Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - City of Thieves

This is a well-written but graphically brutal WWII novel that tells the story of two young Russian men thrown together during the war. Their conversations often tend toward coarse discussions about sexuality which seem to offer them only slight distractions from the horrors they witness and experience. If you enjoy WWII fiction, this one definitely offers a unique plot and perspective, and may be one you want to read, if you can handle the brutality and coarseness of the telling.

Content Warnings

sarah_reading_party's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

probably would not have read this if not for book club. great setting in WWII russia. parts of this book were intense and tough to read. i admit i skimmed over a few parts that made me squeamish. very well written.

Content Warnings

nmwolfe's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I started out not loving this book, but by the last 100 pages I was hooked. One of my favorite reads so far this year.

Content Warnings

mayaep's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Content Warnings

novelideea's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

Content Warnings

gailbird's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Content Warnings

capacity4wonder's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

All the women are treated as sex objects.

Why is Vika's story not the one being told??? She has such an interesting story and we barely get to here any of it!! Also, why does she get a makeover in the end? Why does she have to be super fem all of a sudden?? I get looking different after the war, maybe growing her hair out, but the way he described her seemed way too different.

If I were to teach an English class about Chekhov's gun, I would get them to read this book. Each of the guns went off at the at the most satisfying and devastating moments.

Content Warnings

morag's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Content Warnings

More...