Rating: 4 out of 5

I knew very little about Chechnya before reading this so I have no idea of the accuracy. It jumps between 2004 and years within the previous decade and relates mainly to the people who live in a small village and how their lives and deaths are shaped by the war. Beautifully written but the jumping around the time frames stopped me being as engaged with it even though it did work well.

Highlighted passages:

His approval sparked magic into the blandest day, could layer her in the self-confidence and security she otherwise might lack; and without it, without him, she felt small, and helpless,

Work isn’t meaningful just because you spend your life doing it.

There are maps to show you how to get to the place where you want to be but no maps that show you how to get to the time when you want to be.

Originally posted to my Goodreads account