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Unhinge the Universe
December 1944, the Battle of the Bulge SS Lieutenant Hagen Friedrichs is the sole survivor of a party sent to retrieve his brother—and the highly sensitive information he’s carrying—from behind enemy lines. But his daring rescue attempt fails, and Hagen becomes the prisoner. Allied command has ordered Captain John Nicholls to extract critical intelligence from their new Nazi POW. His secrets could turn the tide of the war, but are they real? John is determined to find out … and to shatter the prisoner who killed his lover during the attack on their tiny base. The deeper he digs, though, the more he realizes that the soldier under the SS uniform is just like a scared, exhausted young man who’s lost loved ones and just wants to go home. As captor and captive form an unexpected bond, the lines quickly blur between enemy, friend, and lover. And as horrifying rumors spread from the front lines and American soldiers turn their sights on the SS for vengeance, John may be Hagen’s only hope for survival. This 76,000 word novel was previously published.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
44 people are currently reading
1808 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
July 23, 2013
Another fabulous book by Aleks Voinov and L.A. Witt! I loved this one. They handled a tricky time period gracefully and realistically. A job well done!
I am very cautious about reading WWII books, especially those that have sympathetic German characters. Why? Well, I have lots of relatives that were in concentration camps, one of which is still living. Seeing those numbers tattooed on my great aunt's arm is a reminder of what she lived through and gives me shivers no matter how many times I have seen them.
Now, it is not to say that I don't read WWII books at all, I do (one of my favorites is The Bronze Horseman) but I approach them from a more... emotional perspective I'll say. I feel more invested.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. How these two authors managed to take a story of two soldiers on opposite sides of the war, make it into a romance, and make feel true?? Just wow. I was completely hooked from page one and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it.
I think that one of the most interesting parts of this book was the psychology behind it. The interrogation scenes with Hagan and John were fraught with such a potent mix of sexual tension, desperation, and fear. The power plays were fascinating to watch. My heart broke for Hagan and to see him realize that all that he fought for and cared about was falling apart... just devastating to witness. And to see John analyze him and try to break him down while at the same time growing increasingly sympathetic and attracted to Hagan was very emotional for me.
As I was reading this book I also felt incredibly on edge, as I do with all historicals where homosexuality is a serious crime. The possibility that these two men could get caught just had me tied up in knots. I was practically biting my nails off reading this one.
What really pulled this one off was the writing. It was seamless (no one would be able to tell that this was a collaboration), polished, and powerful. These writers are a force to be reckoned with.
This book was a standout for me. Very nice job Aleks and L.A. and welcome to my favorites book of 2013 list!
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I am very cautious about reading WWII books, especially those that have sympathetic German characters. Why? Well, I have lots of relatives that were in concentration camps, one of which is still living. Seeing those numbers tattooed on my great aunt's arm is a reminder of what she lived through and gives me shivers no matter how many times I have seen them.
Now, it is not to say that I don't read WWII books at all, I do (one of my favorites is The Bronze Horseman) but I approach them from a more... emotional perspective I'll say. I feel more invested.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. How these two authors managed to take a story of two soldiers on opposite sides of the war, make it into a romance, and make feel true?? Just wow. I was completely hooked from page one and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it.
I think that one of the most interesting parts of this book was the psychology behind it. The interrogation scenes with Hagan and John were fraught with such a potent mix of sexual tension, desperation, and fear. The power plays were fascinating to watch. My heart broke for Hagan and to see him realize that all that he fought for and cared about was falling apart... just devastating to witness. And to see John analyze him and try to break him down while at the same time growing increasingly sympathetic and attracted to Hagan was very emotional for me.
As I was reading this book I also felt incredibly on edge, as I do with all historicals where homosexuality is a serious crime. The possibility that these two men could get caught just had me tied up in knots. I was practically biting my nails off reading this one.
What really pulled this one off was the writing. It was seamless (no one would be able to tell that this was a collaboration), polished, and powerful. These writers are a force to be reckoned with.
This book was a standout for me. Very nice job Aleks and L.A. and welcome to my favorites book of 2013 list!
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
March 11, 2018
**Review removed due to personal reasons. Rating downgraded to one star.**
Important: The issue is not about A. Voinov**
March 11, 2018
Important: The issue is not about A. Voinov**
March 11, 2018
November 27, 2019
***4.5 Stars***
Gripping. Intense. Authentic.
I'm usually not really into WW II stories, but this one crept under my skin and wouldn't let me go. An enemies-to-lovers tale at its best.
My only complaint is that I would have loved to get an epilogue of sorts, something about Hagen and John a few years down the line. Okay, make that an entire sequel. ;-)
(Sorry, I'm not eloquent enough for more, especially not in a foreign language, since I'm sick AF and not really able to think. Reading was difficult as it is, but like I said, this bloody book held me hostage. ;-) )
Gripping. Intense. Authentic.
I'm usually not really into WW II stories, but this one crept under my skin and wouldn't let me go. An enemies-to-lovers tale at its best.
My only complaint is that I would have loved to get an epilogue of sorts, something about Hagen and John a few years down the line. Okay, make that an entire sequel. ;-)
(Sorry, I'm not eloquent enough for more, especially not in a foreign language, since I'm sick AF and not really able to think. Reading was difficult as it is, but like I said, this bloody book held me hostage. ;-) )
August 9, 2015
I have to admit reviewing UtU isn't easy at all. I needed a few days to settle down after reading the story, sort out my inner turmoil and now I'm racking my brain to find words which live up to this sublime book... Not that it's possible...
Writing a historical novel with the purpose to entertain and at the same time maintaining the historical facts is not an easy task and a real challenge.
Anyone who has read Aleks' Skybound knows about his great passion for history and in particular WWII. So it doesn't surprise that UtU turned out to be a well researched historical romance without the typical stereotypes and clichés. And he and his writing partner Lori Witt are such a great match that the reader doesn't even notice varying writing styles. :)
It's a story about two enemies falling in love... and not that this isn't tricky enough... it happens in the middle of WWII and the two guys are an American soldier... and a Waffen SS Untersturmführer.
If you are looking for heart stopping action scenes you're going to find them. Although the main part of the story is about two men discovering that there is a human underneath the uniform.
Strange, he thought, how it really was the same for the men on either side of this war. It battered them all the same, broke men in one uniform as easily as the other, and deep down, everyone just wanted it to be over. Maybe someday, it would be.
That's the quintessence of what I witnessed while reading the story. No matter who's the enemy and who's the ally... beneath the uniform they are nothing but human. With needs, wishes and dreams of humans.
