Reviews

Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris

rgoodhart's review against another edition

This is a tough read. Coming to it not long after The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, I feel like I have learnt lots about the horrors of war, of siege, of the deprivations of winter especially. And it’s hard to read about it.

I am shocked to realise how little attention I paid to the war in Bosnia at the time. How self-absorbed I was as a student!

This is beautifully written despite the horror. Even the idea of the burnt pages of books floating down from the burning library being ‘black butterflies’ adds beauty to the destruction.

I loved the image of the tree Zora and Una painted in the walls of the flat. I felt like I understood the bond shared by Zora and Mirsad. I was revolted by the tale of the brothers building the bridge and devastated by
Una’s death.

Reading this, 30 years after the event is hard and yet these things still go on. Ukraine suffers through war and hard winters. Gazans are dying from starvation. How can we let these things happen again and again??

sandrewx's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

sterreleidi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

katjakon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

bernie_e2001's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

ainoh's review

dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

chrysos79's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and War

freya__b's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Beautifully moving book. Loved reading about a war I didn't know much of beforehand. Prose was lovely and had some great symbolism. But I would have liked more insight into the character's thoughts and feelings. The narrative voice made me feel a little detached from the story

joenglish's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.75

faithbannier's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5