Status Updates From Firebird

I didn't know what to expect when a reviewer wrote that the ending was ambiguous. I thought that meant something negative, but it didn't. I enjoyed the ending and I liked learning more about the USSR during WW II. It was great to read a book by Elizabeth Wein since she's well known for Code Name Verity.

I can understand where some reviewers were coming from with the plot twist about the Romanovs at the end. I get why they felt that it was unnecessary, but I'm mostly indifferent. I'm still recovering and healing from so much that I can't bring myself to care, and I don't take joy in nitpicking the books that I read.

I didn't know about Stalin's Order 227. That was interesting to learn about but also intense and mildly disturbing.

Where does courage come from, and why does it not burn as steadily as loyalty and love? Loyalty and love are the fuel for courage. They never go out.

This is beautiful writing. I LOVE it. 😍🥰 Again, this is touching content in a book that covers a heavy subject.

'Loyalty means more to me than love.'

That's an intriguing insight from the Chief. I need to mull that one over some more.

I remember reading about the Hermitage Museum about ten years ago and learning about how it was damaged during WWII. This information isn't new to me, but it's still sad to have that reminder. It's such a gorgeous—and historical—building!! 😍

So I just had to bear the secret burden of my own stupidity and—for the second time—something that felt like creeping cowardice.

The first part of that sentence is an emotional gut punch. It resonates with me. I feel inferior so often and in so many situations. 😔

The soldier from the USSR that pretended to chase after Nastia was a total troll. Ugh!! Men. Even some of the fictional ones suck. 😖🙄

The chapters in this book are really short.

'You can learn from a fairy tale,' the Chief said gently. 'Look out for each other.'

This is a touching sentiment in a book about war. It's interesting too since the Chief carries herself as a badass.

Continued from my previous update.

This is why I enjoy reading historical fiction. I love to learn. 😁

I looked up the statue of the girl with the broken picture. The statue seems to have a lot of history. Unfortunately, I only had time to read a little about it.

I should look up some of the buildings and settings as I read about them. 🙂

I just had a small geography lesson, which was interesting.

I'm relieved that the NKVD was explained because I haven't read a historical fiction book that mentioned the NKVD in a long ass time!! It's been seven years. 😮😅

I appreciated the history lesson, but I already knew about some of the events because the Russian revolution intrigued me when I was in middle school. 😆😝

There isn't a lot going on. Nastia and the boys who she instructs/coaches have realized that Russia is at war with Germany.

I'm excited to read this book after I saw it at Barnes and Noble last Sunday. But I will not hesitate to add it to my DNF shelf if I read anything that's triggering or upsetting. I did with Fushigi Yugi and I know that was the right thing to do for my mental health.