John stepped a little closer, in a silent offer, and Hagen was about to scoff at the idea. He didn’t need . . . but when his arms closed around John, he suddenly realized, with complete clarity, that, yes, he did.
There are parts in the book that effected me deeply. At one point Hagen mentions his home and his family:
“I have family, yes.”
“Where do they live?” ...“Altenstein.” He turned and saw John’s face was blank. No recognition. “Small town. Eastern Prussia. If we don’t hold the line against the Soviets . . .” Now that didn’t bear thinking about.
Tears welled up in my eyes while reading this paragraph because I know that the lines didn't hold... I know it at first hand.
My mom was born near Allenstein (Aleks modified the spelling on purpose) in Eastern Prussia. When the Soviets invaded the country in 1945 the women, children and old people tried to escape on getaway trains. My grandmother was shot there, a young woman, who shielded my 4 years old mom with her body...
------
It was a fantastic, challenging read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put the book down. Lori and Alex did a great job not only in writing the novel but also in the field of research.
Hopefully there are sequels/prequels coming up. I would love reading more about the family Friedrichs: where they came from, what they went through, what they did after the war when our whole country was a bombed out ruin and the Trümmerfrauen rebuilt it with their bare hands.
Highly recommended!
September 11, 2016
So much tension of the very best kind courtesy of Voinov and Witt! This is the best enemies to lovers story I've ever read. The two MCs, John and Hagen, are real enemies; John is an American soldier and Hagen is a captive Nazi soldier.
This book is not as action-driven as I expected it to be, the plot hinges much more on psychology. The dialogue between the two is what propels the story forward. I thought this was a great way to reveal both men and it had me rooting for both of them to come out on top.
Great, great book. Top quality writing, very sexy, very satisfying. Highly recommended.
This book is not as action-driven as I expected it to be, the plot hinges much more on psychology. The dialogue between the two is what propels the story forward. I thought this was a great way to reveal both men and it had me rooting for both of them to come out on top.
Great, great book. Top quality writing, very sexy, very satisfying. Highly recommended.
July 29, 2013
This is a tandem review by Ilhem and I.
3.5 Stars for the Blog Of Sid Love
Expectations
“Unhinge the Universe”. We wanted to feel this. The shifts in power, the world toppling over and we wanted this story to be more than a history lesson with sex.
It was with wary trepidation that we approached Hagen’s character. As trusting as we were in the authors, Hagen being a soldier of the Waffen SS is by no means a detail. It was a welcomed challenge to look for the man behind the runic insignia and this novel needed to make sense beyond the "enemies becoming lovers" and “there is a man under the uniform” tropes. We were looking forward to the raw punch-in-the gut Voinov trademark and deep characterisation.
Himmler said to his men in April 1943
How does this weigh on a man?
This Is War.
The historical setting is an interesting piece of work, an intricate sleeve of details, reminding us that history is very much about past lives and humanity and more than battle dates and scholarly essays. Cleverly placed symbolism and metaphorical references provide the richness of the cultural background.
Genuine facts of life show a totalitarian ideology at work - menacing - certainly; but also well immersed in daily life and becoming mundane, assigning rational words to collective compulsions and giving a purpose to personal ideals, so that choices become obvious when in fact they’re robbed from you.
The world is shifting. History is in the making, and people are pawns in the grand scheme of things. Yet, they have their own agenda, dreams and reasons to fight. The Battle of the Bulge has already begun, the end of WWII is near, and men are fighting to keep their loved ones safe wherever they are, whoever they are...
The Games people play.
John is an American Captain and interrogator specialized in mind games. His trick is to latch onto people’s vulnerabilities and use them as leverage to extort enemy secrets which have the potential to save millions and end the war.
His previous prisoner, Siegfried, died without giving up his secrets, holding onto his ‘honor’ till his last blood choked breath. Now John has Hagen in the same seat. Regardless of the anger and revulsion he projects, John needs to empathize with the young man and look beyond the Nazi to do his job. When he finds Sieg’s baby brother filled with the truth, fears, and vulnerabilities that meet his own, the mind game begins...
There’s something about Hagen.
Ilhem tortured herself with contradictory feelings and all Shelley saw was a brave boy who was scared, disoriented and needed a hug. Ultimately, our wary approach to this man dissolved with John’s. At the end of it all, it was all about Hagen and his woven metaphor. His courage (Alone. One man against a base) his fight, his innocence, his grief and unwavering trust in an enemy makes him easy to like and an interesting feast for debate.
John’s character is repetitively focused on his conflicted feelings and the fact that he is a skilled interrogator is just an aspect. We both felt frustrated that the one dimension that makes this character interesting is toned down.
Unhinged.
The romance started as a closed-door duel between two cunning minds and ended up with an inexplicably fast attraction that sent us balancing on the verge of chic-lit territory when their arousal negates all the fear and rage of the situation. The power play is a tame to-and-fro until their secret sexuality puts them on an even playing field.
Yes, the Nazi machinery crushed everyone within reach and didn’t spare its tools. Yes, it is war and each man was capable of cruelty and liable to break down. When are we beyond unavoidable casualties of war? What does all this do to a man? What does it do to his enemy? What does it do to lovers, to their relationship?
In the end, all that could have been ambiguous, edgy, interesting but certainly difficult wasn’t fully developed and the relationship felt disconnected from the characters’ rawest reality. The sexual development nudged us in the right direction. The action was efficient in a Hollywood kind of way, and the writing pulled its punches. There is no doubt that it will suit the largest number and that it is well done, but the romance didn’t win us over.
We Conclude.
The historical element was great, we were in December 1944, somewhere in a world at war, where people lived, died, fought, fucked, hated and loved, but we feel the story barely went beyond a flirtatious power play and a sexual initiation.
It brings us back to our expectations, which are very much that. Ours. And not necessarily what the authors aimed at.
We recommend it if you want to be guided gently through this period and enjoy a softly erotic romance and entertaining, historically accurate adventure. Take the plunge. WWII is a topic where we all bring personal baggage, but be assured that it is treated with respect and restraint.
3.5 Stars for the Blog Of Sid Love
Expectations
“Unhinge the Universe”. We wanted to feel this. The shifts in power, the world toppling over and we wanted this story to be more than a history lesson with sex.
It was with wary trepidation that we approached Hagen’s character. As trusting as we were in the authors, Hagen being a soldier of the Waffen SS is by no means a detail. It was a welcomed challenge to look for the man behind the runic insignia and this novel needed to make sense beyond the "enemies becoming lovers" and “there is a man under the uniform” tropes. We were looking forward to the raw punch-in-the gut Voinov trademark and deep characterisation.
