Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a historical fiction taking place in WW1, but with magical realism. I didn’t know what to expect from this book, as I have not read any of the author’s previous works. But let me tell you I was blown away. The way the author details the terror and the realities of the war and PTSD was captivating. It is heartbreaking and sad at times, but also focuses on hope and love. It is a very thought provoking book and I could tell the author put a lot of thought and research into it. The book has duel POV with two amazing characters. Both of their stories were interesting to me and I always wanted to get back to the other one to see what would happen. I really enjoyed this book and immediately preordered a copy!

5/5

A haunting and sweeping tale about the power of the bonds we share set against the First World War. A discharged war-worn nurse must face an evil that extends beyond the horrors of the battlefield to a sinister force that may have led her brother and others like him astray. Katherine Arden transports readers to 1918, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, friend and foe, and the traumas we endure and strive to overcome. A book both long-awaited and completely worth the wait, The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a marvelous piece of speculative fiction that faces the atrocities of the war with such grace and humanity. The ghosts here are as paranormal as they are man-made and you may just find yourself allured by a fiddler before the end comes. This book has stayed with me in the months after reading like the best kind of ghost story.

Full review to come at a later date on my blog.

While this book isn't a genre I would normally pick up, I couldn't help but to pick up anything written by Arden. Adding ghosts to a historical fiction narrative was something I was not expecting from her with Arden's last book being more fantasy all together. This book beautifully showcases the power of family and war and how love can transcend all.

I’ve been a fan of Arden’s work since I first read her Winternight Trilogy, which I wrote about here and here. While her previous work has been some of the best fantasy and horror I’ve read, she stretches way beyond those genres here in a book I can only describe as quietly incandescent.

The utter horror of World War I has been documented in so many ways that Arden doesn’t feel obligated to give a history lesson here. Instead, she examines the humanity (and inhumanity) experienced by average people caught up in situations too big and too awful to comprehend without going mad. She beautifully renders the utter heartbreak and the paralyzing fear experienced by soldiers, nurses, and doctors, juxtaposed with love, affection, friendship and the human capacity to just get on with it and worry about details later.

In Winternight, Arden wrote about a place called Midnight and the struggle between Chaos and Order. I recognized some aspects of both those things in some scenes here. The character of Faland reminded me a bit of The Bear – the bringer of chaos, the eater of souls – but the character here was developed in such a way that made me cringe but also want more. The concept that the war was so horrific, that it was murdering the old world and making way for the new, was so carefully balanced with the idea that it was also changing the nature of evil itself is one that has kept me thinking long after finishing the book.

I’m not often completely surprised at twists in a story, but the twist near the end of this one left me entirely nonplussed and drained. Arden’s treatment of relationships – brother & sister, mother and child, friend & enemy – is so intricate and beautiful that some scenes made me cry. That doesn’t often happen.

Despite the chaos and horror, the threads that pull it all together are love and madness. How can humans endure utter madness yet still find their way back to those who love them? How much can one person endure before they give up and what lengths would you go to in order to bring your loved one back from the brink?

This book comes out in early 2024 and I predict it will be on all the “Best of 2024” lists. It is a triumph for Katharine Arden and a gift to us all.

If there’s one thing I can always rely on, it’s Katherine Arden to write something beautiful, evocative and atmospheric no matter the setting or layout of the novel. Even in the horrifying realities of Belgium in the throes of WWI, she somehow was able to take themes around the temptation of oblivion amidst unimaginable horror and turn it into a reflexive study of human perseverance and the lengths we’ll go to to save those we love. I had no doubt I’d love this book, as an ardent fan of the Winternight trilogy and Katherine’s writing, but I wasn’t expecting to love a war story just so much. Laura and Freddie were both extremely layered characters and they both went through gut wrenching journeys from beginning to end.

Set near the end of WWI, we follow the stories of Canadian siblings Laura— nurse who was injured on the front lines and is trying to do what she can from home, and Freddie— soldier in Belgium who’s gone inexplicably missing. When Laura learns of her brothers disappearance and finds the situation suspicious, she decides to travel back to the front lines and find her brother, but strange rumours of a fiddler with powers capable of erasing memory start to trickle in, she finds herself wrapped up into a story far greater than her own.

This story almost felt like a music piece in itself— delicately unravelling, the strains of love and vengeance and perseverance trickling through the louder booms of war. Katherine didn’t flinch from the realities of WII, from the muddy horror of no mans land to the PTSD that follows, but overall, this is a story of hope. And just like when I turned those final few pages of Winter of the Witch, I found myself sitting with the knowledge I’d just read something spectacular. If you’re in any way a fan of Arden’s writing or enjoyed books like Alice Winn’s In Memoriam or Catherynne Valente’s Deathless, you’ll love this. I couldn’t recommend it more.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden was a highly anticipated book of mine and I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Katherine Arden is once again masterful in weaving fantastic elements into a historical setting. The setting of this book is WWI but the focus is not on the politics. Instead it explores the effects of war on the soldiers and how evil could profit off the vulnerability of soldiers who are experiencing hell on earth. There were so many moments of history that were well represented such as the rise in spiritualism, medical advances, and specific tragic battles. I really enjoyed researching the history alongside my read. The magic is the supporting actor to the themes. Some of the common themes explored here are PTSD and memory. The author definitely incorporates the philosophical idea of Nietzsche that memory is what makes us human and I loved that element. There are some very minor subplots of romance that were beautiful and complimentary to the darkness of the setting. Katherine Ardens authorial tone is definitely cemented for me as a haunting one. I find I am still thinking of this story long after closing the book. I deducted one star because I felt like the beginning was a little slow. I enjoyed the setting and the themes more than the characters. It is rare for me to say but I think this book could’ve been just a little longer. I would probably recommend The Bear and the Nightingale to new readers of Arden as a starting point but I think that those who enjoyed the Winternight Trilogy will appreciate this one as well.

⭐️: 4.5 / 5

Publication Date: February 13, 2024

I want to thank Ballantine, Del Rey and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, were the setting and atmosphere of the story. I loved that this was set during the First World War and one of our main characters is a Canadian field nurse. As both this time in history and Canadian involvement in war are two topics that I rarely read about in popular fiction. I found the descriptions of the trenches to be harrowing and the hospital scenes to be truly chaotic.

As for my reservations, this is very slow to start. And I will warn fans of the Winternight Trilogy if you’re going into this story expecting something similar to that you’ll be in for quite the shock, personally I didn’t have a problem with the changes in style but I do think it’s worth noting. I’d also not been totally shocked by one of the reveals towards the end as it felt pretty apparent what was going on but still found the motivation intriguing.

Overall I really loved what this book became. I’ll admit it was slow to start but once it got to the halfway point I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what came next. The ending was beautifully done and had me teary eyed. So I’d still recommend this book for people to try, and go into it with an open mind.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- World War I stories
- War Nurses
- Dual POV & timelines
- Character driven stories
- Dark magical realism

⚠️ PTSD, scars of war, body horror, violence

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden is a hauntingly beautiful story that will slip under your skin and stay with you long after it is done. Arden has masterfully researched and written a World War I story that shows the horror of war and the human connection it can forge. It is a beautiful story with characters you care deeply about. The plot and prose draw you in, and you want to stay wrapped in them. I didn't want to put this book down. The Warm Hands of Ghosts is easily one of my new favorite books, and I can't wait for others to be enchanted by this tale.

Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for the eARC.

This was a very interesting book dealing with Laura's search for her missing brother, Freddie, during WWI. I liked all the historical details and the snippets of spiritualism and the slight paranormal slant. But mostly, it dealt with the horrors of the war and the field hospital setting where Laura returns after an injury sends her back home to Canada. It's there that she learns that her brother is maybe dead, maybe not, maybe somewhere in-between.

What a wonderful and interesting premise. As prevalent and popular as World War II books are, there are far fewer historical fiction books that get great focus about World War I. This book aims to do just that, and succeeds by humanising it and creating a very clear and descriptive view of the horrors of the war, as well as the historical impact. The story follows a young woman who had served as a nurse in the war, and her brother, a soldier. The story is at times harrowing, sad, and touching. I would definitely recommend this to someone trying to get insight into how the war affected individuals across the globe. Often I think as an American it is harder to understand the impact of the way because our country was far less affected by it than European countries. However, this book does just that, and introduces a beautiful story at the same time. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction, and also likes beautiful storytelling.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me by surprise. I requested it initially because I loved Katherine Arden's other works, The Bear and the Nightingale and Small Spaces, but I didn't know if a story about a nurse in World War II looking for her lost brother amidst the explosions and madness would be up my alley. It was. It really really was. I was captivated by Freddy's chapters in particular. The realism of war and the juxtaposition of Faland's hotel to that from his perspective really drew me in. And of course, his relationship with Winter. I absolutely feel this book tells a compelling story of the devil on a battlefield, while always keeping in mind that the real horror is the battlefield. Laura, our protagonist being haunted by the ghost of her mother and the journey she makes through this books up until the tail end when the title of the book comes into play is beautiful. This book is queer, atmospheric, haunting, and was a genuine pleasure to read. 4.5/5 stars.

Evil hovers over the root of misery. It takes readily from the familiar.

Katherine Arden creates an unforgettable novel that sits alongside the horrific tragedies forced upon humanity through war. Arden sifts through the souls perched on either side and shines a light on the empty void of that Black Hole.

Laura Ivens is a field nurse during World War I. She's been recently discharged due to a serious injury while in France. She returns to her former life in Halifax, Canada. Laura crosses the ocean between the horrors of war that she witnessed and then back to the horror of losing her parents in a boat explosion in Halifax. She now walks with difficulty due to her injury, but the heaviness of loss weighs in a far different way.

Alone, Laura pines for the sole survivor of her family other than herself.......her brother Freddie. Freddie is serving in the Canadian army in Flanders. A simple box arrives at her doorstep. Inside is a bloody jacket and an I.D. with Freddie's name on it. No matter how many times she lifts out the contents, she refuses to believe that Freddie is dead.

So Laura rejoins her field hospital staff in France intent on finding out what really happened to Freddie. Armed with questions, she seeks the truth either way. What she finds are the rustling leaves that scatter within nightmares. What is real and what exactly are the things that wrack the souls of the walking wounded? Their eyes have seen things better not spoken of. Phantoms of the night coiling up in the darkness of the mind.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is like nothing that you've read before. Arden takes on a mighty storyline and she weaves it through experiences known only by those in the trenches forced to be heroes when terror rules the land. She incorporates a bit of paranormal into this one to add to the eeriness of spirits who still claim those battlefields. It's involved, tightly packed, and lined with many forceful characters seeking refuge from the enemy without and the enemy within.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Del Ray Publishers and to Katherine Arden for the opportunity.

I loved this! Spiritualism, the Great War, independent women... so many of my favorite things tossed together. My expectations were high and they were rewarded. While the plot did lose its momentum a little in the middle, the world-building was immaculate, the characterizations were sharp, and it really stuck the landing. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a spooky, immersive read.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a historical fiction novel set in World War I where field nurse Laura Iven is looking for her brother, a solider who is missing, presumed dead. Going back to the Belgium front, Laura learns of a mysterious hotelier who makes bargains with soldiers so that they can forget their worst memories. I thought that the premise sounded really interesting and I settled in for a ghost story with a side of history. I specifically read this book in October for the spooky vibes. I'm a huge fan of the Bear and the Nightingale and was excited to read another one of Katherine Arden's books!

Andddd I thought it was just okay. I thought that the book would more fantasy adjacent and explore being haunted by war. After reading the author's note, it seems like she was more interested in helping people understand the atrocities of WWI. While a noble goal, I feel like I have already gotten that point from other media and was looking for a reimagining of the conflict. I came in wanting ghosts and a mysterious hotelier and only got that for a fraction of the book.

I saw another reviewer say that they would have liked this book better if it only focused on Freddie, Laura's missing brother. I kind of agree! Laura's viewpoint was very focused on field nursing, which I'm interested in, but again didn't give me the spooky narrative I was expecting. I feel like the author could have picked one person to focus on and then would have been able to lean more into the fantastical elements. I really liked the premise and have previously loved how Arden weaves myth into real historical events. There just wasn't enough of that in this book for me.

Overall, I recommend this book if you're super interested in WWI and want another book on the subject. 3 stars from me. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book, my thoughts are my own!

Based on the cover and title and first few chapters, I had the impression that this would be a mix of a war story, ghost story, and love story. While the atmosphere is indeed haunting, would I label this as a ghost story? I don't think so. Instead, it ended up being part harrowing survival story and part dark fairytale.

The gruesome WWI scenes were reminiscent of 1917 the movie but there were many instances that felt more like Rumpelstiltskin or Alice in Wonderland in that the characters felt tricked and confused by the magic around them.

