I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW HOW I COULD WRITE AN EVEN REMOTELY COHERENT REVIEW FIR THIS MASTERPIECE, BUT I WILL TRY.
I’m a sniveling mess, thank you very much.
Rose Under Fire is the companion novel to Code Name Verity. You don’t have to read Code Name Verity first but I would recommend it. (You won’t need to have read Code Name Verity either in order to read this review. So continue on, my spoiler-free friend.)
I put this book off for SIX months after I bought it last September, just as I did with Code Name Verity almost a year ago. I was so largely intimidated by this book. I was 100% sure that it would rip my heart out and smash it to smithereens, just like with the first. To put it simply: I just wasn’t ready to go through all that again. It took me a long time to recover from Code Name (here on out referred to as “CNV”), and I expect it will take me a long while to recover from this one.
Elizabeth Wein is the best historical fiction writer I have ever come across. Her research is perfection. Her words are so beautiful and poetic I physically couldn’t stop. I’m not sure if anyone can relate to this, but I just adore Elizabeth Wein’s work so much that it makes my whole body ache, and I’m breathless because she is just fabulous. You can really tell that every single word was given a lot of thought. If you intend to read an Elizabeth Wein book, do so with a box of tissues and a few hundred chocolate bars in a sad attempt at keeping your heart intact. But I really don’t care who you are, I will recommend her books to my very last breath. I think EVERYONE should read these.
Every character had so much depth, and that’s not even the right word for it. Karolina and Roza and Lisette and Anna and Maria and the stinking Commander and Nick and everyone in between. And MADDIE. Oh, my MADDIE CAMEOS.
There were so many characters, but did I ever get them confused or lose track of them? Nope. Because Elizabeth Wein is pure genius. The way she weaved together every one of her characters – some of them real people who survived the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbrück, all of them based on the real accounts and survivors – are such captivating and beautiful people and all I want to do is hug them and snuggle with them and feed them cake to their cute little hearts’ content.
And little ROSIE. Rose was such a flawless main character and I adore her. Of course she is not perfectly flawless – she does indeed have her flaws and her struggles – but that is what makes her flawless in my mind. She’s just so darn lovable. She’s believable and realistic and deep. I couldn’t get enough. Already I want to re-read this book, and I’m sure that I will. (And now I definitely need to re-read CNV.)
Now I’m also itching to read the real stories of Ravensbrück survivors; Elizabeth provided several pages of references in the back of the book. And the AUTHOR’S NOTE. I am forever in awe of Elizabeth Wein and her magic way of words. I’m not even exaggerating in the slightest. She is amazing. I beg you to read these books because I could talk for hours about them with you. You’re missing out if you haven’t read them yet.
| I will warn younger and/or more sensitive readers that this book has some heavy content. There is foul language and, as I’m sure you can imagine and expect, horrific details from real accounts of Holocaust survivors. If you set out to read this book, I just want you to be aware and keep in mind these things. |
TEN BILLION STARS, to the moon and back. five stars. ★★★★★
Have you read any Elizabeth Wein books? What do you think of them? And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?
… and finally, because I know what you’re all really reading this for… the giveaway winners!
The winner of the mini necklace from Paper Fury Ink is Hayden Beth! And the winner of the $10 Thrift Books gift card is Faith Potts! Congratulations, ladies! I’ll be emailing you with more info today. 🙂
*reads post*
*gasps because you make this book sound so over-the-top fabulous*
*goes to Goodreads to mark CNV and RUF to-read*
*realizes I already have and returns*
Golly, those books sound soooo good!! 😀 I’m finding so many awesome WWII recommendations here! 🙂
Awww, thank you so much for the giveaway win!!! 🙂
*grins because Faith’s comments always make my day* YESSS you already have them marked as to-read? Good! Wise girl. *nod nod* You must read them.
My goal in life is to read ALL the WWII books, Faith. So yes indeed – you must read them! I’m so happy you won! I just emailed your gift card! 🙂
Have you read any of Sarah Sundin’s WWII novels? Or Tricia Goyer? Both are incredible authors. 😉
Got it! Thanks! ^_^
Congrats guys!
Sounds like a really good book. I haven’t read the first in the series. Should I read it before I read this one?
You don’t have to, but I would recommend you do so. These books are fabulous!
Cool. What’s the first one about?
I completely agree with you 100%! This book is so emotional and heartwrenching that it’s almost difficult to remember that it’s based on real events. So glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥
Yaaayy fellow Rose Under Fire lover! Ooh, exactly. What a good way of putting it. Thank you so much, Zoe! 🙂
Elizabeth Wein is such a good historical fiction author. She always manages to combine strong woman, aviation, history, and friendships. I enjoyed Rose Under Fire more than Code Name Verity but they both are great. I never used to be a fan of historical fiction, but I am getting more into it. Mostly thanks to you. Haha. It would have taken me ages to read The Book Thief and Code Name Verity if it hadn’t been for you. And I would have never discovered Between Shades of Gray…… And that book is so great.
Speaking of Historical fiction I finished Salt to the Sea today. One word…. woah. It kept me interested and I loved the switching POVs. And that ending….. I can’t wait to talk to you about it once you read it.
Agreed 110%. Man, Brooke, can’t believe you think you’re bad at reviews – that was so eloquent! Well, I am the historical fiction queen. *hair toss* And you are my sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian queen. We help each other out.
I can’t waaaiiit to read Salt to the Sea. I bet it’s amazing!!