Himmler said to his men in April 1943
“we will never let that excellent weapon, the dread and terrible reputation which preceded us in the battles [...], but will constantly add new meaning to it. They can call us what they like in the world, the main thing is that we are the eternally loyal, obedient, steadfast and unconquerable fighting men of the Germanic people and of the Führer, the SS of the Germanic Reich”.
How does this weigh on a man?
This Is War.
The historical setting is an interesting piece of work, an intricate sleeve of details, reminding us that history is very much about past lives and humanity and more than battle dates and scholarly essays. Cleverly placed symbolism and metaphorical references provide the richness of the cultural background.
Genuine facts of life show a totalitarian ideology at work - menacing - certainly; but also well immersed in daily life and becoming mundane, assigning rational words to collective compulsions and giving a purpose to personal ideals, so that choices become obvious when in fact they’re robbed from you.
The world is shifting. History is in the making, and people are pawns in the grand scheme of things. Yet, they have their own agenda, dreams and reasons to fight. The Battle of the Bulge has already begun, the end of WWII is near, and men are fighting to keep their loved ones safe wherever they are, whoever they are...
The Games people play.
John is an American Captain and interrogator specialized in mind games. His trick is to latch onto people’s vulnerabilities and use them as leverage to extort enemy secrets which have the potential to save millions and end the war.
His previous prisoner, Siegfried, died without giving up his secrets, holding onto his ‘honor’ till his last blood choked breath. Now John has Hagen in the same seat. Regardless of the anger and revulsion he projects, John needs to empathize with the young man and look beyond the Nazi to do his job. When he finds Sieg’s baby brother filled with the truth, fears, and vulnerabilities that meet his own, the mind game begins...
There’s something about Hagen.
Ilhem tortured herself with contradictory feelings and all Shelley saw was a brave boy who was scared, disoriented and needed a hug. Ultimately, our wary approach to this man dissolved with John’s. At the end of it all, it was all about Hagen and his woven metaphor. His courage (Alone. One man against a base) his fight, his innocence, his grief and unwavering trust in an enemy makes him easy to like and an interesting feast for debate.
John’s character is repetitively focused on his conflicted feelings and the fact that he is a skilled interrogator is just an aspect. We both felt frustrated that the one dimension that makes this character interesting is toned down.
Unhinged.
The romance started as a closed-door duel between two cunning minds and ended up with an inexplicably fast attraction that sent us balancing on the verge of chic-lit territory when their arousal negates all the fear and rage of the situation. The power play is a tame to-and-fro until their secret sexuality puts them on an even playing field.
Yes, the Nazi machinery crushed everyone within reach and didn’t spare its tools. Yes, it is war and each man was capable of cruelty and liable to break down. When are we beyond unavoidable casualties of war? What does all this do to a man? What does it do to his enemy? What does it do to lovers, to their relationship?
In the end, all that could have been ambiguous, edgy, interesting but certainly difficult wasn’t fully developed and the relationship felt disconnected from the characters’ rawest reality. The sexual development nudged us in the right direction. The action was efficient in a Hollywood kind of way, and the writing pulled its punches. There is no doubt that it will suit the largest number and that it is well done, but the romance didn’t win us over.
We Conclude.
The historical element was great, we were in December 1944, somewhere in a world at war, where people lived, died, fought, fucked, hated and loved, but we feel the story barely went beyond a flirtatious power play and a sexual initiation.
It brings us back to our expectations, which are very much that. Ours. And not necessarily what the authors aimed at.
We recommend it if you want to be guided gently through this period and enjoy a softly erotic romance and entertaining, historically accurate adventure. Take the plunge. WWII is a topic where we all bring personal baggage, but be assured that it is treated with respect and restraint.
December 18, 2013
***Sensual intense non-stop goose bumps 5 Stars!***
In ancient Greek:
"��ώς μοι πᾶ στῶ καὶ τὰν γᾶν κινάσω."
Thos me pa sto ke tan gan kinaso
In modern Greek:
"Δώσ' μου πού να στηριχτώ και θα κινήσω τη γη."
Dos mou pou na stirihto ke tha kiniso tin gi
I prefer the version out of the book:
"Give me one fixed point and a long enough lever and I'll unhinge the universe..."
I fully support all exciting reviews.
What can I say? He did it again. Together with his friend.
I don't know the writing style of L.A.Witt to be able immediately to recognise her. But I can say for sure, that I can immediately recognise the writing of Aleks.
I think that nobody can perform this mental enemies-to-lovers game better than Aleksandr Voinov.
Another gem from his pen.
Sensual, intense, extremely hot, eyewatering...
It is not a science fiction - don't get me wrong because of my pics - but right now, after turning the last page, I can think only in the dimension of the universe...
Absolutely f*ing-tastic!
***I'd like to thank Kelly, my greek GR friend! For the translation and the transcription of this beautiful lines!!
February 19, 2017
Reread: still so goddamn amazing.
YES. I needed this book so badly. JJ, Lo-Lo, all the friggin love.
NTS: upgraded from 'perhaps' to 'to read'. Bribe Lo-Lo into making a podfic of the entire book instead of one scene. Play dirty if you have to.
YES. I needed this book so badly. JJ, Lo-Lo, all the friggin love.
NTS: upgraded from 'perhaps' to 'to read'. Bribe Lo-Lo into making a podfic of the entire book instead of one scene. Play dirty if you have to.
July 24, 2013
This is the ultimate enemies-to-lovers story, bringing together American Captain John Nicholls, and SS Lieutenant Hagen Friedrichs, in the period after D-Day, as the Allies pushed the German army back across Europe. The authors manage to make this unlikely pair work in a way that is plausible, and true to history.
In a failed attempt to find his captured older brother, Hagen is taken prisoner by John. Interrogation is aided by getting into your prisoner's mindset, and John is a man who tries trickery rather than brute force in his interrogation. Which means spending time talking with his prisoner. In the process, John and Hagen find their mutual attraction, and shared fear of discovery, bridging the gap between captor and captive. Despite all that they don't share, both these men have a secret that their own superiors would break them for, and both are becoming tired of war.
This story walks an amazing tightrope between realism and romance, between the adventure of war and the brutality of it, between longing and lust. What begins in hate and fear, gradually becomes a relationship of a very different kind. Despite all the strikes against these two, including the short time frame, the deaths they each carry, and their different allegiances, the authors made me believe in and root for the romance. Very well done.
