I’m typically a big fan of WWII stories, but this one was rather disappointing for me. Throughout the whole book, it seemed that the protagonists simply had no distinctive personality. None of their relationships felt real. I was never really immersed in the story, even though the historical elements were rich and varied.

This is the first book by Rhys Bowen that I’ve read, and I guess my expectations were higher. Everything is clearly well-researched, but I didn’t feel connected to the story or the characters.

The pacing in the first 20% of the book felt odd to me—the timeline was oddly fast-paced and did a lot of telling instead of showing. And after the first 20%, the pacing was better (until the last 15%), but the story just went downhill—the characters’ situations got worse and worse to the point that I just wanted to give up. I get it. War is messy, and WWII was particularly devastating. But I found it hard to root for Madeline and Olivier because they had pretty much given up on themselves too. I would have DNF’d except that I really hate leaving books unfinished.

While the story did have a happy ending, I did not enjoy the experience of reading this book. I may try reading something by Rhys Bowen in the future. We will see.

Madeline is young when she meets Gil at university in Paris. They soon fall in love and deal with an unexpected baby. They are overjoyed and they manage. Soon France in under siege by the Germans and Gil asks Madeline to take their son Oliver and go to England where they'll be safe with Madelines father. While over in England, she is told to send Oliver to the country with his school.for protection but due to a silly error, Oliver is thought to be the wrong person and when a bombing happens on the train, Madeline is told that Oliver is dead. She then decides she wants revenge on the Nazis and enlists for spy duty. She quickly realizes it is harder than she first thought.
This story was filled with action, suspense, heartbreak and intrigue. It has it all and I loved every moment of it. It was a true depiction of what war was like and how it affected families. I loved that the author really went there. She wasn't afraid to make the reader gasp. Rhys Bowen is an author I've read before and one ill keep reading.

The Paris Assignment
Author Rhys Bowen
Available now!

Thank you, @getredpr, #lakeunionpublishing, @netgalley, and @authorrhysbowen, for my #gifted e- arc of this gorgeous historical fiction novel!

A Paris Assignment is a WWII story with a strong female protagonist on a mission not only to save her family but also to save her country. Filled with hope, love, and redemption, this powerful story grabs you from the start until its tearful ending.

Beginning in London, where Madeline meets her husband, Giles, then to France, where he sends she and their son Olivier to apparent safety from the Resistance, Bowen takes her readers through the unpredictable and harrowing times of war and makes your question all you thought you might do when faced with such unimaginable questions.

Believing she is providing the utmost safety for her son, the train he was on to the countryside was bombed, and there is no evidence to his whereabouts. Shattered, Madeline accepts a request from the French ministry to distract her broken heart and seen revenge against the Nazis.

Against all odds and twists of fate, Madeline perseveres in her fight as it takes her to unexpected and new places, meeting new people, and seeking a safe future for herself with her family close to her heart.

Exciting story of a young woman with nothing to lose, or so she believes, as she throws herself into a spy network in WWII France. It was a bit of a slow start, but I enjoyed the background of the female spies' training before they headed into the field.. Her son's story is an interesting look at orphans' experiences in Australia, although the mistaken identity trope irritated a little. Overall, it's another great book for Rhys Bowen fans and readers of semi-cozy historical fiction.

I loved this so much! It was such an interesting and well written story. I haven't read anything by Rhys Bowen, but I definitely will now! The characters were so well written and I was heartbroken and surprised by all the twists and turns! I had never learned about the orphan farms in Australia, and have done some additional research now. This was just such a beautiful story, I couldn't put it down! I have read lots of WWII Historical fiction, and this story felt new and different.

If you're a fan of Historical Fiction or WWII Fiction, this one is definitely for you!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy to read

Rhys Bowen’s latest novel brings the conflict and tension of World War II France to life. Following British Madeleine Grant, her son Olivier Martin, and her French husband Giles Martin from her college years at the Sorbonne to the thick of World War II, Bowen brings the German occupation of France, British intelligence’s recruitment of French and French-speaking women, and the growth of French resistance to life in the forefront of the novel. Bowen’s characters, of course, are spectacularly developed, realistic, and vibrant, and the perspective shifts between Madeleine and Olivier emphasize the scale and scope of the war and how it affected so many individuals. Bowen’s settings are critical to the novel, from the Sorbonne to England and back to France, and the characters live and breathe across the pages in England, France, and Australia. Bowen highlights the stakes and tensions of intelligence work in German-occupied France, and she also brings the intensity of SOE training to life. Bowen’s narrative is powerful, emotional, and incredibly immersive, drawing readers into the story and into Madeleine, Olivier, and Giles’ lives, experiences, and struggles. Every page of The Paris Assignment is fascinating, compelling, and engaging, making this an incredible historical fiction novel.

Londoner Madeleine Grant is studying at the Sorbonne in Paris when she marries charismatic French journalist Giles Martin. As they raise their son, Olivier, they hold on to a tenuous promise for the future. Until the thunder of war sets off alarms in France.

Staying behind to join the resistance, Giles sends Madeleine and Olivier to the relative safety of England, where Madeleine secures a job teaching French at a secondary school. Yet nowhere is safe. After a devastating twist of fate resulting in the loss of her son, Madeleine accepts a request from the ministry to aid in the war effort. Seizing the smallest glimmer of hope of finding Giles alive, she returns to France. If Madeleine can stop just one Nazi, it will be the start of a valiant path of revenge.

Though her perseverance, defiance, and heart will be tested beyond imagining, no risk is too great for a brave wife and mother determined to fight and survive against inconceivable odds.

Normally historical fiction isn't really my jam, but this story made me a believer. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Will recommend to others.

I enjoyed this very Interesting book set in WW2. Spies, secret agents and alot of tension, this book had it all. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Madelaine is in Paris doing her semester abroad at The Sorbonne when she meets the charismatic Giles. He warns her when they first meet that she shouldn't fall in love with her. But of course, they fall in love. While it isn't without its rocky moments, they live a good life until Hitler invades France.

I discovered Rhys Bowen a few years ago when I started reading her Royal Spyness cozy mystery series. It's my favorite, but I do enjoy her stand-alone historical fiction stories.

The Paris Assignment is an entertaining read. I read quite a bit of WWII fiction and I would place this novel more on the end of historical romance rather than the historical/biographical fiction end. But there is some historically accurate information that was somewhat new to me.

I really liked seeing the spy training. If you've read any of the novels based on real-life female spies such as Code Name Helene. You saw a little bit of the training. In that book, it was mostly the physical training. In The Paris Assignment, we see more extensive training in radio operations and at least mentions of munitions training.

I liked Madelaine, but I don't think there was enough depth to her character. Also, it bothered me how easily she told people about who she was and what she did in the war. The Official Secrets Act was only lifted in recent years which is why we are starting to hear more stories about the important (and dangerous) roles women played during WWII. These women never said a word about their works - many of them dying with their families never knowing their true heroism. But for Madelaine it was like if she fancied a man and he was sort of in her line of work then it was okay to tell them her true identity (during the war) and that she was a spy.

A few books have come out recently that focused on the evacuation of children but they usually stay in the countryside of England even though there were ships of children sent to Canada and Australia. I liked getting to see what happened to the children who were shipped to Australia in The Paris Assignment.

I don't know if it was because I read so much WWII fiction, but I found some of the plot predictable and a little too coincidental. Some of the plot points were wrapped up a little too neatly. But the story isn't without its tragic moments - there is a war after all. But I didn't feel the devastation of these losses.

If you are looking for a lighter WWII novel, then you should pick up this book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/08/the-paris-assignment-by-rhys-bowen.html

The Paris Assignment is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story. In this book we get to know Madeleine’s story before, during and after the war and how it affected her life and family.
I just recently started reading stories about spies during the war and it was very interesting to read about this part of Madeleine’s life. However, it was a bit extensive and it took me more than I expected to read it.
The part that was the hardest was Olivier’s. I was so angry about everything happening to him, it broke my heart. I felt really invested in his part of the story, perhaps because my mother was an orphan and it was to read how he struggled and how it was treated.
In the end, I liked how things worked out and I believe it is the ending it deserved. This was my first-time reading Bowen’s books and I must say it captivated me and I really enjoyed. I will definitely read more of her books.

This is a book that centres on World War II and I cannot help but feel a little saturated on this topic. The main character is Madeleine, a young English woman whose French mother passed away when she was still a child. Madeleine visits Paris to complete a semester at the Sorbonne and improve her French. While there, she meets Giles who makes her promise to return to complete her studies.
To cut through, WWII occurs and because of her French, Madeleine having fled France is appealing to the English military as a potential spy. Can she build the courage to re-enter a war ravaged France and report back on German activities?
The story is long, and while parts were quite intriguing, at times it felt too long and bogged down in details. While I did enjoy the story enough to finish it, it felt too similar to other books set in this era.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen is a book I will never forget! The characters and their stories will stick with you forever after you finish it. Madeline Grant is from London and is in college there. She has to do a semester abroad and is going to be studying at the Sorbonne in Paris. She speaks both French and English as her mom was from France and her Dad was from England. Her mom died when Madeline was 10 and her father quickly remarried an unhappy, moody woman. Madeline was quickly sent to boarding school and because she didn't care for her stepmother she wasn't too sad about that. Madeline missed her mother terribly but she had no choice but to go on.

When Madeline arrives in Paris she's concerned with money and stays at a hostel because it's quite cheap. She loves Paris but stays pretty close to the Sorbonne where she's studying and the hostel. One day she's sitting in class listening to her professor give a lecture when the door opens and a young man sits down next to her. Little does Madeline know that this will forever change her life. Giles, the young man, asks Madeline if she'd like to get out of here and get a coffee with him? At first she thinks he's kidding, but realizes he's not. Madeline hasn't done anything but study since she's been in Paris so she accepts the invitation. Giles takes Madeline to the most famous cafe' in Paris and shows her some of the sights. Giles only ducked into her class to get away from a girl he had recently broken up with, but he really likes spending time with Madeline.

Knowing that the semester is winding down to when Madeline must leave, she and Giles are spending as much time together as possible. Giles tells Madeline that she must come back after Christmas and finish her studies here. He tells her he can't possible live without her. They have fallen deeply in love. Madeline says she'll ask her father, but she doubts he'll let her return. Once at home it's difficult for Madeline to be away from Giles and Paris. He was going home for Christmas, too and feeling the same. Madeline brings up the subject of continuing her studies at the Sorbonne after Christmas. Her father doesn't like the idea and her stepmother is angry telling her that if she leaves she won't be welcomed back. She also tells her there will be no more money if she leaves. Madeline decides to leave anyway. She has made up her mind, packs her bags, and gets the money she has saved out of the bank. When saying goodbye to her father he tells her he will still send money to her as usual.

When. Madeline was home she found a book of her mother's and her aunt's address was in it. Madeline knew she had an aunt in Paris, but wasn't sure of exactly where. She wanted to try to find her, if she was still alive. Madeline hasn't seen her since she was 4 and she seemed old even then. Upon arriving back in Paris, Madeline rushes to Giles apartment but no one is there. She sees his landlord who tells her he hasn't come back and he owes her money. Madeline offers to stay in the apartment and pay the rent until Giles returns, but the landlady won't allow it. She says if he's not back soon she'll rent it to someone else. Madeline is very concerned and has no way of reaching Giles. She also has no place to stay. Madeline's aunt lives close to Giles' apartment so she decides now is as good a time as any to try to find her.

Madeline finds the address that was in her mom's book and goes to the door. She steps in and sees her aunt's name is still on one of the mailboxes. She pushes the button to be let in and hears a buzz allowing her to enter. Madeline takes the lift up and she sees a door open down the hall. Her aunt calls out who's there? Madeline tells her who she is and that she's Louise's daughter. Her aunt is thrilled to see her as it's been so long. She invites her in and makes them both a cup of tea. Madeline's aunt look much older and thinner, but she has that same feisty attitude that she remembers. As they chat away, Madeline's aunt tells her she can stay until she finds a place as she has a spare room.
Madeline helps her out with grocery shopping and some cooking. She doesn't want to be a bother to her aunt.

A few days later Madeline is coming out of class when she looks up and sees Giles waiting for her! They run to each other and embrace so happy to be back together! Giles apologizes for returning late but explains he fell ill with a high fever. He was in bed over the holidays and quite awhile longer until he was finally able to come back. When Giles finds out that Madeline has not found an apartment he invites her to move in with him. They love being together so it seems like the next logical step. Her aunt wishes her well and tells her to visit when she can. Giles and Madeline are very happy and have now made love many times since living together. Everything seems perfect until one day Madeline feels sick in the morning and isn't sure when her last period was. After a few problems, Madeline and Giles decide to get married. Giles' mother has disowned him for marrying outside of the arranged marriage so he can't count on her help for a bigger apartment and baby supplies.

