I really, really wanted to love this book but I’ll be honest that I struggled with it a bit. I think part of that struggle was i went into this book expecting a different way of telling the story than what this actually is. The other part of my struggle was just how heavy this book is, and was definitely something I was not fully prepared for. Both of those things are on me, though, and not the book itself.

The writing in this book is absolutely stunning. There are sentences that will make you stop and re-read them. I enjoyed the way that the main story was broken up into the chorus and interludes, underscoring the influence of the ancient epics.

I also appreciated the story itself and Mengiste’s goal in writing it. I was only vaguely aware of Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in WWII, and certainly didn’t know about the female soldiers that were an important part of the Ethiopian resistance. I am grateful to this book for shedding light on these events (and providing the world with a WWII novel not focused on the Nazis).

The brutally of this book is expected, given the subject, but I was not prepared for the multiplicity of moments of sexual violence, as well as violence in general. This really is a difficult read.

If you like books about war and/or books with strong female characters, you will enjoy this one

3.5 stars, rounded up

TW: lots, but the biggest ones; death of a child; sexual violence including rape; acts of war; antisemitism