The Huntress: A Novel

Review 5 stars From this novel’s opening with the Huntress deciding to move into the shadows, I was engrossed in the story, the characters, settings, the history and Kate Quinn’s writing. I was in awe of the writing throughout and discovered another wonderful author to follow. I could see everything unfold as we were introduced to the main players. The novel is told through the senses of three POVs – if you don’t count that brief tempting glimpse into the head of the Huntress in the Prologue. First, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride who’s determined to become a photographer post-WWII and is inspired by the likes of Margaret Bourke-White – one of my heroines. She is pleased when her widowed father, who owns a Boston antiques shop, forms a relationship with Austrian widow Annelise Weber – but she is also suspicious. Suspicions that are heightened and dismissed or disproved but stirred up again. Then, in 1950s West Germany, the reader meets British war correspondent Ian Graham who has become a Nazi hunter, aided by Tony Rodomovky, a ‘Yank’ with Polish-Hungarian blood. But other people want to move on from focusing on Nazi crimes, especially the judges – the focus has shifted onto the ‘Commies’. However, for Ian, finding the elusive Huntress is personal – a reveal not rushed by the author. Finally, we are in harsh and remote Siberia, where my favourite character, Nina Markova needs to escape her father. Facing tough prospects if she remains, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment that wreaked havoc on the invading Germans. Friendships and more are forged amid a terrible struggle to survive a gritty and vicious war. The research for this character was impressive and I applaud Kate Quinn’s ability to blend fact with an emotional and riveting story. The focus is on the regiment, but Stalin’s cruel regime lurks in the shadows. Nina must manoeuvre between the two despotic forces and carve out a life – with a razor in her oversize boots. This book, those remarkable aviators, and this character propelled me down a ‘Night Witches rabbit hole’ – and added to my reading list. The three lives/plotlines gradually weave together, with their different timelines merging. The author doesn’t rush this process but crafts it with domino-events that build. I loved the use of drip reveals. Especially as to how Nina encounters Ian and Tony. Only one of those men is a Russian speaker, and that is a tasty device – one that had me re-reading parts of the book with a grin while writing this review. The novel uses its various settings from Siberia to Massachusetts to enhance the action and the characters. For instance, lakes play a central role for all three main characters. And to the Huntress whose haven was Lake Rusalka in Poland. But which of the well-portrayed characters will prove to be the rusalka – a lethal, malevolent water spirit? They are all intricate in their traits and their backstories, yet there are no road-hump info dumps. The detail was balanced, whether about the main or supporting cast. There was even a brief appearance by a character from ‘The Alice Network’ – although I hadn’t read Kate Quinn’s previous novel at the time. But I nodded when I met her again. Anyway, the plotlines in ‘The Huntress’ merge, building towards a confrontation that could go different ways – depending on how the complexity of the personalities impacts on events. Revenge can depend on experiences, on abilities. As can justice. So, what can happen and will it? A memorable ending is set up with care. Maybe, there was a dip before that point, and I wanted a faster resolution. Or was I sharing the frustration of being a Nazi hunter? Or do characters need spaces to build their futures? In summary, I enjoyed the clever plotlines, the complex characters, significant settings, excellent research and writing style so much I want more A book that’s hard to forget – not that I want to. In fact, I look forward to listening to the Audible version – now I've finished listening to the author's equally engrossing 'The Alice Network' and they share a superb narrator. Story – five stars Setting/World-building – five stars Characters – five stars Authenticity – five stars Structure – five stars Readability – five stars Editing – five stars

This is my third Quinn novel, my first two being The Rose Code and The Alice Network. I would have sworn this was an earlier work, because it's not at the same level as the other two, but The Alice Network predates it. Those novels are fantastic, though, so thats hardly a knock on this one. Like the others, this novel has compelling characters, great pacing, meaningful stakes, and it's historically accurate. That last point gets overlooked, but great storytelling is such a fantastic way to learn history—and thus better understand ourselves—so it's a shame that so many authors have such disregard for accuracy. Quinn's books demonstrate the possibilities of the form and I hope other authors are taking note. Ranting aside, it's just a great read. My only criticism, relative to the others, is that the story needed more space. At times, it felt too condensed, and some of the resolutions felt thin. That's probably because it's a remarkably ambitious book. I also don't love the jumping around on the timeline, which Quinn does in all her novels (that I've read, anyway), but she's such a skilled writer it usually doesn't matter. In this case, though, the story is complex enough as it is, and it gets in the way.

