted
"Highly readable and enjoyable, it compellingly contains, in its confident tone and language, a powerful mosaic of images, characters, and relationships.”–Angelo R. Lacuesta
Set in a time of dictatorship and political upheaval in the Philippines, The Betrayed tells the story of two sisters who love the same man. Their passion threatens to lead them to betray not only each other, but all that their father stood for.
Shy, idealistic Pilar initially resolves to carry on her father’s fight against the regime, while her flamboyant older sister Lali reacts by marrying the enemy – Arturo, the dictator’s godson. Each tries to find their place in this violent world, but can they withstand the corruption of politics and the relentless pull of their own desires?
Taking in the Philippines’ troubled history from the Marcos dictatorship to the establishment of the present totalitarian regime, and expertly layering the many aspects of the human condition, The Betrayed is a complex and luminous novel.
Advance Praise
“A really superb read.” —The Manila Times
“[Melvin's] beautiful, sensual, visceral writing shows us that the past is not really a foreign country, but our own country in an eternal loop.”—Jessica Zafra, author of Twisted
“A powerful mosaic of images, characters, and relationships.” —Angelo R. Lacuesta
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781787703896 |
| PRICE | £12.99 (GBP) |
Featured Reviews
Dave B, Reviewer
The Betrayed by Reine Arcache Melvin is not only a great story about 2 sister's love for one man but also an insight into Filipino politics and society from the Marcos days until now.
Sister's Pilar,the quiet one,and Lali,the elder outgoing one, are living in exile in America with their parents because of their Father's opposition to the Marcos regime. A fatal attack suggests that his enemies have a long reach . With Pilar trying to keep her Father's ideals alive Lali marries the Godson of his arch-enemy.
That's the rather convoluted beginning to a saga that stretches through the decades and right across the often complicated social and political landscape of The Philippines. While mostly the story of the sisters and Lali's husband Arturo it's also very much about a fascinating and complex society. From the Spanish mansions of the Manila elite to the dirt villages of the Provinces,movers,shakers and guerrillas, the powerful,the weak,the rich and the poor, the book is an education as well as a massively involving story.
As one of the characters says,a lot of foreigners think they know the Philippines ,mostly they only see what's on the surface,this book is a great way to see how the place really works and learn about its people of all social classes.
I love the Philippines and already had quite an in-depth understanding of "how it is" . That's by no means essential to enjoy and learn from this book.
Ms Melvin's writing is powerful ,often lyrical and insightful. A great read.
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