Usually when we think of 1917 Russia, one thing comes to mind: Anastasia. But no worries, Open Fire is here to remind you that there was a whole heck of a lot more going on in early twentieth century Russia! I mean, I had heard of Bolsheviks, but did I know what one was? Not particularly. I knew some people were no longer fans of the Tsardom (obviously) but not the ins and outs, nor the country's involvement in WWI. This book not only is quite informative in nature, but emotive as well. Let's chat about it!
What I Liked:
- • Like I said, it's wonderfully historical. Yes, I found myself down a few Wikipedia rabbit holes. No, I have no regrets. Not only was the author awesome at the facts, but she did an incredible job of making me feel like I was in Russia of yore.
- • Friendship is so freaking huge. This is a book in which the friendship gives you all the feels. I genuinely can't recall the last time I loved a friendship in a book so much. And while I will get to this more in my next point, the women in this story fight (often literally) so hard for each other, it was not only emotional but inspirational.
- • Female power. The women in this book are not going to sit back and let the war happen without them. Nope, they're going to just go fight it themselves. And look, these are not career soldiers. These are your average, every day women- factory workers, students, mothers, and the fact that they are willing to train and fight and die for their cause is just mind-blowing, especially in a society that frankly finds them dispensable.
- • Family is a big deal too. Whether it be positive, negative, or somewhere in the middle, we learn so much about not just Katya's family, but of her friends' family lives. Which just shines an even greater light on their lives and what drives them.
What I Didnt:
- • Some of the military stuff got to be a bit overwhelming. Obviously I get that training is going to be a big deal, but there were a few points that it felt a bit draggy to me.
Bottom Line: Incredibly inspiring, with a stunning look into a period of time we don't usually get a glimpse of, this book tugged at my feels for sure.