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sylvia_reads's review against another edition
informative
sad
tense
fast-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? N/A
3.5
I have read multiple historical novels by Simone van der Vlugt before this book (though I read most when I was still in school) and I liked this one just less, though it was still pretty good.
There was no problem with the plot, if anything I found they plot really good and it really touched upon themes that really fit the time period the book is set in, so that was not the problem.
I also had no problems with the characters, I found them all fully fleshed out and interesting.
My main problem was with the narrative voice, I regularly found the internal monologues of the characters awkward to read and that made it harder for me to get into the book and care for the characters.
I was also not a big fan of the pacing, many parts went past really fast and I think that the book might have benefited from another 100 pages.
Nevertheless, this was an enjoying read, especially because the last third of the book did a lot better on these points than the rest.
There was no problem with the plot, if anything I found they plot really good and it really touched upon themes that really fit the time period the book is set in, so that was not the problem.
I also had no problems with the characters, I found them all fully fleshed out and interesting.
My main problem was with the narrative voice, I regularly found the internal monologues of the characters awkward to read and that made it harder for me to get into the book and care for the characters.
I was also not a big fan of the pacing, many parts went past really fast and I think that the book might have benefited from another 100 pages.
Nevertheless, this was an enjoying read, especially because the last third of the book did a lot better on these points than the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Minor: Homophobia and Rape
A big part of this book takes place during WWI in Belgium, so be prepared for descriptions of the things that happened there.