“No matter how hard the metal, it yields to human strength. All you have to do is devise the right weapon. I was a weapon.”

This is a historical fiction set in WWII about Ukrainian sniper Lyudmila “Mila” Pavlichenko, known by the Russians as Lady Death. The story blends fact and fiction, drawing on Mila's autobiography, The Memoirs of Stalin's Sniper. Mila fought in the 25th rifle division and was famous for making 309 official kills of German soldiers during the war, although in reality it would be far more.

The story shifts between Kiev, during the war action when thousands of Russian lives were lost trying to repel the German invasion, and the USA. After Mila is injured at Sevastopol, she is chosen to represent Russia in a publicity tour of the USA, trying to influence the Americans to support their war effort.

The story deals with Mila’s relationship with her arrogant ex-husband Alexei, one of the officers Lyonya, and her sniper partner Kostia. It also speaks of her difficulty in leaving her son to go to war. When Mila goes to the USA she is seen as somewhat of a freak initially-as the Americans struggle to relate to a woman in this role-rather than the hero the Soviets envisioned. The press hound her terribly, with far less respect than her male counterparts, even asking questions about her underwear. Eleanor Roosevelt takes Mila under her wing. At this point the almost fan-girl reverential treatment of the President and First Lady reveal the author’s sensibilities as very American. Interestingly, in Australia our attitude towards our leaders differs from this and is tempered with a large dose of cynicism.

This was a very enjoyable read, not quite as engaging as some of her previous books, but a good solid historical fiction, which gave insight into its subject matter. The audio narration by Saskia Maarleveld was very good. ( )

Based on the Russian female sniper, Lyudmila (Mila) Pavlichenko, also known as Lady Death, this historical fiction novel follows the career and influence of this remarkable woman. At only 16, she becomes a mother, and at 25, a skilled marksman. She is Ukrainian, and is recruited into Stalin's army to fight in WWII. She is sent to the US as part of a Russian delegation and meets and befriends Eleanor Roosevelt.
The story details the horrors of war, the tense situations and relationships built during time in the trenches, and the determination of Mila. There is also a fictional story involving FDR.
I never knew about Mila Pavlichenko and am glad to have learned of her through this novel. ( )

I’m always a little leery choosing WWII historical fiction (among so many others: Code Name Helene destroyed me, Our Darkest Night inspired me), but despite my reading trepidation, I’m still drawn to those larger-than-life heroisms of that time period—I just need to make sure there’s enough hope at the end of so many of these black, inky stories. This story—based on the real Russian Lady Death—fits snuggly into that foxhole that holds those WWII tales that emotionally gut me while still offering more light than darkness.

Several things led me to choose (and love) this WWII read (besides it being available at my public library):

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This inspiring and exciting story is based on a true person, Lyudmila Pavlichenko. While the author used artistic license to enhance this sniper's story, she explains which parts are based on true events, and which parts of the story came from her imagination. It was a very engaging read! The author was able to help me empathize with an unlikely type of character, whose nickname "Lady Death" explains where her fame came from. What made a bookish graduate student leave behind her family, studies, and "nerdy " dissertation, to fight alongside men as a sniper? The author makes us understand the motivation for this transformation.
4 out of 5 stars- the inciting plot event made the climax less than surprising. ( )

Love the story; love the narrator!!