Madeline gives birth to a baby boy, Olivier Martin, and they are a very happy family. Once Madeline tells her father that he's a grandfather he sends a large check to help them out. He wishes that Madeline had let them know about the wedding as he would've like to come. Giles and Madeline find a bigger apartment and get everything they need for Olivier. Giles quits school and decides he needs to get a job to bring in money to support his family. He finds a job as a journalist at a local paper that has room for advancement. Madeline, Giles, and Olivier go to the Aunt's apartment every Sunday for dinner and she loves having them. Everything seems good until the Germans decide to invade France. Giles is very concerned and makes Madeline promise that if he tells her to go back to London, she must go for their safety. England is much better equipped to protect its citizens than France. She promises but hopes it never comes to that.

Hitler and the Nazis are bombing more and getting closer to Paris. Giles is going to work with the Resistance against them and tells Madeline it's time for her to take Olivier to her family home in London. It's the hardest thing that Madeline's ever had to do, but she agrees it's time. As she and Olivier get on the train she hugs and kisses Giles hoping she'll see him again! Madeline's dad is thrilled to have her and Olivier home and even her stepmother seems okay, Madeline takes a job teaching French at a nearby school and Olivier attends a private school as he's very smart, loves to read, and learn new things. His teachers tell Madeline what a good student he is and she knows this from how hard he works on his studies at home.

As things get worse in London with German soldiers on the streets and bombs getting closer to home, Olivier's school offers to take students to the country where it's safer and there's less bombing. Madeline doesn't want to send Olivier away like she was, but if he'll be safer she thinks she should. It's only temporary until things improve. The worst thing happens as the news reports that the train carrying the children to the country was hit by a bomb and many are dead! Madeline is filled with guilt and is hoping that her son was one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, she is told that Oliver Martin (his English name) is dead. Madeline breaks down and can't see through her grief. She brought Olivier here to be safe and sent him away to be safer, and now he's dead! Her hatred of the Germans has gotten so bad that she now wants to join the government effort to help. She was approached a couple of weeks ago because she speaks French so well and is familiar with Paris. She calls the Colonel and accepts the job. She will go into training very soon.

Madeline is hoping that when she returns to France she will somehow find Giles alive. She hasn't heard from him in months and is very concerned for him. The training is intense and lasts weeks doing things Madeline never thought she'd be able to do. She excels and is one of a group of women who made it all the way through. She's given the job of courier and a placement in France. Madeline wants the Germans to pay for the loss of her son and she will do whatever it takes to make that happen, Madeline's strength, determination, and love for her family will be tested in ways you can't imagine. Will Madeline find Giles alive? Will they both get through the war alive? Will they be able to return to Paris and find the love they left there? Will Madeline's aunt survive the German's? What will become of her Dad and stepmother? Madeline's fight is inspirational and unforgettable. I loved The Paris Assignment and rate it 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of The Paris Assignment in exchange for a fair review. #TheParisAssignment

I really enjoy Rhys Bowen’s WWII fiction but this one wasn’t as good as some of her others for me. The story was interesting, the writing was strong, the character of Madeleine was well developed, and the historical context (especially regarding Australia) impeccably researched. However, the pacing and plot were a bit off for me. The characters in Madeleine’s life didn’t feel as fully developed as I’d have hoped, for example I didn’t really understand her deep meaningful friendships with other women, and some of the plot points felt rushed or skimmed over. I also couldn’t get past the incredible use of multiple extremely unlikely coincidences to move the story along, and I found the ending very predictable. A pleasant enough read but not as memorable as most of Bowen’s books.

I am a Rhys Bowen fan, so given the opportunity to read The Paris Assignment I was excited to get started. Bowen introduces Madeleine, who was raised by a French mother and English father. Training to be a French teacher, she takes a semester in Paris at the Sorbonne. There she meets and marries Giles Martin. With the arrival of their son Olivier they are a happy family, but war is coming and Giles sends them to safety in England while he stays to join the Resistance. When London is bombed Madeleine sends her son to the countryside with his school. Their train is attacked and she is informed of her son’s death. To fill the void left by this death she volunteers to be sent to France where she works as a courier for a network. There she experiences the deprivations and fears of the French people and suffers further loss.

