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katiewhocanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Gore, Grief, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Death, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Antisemitism, Sexual violence, and Suicide
caitlin_123a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Body horror, Child death, Misogyny, Death, Violence, Racism, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Gore, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Suicide, Gun violence, Medical content, War, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
Moderate: Antisemitism
golelifsu's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Homophobia, Antisemitism, War, Gore, Death, and Blood
nadijya's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Alcohol, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Animal death, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, War, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Xenophobia
opossumom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, War, Death, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Antisemitism and Outing
aiyonna's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Alcoholism and Antisemitism
breanneporter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This novel is not for the faint of heart: it is heart wrenching and painful and describes in visceral detail the terrible gore and tragedy of war, as well as the long term effects, both physical and mental, on those who manage to survive. I listened on audio, which was excellent, but at times very difficult to picture.
As many other reviewers note, however, there is levity and humor and romance interspersed in the horror. There are triumphs, big and small, and there are beautiful depictions of acceptance and found family. One of my favorite parts of the novel was
Throughout the novel I kept googling WWI history based on Winn’s writing, and I feel like I re-learned so much from this novel that I’d long forgotten, and I’m so grateful for that. I would highly recommend to all historical fiction and LGBTQ fiction fans (even if you’re war-wary like me)!
Graphic: Death, Blood, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Grief, War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Alcoholism, and Homophobia
raisinreads's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Death, War, Violence, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Gore, and Grief
kiwij96's review
- 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
5.0
The characters were all privileged brats in the best possible way. You can imagine these boys existing and having these conversations, they're so realistic. The history was well-researched and beautifully written - the horror and the brutality of war. The romance was appropriately written for two teenage boys navigating a world where their love is forbidden, it was also age-appropriately awkward as most teenage love is.
This book broke me in more ways than one. By halfway my heart had broken maybe 5 or 6 times, and by the end I was just broken and sobbing.
Great pace, characters, history and plot. Would highly recommend.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Grief, Homophobia, War, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Classism and Suicide
Minor: Sexual content and Antisemitism
novelshire's review
5.0
Graphic: War, Violence, Gore, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Confinement and Antisemitism