In a failed attempt to find his captured older brother, Hagen is taken prisoner by John. Interrogation is aided by getting into your prisoner's mindset, and John is a man who tries trickery rather than brute force in his interrogation. Which means spending time talking with his prisoner. In the process, John and Hagen find their mutual attraction, and shared fear of discovery, bridging the gap between captor and captive. Despite all that they don't share, both these men have a secret that their own superiors would break them for, and both are becoming tired of war.
This story walks an amazing tightrope between realism and romance, between the adventure of war and the brutality of it, between longing and lust. What begins in hate and fear, gradually becomes a relationship of a very different kind. Despite all the strikes against these two, including the short time frame, the deaths they each carry, and their different allegiances, the authors made me believe in and root for the romance. Very well done.
November 25, 2021
Não tava esperando gostar de um romance entre um soldado alemão nazista e um soldado americano ( aquele tipo de romance que parece impossível de acontecer, mas para isso temos autores de MM onde estranhamente...TUDO É POSSÍVEL 😅). Esse livro me deixou meio culpada por gostar do soldado alemão, deixo claro que odeio nazismo e tudo relacionado à isso, mas Hagen foi um personagem complexo que gostei de gostar. Personagens complexos são os que mais chamam minha atenção numa história. Um personagem complexo numa história complexa de guerra, achei o enredo muito bem escrito e me passou verdadeiramente a sensação de medo de uma guerra. Só em imaginar viver em tempos assim, nos passa aquela sensação de pânico. Não posso deixar de dizer que Hagen e John tiveram uma química PERFEITA!! Sentia toda vibração toda vez que os dois interagiam, foi tudo muito tenso. Não poderia ser diferente num romance meio impossível. Foi muita química nesse casal, fiquei apaixonada pela interação. Mistura de tensão, medo, angústia e paixão. Dei 5 estrelas sem medo.. Adoro o impossível se tornando possível de um jeito muito bem escrito! AMEIIIII❤
Read
October 26, 2016Up on Amazon and everywhere else.
July 14, 2013
Trust a German and his writing partner to write a decent World War 2 novel without resorting to the usual (and much hated) stereotypical characters.
A surprisingly quiet but `hot` historical romance without heroic battle cries.
Loved it - thank you!
A surprisingly quiet but `hot` historical romance without heroic battle cries.
Loved it - thank you!
May 4, 2018
After reading quite a few enemy-to-lovers books, I can one hundred percent say that no-one, and I mean this truly, no one can do it better than Voinov.
When it comes to the M/M enemy-to-lovers trope, look no further because this author know what he is doing and he is mighty good at it.
Which also applies to this book. Eventhough this is not Special Forces-Soldiers (if you haven't read this book, I swear you are missing out), it fares pretty well for a book that is only 220-ish pages long.
Voinov manages to beautifully convey all the emotions from fear, desire, hatred, longing, lust, and every thing in between into 220 pages, and made it work.
Needless to say, my heart and soul is pleased
Not to mention, the setting being in WWII, Voinov manages to weave it all in such a simple manner that it does not feel like a history lesson, yet did not discount the direness of the situation.
When it comes to Voinov, his writing skills truly should never be questioned because he delivers. Every. Fucking. Time.
The only thing I find a tad bit lacking in this book is the angst.
Yeah...your girl here needed more angst.
I know, I know. It is a lot to ask for a 220 pages long book, I know. But still.
Regardless, it was a good read. I enjoyed
Ps. all of this lack of angsty read is making me weird. I shall be off with my unicorn to find more angsty-er reads
-------------------------------------------------
Pre-reading :
Hello Voinov,
We meet again. Unlike the last time when I went into one of your books unprepared, I am now prepared to have you slay my soul with feels.
Bring it on.
Blog : I write reviews for my blog too. Click here for more
When it comes to the M/M enemy-to-lovers trope, look no further because this author know what he is doing and he is mighty good at it.
Which also applies to this book. Eventhough this is not Special Forces-Soldiers (if you haven't read this book, I swear you are missing out), it fares pretty well for a book that is only 220-ish pages long.
Voinov manages to beautifully convey all the emotions from fear, desire, hatred, longing, lust, and every thing in between into 220 pages, and made it work.
Needless to say, my heart and soul is pleased
Not to mention, the setting being in WWII, Voinov manages to weave it all in such a simple manner that it does not feel like a history lesson, yet did not discount the direness of the situation.
When it comes to Voinov, his writing skills truly should never be questioned because he delivers. Every. Fucking. Time.
The only thing I find a tad bit lacking in this book is the angst.
Yeah...your girl here needed more angst.
I know, I know. It is a lot to ask for a 220 pages long book, I know. But still.
Regardless, it was a good read. I enjoyed
Ps. all of this lack of angsty read is making me weird. I shall be off with my unicorn to find more angsty-er reads
-------------------------------------------------
Pre-reading :
Hello Voinov,
We meet again. Unlike the last time when I went into one of your books unprepared, I am now prepared to have you slay my soul with feels.
Bring it on.
Blog : I write reviews for my blog too. Click here for more
September 16, 2014
“Strange, he thought, how it really was the same for the men on either side of this war. It battered them all the same, broke men in one uniform as easily as the other, and deep down, everyone just wanted it to be over.”
Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favourite themes, and no one does it better than Alexandr Voinov, in my opinion. Two strong masculine MCs, a great suspense and a lot of sexual tension. What could be better than that?
Hagen
John
“We don’t have to choose sides.”
I couldn't help but compare it to the Special Forces and found this book lighter, sweeter and more romantic. There is an edge here too, but the context is much less violent which would suit a more sensitive reader.
And, as always, Voinov's brilliant writing and a skilful story-telling make it a very compelling read.
***4 stars***
May 6, 2016
Kinda reminds me of a raiders movie.
I love WWII books, I specialized in WWII history for my degree. It is one of those givens in all the fiction books I have read, Allies= Good, Nazis = Bad. French Resistance =Good, Nazis = Bad. Germans forced to fight a war they don't believe =Good and S.S.=Bad.
Unhinge the Universe was such a left turn to all to other books it was a window into the mind of why so many went along with all of the atrocities we know happened. I know this is fiction but there is such a sense of realism to the story that you are in that allied camp in France and feel such concern for Hagen who has lost his brother and doesn't know who to trust. He is a man who was fighting for his country, for pride in his family and for their safety. How do you convince those people they are wrong. I loved the story, I loved the romance and most especially I love John and Hagen two men caught by time and circumstance beyond their control...
July 29, 2013
3,5 stars
Buddy read and joint review with Shelley. Thanks, Shel!
A tandem review is a great fun to write and a pain to post on two profiles.