Olivier actually survived the attack, but was seriously wounded. He had switched name tags with another child with a similar name and was mistakenly identified by that name. The other child had lost his family, making him an orphan, so Olivier was shipped to an orphanage in Australia. There the children were used as labor and received abusive punishments. He is half a world away from his mother, who believes him dead. After the war Madeleine’s work for the war office gives her hope that Olivier is still alive and sets her on a path to find him. This is an emotional story of love and loss that demonstrates why Rhys Bowen has developed a loyal following of readers. I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for my review.

i don't generally read historical fiction. i'm not sure why--i like reading both history and general fiction, so it should be a perfect storm, but i've just never been interested in reading it.

until, of course, caitlin from about 6 months ago made this same observation and decided to branch out. and i'm really, truly glad she did, because this was so good!

it was my first rhys bowen book, but it will definitely not be my last.

i enjoyed all of the characters, specifically the protagonist, madeleine, from page one. the writing wasn't ever too flowery, but was still very informative. i must say, i am hardly the most knowledgeable on the second world war, but the dialogue and descriptions all made sense in it's context.

and, even more importantly than all that, it was just interesting.

i think there is so much importance in stories like these, fictional or not, because no matter how many times i stopped like, "no way!" it was real. madeleine might not be, but someone lived a story just like hers, in a situation just like hers, and whether it's unbelievable to me or not is beside the point because it's important context and a wonderful way to write a story.

it's my first rhys bowen novel, but it will certainly not be my last.

This is the third Rhys Bowen book that I've read and definitely the best.
Madeleine Grant grew up in Britain where her father was a teacher and her French mother died when She was 10.
She was fluent in both languages and wanted to spend some time at the Sorbonne studying French before taking on the working world in England. The book opens during a French lit class where a man, Giles Martin, sits down next to her and engages her in conversation. They develop a relationship and he introduces her to pre-War Paris. She becomes pregnant, and they marry and raise Oliver while Germany makes noises to take the country.
The book covers the German occupation of France and the destructive bombing in England at this time. When Giles joins the French Resistance, and Madeleine returns to England to raise Oliver, with her parents while she teaches French at a school. When the family decides to evacuate Oliver to the country for safety, he switches name badges with another child who is killed in the train bombing. However, the report to his family is that he was killed in the bombing. Madeleine seeks revenge for his death and joins the secret service as a courier in France.
The plot is well researched, and the story development kept me engaged for the entire book. Although the ending was a little predictable and coincidental, it was believable and was a good outcome.
I liked the way the author described the training that the women had; I was disgusted with the conditions of the orphanage and the abuse that the children were subject to. I was gratified that Madeleine met Giles' mother and developed a relationship with her.
There is much to discuss here and I will recommend this book to my book clubs. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Lake Union publishing and am leaving my review voluntarily. The opinions are my own.

France 1935: Madeleine Grant, a Londoner girl meets a communist young man Giles Martin at the end of her French literature study at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Making the most time in Paris being torn between wanting to be the dutiful student and the attraction she felt to Giles had ended up dating him at various Parisian cafes. Madeleine's mother died in the war and her father marries a war widow - Eleanor. Soon caught between Paris and excitement and Giles. They fell head over heels in love with each other and then they get married, out of their wedlock they have a son - Oliver Louis Martin. Giles starts after that and goes to work as a Journalist reporter at a newspaper in France as a rising star of the left wing as communism is what it represented. And then the inevitable happens in 1939 Britain and France declared war on Germany.

There was a fear that Germany would invade France soon and be worse than the Great War. Worried about Madeleine and Oliver's safety Giles asks them to go back to England. As expected the Germans were pouring into the northeast of France. Giles decides to stay back in France to fight for his country. Madeleine finds a job when she moves to England as a teacher at a local secondary school. Madeleine felt hopeless as she thought Giles is doing some undercover resistance and wondered what chance of survival he might have. Oliver was not having an easy adjustment to life in England either as he have attended a French school until now. As the invasion of France is getting disastrous Madeleine heard nothing from Giles.
Bombs started falling in London in the autumn of 1940, there were air raid warnings and it was dangerous while the world shook in the muffled thump of falling bombs. They were terrified of the fierce bombings.