I thought the themes of acts of love, hope vs hopelessness, and remembering vs forgetting were all interesting and held a lot of promise. Unfortunately, the main issue I had is that all the characters felt underdeveloped and one-dimensional. I also didn't believe the romance portions of the story at all. I think it lacked enough build-up or background for me to completely buy-in. I liked the story as a whole, but with the lack of care for the characters, it ended up being just good and not great.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

OH MY GOD AN ARC OF KATHERINE ARDEN'S BOOK TO GRACE MY KINDLE.

my expectations were through the roof, past the river and sea, and everything above. rightfully so, too. as a devout fan of Arden's previous work, I went into this one ready to be absolutely floored. after finishing the book, those words could not be more true. it is a startling, sinister, and incredibly tragic story. this melancholic yet achingly realistic symphony delves into the catastrophic aftermath of war, plunging listeners into a desolate realm that straddles the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

the themes revolving war was expertly crafted, I really loved how Arden did not shy away from the tumultuous and gruesome nature of it-- no romanticization of it as I've seen it done in so many other novels. Overall, this book sat with me long after I closed it, and in the days coming. I highly recommend reading this rich and nuanced story.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine, Del Rey for the ARC!!

Katherine Arden is the author of my absolute favorite series. Perhaps in spite of this, I went into "The Warm Hands of Ghost" unexpectant for the style shift in her latest work. However, this new book only speaks to the range and innate talent Arden has. That being said, I do feel like the ARC I received was a very early draft and thus impacting my current review. I do want to be clear, I enjoyed this book. Even so much as to say that the Author's Note at the end drove my appreciation for the story given her musings.

Below are my thoughts given the early ARC I received.
There are many typos throughout the story, but also small narrative errors that impact the continuity of the story. The first, we never learn Winters' first name. At some point, Iven just starts calling him Hans. This is was very distracting and a miss in terms of narration. It would provide a lovely juxtaposition later to have Winters to introduce himself to Iven after all they've endured. Similarly, there is a reference to Winters standing awkwardly to the side with a fixation on his hands...he only has one arm. There cannot be two hands. Overall, mostly small nuances that need to be reviewed and adjusted for the sake of consistency.

My biggest concern is that this book will not get the reception is deserves with the current flow. It took 50% of the book to truly engage the reader and make the storyline more exciting. It is complicated trying to get all the necessary (and much needed) backstory to make the plot line cohesive, but it is rather dull. My love for Laura grew through Iven's memories. Winters and Iven outside of the pillbox kept the momentum going, but the depressed and absent Laura in Halifax does little to encourage the reader.

Perhaps we can start the first chapter with Laura on the boat to London and we get the back story in her dreams or conversation with Pim. It might even be more effective to open the story with the ship exploding and hurtle the reader into action so the story of the burning dock doesn't feel separate. While it is a major moment for Laura, it feels transparent given the reader gets to live through the bombing and pneumonia Laura has later in the story. It just needs to be liven up a bit.

The introduction of Jones was unexpected, but delightful. Between Winters and Jones, I would have LOVED more. More stolen moments, more details. It's almost a tease, a glimmer of joy too sparsely dropped throughout an otherwise dark sojourn through a modern hellscape.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is fascinating and highly readable. I enjoyed it and look forward to sharing it with patrons!

This one gets a 4.25/5 from me! The Warm Hands of Ghosts follows Laura, a combat nurse during World War One returning to the front lines to search for her missing brother.

This is my second Katherine Arden book (I’ve only read The Bear and the Nightingale besides this), and it actually worked better for me than the other work I’ve read from her. The Warm Hands of Ghosts still has some of the hallmarks of Katherine Arden that I picked up from The Bear and the Nightingale- cold and atmospheric, with similar prose, a feeling of watching events unfold over a character’s shoulder, rather than in their head, and subtle romance subplots that don’t overwhelm the story.

Obviously, the atmosphere is perfect in this book, Arden is able to capture the cold desolation of the war front, and the frenzy and sadness of a combat hospital, but juxtapose it perfectly with the warm feeling of being inside a cozy tavern. If I had to sell this book on one point, it would be the atmosphere.

Beyond that, I really liked that this story was set during World War 1, but chose to focus on the story on three adult women (like- real adult, late 20’s or older), and two queer men, without feeling like Arden was pandering to either crowd by tokenizing any of her characters. Not everyone gets a happy ending, but it’s also not so bleak that you feel a black cloud looming over you after you finish the book.

Without giving away too much, the speculative/fantastical twist that this book took where characters encountered the devil on the frontlines, felt like it fit with the tone of the book, and was done perfectly to comment on the affect World War One (or war in general) had on the soldiers, and add to the tone of despair at certain parts of the novel.

Overall, I’d recommend if you want some historical fiction, with a fantasy twist to read in the winter. This comes out next February, which I think would be a perfect time to pick it up.

It definitely didn't draw or keep my attention like The Bear and the Nightingale series. It is a well written book, but I couldn't get invested in the characters.