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wardenred's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
The Hague Convention sought to make war more humane. We had reached a point in history where we believed it was possible to make war humane.
I’m legit not sure if I can produce a coherent review for this one, just as I’m still not sure if it was the right decision for me to read a war novel right now. But I’m kind of glad I did this to myself, because honestly, the book is pretty great. It’s as character-driven as you can get, and the character development is absolutely glorious—both for the two protagonists and the numerous supporting characters around them. Though of course I don’t know if “development“ is the right word, given the circumstances of the plot and the subject matter; more like, the act of breaking the characters down.
The bulk of the story takes part in the trenches and the prisoners of war camp, but there are the early chapters and the occasional flashbacks about the characters’ school days, and damn, do those add to the devastation. It’s just this constant juxtaposition of who these boys were, who they could have been, and who they had to become. I felt it’s particularly evident in Sydney’s arc, with some of the late-book scenes showcasing his worldview and personality traits being literally a dark mirror of similar scenes earlier in the book. And then there’s also Sydney and Henry’s love story developing from those school days through and past all the horrors of war, from juvenile misunderstandings to supporting each other through shell shock, and I can’t really put into words what that development did to me and how unfair the world was to those characters—and how much worth things could turn out to them at any point.
There’s no real happy ending here, but there’s hope—except knowing the century of history that followed, that hope feels bitter and misplaced. After the entire harrowing story, it was the very last paragraph that kind of broke me: the quote from an obituary for a fallen soldier, expressing a hope for a century of prosperity and peace as World War I comes to an end. We all know there was no such century.
All in all, this was a beautiful, painful, very well-crafted book that left me profoundly angry at the entire world that stubbornly refuses to learn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Classism, War, and Homophobia
nineadrianna's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, War, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Gore, Grief, and Medical trauma
moserstopheles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
lil_owl_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Gore
Moderate: Homophobia
puddlemud's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Loved it, but ouch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia
lostintime_73's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm crying. This was so beautifully written and I deeply adore both Ellwood and Gaunt. Absolute emotional rollercoaster of the best kind. I found all the references to little historical details really 'fun' to spot, clearly, Winn has put a great deal of research and time into this masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia
brynpemery's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was beautiful. Can’t believe it’s a debut, but I will be looking forward to what the author does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Blood, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Classism, and Homophobia
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
hannah1604xx's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
eleanormia96's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and War
sharanya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
God, what did this book do to me??? It has gently, lovingly rearranged my insides. I am in awe. The characters were loveable and their dynamic so gorgeous. Yes, the plot does follow aspects of a ~typical~ wartime novel in some respects, but it does so with absolutely magnificent writing, full of tenderness, humor, and vivid, gut-wrenching prose. A stunning, visceral, heartwrenching portrayal of holding on to the most aching, tender, beautiful parts of yourself in the midst of humanity’s most horrific moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Gore