As always with Kate Quinn, this book is beautifully researched. The Diamond Eye features an element of WW2 history I wasn't familiar with and centres on a female Russian sniper. Mila is an engaging heroine and this is an engrossing novel

Kate Quinn is a fantastic historical fiction writer. I loved the Rose Code which made me visit Bletchley Park as the story fascinated me so much. I was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately I won't be able to visit the locations from this one! This is another well researched story based on a real Ukranian sniper. Great writing and a fascinating subject.

What an awesome book - superb mostly true story, incredibly written, wonderful characters. I was gripped on every page. If someone had suggested that I read a book about a female Russian sniper during the Second World War I would have expected to be bored & perhaps horrified at the thought of all the gore. Although there were obviously elements of the horrific nature of was there was above all a human tale of courage, loyalty & love. It would make for a great film!

What an excellent book!
I have read many books set in WW2 and there are lots that are of a similar topic, do it’s always exciting to find something a little bit different.
I enjoyed finding out about a new heroine and a topical one at that.
Thoroughly recommend it if you’re looking for a story that’s a little bit different where you can’t help but feel for the main character Mila.

This book is a fascinating account of a Second World War in the east.
Mila is from Kyiv and this is the story of her contribution to the Soviet response to Hitler's invasion of Russia.
She is tiny and underestimated but becomes among the best snipers of her army.
Told in two parts, the fighting and her introduction to the USA where an unknown enemy lurks to discredit her.
I love the characters, I enjoyed the different take on a war I thought I knew about.

I received a copy of #TheDiamondEye to review from #NetGalley.

I'm late with my review due to personal reasons however, I have recently finished and all opinions are my own.

As a fan of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn i was delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review this story. I also love WW2 historical fiction and one of my all-time favourite books is The Bronze Horseman which is also set in Russia during WW2.

The Diamond Eye gripped me from the beginning. A story of a woman, mother, student who wanted to prove that she could bring her son up without a father and aims to do her best for him and be everything that he needs.

Mila Pavlichenko was a mother at 15 and when her young son wanted to learn to shoot, she vowed to be the one to teach him. She gained her marksmanship qualification while studying history and helping her son with his schoolwork. When war breaks out she feels an obligation to serve and defend her country becoming known as Lady Death for her sniper skills and the number of enemies she killed. Her journey is wrought with love, friendship, death and adversity.

The writing is detailed but not overly so that it drags, while reading I felt as though i was experiencing what Mila was and that i was in the moment with her. I loved that this was based on a true story and the authors notes at the end were also very interesting and included some pictures of Mila.

This is the 2nd great book I have read by Kate Quinn and I can't wait to read more.

What a brilliant book! This story describes the experiences of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a real woman who served as a sniper on the Russian front during WW2. The description of life on the front is both fascinating and terrifying.....and the author used Lyudmila's memoirs to ensure a factual description of life at that time. This is a truly enthralling account of one woman's experiences of WW2 with a fictional story woven through it. Absolutely brilliant! A great read for anyone interested in WW2. Highly recommended!

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is an extraordinary story based on the life of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a celebrated library researcher turned Russian sniper responsible for 309 kills during WW2, then took America by storm during a publicity tour in 1942.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating story which sheds the light on a courageous, determined, strong and passionate woman during her tough time through WW2 as a Russian sniper at the top of her game. It’s a very human and unexpected account of the strength and commitment of this incredible woman and I absolutely recommend ’The Diamond Eye’ it’s very powerful, her mental strength to consciously achieve her goals of killing the enemy is amazing…it’s one of my top reads this year.
Big thanks to Kate Quinn, HarperCollins and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

A superbly researched and beautifully related historical fiction based on the WW2 heroine Lyudmila (Mila) Pavilchenko. A stunning story with much factual basis. We first meet Mila, aged 15years old, pregnant with her beloved son and married to a disinterested and cold Physician. Mila soon swaps her historical research studies for a gun when Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union. She had some prior experience with shooting as a hobby, so is sent on vigorous weapons training in the Soviet Army to train as a sniper. Her skills and leadership combined with a no nonsense attitude soon earn her status as an honorary male and mostly accepted within the ranks. It is a story of endurance, hardship, loss, bravery and heroism, dotted with some romance and a lot of weaponry. Mila becomes famed for her tally of 300+ kills and is soon recruited as part of a delegation sent to The United States to persuade them to join the fight. Mila faces the speeches with trepidation, and is initially met with a suspicious and cold media response. Despite the trauma of her experiences in the war, the trauma of her losses and the difficulties faced pleading for aid, Mila continues in her efforts. The audiences cannot believe that such a young and beautiful girl could be a genuine war sniper, but instead feel like she is a propaganda tool for the Soviets. Mila finds support in the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, who extends the hand of friendship, and is beautifully represented by Quinn in this novel. The delegation and Mila soon find support and The United States enters the war in Europe against the Nazis. A powerful and engaging story about a relatively unknown war heroine. #thediamondeye #katequinn #netgalley #historicalfiction