Since we have many common friends and we wanted a common thread for the joint review, we decided to post it on one profile only.
So, here's the fruit of both our feverish brains and compulsive editing. Follow the link, Shelley is the hostess.
See you there!
Buddy read and joint review with Shelley. Thanks, Shel!
A tandem review is a great fun to write and a pain to post on two profiles.
Since we have many common friends and we wanted a common thread for the joint review, we decided to post it on one profile only.
So, here's the fruit of both our feverish brains and compulsive editing. Follow the link, Shelley is the hostess.
See you there!
June 3, 2019
Overall book rating: 5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.8
When all is said and done, I think this sums up my feelings.
I adored this story. I adored it because I felt it. Because it was touching and heartbreaking and warming and hopeful and sad.
I adored the two MC’s Hagen and John.
I loved how we get to see both sides of the “war”. The vulnerable side of soldiers “hardened” by battle and pride of their countries.
I can’t begin to say how much those moments meant to me. The moments when John saw more that a Nazi SS soldier. When he saw the young man, the innocence that wasn’t quite yet stolen away by all the bad things around them. The battle to be brave.
My heart broke into a thousand little pieces for Sieg, and for Hagen sitting in that chair. The moment was just so raw and emotional. It made me cry. And I fell a little in love with John right there already. For allowing his mind to even go there, even for a brief moment. To think of Hagen as “a person” even in those circumstances.
For some reason the razor really got to me. Man, it symbolized something special. Something human. Tragic.
War is wrong. It brings nothing but sadness and pain, and what makes it even more sad, is the fact that mind kind did not and will not learn from past mistakes.
I LOVED this story. I loved it so hard. It's one of those things that will stay with me.
It only took me as long to finish because I was scared Sh*/tless of those final chapters. (Yeah yeah I'm a wimp, I know. )
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.8
When all is said and done, I think this sums up my feelings.
I adored this story. I adored it because I felt it. Because it was touching and heartbreaking and warming and hopeful and sad.
I adored the two MC’s Hagen and John.
I loved how we get to see both sides of the “war”. The vulnerable side of soldiers “hardened” by battle and pride of their countries.
I can’t begin to say how much those moments meant to me. The moments when John saw more that a Nazi SS soldier. When he saw the young man, the innocence that wasn’t quite yet stolen away by all the bad things around them. The battle to be brave.
My heart broke into a thousand little pieces for Sieg, and for Hagen sitting in that chair. The moment was just so raw and emotional. It made me cry. And I fell a little in love with John right there already. For allowing his mind to even go there, even for a brief moment. To think of Hagen as “a person” even in those circumstances.
For some reason the razor really got to me. Man, it symbolized something special. Something human. Tragic.
War is wrong. It brings nothing but sadness and pain, and what makes it even more sad, is the fact that mind kind did not and will not learn from past mistakes.
I LOVED this story. I loved it so hard. It's one of those things that will stay with me.
It only took me as long to finish because I was scared Sh*/tless of those final chapters. (Yeah yeah I'm a wimp, I know. )
November 3, 2014
Great read. When you go down to the bones of this story, it really is hopelessly romantic.
No annoyances, no misunderstandings, just two men falling in love and trying to find some way to be together.
Wonderful.
No annoyances, no misunderstandings, just two men falling in love and trying to find some way to be together.
Wonderful.
July 18, 2013
Unhinge the Universe (UTU) is a very thoughtful fiction set during WWII. I had my apprehensions when starting a book that stars a Nazi soldier (after all, I had nightmares about Nazi soldiers when I learned about the Holocaust in school). But regardless of my preconceptions and bias, Aleksandr Voinov has taught me that soldiers are an invention of war, and there is still capacity to love despite what soldiers are forced to do. So yes, Hagen is a Nazi soldier, but John (an American captain) fell in love - not to the Nazi, but to the actual PERSON.
Despite the story being set in (mostly) France during WWII, most of the development between our two MCs is done in the span of a few days during conversations and interrogations. There were sprinkles of action towards the beginning and end of the book, but don't expect off-the-seat fighting-for-their-lives kind of action at every corner.
Both characters were loveable, and it was endearing to see their dynamic develop. And best of all: HEA!
Despite the story being set in (mostly) France during WWII, most of the development between our two MCs is done in the span of a few days during conversations and interrogations. There were sprinkles of action towards the beginning and end of the book, but don't expect off-the-seat fighting-for-their-lives kind of action at every corner.
Both characters were loveable, and it was endearing to see their dynamic develop. And best of all: HEA!
July 24, 2013
This has to be one of the most enthralling reads I have read to date. Intriguing, well balanced, beautifully written and packed full of suspense.
This book is a team effort by two authors and I must admit I'm always a little careful with collaborations because sometimes you can tell exactly which author is writing which part due to an abrupt change in style. I'm happy to say that this is not the case here. The book flows beautifully and if you didn't know any different then you would think it was one author. This author team rocks! It's historical fiction and for me one of the most important things is that the historical facts as such are correct. I didn't know or ever heard of Pervitin pills. After a quick google got my information, very interesting indeed. Another thing learnt for my arsenal of trivia.
The story begins with Hagen, an SS officer, who is sent into allied territory in France to find his brother and escort him back to Germany. His brother is carrying secret papers and these should not fall into enemy hands. When he arrives his brother has been captured by the allies and Hagen tries to rescue him. What he doesn't know is that his brother has already died in the hands of the allies and after his attempt fails ends up being a prisoner himself. Here the story really begins.
Hagen meets John, the allied forces interrogator, who is tasked with breaking him and getting as much information out of him as possible. Hagen is constantly chained and fixed to the chair in which his brother had died. This in itself is a horrible fact to bear for Hagen, but John also has his brother's shaving blade and taunts Hagen with this emotionally as the one last connection he has to his brother. This shaving blade is a symbol that runs through the book and also changes status from being an instrument of emotional torture to a symbolic gift of peace. Another symbol is Hagen's Iron Cross on his uniform that also goes through a similar transformation. An absolutely beautiful idea. During this stressful period both sides realise there is more to their emotions than just prisoner and interrogator. Emotions are high, but also uncontrollable. A scenario develops that neither side can deny but breaks every conventional rule known at the time.
