Scan barcode
catorureads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While this book is disturbing and sad, I found the moments that will haunt me the most are the smallest little things. The In Memoriam pages in the newspaper. When you see 16 years old next to a name of a boy in the list of killed in action. When people who're both German and English are forced to fight against their kin.
The thing that will keep lingering in my mind however, is the very last page of this book. Without spoiling, it's another newspaper article of 10 November 1918. I think that says enough.
I did not cry but it was a very brutal book so make sure you're in the right headspace to read this.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Antisemitism
Minor: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
lc_27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
aloe_v'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? No
5.0
Intense and compelling read
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Antisemitism
arayo's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Sexism, Xenophobia, Excrement, and Vomit
mikkiokko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
War is depicted painfully accurate here. At times it is horribly difficult to read, but it sheds an important light on its reality and helps you empathize with the complexities of each character. Each character, down to the smallest and bleakest ones are also handled with extreme car. Every soldier, every family member, every student at Preshute, felt so incredibly real. It brought life to the soldiers who died in a senseless war, and framed them as individuals that cannot be defined simply by a number of casualties and wounded. Furthermore, I appreciate how Winn handled the end and the deeply painful and complex reality of war after it is over.
I am a reader that has a hard time with romance, I care for Ellwood and Gaunt so deeply that I don't have many words for it. It is hard to believe they are not real with how well written they are.
I will always be thinking about this book. Please read it. Thank you Winn for your story.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and War
Moderate: Homophobia
abookishgoth's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Death of parent
oliverlang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
(I was thinking about the rating of this as I went and it only kept climbing so I'm defaulting to 5 stars for the minute. We shall see if my eventual reread upholds this.)
This was stunning and incredibly managed to capture the guts and brutality of the front lines of war while also providing moments of light and warmth.
I'm on a constant quest for stories with "old-timey queers" and this delivered exactly what I wanted.
Not really a spoiler, could potentially be described as an anti-content warning but just incase you like to go in knowing nothing about what to expect:
I also really like when multiple languages come together and this book gave me French, German and Greek so that was very nice.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
kimmag92'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: Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia
zarahzoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lcg527's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail