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cpierang's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
mandireads23's review against another edition
5.0
5 Stars
I absolutely loved this book and will 100% be recommending it until the day I die. It is a historical fiction about a real female Russian sniper from WWII and while there were elements added or embellished, the author took a lot from her actual memoir and intertwined it so smoothly. I really appreciated the authors note at the end to elaborate on the process and thinking behind her choices for the story. Do yourself a favor and read it!
I absolutely loved this book and will 100% be recommending it until the day I die. It is a historical fiction about a real female Russian sniper from WWII and while there were elements added or embellished, the author took a lot from her actual memoir and intertwined it so smoothly. I really appreciated the authors note at the end to elaborate on the process and thinking behind her choices for the story. Do yourself a favor and read it!
loralea_wark's review against another edition
4.0
The amazing story of a real woman’s role as a Russian sniper in WWII. Credited with 309 kills, she is largely unknown - I know I had never heard of her before. This book was detailed, interesting, and read like a nov rather than non-fiction, which I appreciate. I “read” it as an audiobook and the narration was fabulous.
chattynattyreads's review against another edition
4.0
Kate Quinn has to be one of my favorite historical fiction authors. This story was great… up there with my fav book by her The Huntress. Like learning about different parts of WWII… Russian sniper- Lady Death. 309 kills. Liked seeing Eleanor Roosevelt as part of this story too. Was a little hard to read about cities in Ukraine that the Germans were overtaking… much like what Russia is doing today.
jpianalt5121's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
marialorson's review against another edition
4.0
Took way too long to get in to (about 50% for me) but very good book once you were immersed in the story.
joshkinson's review against another edition
2.0
This book has piqued my interest to read Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin’s Sniper (Lyudmila’s real memoir). Her story is incredible and I’d be more inclined to hear it from Mila herself.
I struggled to understand the fictionalized heroine’s motives throughout (she hardly mentions the son she “went to war for” in the third act!)…
There wasn’t much I connected with: I found the love interests superficial and WWII dramatizations aren’t really for me…
Overall, the writing was okay. In places, it was overly corny. And unfortunately sometimes just outright bad.
I struggled to understand the fictionalized heroine’s motives throughout (she hardly mentions the son she “went to war for” in the third act!)…
There wasn’t much I connected with: I found the love interests superficial and WWII dramatizations aren’t really for me…
Overall, the writing was okay. In places, it was overly corny. And unfortunately sometimes just outright bad.
bellejayelle's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
linsvlasak's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. This is my second Kate Quinn book in a row. I’m a big fan of well researched and well written historical fiction with strong female characters and fascinating stories and this book about a WWII female sniper named Lyudmila Pavlichenko definitely fits that bill. The battlefront portion of the book was my favorite. The portions set in America were a little too drawn out. This passage from the beginning of Chapter 13 really spoke to me: “My memoir, the unofficial version: Snipers must make themselves calm in order to succeed, and that is why women are good at sharpshooting. Because there is not a woman alive who has not learned how to eat rage in order to appear calm.”