Having read Dust Child first, it was difficult not to compare the two. This story contained far more gore/violence and the writing style wasn't as powerful, for me. Nonetheless the stories that both novels reveal are haunting and heartbreaking. I have learnt so much from this book and fell in love with both POVs. It was so interesting to see how the political landscape in Vietnam was mirrored in the family relationships - how this impacted their love.