Howard

When We Were Orphans is a character study and exploration of childhood trauma. This book made me cry. Absolutely in my top ten favorites of all time.

Is it strange that I loved this book more than any of King's other books?
Not that I mean I disliked the others – there are quite a few I really enjoyed! – but I genuinely loved the matter-of-fact way King talked about his life, writing, and publishing back in the day.
As silly as it might be to say, I'd love to see a “sequel” to this. I'm curious how his thoughts have changed, if at all, and how he feels about the publishing industry now.

I've rewritten this review a few times now. I wish I wasn't struggling so much to explain how much I love this book. I think it's because it feels so important to me that nothing I write seems good enough. That's how highly I hold Wolf Winter in my heart.

Wolf Winter is haunting. That's the best word I can think of to describe it. It's one of those books that stick with you, churns in your mind while you're reading it, and makes you feel bitter about people.

As someone who typically struggles with historical fiction, I was surprised by how hooked I got with this book. Each character had to navigate social norms and expectations while investigating the mystery, which added a layer of difficulty for them that I don't often see thrillers explore. On top of that, even the weather is oppressive, a looming threat to their survival. Everyone is struggling so hard to simply just survive that it becomes easy to see why so many crimes back then went unsolved.

All of this culminates into something heartbreaking and distressing because it mirrors the way people handle such situations even today. I know that sounds vague (I'm trying to avoid spoilers) but once you've read the book you'll get it.

Anyway, this review has been all over the place so I'm just going to leave it at this: read the book, it's amazing, especially during the winter months with a nice warm drink to keep you company.

I admit that when I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure if I'd actually finish it. I've never been a huge fan of stories that revolved around mechas for whatever reason. I'm also an adult trans man so I felt like I would be way out of the demographic for the book.

Anyway, I turned out to be totally wrong. I LOVED this book so much.

The relationship dynamic had me enthralled. The fight scenes, which I had worried would bore me, were so beautifully written. I listened to it as an audiobook so I had the benefit of hearing a really awesome narrator as well.

There were so many scenes where I empathized with Zetian or wanted to shake some sense into her or wished I could just strangle someone messing with her. However, I never felt that her mistakes were forced to compel the plot. It felt natural to her character development. If you like a complicated protagonist and emotional character growth, this book provides.

Highly recommend this book and I can't wait for the sequel.

This book is disgusting, unnerving, and upsetting. I loved every second of it.