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dkreading 's review for:
The Half Life of Valery K
by Natasha Pulley
If this is your first Natasha Pulley book, you're in for a treat, and if you're a fan of her other novels, you'll be likewise enthralled by The Half Life of Valery K. One of my favorite things about Pulley's novels are the main characters who are generally lonely, broken or breaking men that are struggling to do what they think is right in the midst of extremely trying circumstances. They're flawed, far from perfect, and sometimes perpetrators of shocking violence. The main characters of The Half Life of Valery K absolutely fit the trend and I loved all of their interactions!
It may sound strange to say that I deeply enjoyed this book when so much of it is grim, especially when you consider it's based on actual events. Radiation, human testing, imprisonment, torture, coercion, starvation -- it's all there and described through Valery's stark and sometimes disassociated narration. But despite all the horrors Valery has witnessed, he still retains a fragile resiliency and a store of tricks to help him survive and find simple joys and beauty. He's also clever and determined, and his piecing together the truth behind City 40's facade is every bit as thrilling as a spy novel, albeit with a lot more science.
At times harsh but always moving, The Half Life of Valery K combines history, science, and raw humanity in a compelling narrative that I could not put down.
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It may sound strange to say that I deeply enjoyed this book when so much of it is grim, especially when you consider it's based on actual events. Radiation, human testing, imprisonment, torture, coercion, starvation -- it's all there and described through Valery's stark and sometimes disassociated narration. But despite all the horrors Valery has witnessed, he still retains a fragile resiliency and a store of tricks to help him survive and find simple joys and beauty. He's also clever and determined, and his piecing together the truth behind City 40's facade is every bit as thrilling as a spy novel, albeit with a lot more science.
At times harsh but always moving, The Half Life of Valery K combines history, science, and raw humanity in a compelling narrative that I could not put down.
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.