Wow, what a book. Firstly it was well written, it flowed and ebbed with ease and grace. Secondly, what a story. I had not heard of the Soviet. sniper and the whole way through the book I kept wondering how much of it was true and how much made up. I found out in the author’s note at the end - I will not spoil anyones reading of the book by saying more. The story is of Mila a student trying to finish her dissertation when the war breaks out. Mila is an expert marksman, a skilled she learned for ‘fun’ but now her skill makes her an expert sniper. She becomes a killing machine and is given the nickname of Lady Death. Eventually she is sent to the United States on a propaganda tour to induce America to join the war. The author has written a thriller of great proportions and I was gripped the whole way through. I would give it 6 stars if I could.

Mila is possibly the only female sniper to have knowingly led Soviet troops during WWII against the Romanians and Germans, or so the propaganda goes...
The book gives the insight into her personal growth. Determination both as a fighter, but also as a mother during immeasurably challenging times. It aims to give a broader insight into life in Russia, not just the cold and impoverished one. The proximity of the war in Ukraine, brings some parallels and geographical familiarisations.
The book flips between servicing on the front line and as a Russian diplomatic visit to the Whitehouse during the Roosevelt presidency. There are intriguing diary entries from the First Lady reflecting the visit. Presidential health & security a pressing issue.
Mila is a very likeable character; no nonsense, as would be needed to infiltrate leadership roles and hold her nerve whilst shooting. I particularly liked her dripping sarcasm. There is a nice reflection of both the scientific and practical skill to being an impressive marksman. Also, some insightful reflections of how to establish being a female amongst male soldiers of varying seniority.
Quinn, creates a vivid backdrop to the time and landscape, generating a truly immersive and captivating read that flows quite effortlessly. It was wonderful to learn that this is based on a true character and that much of what happened in the story was a true account, using diaries and the like. Very much a captivating read about war, trauma, betrayal, loss, politics and the personal growth throughout it all. Very compelling, with good tension and indelible characters.

Good. Full of historical facts and well written. Even though at times I got bogged down in the war scenes it was still a good read. Enjoyed how fast paced it was which enabled me to get past some of the areas I found boring.

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is an expert in historical fiction. She goes into such excellent detail leaving no stone unturned. This novel returned to the Soviet Union and to lake Baikal at times, the location so frequently referred to in The Huntress. I loved noticing the links between that novel and The Diamond Eye right up until the very last chapter. Here in The Diamond Eye we follow Mila, her quest to become a sniper in the Red Army, while raising her young son, in a male dominated society. We follow her successes and losses through the war and her international duties thereafter. I raced through the second half of this book, I thought it was excellent and hungrily devoured page after page to learn how each event would unfold, but the first half took much longer. I felt it was overly descriptive and could in essence have been shortened, considerably without taking away from the story. As a whole, the story itself was a very good one, but a more condensed first half would have worked just as well I felt. The epilogue was wonderfully written as always, so informative. Quinn’s attention to detail cannot be faulted. I thoroughly enjoy all I read from this accomplished writer.

Quinn writes beautifully, and this is no exception. The characters are lively, the plot interesting, and the story jumps off the page. A great historical fiction.

I’m not a fan of this genre at all, I usually actively avoid anything war related, but I did end up reading The Rose Code by this author a while back and I loved it.

This book is no exception, Kate is an absolutely amazing writer, and once again we hear the story of another amazing woman, breaking barriers down, and generally being utterly amazing.

I strongly recommend this one (and The Rose Code).

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Kate Quinn, The Queen of Historical Fiction does not disappoint in this WWII tale of Lyudmila Pavlichenko otherwise known as Lady Death. A female sniper in the Red Army who was known for over 309 kills to her tally. In her student years she fell prey to the charms of an arrogant doctor Alexei and thus forced to raise her beloved son Slavaka while also trying to leave the failed relationship. As war breaks out we are brought to the trenches and stakeouts where Mila and her team await their enemies.We are reminded yet again of the savagery and brutally of war .

This was a meticulous detailed account of a part of history that is even more important today.

If you have enjoyed Kate Quinns other books that feature strong and resilient female protagonists this will certainly not disappoint. Would definitely recommend .

Thank you NetGalley for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Emma Pickard at HarperCollins Publishers for letting me read 'The Diamond Eye' in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

Unlike Quinn's previous novel 'The Rose Code' I really struggled to "get into" this novel. The core ingredients were seemingly all there: a multifaceted female sniper and tense plot regarding the horrors and subsequent effects of war.

