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suewise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I have loved every book I have read by Audrey Blake, but this one not so much. It was certainly well written with an inspiring subject, but I just couldn’t get into it. Even though it was clearly factionalized, it read more to me like a biography—a list of events and situations. I hate to leave a review like this about one of my favorite authors, but it would be even harder for me to be dishonest.
Maybe it was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I hope so, and I certainly look forward to reading this author’s next book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Maybe it was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I hope so, and I certainly look forward to reading this author’s next book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
hayleym24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is now the third book I’ve read by this author duo. And the third book of theirs that I have loved! After a little bit of a slow start, I got dragged right into the story of Yvonne. This book is based mostly in fact and the amount of work she accomplished for the resistance is incredible. Yvonne was the first woman that the SOE trained and sent to France. Many of the other characters that you meet along her journey are also based on real people which really brings the story to life. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
sritama_ab's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
💥It is a historical fiction based on the Second World War. The author has created a brilliant picture of the situation in France during the same. I was spellbound after reading about the risks taken by those, fighting against the Germans. The author also gives us an idea about the aggressive training undergone by the SOE agents. They were even instructed to swallow cyanide if caught by the Germans, lest they cannot endure anymore torture and spill the beans.
💥Yvonne Rudellat was a real life example of "It's never too late to pursue your dreams". The story of her journey in becoming the first female SOE agent deserves praise. Due to her determination, she was able to lead dangerous missions against the Germans despite being middle-aged.
💥This was an enjoyable read for me. It has brought to life, the life and deeds of a woman who was lost in history. I will surely recommend this book to all those who are interested in historical fiction.
💥Yvonne Rudellat was a real life example of "It's never too late to pursue your dreams". The story of her journey in becoming the first female SOE agent deserves praise. Due to her determination, she was able to lead dangerous missions against the Germans despite being middle-aged.
💥This was an enjoyable read for me. It has brought to life, the life and deeds of a woman who was lost in history. I will surely recommend this book to all those who are interested in historical fiction.
mindi1083's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
kmbooky's review against another edition
4.0
Wow I can't imagine what this would be like. I don't think I could ever become a spy or to completely act the way she did to protect everyone at the end of everything. Such a great book.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Finished reading: February 27th 2024
"No reason to admit they'd said I was too old. Yvonne Rudellat might be forty-five, but I was Jacqueline Viallat now, my forged identification papers declaring me a spry thirty-three."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
It's not often that I come across my first name in books, so I was immediately curious when I learned that The Woman With No Name told the true story of Yvonne Rudellat. Add the fact that I have a weak spot for WWII fiction and resistance stories, and I knew I HAD to add this book by Audrey Blake to my list. I'm so glad I did now, because I ended up having a fantastic time with this historical fiction read!
The Woman With No Name is a work of fiction, but a lot of elements are based on true events and people. This made the story feel so much more authentic... Both Yvonne Rudellat and most of the people mentioned in this story were real people working for the French resistance during the war, and a lot of the key events really did take place. It's not the first time I've read about women being sent to France to help the resistance, but Yvonne's story is such an impressive one and it shows that people should never underestimate someone due to their size and/or gender. The story showed what it was like to live in France during the war, how the resistance worked and what obstacles they faced along the way.
The plot itself is divided into two timelines that are relatively close to each other. The present timeline follows the main character on her journey to and during her time in France helping the resistance. The other timeline tells us the story of Yvonne Rudellat in the time leading up to her recruitment as well as her training, and it helped giving more insight in her character. It also showed us just how much she blossomed over time, and I particularly enjoyed learning more about how they were trained. I do have to say that I enjoyed the present timeline more than the flashbacks, because they were simply more engaging.