I loved this part of the book. Observing the power play between both MCs, watching them psychologically dance around each other. Always trying to get one over on the other and playing mind tricks. Great writing! It was like reading an intense character study but seeing the MCs catching each other out, letting down their guard but still trying to resist at the same time. A true enemies to friends to lovers story. This gradual transition in the MCs was skilfully done with no jolts along the way when the relationship moved onto the next level. This is so important in such stories otherwise the whole thing becomes a little unbelievable. With these two authors everything is well thought out and when you get to the end of the book you don't even remember Hagen and John started out as arch enemies on opposite sides of one of the worst wars the world has ever seen. Two thirds into the book and it starts to feel that the most natural thing in the world is that these two guys belong together.
Something that also impressed me; we are dealing with WWII which means it could all be too easy for any author to fall into the stereotypical, clichéd trap of allies (good guys) and Nazis (bad guys). This I'm relieved to say was not the case. Each point of view or side was well balanced, dealing authentically with the horrors of the war, but realising there was good and bad to be had on both sides! Through Hagen we get to experience that not all Nazis were bad, some just victims of circumstance and brainwashing propaganda. Hagen finally breaks down when realising he had been set up and used as a sacrificial pawn by the Nazi command. We also learn that the allies were definitely not as innocent, righteous and heroic as everyone would like to believe. John has to defend Hagen several times against unmitigated hate attacks that as a POW contravene the Geneva convention and its code for handling prisoners respectfully. It was survival of the fittest.
"John stood and paced, tried to reconcile these emotions that were so at odds with each other. War seemed much more like a paradox than Clausewitz’s dogma that it was politics by other means. Politics didn’t figure here. Necessities, yes."
There was subtle criticism for both sides, diplomatically portrayed, thought provoking and well written by the authors with no blame. This for me gave the whole story a balanced and non-discriminatory feel without losing its character for that period. Also a wry and subtle sense of humour didn't totally escape my attention either, playing a little on stereotypes that both sides held.
"What an irony that the Americans couldn’t find anything good to eat in France, of all places."
“And here I thought Germans got their sense of humor surgically removed.”
“Maybe I escaped before they did it to me?”
The parting scene of Hagen and John for me was just beautiful and reduced me to tears!!! Gut wrenching and both guys in a hopeless situation with no way out. Do they get their HEA? Well, that would be giving too much away. You'll just have to read the book. However, I will leave you with one last quote from the book.
"Neither of them spoke for a while. Neither protested the other’s apology or outwardly accepted it, but the forgiveness was there in the tiny, warm space between their palms."
This book is a team effort by two authors and I must admit I'm always a little careful with collaborations because sometimes you can tell exactly which author is writing which part due to an abrupt change in style. I'm happy to say that this is not the case here. The book flows beautifully and if you didn't know any different then you would think it was one author. This author team rocks! It's historical fiction and for me one of the most important things is that the historical facts as such are correct. I didn't know or ever heard of Pervitin pills. After a quick google got my information, very interesting indeed. Another thing learnt for my arsenal of trivia.
The story begins with Hagen, an SS officer, who is sent into allied territory in France to find his brother and escort him back to Germany. His brother is carrying secret papers and these should not fall into enemy hands. When he arrives his brother has been captured by the allies and Hagen tries to rescue him. What he doesn't know is that his brother has already died in the hands of the allies and after his attempt fails ends up being a prisoner himself. Here the story really begins.
Hagen meets John, the allied forces interrogator, who is tasked with breaking him and getting as much information out of him as possible. Hagen is constantly chained and fixed to the chair in which his brother had died. This in itself is a horrible fact to bear for Hagen, but John also has his brother's shaving blade and taunts Hagen with this emotionally as the one last connection he has to his brother. This shaving blade is a symbol that runs through the book and also changes status from being an instrument of emotional torture to a symbolic gift of peace. Another symbol is Hagen's Iron Cross on his uniform that also goes through a similar transformation. An absolutely beautiful idea. During this stressful period both sides realise there is more to their emotions than just prisoner and interrogator. Emotions are high, but also uncontrollable. A scenario develops that neither side can deny but breaks every conventional rule known at the time.
I loved this part of the book. Observing the power play between both MCs, watching them psychologically dance around each other. Always trying to get one over on the other and playing mind tricks. Great writing! It was like reading an intense character study but seeing the MCs catching each other out, letting down their guard but still trying to resist at the same time. A true enemies to friends to lovers story. This gradual transition in the MCs was skilfully done with no jolts along the way when the relationship moved onto the next level. This is so important in such stories otherwise the whole thing becomes a little unbelievable. With these two authors everything is well thought out and when you get to the end of the book you don't even remember Hagen and John started out as arch enemies on opposite sides of one of the worst wars the world has ever seen. Two thirds into the book and it starts to feel that the most natural thing in the world is that these two guys belong together.
Something that also impressed me; we are dealing with WWII which means it could all be too easy for any author to fall into the stereotypical, clichéd trap of allies (good guys) and Nazis (bad guys). This I'm relieved to say was not the case. Each point of view or side was well balanced, dealing authentically with the horrors of the war, but realising there was good and bad to be had on both sides! Through Hagen we get to experience that not all Nazis were bad, some just victims of circumstance and brainwashing propaganda. Hagen finally breaks down when realising he had been set up and used as a sacrificial pawn by the Nazi command. We also learn that the allies were definitely not as innocent, righteous and heroic as everyone would like to believe. John has to defend Hagen several times against unmitigated hate attacks that as a POW contravene the Geneva convention and its code for handling prisoners respectfully. It was survival of the fittest.
"John stood and paced, tried to reconcile these emotions that were so at odds with each other. War seemed much more like a paradox than Clausewitz’s dogma that it was politics by other means. Politics didn’t figure here. Necessities, yes."
There was subtle criticism for both sides, diplomatically portrayed, thought provoking and well written by the authors with no blame. This for me gave the whole story a balanced and non-discriminatory feel without losing its character for that period. Also a wry and subtle sense of humour didn't totally escape my attention either, playing a little on stereotypes that both sides held.
"What an irony that the Americans couldn’t find anything good to eat in France, of all places."
“And here I thought Germans got their sense of humor surgically removed.”
“Maybe I escaped before they did it to me?”
The parting scene of Hagen and John for me was just beautiful and reduced me to tears!!! Gut wrenching and both guys in a hopeless situation with no way out. Do they get their HEA? Well, that would be giving too much away. You'll just have to read the book. However, I will leave you with one last quote from the book.
"Neither of them spoke for a while. Neither protested the other’s apology or outwardly accepted it, but the forgiveness was there in the tiny, warm space between their palms."
July 18, 2013
4.5 STAR SPANGLED STARS
I've been struggling with writing this review for a couple of days. There's no way for me to do this justice other than to just say what I liked/loved about this. There are plenty of professionals out there giving the dissection type reviews with flowery words.
