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dazzling_aurora's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
tammitammo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so emotional but it also reminded me how much I don’t know about history. About the Willhelm Gustoff, and The Amber Room, and the experience of eastern European countries in the Second World War! An incredibly important book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and War
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Violence and Antisemitism
paduckling's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book ripped my heart out
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
swaggynikki's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
It's about WWII so it's definitely dark, but it's very good. I really liked the beginning section where they were on the run, and it sorta had found family vibes with the different narrators getting to know each other throughout the story, which I really liked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Confinement
mimela78's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
This book is told from multiple perspectives as they rush to evaucate from Prussia in the face of the advancing Russian army. We have Joanna, a nurse who escaped from Lithuania; Florian, an art restorer from Prussia; Emilia, a Polish teenager who is pregnant; and Alfred, a sailor on the Wilhelm Gustoff. Each chapter changes perspective on who is telling the story of this little known tragedy. The ship Wilhem Gustoff was part of operation Hannibal, a large scale evacuation staged by the Germans in the face of the advancing Russian army. The Wilhem Gustoff was hit with three torpedos within hours of leaving port in the Baltic Sea losing the majority of the 10,000 souls on board. This trajedy should be as familiar as the Titanic but is hardly remember. I had never heard of it prior to reading the novel. The story is face paced and intriguing look at a little told part of history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Death of parent