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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This was an amazing book!!!! It was easy to see how much research Anne Blankman put into the story! And of course I love Daniel!!! Can't wait to read the next book!
2.5 stars really. I enjoyed some aspects and loathed others so I feel that an in-between rating is suitable. First of all historical fiction is iffy with me because if the setting isn't captured correctly then the whole thing is just off. As is this one. This one just felt like a giant list of name and place dropping without actually letting the reader feel as if they were in Munich during the beginning of WW2. Secondly, I have to become immediately attached to the character to finish the book. This one - still didn't really care about Gretchen by the end. She was just to personality-less and bland. There is such a thing as too much perfection. And Uncle Dolf? Seriously? On top of this Blankman throws in a Romeo/Juliet style forbidden love plot. Meh. I really wanted more action and intrigue. I mean Gretchen is trying to find out who murdered her father for Pete's sake.
I was intrigued by the psychology that was included in this tale though. The comparison between psychopath behavior in her brother Reinhard and Hitler was interesting.
The one thing that this book does well is inform about events leading up to WW2 that an average teen romance or mystery reader would know little, if anything at all, about. Blankman did her research and presents it well for young readers, but I am unsure if the spotty plot and awkward pacing is enough to keep readers engaged until the end.
I did not like the end. It felt like a cop out. I understand there are supposed to be more books, but... it was just very blah.
I was intrigued by the psychology that was included in this tale though. The comparison between psychopath behavior in her brother Reinhard and Hitler was interesting.
The one thing that this book does well is inform about events leading up to WW2 that an average teen romance or mystery reader would know little, if anything at all, about. Blankman did her research and presents it well for young readers, but I am unsure if the spotty plot and awkward pacing is enough to keep readers engaged until the end.
I did not like the end. It felt like a cop out. I understand there are supposed to be more books, but... it was just very blah.
I loved this book. I can't wait to see what's next for Daniel and Gretchen!!
So after hearing about this book all over booktube and after seeing my friend's reactions while reading this book, I thought I might as well give it a try. I knew this book was going to be set in a really hard time in history that I think everyone wants to forget what had happened in the years that followed the Great War with Hitler in Germany. This book was all but light hearted. This is one of those books that will make you think about what has happened within this time period and will make you think of similarities within the present (if any). This book was an interesting and addictive read and a perfect read as one of my holiday books. I'm so happy I bought this book with me and I can't wait to see how this story will continue in the next installment. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction. An easy 5 out of 5 stars for this book.
Not rating this one since I can never get past the first tenth or so. I've attempted multiple times in multiple formats and as amazing as the plot sounds to me, it just isn't fated for me to read and enjoy this one. Which is sad 'cause I want to read this and then I'm sure I'd be saying I want to see it as a movie!
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
I feel like rubbish for giving this story less than 4 stars when it's the type of material that I usually can't get enough of. I have read so many things that have to do with this time period in Germany and yet I found myself wanting to put this book down in favor of doing anything else. Maybe I just couldn't connect with Gretchen? And we all know that if I can't connect then my attention span quickly depletes. Maybe I'm in a book slump? Who knows, I just want you all to know that I strongly suggest you give the book a shot in case it is just a weird fluke that I didn't enjoy it like I hoped to.