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aleareads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexism, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
kailiyahknight's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
wagrobanite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sarahflanders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Abandonment
Minor: Racism
smkelly1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
This was a good book not a great one! I would say the story is fascinating and I am sad I have never heard of this character beforekimveach's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
stephbakerbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What I love about her books is that, while yes she's writing about WWII—and you may think, do we really need another WWII book?—she always comes at it from a unique angle, a different facet of the war that is not well known. And this story is no different, focusing on a female sniper nicknamed Lady Death. Mila, with her love of books and history and her son, had my heart from the beginning, and I liked how her story was told. Her character arc was beautiful, and there's also great secondary characters here, particularly Kostia.
The author's note at the end of this book is a must-read. You can tell from the story how much research she put into this book, and her note explains which characters are real and what creative licenses she took with the story. Also, she brings up an excellent discussion topic about snipers—how they are usually seen as the more "evil" way to fight and why this is unfair. I hadn't really thought about it before, but I'm glad I have two groups I'm discussing this book with haha.
Anyways, I listened to this on audio and loved the narration! The Rose Code is still my favorite KQ book, but this was another excellent addition to her collection. Compelling characters, moving story, teaching me parts of history I didn't know. This book just further cemented Kate Quinn as an auto-buy author for me.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Racism, and Rape
sirissacgluten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
The Diamond Eye is almost a pseudo-autobiography, an engrossing re-imagining the official (state-sponsored) memoir of Soviet sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko. When German troops reach the borders of the USSR, Mila abandons her quiet life as a library research assistant and history student to enlist in the Red Army. The book moves between her time acclimating to the horrors of war as she hones her deadly sharpshooting skills and her subsequent goodwill tour across America.
4/5: I really enjoyed this one; it wasn’t my favorite of Quinn’s (The Rose Code and Mistress of Rome hold that honor), but it was impeccably researched and full of interesting characters. Fans of The Huntress in particular should love The Diamond Eye’s deeper dive into Soviet resistance during the war.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Antisemitism