gilgulita's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I have no idea where to start with this one.
Throughout most of the book I was incredibly annoyed. Annoyed by Tatiana, who is so incredibly perfect and beautiful and always knows what to say, and yet or maybe because of that I couldn't see a real person in her. Annoyed at Alexander, who is also incredibly perfect, but also all-knowing, a tragic hero and treats Tatiana like a toddler... sexy. Annoyed at how every other character wasn't fleshed out in the least or was evil or dead...
I started to realize that the scenes where Alexander and Tania weren't together were the most interesting and least annoying to me, and once I could look past that, there were really good scenes! I actually think I have never felt as much of the despair that war and hunger brought upon people from any other book, and I've read lots of WW2 books in my time - so kudos!
But honestly... how many times can you describe a girl pushing her boobs into the guy's face... By the 5th time I was just rolling my eyes...
I think if it was a stand-alone book I would've rated it higher, but the fact that it's a series somehow makes the ending seem less important. I still might look into the next one though. Once I'm less annoyed.
I have no idea where to start with this one.
Throughout most of the book I was incredibly annoyed. Annoyed by Tatiana, who is so incredibly perfect and beautiful and always knows what to say, and yet or maybe because of that I couldn't see a real person in her. Annoyed at Alexander, who is also incredibly perfect, but also all-knowing, a tragic hero and treats Tatiana like a toddler... sexy. Annoyed at how every other character wasn't fleshed out in the least or was evil or dead...
I started to realize that the scenes where Alexander and Tania weren't together were the most interesting and least annoying to me, and once I could look past that, there were really good scenes! I actually think I have never felt as much of the despair that war and hunger brought upon people from any other book, and I've read lots of WW2 books in my time - so kudos!
But honestly... how many times can you describe a girl pushing her boobs into the guy's face... By the 5th time I was just rolling my eyes...
I think if it was a stand-alone book I would've rated it higher, but the fact that it's a series somehow makes the ending seem less important. I still might look into the next one though. Once I'm less annoyed.
marleer's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
In the beginning, this book was quite slow for me because I had expected that it would focus more on the romance and less on the historic aspect of the story. The parts about the war, however, were very interesting to read about, because I've never really read any WWII story from the perspective of Russia. Some parts made me really sad, but luckily the second part of the book made up for that, because there were also parts that genuinely made me happy and made me read with a big smile on my face. These last 250 pages were really the best part of the book for me. Everything was just so intense and The Bronze Horseman became this amazing emotional rollercoaster. The writing in this book was very unique, but I do have mixed feelings about it. At some points, I thought the style was beautiful and the conversations were so well-written, but at other times, the writing didn't touch me at all because it felt a little old or stiff. So overall, I absolutely loved The Bronze Horseman because of the last part, but there were also parts that were less thrilling and that I didn't really like. Anyway, I can't wait to read the sequel.
In the beginning, this book was quite slow for me because I had expected that it would focus more on the romance and less on the historic aspect of the story. The parts about the war, however, were very interesting to read about, because I've never really read any WWII story from the perspective of Russia. Some parts made me really sad, but luckily the second part of the book made up for that, because there were also parts that genuinely made me happy and made me read with a big smile on my face. These last 250 pages were really the best part of the book for me. Everything was just so intense and The Bronze Horseman became this amazing emotional rollercoaster. The writing in this book was very unique, but I do have mixed feelings about it. At some points, I thought the style was beautiful and the conversations were so well-written, but at other times, the writing didn't touch me at all because it felt a little old or stiff. So overall, I absolutely loved The Bronze Horseman because of the last part, but there were also parts that were less thrilling and that I didn't really like. Anyway, I can't wait to read the sequel.
bookwife's review against another edition
2.0
Um... What?? This book has been recommended to me by so many people and there are a lot of book tubers who love this too.. but I did not like it.
**Probably spoilers**
The first half of this book made me ill. Tatiana was such a child. Before we found out her age I thought it was a preface and I thought Tatiana was 13-14.. but no she's a day away from being 17. So first negative there. So they find out that Germany is invading Russia and Tatiana just wants to read and do cartwheels. She is sent to get her families ration of food and she can't remember what she is suppose to get.. so naturally she got some ice cream.. DUH. And that is where we meet Alexander. He watches her eat her ice cream and then follows her on her bus.. not creepy at all. blah blah they talk and eventually he ends up taking her home where we find out that Alexander is seeing Tatiana's sister. Cool you would think that would be the end of Alexander and Tatiana... or Alexander and her sister but nope. Alexander keeps seeing the sister and he walks Tatiana home every day after work. So they are seeing each other behind the sisters back. And they are falling in love.. instead of breaking it off with the sister Alexander continues to see both even though he doesn't feel the same way towards the sister as he does Tatiana. Honestly I wanted to kill both of them. I want to punch a lot of characters but I haven't wanted to actually kill one in awhile.