It's the first time I read one of Audrey Blake's books, but I will definitely be back for more. This author duo not only has an engaging writing style, but it truly shows just how thoroughly they have investigated the life of our main character and everything she helped achieve during the war. It's true that the pace could be a tad slow in parts and she switching between the timelines could be a bit disruptive, but as a whole The Woman With No Name turned out to be an excellent piece of WWII fiction well worth your time if you enjoy the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Death, War, and Animal death
ninjamuse's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Medical content
Minor: Torture, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
kristinerinm's review
3.0
The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake
Book 55 of 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Woman with No Name is the story of Yvonne, a British SOE officer, doing espionage/sabotage work in France during WWII. After surviving a blast on her home, she decides to take her life in an entirely new direction. The novel follows her present day work and also includes flashbacks of her training.
Overall, while I enjoyed the story, I felt it to not really pull my attention or be a book I couldn’t wait to return to/continue reading. I also felt as though the ending was incredibly rushed and the book just sort of abruptly ended.
Book 55 of 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Woman with No Name is the story of Yvonne, a British SOE officer, doing espionage/sabotage work in France during WWII. After surviving a blast on her home, she decides to take her life in an entirely new direction. The novel follows her present day work and also includes flashbacks of her training.
Overall, while I enjoyed the story, I felt it to not really pull my attention or be a book I couldn’t wait to return to/continue reading. I also felt as though the ending was incredibly rushed and the book just sort of abruptly ended.
sometimesalyreadsbooks's review
5.0
This was an ARC I read on NetGalley. I highly recommend you read it when it comes out in March and mark it as “Want to Read” on GoodReads after you read my review!
This novel is a WWII historical fiction based on the real life story of Yvonne (aka Jacqueline) Rudellat, a French-Englishwoman who at age 45 became a spy for the British Special Operations Executive organization.
After she became estranged from her husband, her daughter became busy with war work and her home was bombed in 1942, she decided it was time to start anew. Older, she finds herself overlooked and not taken seriously, the perfect combination for a spy and saboteur.
The men are desperate and tired. Recruited as Britain’s first female sabotage agent, expectations for her are low, but her knack for explosives and quick wit set her above and soon she arrives in occupied France with a new identity, ready to (literally) set the Nazi regime ablaze.
This book was addictive and immersive. I found myself feeling as though I was right there in the ring of the resistance next to Yvonne. It ended about how I expected to, after all, war is war, but I still found myself satisfied with all she had accomplished and the spark she set alight in the lives she touched.
The only thing I found myself scratching my head at was the reoccurring focus on her difficulty with swimming, as it never came into play as an obstacle in France. Even so, it was amazing to watch the cat and mouse perspective changes between Max and herself, and I was on the edge of my seat!
Sometimes I find WWII historical fiction overdone and worn out, but this was a fresh perspective and style of writing I’d never considered! The pacing was amazing.
Audry Blake is also the author of Nora Beady series. Thank you for the chance to read this before it comes out in 2024!
This novel is a WWII historical fiction based on the real life story of Yvonne (aka Jacqueline) Rudellat, a French-Englishwoman who at age 45 became a spy for the British Special Operations Executive organization.
After she became estranged from her husband, her daughter became busy with war work and her home was bombed in 1942, she decided it was time to start anew. Older, she finds herself overlooked and not taken seriously, the perfect combination for a spy and saboteur.
The men are desperate and tired. Recruited as Britain’s first female sabotage agent, expectations for her are low, but her knack for explosives and quick wit set her above and soon she arrives in occupied France with a new identity, ready to (literally) set the Nazi regime ablaze.
This book was addictive and immersive. I found myself feeling as though I was right there in the ring of the resistance next to Yvonne. It ended about how I expected to, after all, war is war, but I still found myself satisfied with all she had accomplished and the spark she set alight in the lives she touched.
The only thing I found myself scratching my head at was the reoccurring focus on her difficulty with swimming, as it never came into play as an obstacle in France. Even so, it was amazing to watch the cat and mouse perspective changes between Max and herself, and I was on the edge of my seat!
Sometimes I find WWII historical fiction overdone and worn out, but this was a fresh perspective and style of writing I’d never considered! The pacing was amazing.
Audry Blake is also the author of Nora Beady series. Thank you for the chance to read this before it comes out in 2024!