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A review by ashywitchling
The Vengeance of Samuel Val by Elyse Hoffman
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I came across this book by chance while browsing for my next read and I'm so very glad I did. I'd never heard of this book or this author before today, but I will definitely bé reading more or their work now.
The Vengeance of Samuel Val is a book about humanity and monstrosity, in a world where both exist within each other. It's a book about vengeance and repentance, about grief and anger, about family and loss.
Shockingly, I found myself empathizing in a way with almost every character that appeared on page. Elyse Hoffman brings black to life the horrors of WW2 but, more than that, she forces you to stop, think and reflect.
The writing manages to be all at once simple, powerful and even sometimes poetic.
The characters and story are well constructed, which is even more impressive considering the shortness of the book
Finally, I really liked the sprinkling of Jewish "éducation", even though it can be a bit difficult to follow for someone with close to no knowledge of this religion.
I'm not in the habit of rating historical books and fictions, but this deserves 5 stars.
The Vengeance of Samuel Val is a book about humanity and monstrosity, in a world where both exist within each other. It's a book about vengeance and repentance, about grief and anger, about family and loss.
Shockingly, I found myself empathizing in a way with almost every character that appeared on page. Elyse Hoffman brings black to life the horrors of WW2 but, more than that, she forces you to stop, think and reflect.
The writing manages to be all at once simple, powerful and even sometimes poetic.
The characters and story are well constructed, which is even more impressive considering the shortness of the book
Finally, I really liked the sprinkling of Jewish "éducation", even though it can be a bit difficult to follow for someone with close to no knowledge of this religion.
I'm not in the habit of rating historical books and fictions, but this deserves 5 stars.