I always say my favourite thing about historical fiction is when I read about a topic I *think* I know quite a lot about, and am then proven wrong by a huge chunk of that history being smacked down on the table in front of me and providing a whole new angle. It is for this reason – the immensely clever way that Quinn captures what it means to be a woman and how frustrating it is to not be heard by men – that this book has lodged in my heart as one of the best books I’ve ever read. It would be impossible to separate this story of a female war hero from the overbearing presence of sexism, so if that’s not your jam, this ain’t your book (though I really hope it is, because 👀). There are so many moments when you roll your eyes and smirk because you know exactly what she means in all the little comments. From micro-aggressions to blatant misogyny, feminism is tucked away into every spare corner of this story and you just know that Quinn has written this for women. Not only is there a powerful, confident and inspiring woman at the helm of the story, but the nuanced grasp that Quinn has on feminism and the way she articulates it in this novel is unparalleled. Set during WWII and following a female Russian sniper, this book has so many things unique going for it. I fell in love with her writing after reading The Rose Code and was bowled over by the sheer brilliance of the story in The Diamond Eye. If you haven’t read Kate Quinn yet, then you are depriving yourself of some of the highest quality historical fiction out there.

The diamond eye book review