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Book one completed. One seventh of the total. I think the overall message is never be a mercenary.

The author served as a machine gunner with the 98th Machine Gun Company. He volunteered for service in October 1915 at the age of 18. In July 1916 he stepped off the troop train at Amiens and was soon marching to the Somme. That is as far as I have reached at page 50. It is already a frightening book. He has witnessed deaths, injuries, he has already been wounded himself and survived a gas attack. He is barely 19.

By today's standards it is not really scary but it is Gothic with a capital G. Incantations, spells, things from beyond, it is all thrown in and I am only up to chapter 12. Also, and it has nothing to do with Gothicism, the homoeroticism so far between Dirk and Theirry is comedy gold.

It is a slow start but it is building steadily. The only drawback is a male author writing in the character of a female protagonist. If protagonist is the right word for a geriatric reminiscing from her bed. Nevertheless, it is working.

Overall as a novel written by a 16-year-old it is amazingly good. As a novel discussing the actions and reactions of adults in distressing or sometimes romantic circumstances it is what one might expect from a 16-year-old.