Loyalty & Betrayal

The texts in this thematic collection organized around the idea of Loyalty & Betrayal range from Dennis Lehane's Mystic River to Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat. But each book explores the idea in its own way, revealing the intricate ways we may maintain loyalty at all costs — or test the bonds of family and friend relationships through deep betrayal.

Empire of Pain

by Patrick Radden Keefe

Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Social Class, Siblings, Art, Trust & Doubt, Economics, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Health, Politics & Government, US History, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Business & Economics, Crime & Law, Finance, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science & Nature, World History, Biography

... Read Empire of Pain Summary

Empire of the Damned

by Jay Kristoff

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Regret, Revenge, Death, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Family, Social Class, Community, War, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense

Empire of the Damned (2024) is a fantasy novel by Jay Kristoff, an internationally bestselling Australian author known for popular fantasy and science fiction series such as the Nevernight Chronicle trilogy and The Illuminae Files. The novel is the second installment in the Empire of the Vampire series, the first installment of which was published in 2021. Empire of the Damned, the second novel in the series, continues the saga of Gabriel de León, a... Read Empire of the Damned Summary

Endgame

by Omid Scobie

Publication year 2023

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Power & Greed, Conflict, Nostalgia, Future, The Past, Family, Social Class, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags European History, Politics & Government, Sociology, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Biography

... Read Endgame Summary

Enough

by Cassidy Hutchinson

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Nation, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Biography

... Read Enough Summary

Erec and Enide

by Chrétien De Troyes

Publication year 1170

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Love, Loyalty & Betrayal, Marriage

Tags Romance, Medieval, French Literature, Education, Education, Mythology, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Erec and Enide is a book-length poem written by French poet Chrétien de Troyes around the year 1170. The poem is one of Chrétien’s series of so-called Arthurian romances—a genre of poem in the Middle Ages that told the stories of the individuals associated with King Arthur’s court. His poems are among the earliest to refer to King Arthur and his knights, and Erec and Enide focuses on the adventures of the knight Erec. This... Read Erec and Enide Summary

Eternal

by Lisa Scottoline

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Hate & Anger, Family, Friendship, War, Race, Loyalty & Betrayal, Fear, Food, Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, World War II, Military & War, Italian Literature, World History

... Read Eternal Summary

Exile

by Shannon Messenger

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Love, Memory, Language, Race, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Community, Education, Immigration, Nation, War, Fate, Justice, Music, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Conflict, Animals, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Tags Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

... Read Exile Summary

Exit Strategy

by Martha Wells

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Perseverance, Loneliness, Memory, Language, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Future, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Equality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Action & Adventure

... Read Exit Strategy Summary

Exodus

by Kate Stewart

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Regret, Revenge, Appearance & Reality, Family, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

... Read Exodus Summary

Faker

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fathers, Friendship, Community, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Children`s Literature

... Read Faker Summary

Fallen Gods

by Rachel Van Dyken

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Revenge, Race, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Siblings, Self Discovery, War, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Mythology

... Read Fallen Gods Summary

Falling

by T. J. Newman

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Loyalty & Betrayal, Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Family

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Falling Summary

Family of Liars

by E. Lockhart

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Perseverance, Loyalty & Betrayal, Siblings, Family

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Romance, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Family of Liars Summary

Family of Spies

by Christine Kuehn

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, The Past, Family, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags US History, European History, World War II, Memoir & Autobiography, Politics & Government, Espionage

... Read Family of Spies Summary

Fate of the Sun King

by Nisha J. Tuli

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Revenge, Plants, Place, Family, Fathers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance

The third installment picks up after Lor has escaped the Sun Palace in Aphelion, the capital of the Sun realm in Ouranos, following the Sun Queen Trials. She hides within the city, joined by Nadir, the Aurora Prince who helped free her; her older siblings Tristan and Willow; and several allies. Their goal is to infiltrate the palace and reach the Mirror, Aphelion's magical Artefact. Lor believes the Mirror holds something connected to her true... Read Fate of the Sun King Summary