Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I am speechless, that was a spectacular read. Can't wait to get my hands on the 2nd book.[b:Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke|22838220|Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke (Prisoner of Night and Fog, #2)|Anne Blankman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413217141s/22838220.jpg|42391521]
4.5 stars!! The narrator was AMAZING and I think it definitely added to the experience! The story was told so beautifully and gosh I loved it. Full review to come!
I had the biggest problem with the pacing of this. Like almost all murder mysteries, things were dragged out. At one point, Gretchen could've asked her mum about the letters instead of actually putting herself through all sorts of crap just to eventually go back and ask the mum about it. This made dramatic sense but zero logic. I really hate it when books do this, which is mostly why I can't stand mysteries.
The twists were not surprising at all and I was just waiting to be proven right 90% of the time. It really sucked the joy out of reading. So many things were so painfully obvious but the two baffoons were still 'figuring it out' and it was so annoying and painfully drawn out.
Even though the writing was great for a suspenseful read, it kept giving me renewed hope that a huge plot twist was on its way, only to be disappointed again.
This was fun and interesting for the first 60% (which is why this is getting 3 stars instead of 2) and then I lost interest rapidly. Between the illogical crime solving and random romance, there just wasn't anything good going for it.
I thought that the romance would play a bigger part according to the book synopsis but honestly if Daniel was just a friend, it wouldn't have made any difference to the story. It was very redundant and felt forced. It was also rather insta-lovey. I was mostly drawn to this book because I thought it would be more about forbidden love and the likes but nope, that doesn't really play a part in Prisoner of Night and Fog.
The characters were also rather meh. It was interesting to see Hitler in his day to day life but that was about it. The main character was pitiful but I did not really connect with her and I was pretty much detached throughout the book.
I loved the author's notes though! It was really interesting to see all the research that went into the book and which aspects where fictional and which were real events etc.
VERDICT
Overall, this was really disappointing and I had really high hopes for this. I wish that this was mostly historical fiction rather than a mystery. This was a great idea but execution was lacking. I would've loved this a lot more if the story was more condensed and was at least 50 pages shorter.
I will not be continuing with this series.
I would not recommend this to anyone that's not a fan of mysteries. I guess murder mystery lovers may enjoy this more?
Plot: 3.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Originality: 4.5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Feels: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
This book took some turns at the end that I wasn’t expecting.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Although I didn't love how it was written (many literary cliches) and became slightly irritated by the fact that every chapter attempted to end on a dramatic note, I enjoyed the insight into 1930s Munich and the portrayal of famous historical figures before they were internationally known (Hess, Rohm, Hitler) as well as the change in perspective of the protaganist as she retreats from the extreme right wing views she had been brought up with all her life. The plot only accelerated at the book progressed- overall an enjoyable read.
MINOR SPOILERS?
I was really surprised by how much I like this book, but at the same time, not all that surprised. Gretchen was a really easy character to sympathize with, especially because she had so many outside forces brainwashing her, and the reader can obviously see that. Despite the opinions of everyone else, she still manages to form her own opinions and knows what she feels is right in her heart. I loved the progression of her and Daniel's friendship, and eventual romance, because it is intense at some parts, showing her obvious struggle with the fact that he Jewish, as well as his with her participation in the nazi party. I lived the setting and the characters and felt really immersed into pre-WWII Germany.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was really surprised by how much I like this book, but at the same time, not all that surprised. Gretchen was a really easy character to sympathize with, especially because she had so many outside forces brainwashing her, and the reader can obviously see that. Despite the opinions of everyone else, she still manages to form her own opinions and knows what she feels is right in her heart. I loved the progression of her and Daniel's friendship, and eventual romance, because it is intense at some parts, showing her obvious struggle with the fact that he Jewish, as well as his with her participation in the nazi party. I lived the setting and the characters and felt really immersed into pre-WWII Germany.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Originally posted here
I need to start this review with the obvious about me: I have my undergrad degree in History, with my thesis in World War II and France, which I gave to my advisor just as Inglourious Basterds came out. This is all to prepare you for the fact I’m fairly picky about World War II fiction. After a full year of nothing but World War II non-fiction books, I required a break from them. Prisoner of Night and Fog is the first one I remember wanting to read. I mean, Uncle Dolf? I AM HERE FOR THIS.
