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just_jess02's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Mila’s story is fierce, bold, heartbreaking, infuriating, encouraging, fascinating, and freeing. It is so much packed into a thrilling page-turner. I imagine it would be even more poignant if I were reading it myself rather than listening.
The narration was crisp and stiff- something I didn’t like at first but once I saw how well it fit the story, it was one of the many aspects that gripped me. The dualities of each character created depth and complexity that had me wondering where many moments would lead. Each relationship and interaction was important and necessary. Is it odd to appreciate the efficiency of a novel?
I enjoyed the exploration of what happens behind the facade of strong, courageous, women who cannot show weakness or softness to the public eye. It is so nice to read a book about a female protagonist that is truly through the female experience and challenges the expectations of the ‘male gaze’ while still incorporating the struggles it causes. Mila is unapologetically brash because she has to be and understanding the inside of her mind during those moments made my heart ache and my conscious confused.
This is so well written, well narrated, and just very engaging overall. It is one you want to sit with and think about but also don’t want to put it down to do so.
The narration was crisp and stiff- something I didn’t like at first but once I saw how well it fit the story, it was one of the many aspects that gripped me. The dualities of each character created depth and complexity that had me wondering where many moments would lead. Each relationship and interaction was important and necessary. Is it odd to appreciate the efficiency of a novel?
I enjoyed the exploration of what happens behind the facade of strong, courageous, women who cannot show weakness or softness to the public eye. It is so nice to read a book about a female protagonist that is truly through the female experience and challenges the expectations of the ‘male gaze’ while still incorporating the struggles it causes. Mila is unapologetically brash because she has to be and understanding the inside of her mind during those moments made my heart ache and my conscious confused.
This is so well written, well narrated, and just very engaging overall. It is one you want to sit with and think about but also don’t want to put it down to do so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Alcohol, War, Murder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, and Stalking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
humblebookdragon's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Word of advice, don't read Lyudmila Pavlichenko's memoir "Lady Death" before this, or you will know 90% of this book. No twists and turns here except for the last 10%, which is pure fiction. As scenes were building up, I was like "oh, is this where she XYZs?" and so forth. Kind of actually felt like I was reading Lady Death again at certain points.
Its not a bad read, and I do believe my prior knowledge and reading made enjoyment complicated, but I do prefer The Rose Code.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, War, and Medical content
Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
paizliibubs's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Rape and Suicide
daralexandria's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Gun violence, and War
Minor: Alcohol
cameronmh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Really beautiful book— easier to digest than her autobiography, but very faithful. Highly recommend the author’s note to anyone who might normally skip it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Sexism, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Medical content, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Racism
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual harassment
sarahflanders's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Torture, War, Cursing, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
sandysmith's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It is an intriguing story based on a female sniper Mila Pavlichenko on the front line in WW2 fighting against the germans for the Soviets. She is Ukrainian, so it is interesting to read about her commitment and her Russian beliefs. Hard to read in the current political climate. Whilst she is written as a cold killer, her love for her son and her historian background shines through. Her first husband is horrid, seducing her and getting her pregnant at 15. Her love interests in war make good reading. I loved her official and unofficial memoirs. Told from a dual timeline war and later in her trip to America and friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, it makes a smashing historical read. Fab stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Medical trauma, War, Gun violence, and Murder
nataliebootlah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
4.0
Who doesn’t love a heroine based on a true story? Lyudmila Pavlichenko, or “Lady Death”, was a Russian sniper credited with an official count of 309 kills during WWII.
I love how Quinn writes historical women, especially since you can tell how much research goes into each story. And this novel was no different. Mila is a single mother, marksman, and history student when war comes to Russia. Soon, life as she knew it is gone and she’s fighting against Nazis on the front lines.
Saskia Maarleveld brought Mila’s strength and resilience to life in the audiobook. What a treat.
I love how Quinn writes historical women, especially since you can tell how much research goes into each story. And this novel was no different. Mila is a single mother, marksman, and history student when war comes to Russia. Soon, life as she knew it is gone and she’s fighting against Nazis on the front lines.
Saskia Maarleveld brought Mila’s strength and resilience to life in the audiobook. What a treat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, War, and Violence
writteninmagic's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I was fascinated by the synopsis. I hadn't heard of Senior Sergeant Mila Pavlichenko before, so I found the story to be fascinating. The intense battles and stakeouts from Mila's perspective were really well-written. Throughout Mila's life in the Russian army, she faces sexism from nearly all her fellow soldiers and higher-in-commands, but her skills earn respect from her platoon. They underestimated her based on her appearance and for being a woman, but she showed them how deadly she could be.
Although I did enjoy the book, I thought some parts could have flowed better. Some battle scenes were set starting with the words "watch now as—" which I thought was unnecessary and disrupted the action. There were also the chapters with Mila and the unnamed sniper, with sudden perspective shifts between the two of them from one person's perspective in one paragraph to the next paragraph being from the other character's perspective; it made reading it at times confusing because I would read the next paragraph and then realize it was from the other character's perspective.
Although I did enjoy the book, I thought some parts could have flowed better. Some battle scenes were set starting with the words "watch now as—" which I thought was unnecessary and disrupted the action. There were also the chapters with Mila and the unnamed sniper, with sudden perspective shifts between the two of them from one person's perspective in one paragraph to the next paragraph being from the other character's perspective; it made reading it at times confusing because I would read the next paragraph and then realize it was from the other character's perspective.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, War, Sexism, Death, Drug use, and Alcohol
anulaa's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War