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jem_carstairs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.75
emily_ruzova's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.25
monkie's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, rounded up. I didn't like this one as well as the first one - it just seemed like Sarah made SO many questionable choices and prevailed only by luck, over and over again. I think the author did a good job mixing history with fiction and depicting the evils of colonialism but I didn't find the main character as compelling in this one. I would definitely continue reading the series though :) Also, my library only had this one on audio and the narrator's voice was a bit grating. I think I would have preferred to continue in text.
suekreads's review against another edition
3.0
Power-packed with action and intrigue, this is the long-awaited sequel to his bestselling novel, Orphan Monster Spy.
The story begins 8 months after the end of OMS, where Sarah Goldstein is a spy for the British army and considered the "Shirley Temple of Nazi high society." But she feels like she could do more.
So when her mentor, the Captain, finds out about a German doctor who's gone a little rogue in Central Africa and is creating a biological weapon that is so deadly that it could annihilate entire cities, well, naturally they'd go.
Their job is to find that doctor, and stop the weapon from being used on anyone else.
The story touches upon racism and sexism in that time period. There are other trigger warnings as well.
The story started out strong at the beginning, but fell a little flat in the middle, then redeemed itself at the end.
As in the previous novel, I found the unconventional setting during World War II a breath of fresh air.
A thoroughly entertaining novel!!
The story begins 8 months after the end of OMS, where Sarah Goldstein is a spy for the British army and considered the "Shirley Temple of Nazi high society." But she feels like she could do more.
So when her mentor, the Captain, finds out about a German doctor who's gone a little rogue in Central Africa and is creating a biological weapon that is so deadly that it could annihilate entire cities, well, naturally they'd go.
Their job is to find that doctor, and stop the weapon from being used on anyone else.
The story touches upon racism and sexism in that time period. There are other trigger warnings as well.
The story started out strong at the beginning, but fell a little flat in the middle, then redeemed itself at the end.
As in the previous novel, I found the unconventional setting during World War II a breath of fresh air.
A thoroughly entertaining novel!!
abiofpellinor's review against another edition
4.0
We've all heard the same sort of stories from WWII, fighting on the front lines, the fighter pilots and the blitz in London. What I haven't read anything about before, which is my own fault, is what was happening in Africa. Despite this being a World War, most literature, both fiction and non, is based within Europe. That is understandable to an extent, this is where things kicked off. But to have read nothing from Africa? Well that changed after I read Devil Darling Spy by Matt Killeen. The sequel to Orphan Monster Spy, this book follows our protagonists from the first book into Egypt and beyond as they attempt to track down a lethal disease that seems to be man made.
(this post is spoiler free for both books)
I think the way that Matt Killeen portrayed racism within this book was well done, it explored the white saviour trope and how our main character Sarah has implicit bias. I also enjoyed the "letters" that Sarah wrote in her head when things were getting too much. This book was a great progression on from the first book, whilst still taking things in a completely different direction. I adore Matt Killeen's writing, he is able to evoke powerful images in my minds eye as well as allowing you to empathise will all of the characters and their emotions.
I really do recommend picking both of these books up. Orphan Monster Spy delves into the life of young German girls, and Devil Darling Spy explores the less talked about aspects of the war and of white colonialism. Important topics to learn about and remember. I can't wait to read more from him.
(this post is spoiler free for both books)
I think the way that Matt Killeen portrayed racism within this book was well done, it explored the white saviour trope and how our main character Sarah has implicit bias. I also enjoyed the "letters" that Sarah wrote in her head when things were getting too much. This book was a great progression on from the first book, whilst still taking things in a completely different direction. I adore Matt Killeen's writing, he is able to evoke powerful images in my minds eye as well as allowing you to empathise will all of the characters and their emotions.
I really do recommend picking both of these books up. Orphan Monster Spy delves into the life of young German girls, and Devil Darling Spy explores the less talked about aspects of the war and of white colonialism. Important topics to learn about and remember. I can't wait to read more from him.
nolliesmeal's review against another edition
5.0
Think: I Am Pilgrim, but for kids. THEY HUGGED! THEY!!! HUGGED!!!!
nicolealycia's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t think this book was quite as good as the first one. There were some aspects of this book that I found to be a little too unbelievable for the kind of story it was.
It was still a very exciting read though and was definitely still a solid follow up to the first book.
It was still a very exciting read though and was definitely still a solid follow up to the first book.
melbsreads's review against another edition
3.5
Trigger warnings: war, antisemitism, racism, colonialism, vomit, illness, death, explosions, epidemic, medical experimentation on people of colour, gun violence.
This series is clearly trying to be a teenage girl James Bond in World War II, and it's doing a pretty good job of hitting the mark on that front. I was excited to read a book that deals with World War II in Africa, because I know very little about the impact of the war on Africa outside of Libya and the Rats of Tobruk (my great-uncle was among their number). And this did a great job of combining colonialism and racism with international war.
The middle kind of dragged for me - partly because I guessed who the villain was early in the piece and I just wanted to get to the point already - but the last third or so was pretty gripping. I'm interested to see if Killeen continues the series from here given the way the ending played out.
This series is clearly trying to be a teenage girl James Bond in World War II, and it's doing a pretty good job of hitting the mark on that front. I was excited to read a book that deals with World War II in Africa, because I know very little about the impact of the war on Africa outside of Libya and the Rats of Tobruk (my great-uncle was among their number). And this did a great job of combining colonialism and racism with international war.
The middle kind of dragged for me - partly because I guessed who the villain was early in the piece and I just wanted to get to the point already - but the last third or so was pretty gripping. I'm interested to see if Killeen continues the series from here given the way the ending played out.
maryrose23's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the first book a lot and though I don't think this one lives up to the first I did also enjoy it. I found it very educational on bits of the Nazis that I didn't know about and their weapons in Africa. I enjoyed the addition of the new characters and I think that Matt Killeen is very good at showing us the dark side of human nature and frankly that is terrifying. It's quite a thrilling, addictive little series and I look forward to reading more if there is another book.
amysreading_nook's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ 25%
This makes me so sad because I absolutely loved the first book in this series but reading this one now it just has such a different feel to it!! I feel like this is a series that could have stopped just at the first book and I just found that I was forcing myself to read this rather than enjoying it
This makes me so sad because I absolutely loved the first book in this series but reading this one now it just has such a different feel to it!! I feel like this is a series that could have stopped just at the first book and I just found that I was forcing myself to read this rather than enjoying it