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bethywilson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bookbuyingaddict's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ktann11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
cpmombie88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
4.0
rainydaydreamer's review against another edition
I just didn't like it. Usually I'd finish it anyway (maybe it gets better farther on) but I read ahead (as usual) and it didn't get any better. I guess I should explain why I didn't like it... Well for starters the main character was rather vulgar. I know I know Nancy Wake was a real person and her excessive use of profanity and her excessive drinking were signature parts of her personality, so I know the author was just trying to portray her character accurately, I just got tired of it. And I don't really enjoy this type of "historical" Fiction books to begin with, so I quit.
orangeweezel's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Loved it. Such a well-written and well-researched story. Full of great character building and amazing (true) adventures!
megsreads's review against another edition
4.0
War ravaged France. A female spy. Red lipstick armor.
In 1936, Nancy Wake is an Australian expat living in Paris and working as a journalist when she meets French industrialist, Henri Fiocca, and falls madly in love. Just after they marry, the Germans invade France and Nancy inadvertently (and then purposely) begins working as a spy for the French Resistance and the Allied Forces. Code Name Hèléne weaves together different timelines as Nancy assumes various code names—Lucienne Carlier, Madame André, Hèléne, and The White Mouse—in her resistance work. Armed with her weapon of choice, red lipstick, Nancy manages to claim a position of great power and respect in the entirely male-dominated world of tactics and war. The story of Nancy Wake is quite fascinating and is made exponentially more impressive by the fact that it is true!
Historical fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre and I’m not a fan of reading about war as I much prefer lighter adventures with stories I can escape into. But this read was a bit different from other WWII books I have read as it takes place almost entirely in France. I really enjoyed this alternate perspective instead of reading yet another book about Jewish persecution in Germany. There are still a few horrific portrayals of the Nazis to be sure, like the old woman being whipped on the wheel, the woman cut sternum to stomach in front of her small daughter, and the man who was tortured with the hot poker up the rectum. But overall this is more a story of strategy, female empowerment, and love. It was really neat that the author managed to weave together the different genres of historical fiction, spy novel, and romance and it made for a very interesting and engaging read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
”I had an option early on, of choosing a male pen name,” I tell him. “Why didn’t you?” “I decided that if I couldn’t get credit for my work, as myself, I wasn’t willing to give it to a man who doesn’t even exist.”
In 1936, Nancy Wake is an Australian expat living in Paris and working as a journalist when she meets French industrialist, Henri Fiocca, and falls madly in love. Just after they marry, the Germans invade France and Nancy inadvertently (and then purposely) begins working as a spy for the French Resistance and the Allied Forces. Code Name Hèléne weaves together different timelines as Nancy assumes various code names—Lucienne Carlier, Madame André, Hèléne, and The White Mouse—in her resistance work. Armed with her weapon of choice, red lipstick, Nancy manages to claim a position of great power and respect in the entirely male-dominated world of tactics and war. The story of Nancy Wake is quite fascinating and is made exponentially more impressive by the fact that it is true!
Historical fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre and I’m not a fan of reading about war as I much prefer lighter adventures with stories I can escape into. But this read was a bit different from other WWII books I have read as it takes place almost entirely in France. I really enjoyed this alternate perspective instead of reading yet another book about Jewish persecution in Germany. There are still a few horrific portrayals of the Nazis to be sure, like the old woman being whipped on the wheel, the woman cut sternum to stomach in front of her small daughter, and the man who was tortured with the hot poker up the rectum. But overall this is more a story of strategy, female empowerment, and love. It was really neat that the author managed to weave together the different genres of historical fiction, spy novel, and romance and it made for a very interesting and engaging read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
bekabeka's review
5.0
Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CE-JR1GArNY/?igshid=1r58q5usn0ff (no spoilers)
cctobia's review
5.0
I absolutely love historical fiction and find World War II books very interesting. I have read quite a few but none with a take like this one. The fact that this was based on a true story is absolutely amazing and the book should be read by every student studying world war II. It is such a different view and one of the best pro female books I have ever read. Will definitely have my children read it when they learn about world war II. The back and forth of past and present was such an interesting way to do the book. Enjoyed it immensely. Better than I thought it would be and highly recommend.