And I was here for this, and then I was disappointed that I was here for this. It is not that Prisoner of Night and Fog is a bad book, because it is not bad at all! It is a really solid book, but it was not the amazing book that I was expecting from my friends’ reviews. What Blankman does well, however, is to humanize Hitler. That is, what Hitler used to win over people was be charming, and lovely, and be this human that everyone wanted to be friends with. Throughout Prisoner of Night and Fog, I felt for Hitler. Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s an asshole, but that is how well Blankman humanized him. In real life, he was awkward, small, and often uncomfortable and that came across continuously throughout Prisoner of Night and Fog. What was interesting was the shift in the main character. Gretchen has spent most of her life under Hitler’s influence. Her father died protecting Hitler, and to Gretchen, he is Uncle Dolf, her lovable yet quirky, popular uncle. Slowly however, Gretchen finds out that her life is not what she was lead to believe and her life is full of very uncomfortable situations.
Her brother is an asshole, her mother is under the thumb of her brother, and her father may have not saved Hitler, but been gunned down instead while being used as a martyr. The whole world that Gretchen knows is gone, she feels she can trust no one, and now wants to know what really happened to her father. And while the plot was fascinating, I never felt connected to the characters. When Gretchen was worried, I was bored. When Gretchen was in love, I was bored and confused. I didn’t get Daniel’s appeal, I also didn’t fully understand Daniel’s interest in Gretchen. When Gretchen did…well, almost anything, I was bored. There had to be more! The plot was so intriguing that the book got better, right?
Sadly, no. While I finished it, my lack of connection made it hard to want to. It took me over two weeks to read this book which is never a good sign for me. I am interested in what Blankman does next, if research is involved, it will be a fleshed out book.
I need to start this review with the obvious about me: I have my undergrad degree in History, with my thesis in World War II and France, which I gave to my advisor just as Inglourious Basterds came out. This is all to prepare you for the fact I’m fairly picky about World War II fiction. After a full year of nothing but World War II non-fiction books, I required a break from them. Prisoner of Night and Fog is the first one I remember wanting to read. I mean, Uncle Dolf? I AM HERE FOR THIS.
And I was here for this, and then I was disappointed that I was here for this. It is not that Prisoner of Night and Fog is a bad book, because it is not bad at all! It is a really solid book, but it was not the amazing book that I was expecting from my friends’ reviews. What Blankman does well, however, is to humanize Hitler. That is, what Hitler used to win over people was be charming, and lovely, and be this human that everyone wanted to be friends with. Throughout Prisoner of Night and Fog, I felt for Hitler. Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s an asshole, but that is how well Blankman humanized him. In real life, he was awkward, small, and often uncomfortable and that came across continuously throughout Prisoner of Night and Fog. What was interesting was the shift in the main character. Gretchen has spent most of her life under Hitler’s influence. Her father died protecting Hitler, and to Gretchen, he is Uncle Dolf, her lovable yet quirky, popular uncle. Slowly however, Gretchen finds out that her life is not what she was lead to believe and her life is full of very uncomfortable situations.
Her brother is an asshole, her mother is under the thumb of her brother, and her father may have not saved Hitler, but been gunned down instead while being used as a martyr. The whole world that Gretchen knows is gone, she feels she can trust no one, and now wants to know what really happened to her father. And while the plot was fascinating, I never felt connected to the characters. When Gretchen was worried, I was bored. When Gretchen was in love, I was bored and confused. I didn’t get Daniel’s appeal, I also didn’t fully understand Daniel’s interest in Gretchen. When Gretchen did…well, almost anything, I was bored. There had to be more! The plot was so intriguing that the book got better, right?
Sadly, no. While I finished it, my lack of connection made it hard to want to. It took me over two weeks to read this book which is never a good sign for me. I am interested in what Blankman does next, if research is involved, it will be a fleshed out book.