I wanted to read this book because it deals with the little known part of the end of WW1 with the Czechoslovak Legion and their work to secure an independent country of their own- Czechoslovakia. My sister in law is Czech so I wanted to learn a little of their history through this.

I liked the research that the author was able to do and while history doesn't offer the full extent, the author was able to weave fiction in it smoothly from what I could tell when I read.

I like the story of Nadia and Filip. Filip married Nadia to protect her when her whole family was executed. He was so patient with her learning the harsh life she was protected from as an aristocrat. They survive so much horror and utter  savageness of winters together and apart. I cried many times near the end with losses of life of characters that I came to love.