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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The stories, even fiction, regarding WW2 are heartbreaking. This book is no different. It stretches between deportations, concentration camps and war criminals. The non linear timeliness can be distracting at time however. Bit overall, a good read.
Thank you to Goodreads and Kensington Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Goodreads and Kensington Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an interesting approach to World War II, the invasion of Poland and concentration camps. The story starts in 1968 after Charles Ward has escaped Europe and built a new life. Berthold Werren, a German officer with whom he had a relationship re-enters his life. The story then flashes back to Charles’ experiences during and at the end of the war, while he and Berthold also re-establish their relationship in 1968 New York. It was an interesting exploration of love and survival. Some parts are incredibly difficult to read as some of the cruelty is unimaginable. However, there is also beauty in the story, and hope.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Of course a brutal read, but written in a beautiful, human way. I was impressed by the way that the reader is brought along through the graphic brutality of his adolescence with the same sense of survival above all that Karel/Charles has, and that the true gut punches of emotion come in the last section once Karel (and therefore the reader) has time to breathe.
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, War
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It’s no Sarah Waters. It had potential.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This story was brutal in that it was realistic. The entire time I was reading it, my blood was boiling at the Nazi officer, and I struggled to understand why the main character didn't feel more rage, didn't feel more murderous toward his tormentor. I kept having to remind myself that this is the way abuse plays out sometimes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence