Reviews

Two Storm Wood by Philip Gray

Only show reviews with written explanations

monicagrace94's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

lib_hn's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

itsemuuu's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I loved this book — tons of interesting historical detail written in a way that didn’t feel forced and exposition-y, plus a tense and engaging mystery plot and moving commentary on the horrors of war and the effect of violence on the human mind. The writing was very engaging and I felt genuinely anxious at some points about what would happen next. The only reason it’s not a 5-star read is that I felt the ultimate explanation for the antagonist’s actions was rather cliché and kind of undermined some of the themes of the book.

Also I wish the author had leaned harder into the Heart of Darkness energy, but that’s just a personal preference

Content Warnings

florajb2068_hy's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

lilyspunner's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

duskk_novels's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The year is 1919. World war | has ceased as has the bloodshed that scarred the earth's roots for the last 5 years. The scene focuses on the abandoned battlefields of Northern France where army volunteers must carry out the soul-shattering task of attempting to identify over 500,000 dead soldiers through tags and possessions. On the face of this mission is captain James Mackenzie, leading his team through the hell-ravaged fields where the dead are littered everywhere and their souls forever doomed to haunt the grounds where their blood and bones decay.

Amy Vanneck, fiance to pacifist Edward Haslem, is determined to recover the body of her beloved who's missing and presumed dead. Eventually, Amy is dragged into a war of her own to find out what really happened to her fiancé. With Mackenzie, she embarks on the perilous journey and uncovers Two Storm Wood. Where 13 men have been tortured, mutilated, and murdered. And it appears her sweet, charming Edward played a sinister role in this hellshow.

A harrowing, gut-wrenching read that unveils the menacing realities of war and how soldiers are weapons used as a defence to bury the grim truth about what really happens on a battlefield when the guns fall silent.

A compelling story with many plot twists that explores the haunting complexity of violence and inhumanity. Along with this, the book details the mental issues, drug addictions and shell shock that soldiers had to combat to continue fighting the war that happened in front of their eyes as well as behind them.

A 10/10 masterpiece which I recommend to every reader. Cannot wait to reread.