Leviathan: A Story of the Great War by the author of “Eleven Days” (The WW1 Collection)
I was about to start Eleven Days when I realised I hadn’t read Leviathan yet! What an excellent start to the series. I cannot imagine being so young with so much responsibility during the war. It must have been terrifying! I like how the pilot goes back to happier times, in his mind, to keep himself calm throughout what must have been such a scary experience. Looking forward to jumping straight into Eleven Days now….
Late 1916. Giants lurk in southern England’s stormy skies, carrying a deadly load to rain down on the populace. And it’s up to a pilot in a frail biplane to stop it.
It’s nighttime, dark and blustery. He’s got no lights, almost no instruments, and just one gun. His aircraft is old and worn-out. It is more of a danger to him than to the enemy. But his country expects him to do his duty. He doesn’t want to let the side down. It’s not the done thing.
He’s scared. He’s alone. He has nothing but his thoughts and memories for company.
And he’s just 19.
ELEVEN DAYS: A novel of the great war (The WW1 Collection Book 2)
Eleven Days is a compelling read centred around nineteen-year-old Eddie Grenville. He wants to follow in his older brother’s footsteps as a pilot but soon learns that his brother isn’t quite the hero he thought he was. He’s not at all in a good place when he starts his first posting in France.
As I said before I cannot imagine being a pilot in a world war at the tender age of nineteen (or at any age to be honest) although I imagine it’s a more exciting prospect for a young lad. It’s frankly terrifying to me though and no wonder so many of them never returned home. Understandable that people felt they needed to do their bit though. A sense of duty to their country. I take my hat off to them.
Far from a straightforward tale about British aircrew in WW1 this is a complex novel about the intricacies of aviation and air combat but also family, friendship, betrayal, and the psychological impact of combat and its inevitable effect on the pilots’ personal lives.
A fascinating read!
I’m already reading book three, Three Brothers.
** I purchased the kindle edition of Eleven Days on 2nd July 2020 **
SPRING 1917. A storm is about to break.. A storm of bullets delivered by the Albatros’ of the Red Baron and his pilots…
Eddie Grenville doesn’t know the hell he’s about to fly into. Eddie is 19 and just finished school. He is idealistic and maybe a bit naive. He looks up to his older brother Percy, who he has followed into the RFC.
But then he finds out that Percy has commited a war crime, one that it revealed would both blacken the family name and tear it apart, though a ruthless press baron is intent on turning Percy into a hero, Eddie, confused and distraught, takes the first posting in France available – just in time to experience Bloody April where the lifespan of British aircrew is measured in days.
Can Eddie survive with his mind and body intact?
Three Brothers: A novel of air combat in the Great War (The WW1 Collection Book 3)
These books just get better. I think Three Brothers has been my favourite and I think that’s because of the characters as much as anything else. I really enjoyed the friendship/relationship dynamics between Felix, Ted, and Max.
The three were best friends, and inseparable as children, once Felix and Ted got over the fact that Max is a girl! Max just wanted to be one of the boys and they were soon up to mischief which sometimes got them into trouble. One time would change the direction of their friendships forever.
It’s 1918. They have all had to go their separate ways. The boys are fighting for different countries and, despite being family, loyalties are truly tested. Max is risking her life in determination of keeping them both alive to the end of the war. The boys must decide between each other or loyalty to their country. This made for such a tense plot line alongside the emotional personal side of the story.
As with the previous books there are a lot of wonderful descriptions of wartime aircraft and air combat. Battles fought and many young lives lost. It must have been a truly awful four years for all involved. I do find the wartimes fascinating. From those on the front line, in the air, or left at home worrying about loved ones and doing what they could to ‘do their bit’. It is the characters that definitely made this book for me though. I was completely invested in their stories.
** I purchased the Kindle edition of Three Brothers on 15th June 2021 **
Germany is on the brink of defeat, it’s armies pushed back on all fronts. The air force turns to wonder weapons to try turn the tide. No, this is not 1945, it’s 1918 and will result in what became known as Black September for the Allies.
Felix Wolff would rather not kill his cousin Ted. But if he gets the chance, he will. Ted is an American fighting for the British, while Felix is flying for the Germans in Fokker DVII, an aircraft far superior to Ted’s. Both men love the same woman. The three had grown up together and were closer than brothers, and it was she who caused the rift between Felix and Ted.
She is now a Swiss Red Cross official able to cross the lines. She needs to get information on the Fokker to Ted which can keep him alive. But if Felix supplies it, he’s committing treason, and she, if caught, could be shot as a spy.
Will any or all survive the last few months of the conflict?
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