I'm not totally sure what to say about this one. I absolutely loved The Snow Child, and I thought I'd love this one too, but it didn't grip me the same way. I think it's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. It's told in letters, which make it feel so grounded in history that I nearly Googled a bunch of things after finishing, even though it's fiction. But I think this style of narration was also the reason I had a harder time connecting to the story. It all felt very distant, and it was hard to really care about the characters the same way. Although I will say that I got misty at the end, so that's something! 

I'm glad I read it in winter, as it's so fitting, and the extra illustrations and photographs really added to the magic. And it is a little magical. I thought I was reading straight historical fiction, and then things got WEIRD. So if you're looking for historical fiction that feels super true to life with a big dose of magical realism, this would be a good one!

This is such a beautiful book, lyrical, mysterious, just gorgeous. It’s a story told in letters, diaries, military orders, articles, and advertisements, and includes drawings and photographs. The format brings an immediacy to the telling, drawing the reader into the tale. 

I was emotionally invested in all of these characters and it was hard to say goodbye when the book ended. I can’t recommend it highly enough. This is the second time I’ve read it and I look forward to reading it a third time.