Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky -> Starting April 6th, 2024

[Aly]

The first casualty of war is truth . . .

First, Denland's revolutionaries assassinated their king, launching a wave of bloodshed after generations of peace. Next they clashed with Lascanne, their royalist neighbour, pitching war-machines against warlocks in a fiercely fought conflict.

Genteel Emily Marshwic watched as the hostilities stole her family's young men. But then came the call for yet more Lascanne soldiers in a ravaged kingdom with none left to give. Emily must join the ranks of conscripted women and march toward the front lines.

With barely enough training to hold a musket, Emily braves the savage reality of warfare.
But she begins to doubt her country's cause, and those doubts become critical. For her choices will determine her own future and that of two nations locked in battle.

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 1 - 9

(view spoiler)[ After the first chapter, the book goes back in time and you see how Emily got to that point and how the war evolved. I liked that.

I absolutely hate Alice and how spoiled, ignorant and selfish she is.

I think I might even like Mr Northway but I don’t see how he’s going to appear again until the end.

On that note, I don’t really see what else can happen apart from Emily fighting in the war, which I’m not sure how interesting that’s going to be to read about. Maybe there’ll be a few chapters at the end when Emily comes back from the war and it shows the effects the war had on her.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 10 - 17

(view spoiler)[ I liked what happened with the other soldier when Emily got lost and was near the lake.

I like the letters to Northway at the beginning of each chapter.

I know that that's probably what makes it realistic, but I don't understand how and when this book/war ends. Is it just going to happen randomly? I'm really hoping that the book doesn't end as soon as it says that the war is over - I want to see Emily back at home and how she adapts to it after the war.

There were new recruits so does that mean that someone from Emily's household had to go again?

I like Tubal, Mallen and even Giles as a character, but I don't like this thing between Giles and Emily.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 18 - 25

(view spoiler)[ I wasn’t expecting Emily to be captured, but that was over fairly quickly.

Even though Emily doesn’t believe the Denlanders, I think that there’s a possibility that they were telling the truth.

Lascari was disgusting.

I wonder if Emily will be able to talk to the Denlanders since she’s already made contact with them, but even if that happens, how is she going to be able to stop the war?

Is Emily’s brother actually in one of those camps Doctor Lam talked about?
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 26 - 33

(view spoiler)[ These last few chapters were not for me.

I liked Emily’s encounter with Doctor Lam and it was unexpected that they lost the war, but I still liked it.

I didn’t like the complication of Giles. Throughout the book Northway is the one she thinks about and knows that she can be honest and expect honesty from so the little fling with Giles wasn’t expected or welcome.

Also, I really didn’t like how at the end, instead of her trying to make a life for herself, there’s more complications when it comes to Giles and his execution and the book ends without showing Emily’s life after all that.

This book was interesting and unique, but I didn’t like what happened when Emily came back from the war.
(hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Chapters 1 - 9

After the first chapter, the book goes back in time and you see how Emily got to that point and how the war evolved. I liked that.

I absolutely hate Alice and how spoiled, ignora..."

Chapters 1 - 9: (view spoiler)[This was sold as 'Pride and Prejudice but with war", howere it feels much more like Little Women to me. Regardless, yes, Alice is hugely annoying. I think I might like Mr Northway also, the scene with Emily deciding to go to war and not stay in an office with him was a little heartbreaking. The thing about magic and the monarchy is a little confused, not sure we needed it?. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[This is becoming too depressing! I am glad Emily found some people, though, and I am glad she is writing to Northway. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

I am going to get back to this eventually, I just don't want to read about the battle, I am scared! :P

[Andy]

Getting back to this soon!

[Andy]

Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[I am glad she killed Sharkey... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Chapters 26 - 33

These last few chapters were not for me. "

Finished!
I agree with this so much! (view spoiler)[I did not mind the thing with Scavian - it was always there, and I thought that Northway was a better fit for her anyway. But I did not like the ending where he was again snivelling, and I wanted to see her life in peace at least a little! Not just the king is dead, now everything is going to be fine...?... :( (hide spoiler)]