The Diamond Eye
Ratings58
Average rating4
It was hard to get into. The author style didn't click right for me. I couldn't really like Lyudmila.
The male characters are not very likeable.
I still finished it but kinda meh
I appreciated learning some lesser-known historical details, but this wasn't my favorite Quinn novel. It dragged a bit, or I just wasn't as enamored of the characters
Ticks off a bunch of historical fiction boxes for me:
- Previously unknown but extraordinary story
- Very faithful to fact as much as possible, while taking license in logical ways that make sense given gaps in historical record
- Interesting, well-drawn supporting cast
- Hard-hitting and powerful where it needs to be
WW2 books aren't everyone's idea of a good time, but I'd recommend this to anyone with a passing interest in a facet of the war that's traditionally less appreciated and understood by UK / US (myself included).
It's also not all guns, shooting and lads lads lads!
Large parts are excellent, small parts are a bit slower. But extra points for stepping swiftly over flash-forwards to get back to the action.
Wonderful book. Based on a true story with details filled in and some fictionalized changes. It's a good balance of reality and speculation.
Fascinating and very well written. Quinn's author's note is always so thorough and I really appreciate how forthcoming she is about which bits she has made up completely.
Another great Kate Quinn story. I thought it was cool that Kostia was half brother to Nina from The Huntress! That Mila was friends with Eleanor Roosevelt was really interesting. I'm curious to read the autobiography of Lyudmila Pavlichenko now!
Kate Quinn is amazing. She never fails to draw me into her characters and their stories. I had never heard of Mila Pavlichenko before, and I was as enthralled by the “girl sniper” as everyone else seemed to be in the novel. I enjoy historical fiction and the author finds interesting people and events and makes them her own. I've become a huge fan and can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
I really enjoyed this book with one caveat. I wish the main character would have been a fictional character, instead of Lyudmila Pavlichenko; since the overall story, especially the trip to the US, was completely fabricated. I had an issue with that part of the book. As a historical mystery, this is a very good book. I just would have preferred the book to be closer to truth than the made up storyline with the Roosevelt visit.