TEST
The Diamond Eye is an excellent fictionalized retelling of the life of the legendary Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko (called Mila in the book). Lyundmila was an infamously deadly Soviet sniper (incidentally, born in Kiyv) who is credited with killing over 300 Nazis during World War II. She was so good at her job, she earned the nickname “Lady Death.”
The Diamond Eye tracks Mila’s determination to learn how to shoot alongside her life as a single mother trying to deal with her divorce and parent her son, Rostislav (Slavka). A difficult relationship with her mother pops into frame, as does a nervy, unsettled goodwill visit to America that feels ripped out of today’s headlines. I do know that Mila’s friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt was the real deal, and it’s quite a highlight of the book. Quinn does well blending fact into fiction, and the brew is pretty entertaining. There’s a lot of action and an intriguing spy plot that definitely works well.
The story moves from war-torn Russia to the elegance and glitz of postwar America. I am not entirely sure if Mila’s epic love affair with Kostia, a fellow soldier who serves as her partner in the field, is a hundred percent true to life, but Quinn definitely makes him feel like a part of Mila’s emotional landscape. Her truest love is Slavka, and this stays consistent throughout the novel.
Mila is a fabulous central figure. Warm, tough, playful, heartbroken and uncompromising, sometimes all at the same time, she is a wonderful person to follow around. The Diamond Eye combines a war narrative with an assassination plot and Mila’s domestic concerns (and the romance, which is a very nice bonus).
Overall, The Diamond Eye thrills its readers and gives them a heroine worth rooting for. It gets high marks for that alone.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer
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Grade: A-
Book Type: Historical Fiction
Sensuality: Kisses
Review Date: 26/03/22
Publication Date: 03/2022
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
Lisa Fernandes is a writer, reviewer and recapper who lives somewhere on the East Coast. Formerly employed by Firefox.org and Next Projection, she also currently contributes to Women Write About Comics. Read her blog at http://thatbouviergirl.blogspot.com/, follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thatbouviergirl or contribute to her Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MissyvsEvilDead or her Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/missmelbouvier
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Just finished this story. Wow, what an amazing woman. I agree that the plot was well structured. I never heard of this woman before so it was very eye-opening to read about this slice of WWII history.
It’s an excellent book, glad you liked it!
I am very much looking forward to reading this book. Both The Huntress and The Rose Code were hard to put down
I haven’t tried Quinn’s other work, but this book definitely got my attention so I think I’ll dip into her back catalog!
I’m not big on war books so been iffy on this but have heard so many great things about this author! Including from my own mother lol. Ordering this!!
It’s truly fabulous and worth your time!
Looks fantastic, thanks so much for the review!
Welcome!