Soon there arrived news that Oliver's train that he traveled was bombed and he goes missing, therefore Madeleine thinks her son - Oliver is killed and dead. After that, the war office meets Madeleine, offering her to work as a translator sending out spy messages - infiltrator of France. Madeleine gets arrested by the Gestapo when working at Fontainebleau as an undercover agent. She gets tortured and there was no escape for her. At the same time, Oliver is shipped to nuns and goes through horrible treatment in Australia.

I enjoyed Rhys Bowen's writing and research. I have always admired Rhys Bowen's novels. Madeleine travels from Paris to England and then to Australia in search of her enemies who tormented her. Her heroic courage and fearless character as a wife and a mother is being portrayed emotionally. There is heartbreak, bravery, and forgiveness knitted together in the storyline. A must-read for historical fiction readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy for my honest Review.
Novel nerd blog : - https://smithareading.blogspot.com/

Honestly, if you enjoy historical fiction just do yourself a favor and read this. It was incredibly well done - well researched, well planned, well thought out. The characters were realistic, their stories unreal, the dynamics and history were heartbreaking, brave and incredible. I could not put this book down - or stop crying through most of it.

Madeleine is the British wife of a French man. When he joins the resistance during WWII she and their son end up back in England. When their son is killed by the nazis, she finds herself joining the war effort - and will do anything to help make her heart hurt a little less and stop the nazis.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

So far, this my favorite by Bowen. As a wife and mother Madeleine Grant is faced with some tough decisions.
Madeleine is studying French literature at Sorbonne University when she meets an falls in love with Giles Martin, who is a Frenchmen and they have a son Oliver.
Giles is hiding a few things. One is he is part Jewish and also a communist. He decides to join the resistance and sends Madeline and Oliver to England until the war is over. Madeleine becomes a teacher and makes a touch choice about Oliver, but something happens which changes her plans for him.
Madeline ends up training with the Baker Street Irregulars and given a code name to be a courier in France. They are told during training that this job is dangerous. She receives some horrible news and she is determined to get her family back together. She is willing to travel anywhere.
Oliver will go through hell and back as he is told some things that are not true and ends up with nuns. This novel touches on several atrocities of the war. Abuse is prevalent with is difficult to read. Will the family make it back together and survive this war?

The Paris assignment was definitely a moving and powerful tale of wartime.
There were many great details that specifically caught my attention, and they made it so easy for me to just ignore the parts that weren't as good.
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First of all, Rhys Bowen is a fantastic story teller. In the first few chapters, the retelling of Madeleine's stay in France, and how she met Giles and had a family, was just so engaging and captivating. It was fast paced, but it still captured the emotions and thoughts of Madeleine through pregnancy, doubts about her husband's fidelity, and her pre-war life in general.
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I also liked how realistic Madeleine's character was, she was beautifully human. You could identify with how she felt and acted. It wasn't a matter of whether you loved her or not, she was a well written character that you could almost envision.
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However, if we are talking about characters, one character stood out and intrigued me immensely. Giles. Giles was such a complex and confusing character. From the way he held himself in college years to his political and religious beliefs, he was an enigma. Also, I don't know how I feel about how blunt he was about his love for women, and the openness he had about his extramarital affairs. Overall, a problematic character for sure.
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I liked the side characters so much. They all added to the beauty of the book. I especially liked the camaraderie between Madeleine and the women volunteering for being couriers, it highlighted how emotional support was the only thing keeping people back then fighting and going on.
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Olivier's story arch to me was the most depressing. I could almost feel my own spirit diminished whenever he faced abuse and hardships in the orphanage. After having a supportive and loving family, being almost killed, then, supposedly, orphaned was definitely excruciating for him to get through.
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With how much I loved the book overall, I thought some parts needed to be better. For example, the period when Madeleine was working as a courier and facing hardships in invaded France needed more work on pacing and writing style. It was apparent that the author was kind of holding back, some parts fell flat to me. Mainly, I think because I read many books in the genre that I turned picky.
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I wished the ending was longer, I wouldn't have minded to get a lengthier conclusion, and a little burst of hope. Instead, it was wrapped up pretty quick.
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Overall, it was a really great book.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*