Happy Saturday bookworms! I'm coming to you today with a review for The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein. First I would like to thank Penguin Teen Canada for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the times of World War II, set in a small town in Scotland, a German soldier delivers an enigma machine to British intelligence by hiding it in a pub. This machine could mean the end of the war, it can decode all of the messages going back and forth between the German fleets. However not all goes to plan when Louisa, a young teen charged with taking care of the pub owner's elderly aunt, finds it instead. She works with Ellen, a volunteer at the airfield, and Flight Lieutenant Jamie in order to decode messages received on patrols. With this information, Jamie's squadron seems to be unstoppable, until Germans start bombing the tiny town in retaliation... I had heard so many good things about Elizabeth Wein's other book called Code Name Verity and was immediately intrigued by the premise of this book. For those of you wondering, this does take place in the same universe, however it is more of a prequel which means you can read it before Code Name Verity. One of the aspects I loved about the writing was the accents interwoven with each perspective. I also was able to pick up on a lot of slang which really immersed me into the time period and setting. One concept talked about a lot in this book is coins that soldiers stick into the wood at the pub. Before they go on a mission they leave a coin for good luck and use it to buy a drink when they return safely. This small bit of information really showed how dire the situation was and made you think of all the sacrifices these people made. Morse code was also a big topic, and I have to say it reinvigorated my love for it! Something about secret codes and messages is so intriguing to me and it added an element of mystery to the plot. I had a hard time picking a favourite character, it's definitely a tie between Jamie and Louisa. They both are so brave, and stubborn in their own ways. I loved the inclusion of the topic of people of colour during the war, which I feel is something not talked about often. Seeing the struggles Louisa faced as a half Jamaican, half English woman during this time period was eye opening. I would have loved to see a bit more interaction between the main and side characters as I think that would have let me connect with the side characters more. But I have to say that my favourite relationship in this book is that between Louisa and Jane Warner, the elderly women she is caring for. They had such a connection through music and loss and it made for a heartwarming friendship. I am so excited to read more of Elizabeth Wein's work. This has reminded me of what I love in historical fiction, the action and ties to real events in history. I gave this book 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. That's a wrap on my review of The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein! This book just hit shelves so be on the look for it! Do you know any other languages? What about codes? Let me know in the comments below!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPaige is a bookstagrammer and blogger who loves all things bookish. From fantasy to mystery she can’t get enough! She’s always ready to recommend you a book and she can talk about her favourites all day. When she’s not reading, you can find her watching Marvel movies, playing video games, and taking bookstagram photos. Visit her on Instagram and Twitter for more updates. CategoriesArchives
April 2024
|