Author Kate Quinn has come out with another historical fiction epic focused on women and their role in World War II. Quinn even discovered the heroine of The Diamond Eye while conducting the research for a previous novel, The Huntress.
The Situation: Single mother Lyudmila Pavlichenko has a lot going on. She orders her life around her son, her library job, her school research, and her desire to finally secure a divorce from her husband, Alexei. When Hitler decides to invade Russia, Mila puts everything on hold to serve her country as a sniper, something women in many other countries could not have done at the time. Having been trained at the Osoaviakhim marksmanship school, Mila is qualified, despite what the male soldiers around her may think, and she lives by one simple rule for every area of her life: "Don't miss."
The Problem: War is terrible, for everyone involved. And being a female sniper in a land that is being invaded by Hitler adds a level of complication that many would not understand. It also does not help that she is stationed right where her Alexei can keep an eye on her. After many successful missions, and also several brushes with death, Mila is sent as part of a delegation to the U.S, with the Russians hoping to convince Franklin Delano Roosevelt to provide aid. The Americans are all too curious about 'Lady Death,' the female sniper who is said to have killed 309 people. But Mila has no idea that another enemy is waiting for her in this new country, one that is just as dangerous as the ones she has met on the battlefield.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set partly in Russia during World War II, and also in the United States as Mila tours the country as part of a delegation. Mila, also often referred to as Lady Death, remains as the central focus of the story, as most of it is told from her point of view. There are occasional moments when the reader is given a third-person account from someone who is less-convinced of Mila's ability, and more interested in using her for his own scheme. And then there are brief first-person entries from Eleanor Roosevelt, the first lady of the White House. As is usually the case with historical fiction, many events and people are real, and many have been fictionalized. But Mila Pavlichenko did exist, though many do not know about this celebrated female sniper.
My Verdict: I will assert that this is Quinn's most impressive work yet. The author does not shy away from complex and lesser-known female figures from World War II, and taking on the story of a Soviet sniper is no small thing. For many, hearing that there once existed a woman who was credited with over 300 sniper kills during WWII will cause wonder, if they can first get past the disbelief. What Quinn manages to do is tell the story in such a way that it is easy to move beyond the disbelief, and simply learn about a woman who was doing what she felt she needed to do. Every chapter is an adventure, with complicated issues, and both hidden and obvious enemies.
Favorite Moment: There is a moment when Mila is able to prove herself and her skills in front of an audience of doubters, even outshooting her husband.
Favorite Character: Eleanor Roosevelt has a significant role in the story, and ends up playing a huge part in making Mila more comfortable during her time in the U.S. Apparently, she is also a terrible (or awesome, depending on how you want to look at it) driver.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Quinn's previous book, The Rose Code, as well as Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.
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