In recent years, the historical fiction genre has ascended to the top as one of the most read genres in literature. The popularity of the genre, combined with the large amount of books written in the genre have all played in the recent influx of historical fiction novels. And what’s not to like in terms of the genre? You get exposure to a historical time period or historical figure and yet, the author can take creative liberties. All in the name of “fiction”.
And yet, the biggest problems with this genre is to not over saturate a particular time period and trying to come up with an original story. The more original the historical story is, the more likely you are to capture the attention of the audience. All of this, while keeping some sense of historical accuracy. But, when done properly, a good historical fiction can be one of the best books you read. And the book I’m reviewing this time around definitely fits that category.
Leila Mecham’s Dragonfly was one of the BEST books I read last year and it wasn’t even close. This book is, as the title of the post suggests, a true work of genius. It’s smart, emotional, tense, full of interesting characters and a story that leaves you on the edge of your seat.
The story revolves around a group of American young people who are sent to Paris to spy on the Nazis during World War. It seems a simple task on the surface. Well, as simple as any spy mission can be. That is until you realize that these young people have no military training and receive quick spy training. Then, they can’t communicate with each other whatsoever, unless they use a special meeting. They each have their own assignments and their own person to spy on. These five missions entangle with each other, creating a brilliant story
The story is tense, full of action, intrigue and each chapter leaves you on the edge of your seat. The chapters are told from the perspectives of the various characters, although in the third person narration. It can be a little jarring and confusing at first when trying to remember each American’s code name and their working name. But you soon adjust and follow along with story quite easily. As with most spy stories, the mission goes off without a hitch until the inevitable crisis moment. It’s at this point where I think the story shines. The genuine presence of tension makes you really feel for the characters and worry about their safety.
As for the characters, they are the true strength of this book. The five American spies, Samuel Barton, Bridgette Loring, Christoph Brandt, Brad Hudson and Victoria Grayson, all have their own unique personalities that really allows you to connect with them. The bonds that they form with each other and the real concern that they feel for each other is clear to see and it truly is breathtaking to see these five strangers go from strangers to nearly inseparable friends. Not only that, but you feel for their handler, Alistair. Alistair’s love for his spies and full blooded concern is reminiscent of a father figure. And the trust he has in them allows you to fully believe that they can succeed as well.
But it’s not just the Americans that have outstanding characters. The Nazis have some outstanding characters as well, led by Derrick Albrecht. Some of the Germans are shown not to be monsters and the twist that books throws out is incredible. The cat and mouse game that is played by all sides really lets you get to know the characters and root for whoever you want. Albrecht is a character that you will come to love, just take my word for it.
Overall, Dragonfly is a superb work of historical fiction. The story, the characters and the attention to historical detail are all second to none. The tense story will leave you on the edge of your seat and you will truly root for the survival of the young American spies. For a book that I picked up just because of the cover, I was fully blown away.
Verdict- 5 stars. One of the easiest five stars that I can hand out. One of the best books that came out in 2019 and I encourage everyone to read it.
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