Daniel Mason’s The Winter Soldier is a strongly written novel set in field hospital on the Eastern front of World War One.  Lucius is a young man from a family of means who finds medicine an escape from the obligations of his birth. When war breaks out with and only a couple of years of medical school under his belt, he enlists to shun a favorable assignment his parents might have procured for him. The result is a commission that sends Lucius to a church that has been turned into a ward now manned a few stalwarts, those who have not died or run off, including Sister Margarete. A young woman who tests, helps, and ultimately provides the impetus for a vast change in the main character.

Mason’s phrasing and diction is exceptional; he has a way of illuminating vast details of a character in only a few sentences. His research of war and the medicine of the times creates a thoroughly convincing atmosphere. The reader is throw on the table during the bloody amputations and the horrors of shell shock. Yet, I found the story to be lacking. The pacing was off and I was confused as to the central conflict because it fell off and wasn’t able to sustain a necessary tension.

The Winter Soldier is a novel that I had high hopes for, especially after reading Mason's The Piano Tuner. While Mason’s writing is as effectual as ever and the premise is enticing, the overall arc of the story didn't manage to hold up throughout the narrative. I loved the characters, the romance, and the look into The Great War, yet felt the thread was lost about three-quarters of the way through the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown, and Company, and Daniel Mason for the advanced copy for review.

Oh, this was absolutely wonderful!

During WWI a promising young medical student from an affluent family enlisted and was sent to work as a medic.

The book is riveting from beginning to end - very atmospheric, intense, vivid, and action packed. The medical practices, the characters, the story of the war on the frontlines as well as back home - I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this outstanding book!

This book was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I made it through 70% of this before getting bored and giving up. The story just didn't hold my attention.

Daniel Mason presents a truly monumental book about a great love affair amidst the horrors of war. It is set during the period of World War One and along the eastern front in which Austria was fighting Russia. There are two main protagonists involved in the story. The first is a young man named Lucius who was a medical student in Vienna when war broke out. His father had been an Austrian officer in previous conflicts and glorified the tradition of war urging Lucius to enter the military, Lucius, on the other hand offered his credentials as a medical student in order to work at a field hospital attending to war wounded. He is accepted, but much to his chagrin ends up at a commandeered church situated in a remote valley in the Carpathian mountains. It is there that he meets sister Margarete who is the only other qualified medical person since the other doctors stationed there have deserted. Lucius has never operated on anyone but finds that he can allow himself to be guided by Margarete who has assisted in almost all situations. She helps him in many ways allowing him to function as he should without either an actual medical degree nor real experience. It is no surprise that the two develop feelings for each other.. The romance is slowed by the fact that Margarete has taken vows. While slowed at first their love grows and soon becomes all consuming.
Daniel Mason is a medical doctor and explains quite clearly the state of medicine existing at military hospitals near the front lines during that period He also very aptly describes Lucius' growth into his work. Lucius logically finds ways to treat grievous wounds normally not seen outside of battle casualties. He is introduced to the little known problem of what is called combat fatigue and how it can destroy men without the appearance of any physical wound. Lucius tries many medicines and treatments in working with these mentally wounded individuals and this alone is quite an experience for any reader.
As the love grows between our two central characters they get into the habit of leaving the hospital for short periods in order to be together. During one long walk they split up and Lucius arrives back at the hospital first. When Margarete does not return in a normal period Lucius sets out again in order to find her. Walking for quite a while he suddenly finds himself in the midst of a battle and has to run and hide in order not to be killed. The turning tide of war develops into other assignments with no return to his hospital and Margarete.

The absolute strength of this novel is the powerful depiction of Lucius and Margarete. They live and breathe, face real conflicts and are beset with the doubts that must be present in periods of constant stress. The resolution of their story is one that would be a reality in view of their experiences during a war and the battles fought in that war. The novel will stay with readers for a long time after finishing it. The only way to describe it is to indicate that I was very moved and finished with the feeling that I had taken part in a great work through reading Dr. Mason's book.