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xcampuskiddo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, Mental illness, Blood, Death, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Classism, Xenophobia, and Bullying
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Confinement, and Medical content
Antisemitism is on the part of characters in the book who are not sympathetic; the author does not either explicitly or implicitly condone antisemitism. Xenophobia is related to one main character being German-British and facing suspicion by others, and to one character of color who faces implicit xenophobia.lexcellent's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Violence, War, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Blood, and Body horror
rachel101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Bullying, Grief, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, and War
Minor: Classism, Grief, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Homophobia, Alcohol, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Bullying, and Death
basil_touche'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
But this is also a story about love. Gaunt and Ellwood's relationship throughout is touching as you see them pinning for each other in their youth, to their optimism for the war being destroyed once they reach the trenches and then how they slowly start to pick up the pieces after. It's interesting to see how each of their traumas display differently, and surprising too.
I listened to the audiobook and Christian Coulson does a wonderful job throughout. He gives each character a distinct voice, along with pretty accurate accents. I think it truly adds something to the book.
A haunting and beautiful debut for Winn.
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Blood, Child death, Violence, Death, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Suicide
Minor: Sexism, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Antisemitism, and Classism
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
The passages describing the war are brutal, visceral, and full of horror, as are the psychological torments inflicted on the men by the inhumanity they are forced to endure.
My only (minor) critique of this book is that occasionally the 21st century sensibilities of anti-colonial sentiment felt a little too on the nose coming out of the mouths of British public school boys, but that really is a minor nitpick.
Despite its heavy themes, this book was readable and engrossing.
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, War, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Bullying, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Medical trauma, Murder, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Gore
brynpemery'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? It's complicated
5.0
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
lindasoderlundd'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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Bullying, Child death, Suicide, War, Blood, Homophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Classism, Colonisation, Miscarriage, and Antisemitism
botanicpanic'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: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Antisemitism and Classism
gemin1reader's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Blood, Gun violence, War, Violence, Mental illness, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Classism
Minor: Sexual violence
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, War, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Ableism, Racism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Confinement, Homophobia, Bullying, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic