Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

8 reviews

caitlinemccann's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, and Death

Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, and Addiction

kenzieburns's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It took me about a hundred pages to get into this book, but once I was in I was hooked! I've loved most of the other things Kate Quinn has written, so this was an auto-buy for me as soon as I saw it. I can always count on Quinn to bring me a heroic war story, and I love her focus on women and how they contributed to the War. I loved the character development Quinn put into Mila throughout the novel. It was really rewarding to watch her grow into her own and stand up to her asshole "husband" Alexei. Some of the plot was a bit unbelievable, which knocked off a few stars. Specifically, the whole "marksman" thing, especially because we all know the FDR wasn't assassinated and we know Mila makes it back to Russia, so like I knew how it would turn out? Idk, I feel like the story could have been just as good without that whole weird little plot, but I see why Quinn added it to explain Mila's creepy stalker dude on the tour. Overall, a good novel that did well tieing together historical fact and creative license/fiction.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and War

Minor: Domestic abuse and Abandonment

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. 

---

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

ka_ke's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

My thoughts and feelings regarding the Diamond Eye are difficult to explain. 

On the one hand, I chose one hell of a time to pick it up seeing as Russia has cruelly invaded Ukraine and they have been at war for 1.5 years at this point. Therefore, I find myself unable to sympathize with Lady Death and the Russian people as they struggled through Nazi invasion. 

On the other hand, the Diamond Eye is an excellent lesson in the theory of intersectionality and my understanding/belief in it. 

Lyudmila is a Russian woman, a student majoring in history, a single mother whose husband abandoned their family. She is then forced to become an infamous sniper for the Russian army.

So while I can support a woman doing what she feels is right and proper to protect herself and her country, I am torn by my disgust at the present day uncalled-for actions of Russia against the citizens of Ukraine. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Body horror, Classism, Blood, Death, Grief, Violence, War, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Murder, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Blood, Gun violence, Stalking, War, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Medical trauma, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Rape and Abandonment

Minor: Racism

smkelly1997's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Violence, War, Abandonment, Death, and Gaslighting

This was a good book not a great one! I would say the story is fascinating and I am sad I have never heard of this character before

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I love Kate Quinn's storytelling.  It wasn't as good as The Rose Code for me, because I find code-breaking to be more interesting than being a sniper.  However, the history was new to me and I always enjoy that.  The best parts of the book for me were the parts that were fiction (the author tells you at the end which parts are which.)  I would recommend this for anyone who likes her books or has an interest in the Russian side of WWII.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Vomit, War, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Medical content, Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, War, Abandonment, Cursing, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment