Reviews tagging 'War'

The Forest of Vanishing Stars, by Kristin Harmel

14 reviews

ashlynnreadsbooks's review against another edition

emotional sad

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Murder

Minor: Genocide

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This isn't my usual cup of tea, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. It has a different focus than other WWII novels, with much of the story happening in the forests of Poland and focused on survival. There's a sort of magical realism quality to the beginning of the story, and that kind of permeates through Yona's perspective.

The overall story didn't really go where I was expecting it to, which is always a nice surprise. It felt more like a character driven story than anything else. There are also a lot of discussions about identity and home, which is why a lot of people connect with the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Antisemitism, and Child death

Moderate: Sexual content, War, and Pregnancy

katesbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Antisemitism

maddiet425's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Murder, Violence, Antisemitism, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and War

Moderate: Pregnancy

jmdeal's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Violence, and Murder

mheiling's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Animal death, Grief, Genocide, Death, Blood, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Stalking

Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, Excrement, and Sexual violence

courtscruggs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Infidelity, Genocide, Kidnapping, War, Child death, Death, Racism, Murder, and Hate crime

cassalsace's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, Genocide, Antisemitism, Violence, Hate crime, Gun violence, and Grief

blueeyedshook's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

3.5

In a genre that often feels regurgitated and oversaturated, this story shines with originality and a unique perspective. Wow. This was like nothing I had ever heard. And while all of the stories of this time period and any war time books are heartbreaking, it was also beautifully done. It was a little difficult for me to get in to. I was kind of confused by the almost magical realism feel that the opening had. Almost like a Tangled back story…a baby stolen from parents by an old woman. But in this case the woman is trying to do something good, saving a baby from bad people who are parents. And in a bigger way, she saves her…not only her life but raises her and teaches her how to survive in the first and stay away from the enemies of war. And so she does. So many in fact that it felt slightly repetitive. But in the end, truly beautiful and heroic story.



Language: 3/10

Sex: 5/10 (one specific scene)

Violence: 5/10 (mild, especially for a war book)

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and War

toriwatson's review against another edition

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? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Antisemitism, and Death

Moderate: Infidelity and War