Reviews tagging 'War'

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

103 reviews

alenert's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad

4.0

Switched from digital to audio around ~30%. Audio was great and had a full cast for all of the POVs. I honestly didn’t know much about this going in, so I didn’t know it was about a ship sinking (clearly I didn’t read the synopsis), let alone that it was based on a real and relatively unknown (by the general public) historical event. Goal of informing people of lost history through fiction: achieved. Loved the characters and, though it goes without saying that this not a happy story, I’m glad I read this and learned some new history. Also the shoe poet has my heart <3

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Child death, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Vomit

antonebooks's review

dark sad fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Child death, Xenophobia, War, Sexual violence, and Death

Moderate: Rape

chickaboogawah's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love reading historical fiction about things I know little about. This is a part of WWII that isn't well known. It was well written and had great characters. Alfred is possibly the worst character I've ever read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and War

sarahlove6's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: War, Murder, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Blood, Rape, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Animal death, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Vomit, and Genocide

penguin96's review

dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Religious bigotry, War, Racism, and Death

alexisrubio's review

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was emotional and such a great perspective of civilians during WW2. I would have liked a different ending from the characters point of view on how the made it to America and not a stranger who wrote a letter regarding the found back pack

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual assault, and Violence

allisonbraun's review

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Medical content, Genocide, Body horror, Pregnancy, and Death

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Antisemitism

lexluth0r's review

emotional sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Yet another masterful work by Ruta Sepetys. I think this one was the hardest one for me to read, solely because of the amount of child death that takes place. It is a powerful book about the largest maritime disaster in history, the attack upon and sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff. This story is told from four points of view; three refugees and one German sailor. The different points of view were very interesting in order to understand the history of the characters, as well as their struggles. I loved this book, and it left me thinking about it for hours after I finished it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Grief

Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Medical content, Sexual assault, and War

izzyhallow's review against another edition

dark informative

3.0

Another distressing read from Sepetys. Meticulously researched. Didn't have quite the same emotional connection for me as Between Shades but still a very engaging listen that had me spiralling on the tube. One of those books you have to make sure you're in the right headspace for as it gets pretty graphic about the horrors of war.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Child abuse and Rape

sandy_dunes's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Awesome book! The main characters were well-developed, the historical setting is really immersive, and I'm in love with the way that the themes are explored through the combination of both. Admittedly it was a bit hard keeping track of backstories at times, because all four main characters had pretty complex ones, but the gradual reveals were so satisfying! Oh, and of course I can't forget the amazing character dynamics <3

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault and Pregnancy