The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn: Book Review

Looks Like Books contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclaimer to learn more.

The Diamond Eye is another blockbuster historical fiction novel by Kate Quinn, published in March 2022.

I picked it up after reading The Rose Code, which left me eager for more from Kate Quinn. Both books are long, complex WWII-era historical novels – but my reading experience with The Diamond Eye turned out to be quite different.

I still think this is an excellent book. But unlike The Rose Code, which I practically devoured, The Diamond Eye was a more difficult read for me.

My Take: The Diamond Eye introduced me to a fascinating part of WWII history I knew very little about, but it was a heavier reading experience for me than The Rose Code. I didn’t become quite as immersed in this one, although I still found the story well worth reading. My Verdict? Read. I especially recommend it for readers interested in lesser-known WWII history and historical fiction based on real women.

What The Diamond Eye Is About

The Diamond Eye is based on the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a young history student and mother who became one of the Soviet Union’s most successful snipers during World War II.

After Germany invades the Soviet Union, Mila leaves her ordinary life behind and joins the fight, eventually becoming famous for her extraordinary record as a sniper. Her wartime achievements lead to a goodwill tour of the United States, where she develops an unlikely friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Kate Quinn blends Mila’s remarkable real-life history with fictional elements to create a story of war, survival, friendship, loss, and one woman’s transformation into the legendary sniper known as Lady Death.

The Diamond Eye – What I Liked

Historical fiction set in the WWII era is one of my favorite genres to read. And The Diamond Eye certainly delivers on that score.

The book had me Googling facts like crazy – which for me is another measure of how great a book is. I like to learn new things, especially historical facts, so a book that makes me Google stuff is a sure win!

I actually didn’t research much about this book before I started reading it. For me, having Kate Quinn as the author was the only endorsement I needed, because of how much I loved her last book, The Rose Code. So I didn’t realize that it was based on a true story about a real woman named Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko, and that real woman was clearly an amazing hero!

The Diamond Eye really gave me insight into the life of this woman, and I enjoyed researching her a bit more after reading the book.

And I feel that I learned some additional historical facts about WWII with every book I read, and this book was no exception. The Diamond Eye covered this time frame from a sort of different angle that I’ve not read about before. So it was an excellent way to learn something new about the WWII era.

The Diamond Eye – What I Didn’t Like

Overall, I think The Diamond Eye is an amazing book, but there were some things I didn’t like. And, I’m afraid that some of those things were simply the result of my having incorrect expectations about what this book would bring me.

So in reality, I guess I’m saying it’s my fault I didn’t like certain things. Not the book’s fault, OK?

So here’s the thing. Throughout the reading of this book, I had some feelings of dislike, I guess I would call them. Or perhaps discontent would be a better word. The book didn’t make me feel good.

Again, probably because I was expecting something different.

The first issue is that, let’s face it, the subject of the book is not exactly a feel-good one. A sniper during a time of war. Duh! See? I didn’t do my homework very well before I read the book. And along with a sniper goes a lot of killing. A bit too much for my taste. So I didn’t like that part of this reading experience. Honestly, it wasn’t a book I wanted to read before I went to bed at night.

One more thing is that I just couldn’t warm up to the characters as much as I would have liked to. Part of the problem may have been the Russian names, which can be difficult to pronounce and even difficult to hear in your own mind as you read. I guess for me it may have been difficult to warm up to any characters given the activities they were involved in.

The Diamond Eye – Read, ReRead, or Reconsider

And now, for my 3 Rs of book reviews. Read, ReRead, or Reconsider?

Read.

Despite the things that didn’t work quite as well for me, I still think The Diamond Eye is a definite Read. Mila Pavlichenko’s real-life story is extraordinary, and Kate Quinn introduced me to a part of WWII history I knew very little about.

Would I reread it? Probably not. This was a heavier reading experience for me than The Rose Code, but I’m very glad I read it once.

Is The Diamond Eye Worth Reading?

The Diamond Eye wasn’t quite the reading experience I expected after loving The Rose Code, but that’s not necessarily a criticism of the book. It’s a darker, heavier story centered on an extraordinary real woman whose wartime experiences aren’t always easy to read.

For readers who enjoy WWII historical fiction based on real people, particularly stories that explore lesser-known aspects of the war, The Diamond Eye is well worth reading. And if, like me, you love a historical novel that sends you searching for the real history behind the story, there’s plenty to discover here.

And you can check out everything written by this author in my guide to Kate Quinn books in order.

What To Read Next

• The Rose Code by Kate Quinn – Start here if you want another Kate Quinn WWII novel; this one was a ReRead for me.
• Flying Angels by Danielle Steel – Another WWII novel that introduced me to a piece of women’s wartime history I hadn’t known much about.
• The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles – A good choice for another novel inspired by fascinating real events during WWII.
• Explore Historical Fiction – Browse more historical fiction books and recommendations on Looks Like Books.

Please Share This Post!