Overall: I loved this book! An obsessively readable historical novel told in three storylines about courageous women who dare to break the mold of what is expected of them. I loved the characters, the story, learned a lot, and overall just great reading and could not put this down. Even better than The Alice Network. 9/10 The Good: This novel is told in three storylines and focused on the time before, during, and after WWII. At the center of “The Huntress” is Die Jägerin, a woman accused of committing unspeakable war crimes against children in Poland during World War II. The novel begins with this unnamed woman on the run, and then breaks into the different story lines. The three storyines are Nina, Jordan, and Ian. Nina Markova is a “Night Witch,” a famed group of all Russian female bomber pilots during WWII. Her storyline follows for the longest period of time and was my favorite. She is fierce, brace, unstoppable, and a true force to be reckoned with, absolutely loved her character. I did not know anything about the Night Witches so was entranced with this story from the beginning. Jordan McBride is an aspiring photographer living in Boston during the 1950s. Ian Graham is a former war correspondent that is obsessed with bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. The depth and development of all these characters is brilliant and Quinn does an even better job at interconnecting all three storylines. The author’s note at the end of the book does a great job detailing the many characters that are based on real people and the history behind it. I was very surprised at how many Nazi war criminals escaped to the United States after the war and were able to live in peace. Not only is Die Jägerin (The Huntress) based on real women, but so are the other characters and these are all areas of the war I knew little about. The Bad: Ian’s storyline was a bit weaker than the other two, but still positive and important in the development of the novel. Some may say the novel was a bit long (though I appreciated this because I did not want it to end) but after reading the author’s note, it made more sense why some details were expanded on more. Favorite Quotes: “Because we can keep on. Others, they try keeping on, they just...” she mimed an explosion. “It’s too much for them. They come to pieces. Not us. Hunters, they are different. We can’t stop. Not for bad sleep or parachute dreams or people who say we should want peace and babies instead. It’s a world full of mad wolves, and we hunt them til we die.” “He knows how to look. Really look, when a woman is talking.” “Ah.” Her stepmother sighed. “Some men ogle, some men look. The first makes us bristle, and the second makes us melt, and men are at an utter loss knowing the difference. But we do, and we know it at once.” “Building a generation is like building a wall—one good well-made brick at a time, one good well-made child at a time. Enough good bricks, you have a good wall. Enough good children, you have a generation that won’t start a world-enveloping war.”

I enjoy historical fiction, and this is one of the best. Quinn deft!y weaves together a story based on real events and some real characters. It's nice to read a book that takes place in the hazy aftermath of WW2. I liked the juxtaposed viewpoints of Russians, Americans, Germans, and Brits regarding the war. The characters were well developed. Loved Nina! What a hoot! The descriptions of the Russian bombings got a little tiresome. Appropriate ending. Highly recommend! 🙂

At this point, I don’t think Kate Quinn can do me dirty in a book. An author who does her homework pays attention to her writing and does not romanticize past events. This book starts out a lot slower than her other novels, I was beginning to feel a little tired but then the pace picked up, we went around twists and turns, I got excited at the accuracy of world war history. Jordan as a character I love her. She is everything society expects her to be and more, she understands what is supposed to happen with her life but against all odds, she ends up following her dream as well. Nina is such a fierce character, her personality is sharp and cutting but also warm and guarded. I would love to know these characters in real life. The relationships crafted in this are so delicious. I mean that in the way that they are not one dimensional, there is depth there is love, there is fear, trust, such a diverse range of emotions. The “bad guy” is not just evil personified, the “good guy” is not just that. If you are looking to read something that will give you a little 1940s history and herstory, read this book!

Loved the plot, the storyline and the characters. A bit verbose here and there but I suppose I was just in a rush to fly to what happens next. My favourite character is Nina. Must read.

This book is a true marvel, an exceptional masterpiece! I flew canvas-planes with open cockpits when I was young - thus I could well emphatize with the plot. I didn't know anything about the sovjet 46 all female guards bomber regiment in WW II before, but being a history neird I virtually devoured the book. The passages about the young Siberian pilot Nina are extremely well written, her social Siberian and commuist cultural background truely fascinating! One of the best books I have read in a long time.

I’ve read several of Kate Quinn’s novels, all centred on the often overlooked roles of women during the First and Second World Wars. The Huntress is another great story. Told through multiple perspectives, the story follows a Nazi hunter, and a Soviet night bomber pilot. It’s a gripping blend of historical detail, suspense, and rich character development. Nina, the fierce and witty pilot, was a standout for me. Quinn’s ability to bring strong, complex female characters to life is unmatched. A good read.

Loved this book! It had me engrossed throughout.