I'll admit that first, Alek's style of writing just appeals to me. If I hadn't KNOWN he wrote this, I would have guessed it. There were lightly blown whispers of how I felt about the love affair in Special Forces. The sex is hot and yes, I am one of those shallow women that like a lot of sex in ANY story. (looking ashamed)
Now that homosexuality doesn't have to be hidden, it makes me wonder if we are going to hear more and more about soldiers on different sides of war, or even on the same side, falling in love. Man, I would sure love to be the person that was able to get them to tell those stories so that they could be written. I hope they are all written as beautifully as Alek has written this story.
I've been struggling with writing this review for a couple of days. There's no way for me to do this justice other than to just say what I liked/loved about this. There are plenty of professionals out there giving the dissection type reviews with flowery words.
I'll admit that first, Alek's style of writing just appeals to me. If I hadn't KNOWN he wrote this, I would have guessed it. There were lightly blown whispers of how I felt about the love affair in Special Forces. The sex is hot and yes, I am one of those shallow women that like a lot of sex in ANY story. (looking ashamed)
Now that homosexuality doesn't have to be hidden, it makes me wonder if we are going to hear more and more about soldiers on different sides of war, or even on the same side, falling in love. Man, I would sure love to be the person that was able to get them to tell those stories so that they could be written. I hope they are all written as beautifully as Alek has written this story.
July 31, 2013
Well what can I say?? Another Voinov/Witt collaboration that is going into my faves. 4.5 stars from me and
Shortie review cos there have been some pretty good ones done already especially Tina's, whose recommendation this book was
for you my lovely, and of course my 'Dentist in her spare time' friend Heather....thanks to both of you for sharing your personal stories.I got really engrossed in this novel, which was extremely well researched as you would expect from a self-confessed WWII nut (yes Aleks that's you) and his sidekick Ms Witt!! Likeable characters on both sides of the story, a great romance (and you wouldn't believe it in a WWII novel would you) and having been to the cemeteries in Belgium, Holland and France to pay my respects to all the dead, I'm still gobsmacked at how awful this worldwide conflict was.
January 16, 2015
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed the historical backdrop and the romance, but unfortunately a few things fell short. First and foremost, I wish we saw more of John and Hagen in enemy mode. They are sworn enemies and it constantly felt like they were right on the edge of real animosity, but they never took that leap. Their hatred seemed watered down and nothing unexpected really happened. The interrogations were a bit trite, and everything fell into place way too easily.
As far as the characters go, it was one sided for me. All the love goes to Hagen. Beyond the fact that John's an interrogator, there wasn't much else to him. There were many references of John breaking Hagen but in reality it didn't take much. I really wanted more of their mind games and something to back up the fact that John was suppose to be this cruel and callous interrogator, because it never fully came through. The mind games and the sexual play never pushed the boundaries.
Hagen, on the other hand, has this vulnerable, innocent quality to him. He continuously struggles with his loyalty to the SS versus his integrity as a person. There were some really great moments with Hagen. I loved when he remembered
Even though I enjoyed the romance aspect the story, I still felt some uneasiness in the beginning. Their instant attraction and lust took over and everything else seemed to fall by the wayside. I really wanted the bitterness and anger to last longer than it had, but there was no doubt about the passion they felt for each other and sparks flew when they were together.
Basically, I enjoyed the book but certain aspects only seemed to brush the surface when I was hoping for more.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed the historical backdrop and the romance, but unfortunately a few things fell short. First and foremost, I wish we saw more of John and Hagen in enemy mode. They are sworn enemies and it constantly felt like they were right on the edge of real animosity, but they never took that leap. Their hatred seemed watered down and nothing unexpected really happened. The interrogations were a bit trite, and everything fell into place way too easily.
As far as the characters go, it was one sided for me. All the love goes to Hagen. Beyond the fact that John's an interrogator, there wasn't much else to him. There were many references of John breaking Hagen but in reality it didn't take much. I really wanted more of their mind games and something to back up the fact that John was suppose to be this cruel and callous interrogator, because it never fully came through. The mind games and the sexual play never pushed the boundaries.
Hagen, on the other hand, has this vulnerable, innocent quality to him. He continuously struggles with his loyalty to the SS versus his integrity as a person. There were some really great moments with Hagen. I loved when he remembered
Even though I enjoyed the romance aspect the story, I still felt some uneasiness in the beginning. Their instant attraction and lust took over and everything else seemed to fall by the wayside. I really wanted the bitterness and anger to last longer than it had, but there was no doubt about the passion they felt for each other and sparks flew when they were together.
Basically, I enjoyed the book but certain aspects only seemed to brush the surface when I was hoping for more.
July 26, 2013
4.5 Stars
If you are looking for an enemy to lovers story this is one you do not want to miss. Here we have two MCs at opposite sides of a war. But not only are they enemies because of this war, they also have reasons to hate each other personally.
The journey this book takes you starts with hate, contempt and fear that evolves into attraction and affection and later love and passion. The authors do an incredible job at taking you through a gamut of feelings you not only get to read about but also experience.
This is an example of a seamless contribution by two authors that results in an great book. If you have read any stories by either author you will see how the synergy between these two works out to give you their best. I am really in awe at what these two can do when working together.
PS. Fans of Special Forces will find a scene very reminiscent of Dan and Vadim but nowhere near as violent.
If you are looking for an enemy to lovers story this is one you do not want to miss. Here we have two MCs at opposite sides of a war. But not only are they enemies because of this war, they also have reasons to hate each other personally.
The journey this book takes you starts with hate, contempt and fear that evolves into attraction and affection and later love and passion. The authors do an incredible job at taking you through a gamut of feelings you not only get to read about but also experience.
This is an example of a seamless contribution by two authors that results in an great book. If you have read any stories by either author you will see how the synergy between these two works out to give you their best. I am really in awe at what these two can do when working together.
PS. Fans of Special Forces will find a scene very reminiscent of Dan and Vadim but nowhere near as violent.
May 6, 2015
Aleks is killing me for the second time! (This time along with his friend Witt)
I can't stop thinking about little me, here in Israel, reading and loving a character that is an SS Nazi!
This book made me think about the characters and their individual stories, about the war and about human nature!
I loved both MC's and as almost always in Aleks's books, you feel every scene as if you are there. To me, in my head, and in my thoughts, WW2 is always in black and white and as I read this book my all being became black and white and only at the end my world became colorful again.
I loved the book for all that it is a great story and for it Being food for thought.
I can't stop thinking about little me, here in Israel, reading and loving a character that is an SS Nazi!
