I loved this one! I chose the audio version, so obviously my opinion may be different than one that read the physical version.
From the get go, I loved the way this story was written. A past meets present, retelling plus the ongoing. Elise tells both sides wonderfully. I was a little confused about Agnes in the beginning, but figured out the implications pretty quickly. I did find Elise referring to Agnes as one of the funniest pieces of such a serious story, which lightened things a little for sure. Agnes herself really was a very difficult thing to deal with, and I couldn’t imagine the terror Elise would face dealing with that.
The connection between Elise and Meriko, I mean, I miss that sort of friendship! To befriend somebody despite what others think of them, that’s a thing of beauty. These two girls, so different, come together to form a bond that’s everlasting. It really brings a tear to my eye to think of that sort of friendship. So pure.
Ralph, now, here’s a character I wanted to be something different. I wanted him to be everything Elise needed him to be, and he ended up as such a let down. I really hated him, if we’re being honest. He came along at the perfect time, and could have been someone perfect, but instead, he was one of the most selfish characters I’ve come across in a long time. Covering up that selfishness with acts that appeared selfless and caring. Ugh, he was the pits.
As for the War aspects of this novel, I could not imagine in my wildest dreams what sorts of horrors people like Elise’s and Merikos families faced, and survived. How terrifying it must have been for all of the families in these situations, to be ripped from the life they knew, rejected by everyone they’d ever known, treated like second class citizens and traitors?! It’s almost too much to hand at times in the story. I felt like these pieces were done very well, trying to bring light on pieces of history i wasn’t aware of.
The ending felt a little rushed to me, but that might be because I wanted more. I needed to know what was going to happen to Elise, and the ending didn’t give me that.
Real tears were shed in the reading of this book. I give it a solid 4/5*
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