Or at least, that is how I was meant to view these aspects. However, the pace was so slow, that I felt as stuck in the mud-filled trenches as Mila. I struggled to maintain my interest and focus, especially since the flash forwards dimished the tension regarding Mila's possible safety.

I never managed to become emotionally invested in this book and by trying to make myself read certain amounts each time I picked it up, this only exacerbated the issue and made the initial pace feel even more glacial.

I do appreciate, however, that this is an important part of history and even more poignant with regards to current events. I definitely plan on reading more of Quinn's work in the future- I just don't think this book was the right stylistic fit for me unfortunately.

In conclusion, whilst I am so glad Quinn is highlighting these previously overlooked, yet vitally important historical details, for this reader, diamonds were not a girl's best friend.

I have read WWII books before and they normally are some of my favorite books, but this was almost a DNF for me. I put it down multiple times to read other books that I found more interesting. I had a really hard time paying attention due to lack of interest for most of the book. I didn't find the writing to flow particularly well. My Kindle dictionary got a workout from all the words I had to look up, which I find distracting.
On the plus side I did love how you could feel the deep personal connections that Mila had. Her love stories are some off the most heartfelt I've ever read. I also love that it was based on a true story.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this DRC.

OK, so perhaps not as compelling as this author’s earlier novel about the work at Bletchley Park, but Ms Quinn has again found a way to link a work of fiction with historical events - this time the visit by an acclaimed female Red Army sniper to America in WW2 - with a fictional assassination attempt on the life of President Roosevelt. The story weaves together the account of the role of sniper on the Eastern Front with some human interest features before seeing the sniper take on a radically different role in encouraging a hesitant USA to take on a bigger role, particularly in relation to the provision of war matériel to the USSR and the (eventual) launching of a second front in Europe. To say more about the sniper’s adventures in the USA would be unforgivable, since this is at the heart of the eventual denouement. Some readers may feel that the first 75% or so could have been edited rather more thoroughly, whilst the final 25% managed to test the reader’s credulity. However, these are minor niggles, and which good book does not require a degree of suspension of disbelief?
Overall recommended.

309 confirmed kills. The most deadly sniper in the war and the one that they least expect.

Lyudmila Pavlichenko is a single mother studying history when war breaks out. She and her friends must take up arms to help fight back against Hitler’s invasion. When Mila is handed a rifle, she discovers she has a gift. With months of training and blood, sweat and tears, Mila becomes the lethal Nazi hunter nicknamed Lady Death. The enemy is everywhere… much closer that Mila thinks.

The queen of historical fiction is back with a gritty, immersive story based on the life of a World War Two Soviet sniper known as Lady Death.

Quinn is a master at taking figures from WW2 and completely immersing her readers in their world. Meticulously researched and written, we are right in the middle of all the combat action as well as the most intimate moments for the characters. I really enjoyed reading about military life and training from the Soviet perspective and although this book is a standalone, I would recommend reading Quinn’s The Huntress as there are some lovely tie ins with the two stories that you can only fully appreciate when you’ve read both books.

I get completely engrossed in Quinn’s books and love how she brings the characters to life on the page and is so invested in making sure they evolve as the story goes on.

Mila is such a fierce and intelligent young woman. To leave her young son at home and fight for her country, to facing enemies both foreign and much closer to home, I was rooting for her throughout the story. She goes through such heartache but remains strong when the rest of the world is falling apart and I really admired what she must have gone through (you can read about Mila in her memoir “Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin’s Sniper”). Alexei- what can I say about him?
Definitely on my “most-hated characters in a novel” category! Another character I adored was the quiet but equally deadly sniper Kostia, who is Mila’s partner and ever-present companion. Their friendship and connection was so beautiful to watch develop throughout the book.

There’s romance, plenty of combat (you can almost smell the gunpowder, smoke and tang of blood from Quinn’s masterful description of the characters’ surroundings), espionage, mystery and suspense- everything that you need for an exhilarating fast-paced war story.

Multiple timelines as well as multiple locations- Mila’s friendship with the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was so interesting to read. Mila is literally a fish out of water in “decadent” America and I loved how Quinn described Mila’s experiences in the U.S. ​

Quinn’s book is timely in terms of its setting in Ukraine and the main cities that feature are now a constant presence on our screens. Her description of the beauty of the cities as seen through Mila’s eyes was powerful and tinged with sadness as war irrevocably changed the landscape of her homeland. Poignant and a demonstration of the determination of one young mother to protect those she most holds dear, The Diamond Eye is one to read this summer!