A review by jblitz215
Zoo Station by David Downing

challenging sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I've been wanting to read David Downing for a while and finally took the plunge with Zoo Station. The premise of the book was good and the historical details were interesting. But overall I found it to be just a so so book. I thought the development of the main character was lacking, whereas some of the minor characters were better developed. I couldn't quite picture what the main character might look like, what he might wear, why his girlfriend (another key character in the book) is with him, etc. To me he kind of just felt like a device to tell the story that was told, and it doesn't necessarily make me want to read the rest of the series. That being said, if you like WWII-era stories (in this case set in the immediate buildup to WWII), the story itself isn't bad. I might have to give David Downing's WWI series a try instead. While not as well reviewed, it sounds more exciting.