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booknerd7820 's review for:
The Warm Hands of Ghosts
by Katherine Arden
Katherine Ardens' Winternight Trilogy is one of my favorite fantasy series, so I was thrilled to see that she had finally written a new adult novel.
I am not one of those readers who automatically expects an author's works to mimic their previous novels, so the fact that this one was set during World War I and had gothic overtones did not surprise me, although fans of her folkloric retellings should be aware that this particular book deviates quite a bit from that genre, although magical realism is a main feature. Arden's writing is exquisite as always and transports the reader into whatever setting she can imagine. So much is written about WWII that I feel that WWI often gets overlooked for the brutality that the soldiers endured and the emotional trauma that they had to live with during a time when mental health was a taboo subject.
The storyline of a sister, Laura, who was a field nurse returning to the Front to find out the mystery behind her brother's supposed death held a promising start and was nicely juxtaposed with the story of her brother Freddie, his escape from an upturned pill box and his journey thereafter. For me however, the plot moved rather slowly and I had a difficult time keeping my attention. Full disclosure, I am a mood reader and the heavy themes that permeated this novel may have influenced by ability to stay focused as the world seems a bit dreary at the moment.
Overall, I liked but did not love this one. It absolutely does not mean that I would not hesitate to read another of Katherine Arden's novels if given the chance, it's just that this one did not resonate with me. I am sure however, that others who love a mix of war stories and magical realism will absolutely devour it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Katherine Arden for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am not one of those readers who automatically expects an author's works to mimic their previous novels, so the fact that this one was set during World War I and had gothic overtones did not surprise me, although fans of her folkloric retellings should be aware that this particular book deviates quite a bit from that genre, although magical realism is a main feature. Arden's writing is exquisite as always and transports the reader into whatever setting she can imagine. So much is written about WWII that I feel that WWI often gets overlooked for the brutality that the soldiers endured and the emotional trauma that they had to live with during a time when mental health was a taboo subject.
The storyline of a sister, Laura, who was a field nurse returning to the Front to find out the mystery behind her brother's supposed death held a promising start and was nicely juxtaposed with the story of her brother Freddie, his escape from an upturned pill box and his journey thereafter. For me however, the plot moved rather slowly and I had a difficult time keeping my attention. Full disclosure, I am a mood reader and the heavy themes that permeated this novel may have influenced by ability to stay focused as the world seems a bit dreary at the moment.
Overall, I liked but did not love this one. It absolutely does not mean that I would not hesitate to read another of Katherine Arden's novels if given the chance, it's just that this one did not resonate with me. I am sure however, that others who love a mix of war stories and magical realism will absolutely devour it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Katherine Arden for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.