A review by literaryliaisons
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

adventurous dark tense
  • 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

1.5

I went into this novel thrilled at the prospect of reading a women-centered piece of wartime fiction. But the parts of this book that were really compelling — namely, the story of the fictional spy Evelyn Gardiner and the characters that surround her — were overshadowed and burdened by the vacuous, one-dimensional first-person POV of Charlie St. Clair, an entirely unnecessary addition who is spoiled, whiny, and frighteningly insensitive/ableist. How I wish this story could've just been about Eve! Instead, the disjointed POV shifting and lack of tonal consistency made the entire reading experience feel like a nauseating seesaw ride. Add in the cultural insensitivity of "Finn's gypsy girl" (yes, you read that right), and you've got a mess on your hands. I sincerely hope that another writer will capture Louise de Bettignies's story more effectively in the future, because The Alice Network leaves quite a bit to be desired.
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