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illusie's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful story about doomed love during the 2nd world war. This was a page turner for me, so hard to put down this book. I love the characters and can't wait what happens in the next book
laura_mayfair's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the history here; I'm curious to see how the characters develop in subsequent books.
popgoesbitty's review against another edition
5.0
CWs: domestic violence, war, starvation
I opened this massive book expecting a pretty straightforward WWII epic. I ended up getting quite a bit more. From high-action battle scenes to some of the most romantic, sultriest writing I've ever read, this novel was a welcome surprise.
The characters are so beautifully developed. (Heck, with 800+ pages, how could they not be?) I'd love to call this book a romance because of the *hundreds* of pages of you-know-what, but by definition, it's a straight up Shakespearean-level tragedy. I cried...a LOT.
I opened this massive book expecting a pretty straightforward WWII epic. I ended up getting quite a bit more. From high-action battle scenes to some of the most romantic, sultriest writing I've ever read, this novel was a welcome surprise.
The characters are so beautifully developed. (Heck, with 800+ pages, how could they not be?) I'd love to call this book a romance because of the *hundreds* of pages of you-know-what, but by definition, it's a straight up Shakespearean-level tragedy. I cried...a LOT.
catbrigand's review against another edition
4.0
All I wanted was to walk in the Summer Garden and see Leningrad through Tatiana's eyes. I appreciate the author's unflinching depiction of the Siege of Leningrad and the story left me wondering how much horror one girl could experience.
elfbread's review against another edition
4.0
I have some mixed feelings about this book. At times, I really enjoyed it, and at other points I wasn't sure I was even going to be able to finish it. I enjoyed the first couple of hundred pages and the last couple hundred pages immensely. The rest should have been cut, honestly. The mid portion of this book, the endless descriptions of Alexander and Tatiana having sex, made me want to stop reading entirely. It felt like it would NEVER end and was the absolute definition of monotony. That truly took away from what would have otherwise been a 5 star book for me. It was so dreadful at times that I contemplated canceling my Amazon order for book 2, thinking there was no way I would torture myself again.
That being said, the ending of this book was powerful and enjoyable. I really liked how Tatiana and Alexander developed as characters and you did come to care about what happened to them. At times you would want to just slap them... so many problems could have been resolved if they would just talk for god's sake. I enjoyed the dilemma that Dimitri caused through out the book and this was an interesting insight into Soviet Russia during WWII, a time period I do not know much about and have not read much about. I will continue reading the series because of the underlying story, hopefully the trashy descriptions cease.
That being said, the ending of this book was powerful and enjoyable. I really liked how Tatiana and Alexander developed as characters and you did come to care about what happened to them. At times you would want to just slap them... so many problems could have been resolved if they would just talk for god's sake. I enjoyed the dilemma that Dimitri caused through out the book and this was an interesting insight into Soviet Russia during WWII, a time period I do not know much about and have not read much about. I will continue reading the series because of the underlying story, hopefully the trashy descriptions cease.
victoria_chiakmakis's review against another edition
5.0
Very well-written. This love story is literally one for the books!! The love Tatiana and Alexander have for one another can’t be described. Currently reading the second book in the series and although I’m not enjoying it as much, I must finish to see what happens to them both.
roglows's review against another edition
4.0
enjoyed this. at times the characters could be frustrating, but/yet they were consistent in word and action.
sometimes the prose was a little dramatic, but it was a very dramatic time so again - it fit.
sometimes the prose was a little dramatic, but it was a very dramatic time so again - it fit.
rshirtliff's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kaitlynwilliams96's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
andiemags53's review against another edition
5.0
This book......what to say. First off, it's a long read. But if you decide to start, please for the love of humanity finish it. It is heart wrenching, beautiful, horrifying, and I just LOVED IT. I've never read a Russian pov on WWII and it was so good. There are times throughout the book, I wanted to strangled a few characters, even murder them. But that makes this book so much better, because I was immersed into their world. I felt like I was right there with Alexander and Tatia, living through everything with them. I was unbelievably heart broken at the end, but it was the only ending possible in that situation. I get it, I still hate, but I get it.