This book made me think about the characters and their individual stories, about the war and about human nature!
I loved both MC's and as almost always in Aleks's books, you feel every scene as if you are there. To me, in my head, and in my thoughts, WW2 is always in black and white and as I read this book my all being became black and white and only at the end my world became colorful again.
I loved the book for all that it is a great story and for it Being food for thought.
September 6, 2016
"When I am released, will you come for me?"
Two soldiers.
John & Hagen.
An American and German.
A captor and prisoner.
Two sworn enemies brought together by war and politics what changes their life forever.
One word: Beautiful!
Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt did it again!Another book on my favorite shelf.
Every mm fan should read this!
Two soldiers.
John & Hagen.
An American and German.
A captor and prisoner.
Two sworn enemies brought together by war and politics what changes their life forever.
One word: Beautiful!
Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt did it again!Another book on my favorite shelf.
Every mm fan should read this!
April 13, 2022
3.5 Stars
Good story but some of the plot was lacking/wasn't entirely believable. It wasn't emotional or angsty enough IMO considering the plot and felt slightly instalove. That being said, I did like John and Hagan together. The story is more focused on the romance than WW2, so don't be expecting a lot of focus or detail on the war.
Good story but some of the plot was lacking/wasn't entirely believable. It wasn't emotional or angsty enough IMO considering the plot and felt slightly instalove. That being said, I did like John and Hagan together. The story is more focused on the romance than WW2, so don't be expecting a lot of focus or detail on the war.
August 12, 2013
I tend to devour anything written by the author duo Voinov/Witt, and this book was no different, though the subject matter and themes were very different from the Market Garden series.
It's a credit to them both that I felt sympathetic to Hagen, despite him being a Nazi soldier, SS on top of that. History is told somewhat differently in Germany (where I'm originally from) than it is in the US for this time period, and the authors did a fantastic job in reminding the reader that while war is horrific enough on its own, there are human beings involved, with emotions and families and motivations of their own, the latter of which aren't always clear from the start.
And as much as I sympathized with John, the US soldier who takes Hagen prisoner and interrogates him, I also came to really care about Hagen as well, especially as the two get closer, the lines between enemy and friend/lover are blurred, and Hagen has to learn a horrible truth that makes him question his loyalty to the Nazi plan.
Leave it to Voinov/Witt to create romance amid chaos, warfare and horrific crimes against humanity. It's a gritty tale, but also a hopeful one. It teaches that we should never forget the horrible things that happen in war, but that we also shouldn't forget that enemy soldiers are human underneath their uniforms and armor.
This book was especially poignant because it's also a reminder that homosexuality was severely frowned upon at the time, and that both men would have likely been killed if their secret was found out. It's all too easy to forget that relationships such as John's and Hagen's existed in a time when such things were forbidden and illegal. When relationships such as this one had to be hidden and conducted behind closed doors. When there was no rainbow flag and no gay pride and no support, nor tolerance, for men and women who loved outside of society's norms.
The meticulous research that went into this book is impressive, on both the German and American ends, and I applaud the authors for keeping it authentic and realistic throughout. The detailed settings in France and then the camp pulled me right into the action. They made this part of history come alive for me. It was a pleasure to watch John and Hagen go from enemies to friends to lovers, as they fight their growing emotions and deal with the fallout. The scene towards the end where Hagen does that thing to save John was heart-wrenching and made me cry.
HFN is included, and it rounded out the book very well. The way John and Hagen communicate towards the end also fit very well with the circumstances, and I really enjoyed the reunion, with all that insinuated.
I love this author pair, and continue to be impressed with the quality of their writing. Not a word is misplaced, not a word is superfluous. They tell a riveting tale that sweeps you along, and you can't help but float on the river of emotions they create in their readers. The love scenes, while explicit, are done in a very emotional way, so they never feel gratuitous, but instead further the plot and the relationship.
A stunning depiction of an M/M romance amid the horrors of war.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return.
It's a credit to them both that I felt sympathetic to Hagen, despite him being a Nazi soldier, SS on top of that. History is told somewhat differently in Germany (where I'm originally from) than it is in the US for this time period, and the authors did a fantastic job in reminding the reader that while war is horrific enough on its own, there are human beings involved, with emotions and families and motivations of their own, the latter of which aren't always clear from the start.
And as much as I sympathized with John, the US soldier who takes Hagen prisoner and interrogates him, I also came to really care about Hagen as well, especially as the two get closer, the lines between enemy and friend/lover are blurred, and Hagen has to learn a horrible truth that makes him question his loyalty to the Nazi plan.
Leave it to Voinov/Witt to create romance amid chaos, warfare and horrific crimes against humanity. It's a gritty tale, but also a hopeful one. It teaches that we should never forget the horrible things that happen in war, but that we also shouldn't forget that enemy soldiers are human underneath their uniforms and armor.
This book was especially poignant because it's also a reminder that homosexuality was severely frowned upon at the time, and that both men would have likely been killed if their secret was found out. It's all too easy to forget that relationships such as John's and Hagen's existed in a time when such things were forbidden and illegal. When relationships such as this one had to be hidden and conducted behind closed doors. When there was no rainbow flag and no gay pride and no support, nor tolerance, for men and women who loved outside of society's norms.
The meticulous research that went into this book is impressive, on both the German and American ends, and I applaud the authors for keeping it authentic and realistic throughout. The detailed settings in France and then the camp pulled me right into the action. They made this part of history come alive for me. It was a pleasure to watch John and Hagen go from enemies to friends to lovers, as they fight their growing emotions and deal with the fallout. The scene towards the end where Hagen does that thing to save John was heart-wrenching and made me cry.
HFN is included, and it rounded out the book very well. The way John and Hagen communicate towards the end also fit very well with the circumstances, and I really enjoyed the reunion, with all that insinuated.
I love this author pair, and continue to be impressed with the quality of their writing. Not a word is misplaced, not a word is superfluous. They tell a riveting tale that sweeps you along, and you can't help but float on the river of emotions they create in their readers. The love scenes, while explicit, are done in a very emotional way, so they never feel gratuitous, but instead further the plot and the relationship.
A stunning depiction of an M/M romance amid the horrors of war.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return.
July 11, 2016
4.5 stars! Aleksandr Voinov never fails to wow me with his characterizations and he certainly did that here. Another incredible story, as I expect from him. :) This was my first story by L.A Witt, I look forward to more!
May 11, 2017
One of my gems I'm not gonna dissect and check why I loved it. I loved it and I guess that's the most I'll say.
And John and Hagen could finally Begin.
And John and Hagen could finally Begin.
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