katiesbeengone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Murder, War, Violence, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Genocide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Classism
ramalam98's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
This blew me away and was so much more than I expected it to be. I usually steer clear of World War books, too used to those endless straight romance books you see in charity shops with a random photo of a milkmaid on the cover.
It's an exploration of queer love in the 1910's, yes, but it's also predominantly a criticism of war, war propaganda, UK public school culture and the classism it foments, British imperialism, and more. It does not shy away from the horrors of war, both in the trenches and outside of them, with a large focus as well on the mental strain and PTSD it left in all who survived.
It's incredibly violent and a difficult read at times (and I discovered a new trigger of mine in books!! tw enclosed spaces i guess) but I absolutely recommend it for anyone who feels up to it.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Graphic: Genocide, Body horror, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide, Vomit, Violence, War, Gun violence, Mental illness, Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Outing, Homophobia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual content, Antisemitism, Animal death, and Child abuse
tanishah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: War and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Gore, Violence, Suicide, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Grief
Minor: Genocide, Antisemitism, and Racism