A review by ask_dorrey54
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Generally a fictionalized version of Pino Lella's WWII experiences. If half of what is written as true, it's an amazing story of resistance. Pino, a young man from Milan, helps people in hiding escape by walking them across mountain passes and then later becomes a driver for Hitler's left-hand man, General Leyers, as a spy for the resistance. Difficult to tell what's completely true or not. There are many, many coincidental close calls and well-known people rubbing elbows. Much controversy can be found about the novel online... 

But regardless of that controversy, the main issue I had was with the writing style. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it doesn't flow and was hard to get into. I felt the same way with Sullivan's All the Glimmering Stars at first, but then getting into the story sorted out those bumps. I never quite felt like I could suspend my disbelief enough for this story to get into it like that one. It also ends super abruptly with an Aftermath Afterword that name drops a hundred people and is really difficult to follow. All in all, 2 ⭐ writing, 5/4 ⭐ story (if the events are real/which not all probably are). Average 3 ⭐.