A review by booktalkwithkarla
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

4.0

“But life isn’t always going to be war… and you’ll do yourself a grave disservice if you live your every moment, not just your wartime moments but your gentler ones, by a standard as harsh as never miss.”

Mila plans to be a historian. Instead history has a different plan. Based on the real life Lady Death, this historical fiction novel tells of Mila’s life as a sniper and doesn’t leave anything out. It is unimaginable what women and men experience in wartime. Mila eventually goes to the US as part of a propaganda team to enlist the aid of the US. Her visits with Eleanor Roosevelt were interesting. I enjoyed this novel and appreciated the author’s note indicating how many of the scenes were true, taken from Mila’s memoir. Beyond the war aspects, the lessons and messages about women, achievement, love, and vows applies to people in any time and place.