Halfway through the book gets a little bit better. Not really good but better than the disaster the first half was. I won't say anything because I'm trying to keep it as spoiler free as I can but I was just bored the whole book. the WHOLE book. Also I listened to the audio and it was sooo long. It took me two work days where it usually only takes me about half a day to finish an audio (I listen to it at x2 or x2.5) Alexander also turns into an asshole. They fight over the dumbest stuff. I just couldn't do it.
2 stars is generous. I wanted to put the book down every 5 mins. I could not stand how they went behind her sisters back. It was completely pointless. Will I read the next book? Probably not.
**Probably spoilers**
The first half of this book made me ill. Tatiana was such a child. Before we found out her age I thought it was a preface and I thought Tatiana was 13-14.. but no she's a day away from being 17. So first negative there. So they find out that Germany is invading Russia and Tatiana just wants to read and do cartwheels. She is sent to get her families ration of food and she can't remember what she is suppose to get.. so naturally she got some ice cream.. DUH. And that is where we meet Alexander. He watches her eat her ice cream and then follows her on her bus.. not creepy at all. blah blah they talk and eventually he ends up taking her home where we find out that Alexander is seeing Tatiana's sister. Cool you would think that would be the end of Alexander and Tatiana... or Alexander and her sister but nope. Alexander keeps seeing the sister and he walks Tatiana home every day after work. So they are seeing each other behind the sisters back. And they are falling in love.. instead of breaking it off with the sister Alexander continues to see both even though he doesn't feel the same way towards the sister as he does Tatiana. Honestly I wanted to kill both of them. I want to punch a lot of characters but I haven't wanted to actually kill one in awhile.
Halfway through the book gets a little bit better. Not really good but better than the disaster the first half was. I won't say anything because I'm trying to keep it as spoiler free as I can but I was just bored the whole book. the WHOLE book. Also I listened to the audio and it was sooo long. It took me two work days where it usually only takes me about half a day to finish an audio (I listen to it at x2 or x2.5) Alexander also turns into an asshole. They fight over the dumbest stuff. I just couldn't do it.
2 stars is generous. I wanted to put the book down every 5 mins. I could not stand how they went behind her sisters back. It was completely pointless. Will I read the next book? Probably not.
afutt92's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of the most problematic books that I've read in a while. I'm giving it two stars because the first 350 or 400 pages were very good; the siege of Leningrad was well-researched, and you really began to feel for the characters. However, after that I absolutely HATED this book. What I hated about it was Alexander's manipulation and abuse being disguised as romance or protectiveness. Alexander and Tatiana's relationship checks off most of the markers for an abusive relationship. I'm lying a bit when I say that I've read the book; I read 700 pages and couldn't take it anymore, but 700 pages in a lot and it deserves to be marked as read. What I'm afraid is that an 18-year-old girl will read this book and think that this is what a loving relationship is supposed to look like, because it is decidedly NOT. I would not recommend this book to anyone ever. Or I would maybe have them read the first have of the book and completely disregard the second half; Alexander is actually quite sweet in the first half. But the second half completely ruined what was quite a good historical fiction novel.
afutt92's review against another edition
1.0
This is one of the most problematic books that I've read in a while. I'm giving it two stars because the first 350 or 400 pages were very good; the siege of Leningrad was well-researched, and you really began to feel for the characters. However, after that I absolutely HATED this book. What I hated about it was Alexander's manipulation and abuse being disguised as romance or protectiveness. Alexander and Tatiana's relationship checks off most of the markers for an abusive relationship. I'm lying a bit when I say that I've read the book; I read 700 pages and couldn't take it anymore, but 700 pages in a lot and it deserves to be marked as read. What I'm afraid is that an 18-year-old girl will read this book and think that this is what a loving relationship is supposed to look like, because it is decidedly NOT. I would not recommend this book to anyone ever. Or I would maybe have them read the first have of the book and completely disregard the second half; Alexander is actually quite sweet in the first half. But the second half completely ruined what was quite a good historical fiction novel.
tinyangelella's review against another edition
I read this when I had Covid a few months ago. I found this book on the ground one day when I was outside eating a bagel and I took it home w me. It’s really big so it’d be a good book to swat flies with. I also didn’t hate this book. It was a decent historical romance book tbh… I love those
thatgiirlnikki's review against another edition
4.0
I was hesitant at first, I’m 29 and the characters are younger than me (usually creeps me out) however, I found that being a strong independent and usually irritated by the “let me devote my life to taking care of you” mentality. HOWEVER, the journey the book took me on offered a new perspective and gratitude for my life and my amenities in this day and age. I read the reviews that were less than 3 stars and I felt as if the era and setting were forgotten by reviews and how it might seem that Shura is abusive or manipulative, it felt like those reviews missed that Shura was (in my opinion) pretty progressive. I could go on, but I did love the book and felt like I was apart of their life. I didn’t give it 5 starts because I felt there could have been more “spicy” moments sprinkled in.
skitter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5