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bexhunt's review
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kpearlman's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
silke_anna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I have to admit that a lot of times I was extremely confused - who is who, how are they connected, what year is it etc.
but once I reached the last third of the book, I couldn‘t put it down. I really like the way the city is described!
but once I reached the last third of the book, I couldn‘t put it down. I really like the way the city is described!
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
rosie18's review
2.5
This took me forever to finish - I couldn't get into it at all. By the end I was skipping through to just find out what happened. I found it difficult to keep track of characters, timelines, why I should care...
wunkymatts's review against another edition
5.0
THIS! This is the immersive, expansive book I was looking for.
The word I would use to describe this book is lush. Everything is lush. The city comes to life so vividly and I was just swept along. I could see every moment so perfectly. I could smell every smell, hear every sound.
The structure worked really well too. Sometimes when a story is told from so many perspectives it can feel bitty but this flowed beautifully. When the strands were woven together it was pure joy.
The last hundred pages are hard going. There's a certain sense when you're reading a book and know there is a disaster coming, either because it's told at the beginning or, like with this one, it's leading up to a know historical event*. As you go on the tension builds as the characters continue their lives not knowing what's coming. But when the fire does come it is heartbreaking. I read the chapters describing the fire in one go and no punches were pulled. All that desperate, wretched humanity is set out for you. Like the rest of the book it is well done, but it took me a while to recover from it.
*I actually knew nothing about Smyrna or the Levantines before I read this book, although the Ottoman Empire is something I have had a passing interest in and have always meant to find out more about. It send me off on some very enjoyable research spirals.
The word I would use to describe this book is lush. Everything is lush. The city comes to life so vividly and I was just swept along. I could see every moment so perfectly. I could smell every smell, hear every sound.
The structure worked really well too. Sometimes when a story is told from so many perspectives it can feel bitty but this flowed beautifully. When the strands were woven together it was pure joy.
The last hundred pages are hard going. There's a certain sense when you're reading a book and know there is a disaster coming, either because it's told at the beginning or, like with this one, it's leading up to a know historical event*. As you go on the tension builds as the characters continue their lives not knowing what's coming. But when the fire does come it is heartbreaking. I read the chapters describing the fire in one go and no punches were pulled. All that desperate, wretched humanity is set out for you. Like the rest of the book it is well done, but it took me a while to recover from it.
*I actually knew nothing about Smyrna or the Levantines before I read this book, although the Ottoman Empire is something I have had a passing interest in and have always meant to find out more about. It send me off on some very enjoyable research spirals.
kitnotmarlowe's review
Absolutely could not stand the writing style. I'm not sure if it's an issue with translation or with the original text, but it flows so unnaturally. The syntax is all over the place; subjects and objects sprinkled willy-nilly throughout the text. Each sentence is filled to the prim with names and details which fail at any semblence of word building because half the time they're irrelevant to the greater story or even the rest of the page. Smyrna isn't a place, or even a specific moment in time, it's a jumble of words thrown at a wall like spaghetti.
jana888's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
i really, really loved this book. the twist was obvious but the writing was so beautiful and i am now obsessed with smyrna.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Genocide, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Rape, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, and Animal death
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Im gonna be really honest with you my dudes, i am very confused.
Tbf i dont think thats the books fault completely, theres just a lot of different perspective and occasional timeshifts which arent very clearly announced and when its the audiobook it is even less clear cause its just the same person reading still but whoopsie theyre actually a different person.
Also i have no clue who is who right now/who is related to who, I thought i had it and then no im confused again.
The actual writing was good and the plot was p compelling and emotional tho, definitely not a bad book!!! (Im just confused)
Tbf i dont think thats the books fault completely, theres just a lot of different perspective and occasional timeshifts which arent very clearly announced and when its the audiobook it is even less clear cause its just the same person reading still but whoopsie theyre actually a different person.
Also i have no clue who is who right now/who is related to who, I thought i had it and then no im confused again.
The actual writing was good and the plot was p compelling and emotional tho, definitely not a bad book!!! (Im just confused)
‘How is it that men can be as innocent as children when it comes to women’s tricks, yet be responsible for all the violence in the world?’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Misogyny, Blood, Colonisation, Violence, Confinement, Grief, and War
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
The writing was lovely and I found the topic of the Ottoman Empire conquering and destroying Smyrna intriguing. In fact, the story of Scheherazade, the spy, and the people surrounding them, the nonlinear order of the chapters, and how everything came together in the end was very well done. However, the content is heavy and not all the characters likeable, but that's real life, huh?
The writing was lovely and I found the topic of the Ottoman Empire conquering and destroying Smyrna intriguing. In fact, the story of Scheherazade, the spy, and the people surrounding them, the nonlinear order of the chapters, and how everything came together in the end was very well done. However, the content is heavy and not all the characters likeable, but that's real life, huh?
agirlandabook85's review
4.0
The story based upon the genocide of the ancient city of Smyrna during the Greco-Turkish War, which raged from 1919 to 1922 with victims believed in the range from 10,000 to 100,000 people. This was shockingly not something I had any prior knowledge of.
Told from the perspective of 4 occupants of Smyrna, each character represented a different interest within the conflict resulting in a depth of perspectives and experiences. This was interesting to see how it changed as the powers shifted during the war.
The historical background was often interspersed through their lives in a subtle way, be it an overheard conversation, an observation, a chance encounter. This added to the tension of the story, we the reader knew what was approaching but the occupants of Smyrna remained mainly oblivious. This is their story within the wider story of Smyrna.
The chapters covering the devastating fire of 1922 were some of the most harrowing and shocking I have ever read. The fear and desperation of those caught in the wake of violence and destruction was palpable. Knowing this was based upon real events only added to the emotions I felt whilst reading.
There is a small part that I remain puzzled by, I appreciate it had merit in connecting parts of the story but I feel it lacked validity. If you have read this one please let me know I would love to discuss!
This was a book rich in descriptive details and full of nuanced characters told in a nonlinear timeline you will need to take your time and concentrate at first but I promise you from about 50 pages in the scene becomes set and it was immersive story telling at its finest.
Told from the perspective of 4 occupants of Smyrna, each character represented a different interest within the conflict resulting in a depth of perspectives and experiences. This was interesting to see how it changed as the powers shifted during the war.
The historical background was often interspersed through their lives in a subtle way, be it an overheard conversation, an observation, a chance encounter. This added to the tension of the story, we the reader knew what was approaching but the occupants of Smyrna remained mainly oblivious. This is their story within the wider story of Smyrna.
The chapters covering the devastating fire of 1922 were some of the most harrowing and shocking I have ever read. The fear and desperation of those caught in the wake of violence and destruction was palpable. Knowing this was based upon real events only added to the emotions I felt whilst reading.
There is a small part that I remain puzzled by, I appreciate it had merit in connecting parts of the story but I feel it lacked validity. If you have read this one please let me know I would love to discuss!
This was a book rich in descriptive details and full of nuanced characters told in a nonlinear timeline you will need to take your time and concentrate at first but I promise you from about 50 pages in the scene becomes set and it was immersive story telling at its finest.