a fabulous novel, one almost but not quite worthy of a 4.75 (it's really closer to a 4.65/4.7, but let's not get pedantic.) the first part of the story is a beautiful sort-of love story, even if the novel feels (intentionally) pretentious at times. i'm not usually fond of a "they both like eachother but thinks the other doesn't" storyline, but i think it's employed well here. apologies for the spoliers, but i was absolutely shocked when gaunt "died." i genuinely believed the rest of the book would continue with ellwood only recalling gaunt, and perhaps even ellwoods death as well. it was utterly tragic, and yet the reveal that gaunt has not only lived, but reunited with living ellwood to realise they don't love each other in the same way anymore is infinitely more tragic. the ending in brazil is already not happy, but i almost wish the author had left their relationship fraught and tense. in any case, definitely a quick and enthralling read that leaves you feeling quite sick, both from heartbreak and gore. 

"it was amazing how much less affectionate "with affection" sounded than "affectionately""

"the hague convention sought to make war more humane. we had reached a point in history where we believed it was possible to make war more humane."

"it was dispiriting work, particularly when they had to scratch out with black pen all references to the men's blood-dimmed horror. fear was not good for civilian morale. ellwood wondered how the widows of britain would interpret the great smudges of the censorship pens, whethere they would imagine far worse things under the black ink than the muted versions of reality the men described."

"ellwood wanted to punch him. he wanted to make him bleed, and then tend to the wounds."