Book Review: The Sniper's Kiss by Justine Saracen

 

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Content Warning: death, violence, murder, suicide, war, misogyny, sexual harassment.

It's 1944, and as the war rages on, Mia Kramer is fleeing her dark past. Ending up in Washington, with good recommendations to her name, she ends up working in the White House as a Russian interpreter and accountant for the Lend-Lease Program. On the other side of the world, Alexia Vasilievna Mazarova is fighting through her religious past, trying to decide if she should take the leap and join the army -- or if killing will damn her forever. By chance, Mia and Alexia meet, and there's an instant connection between them... but how can their two disparate worlds ever come together?

Although this is pitched as a historical lesbian romance, I'd venture to say that this is primarily a beautiful homage to Russian culture and the women who fought on Russia's fronts during WWII. Saracen's dedication to historical accuracy lends itself to a fascinating read, though not quite the one I expected -- I'd initially believed that the focus of this story would be on the romance between Mia and Alexia, but ended up finding out that the majority of the tale revolves around their personal lives at the White House and at the front as a sniper, respectively. 

If you're picking this up imagining it to be full of romance, sweet moments and kisses, then you'll have to adjust your expectations (like I did). On this point, I was slightly disappointed; I think that Alexia and Mia are both interesting characters, but their development together as a couple is slightly lackluster. We're told, rather than shown, the process of Alexia and Mia falling in love. Considering the fact that for most of this book, Mia and Alexia are apart, I was extremely excited once they were finally reunited, but even when they are together, the focus point is on practical details associated with the war rather than on the relationship between the two women. 

Saracen's admiration of Russian culture and its women warriors is obvious, but she doesn't shy away from criticizing the Soviet system that destroyed so many lives, and later on in the novel, this becomes a major element of Alexia's journey. The moments where Alexia is bonding with her fellow women on the front are beautiful, full of a real, touching depth that warms you to them all immediately. In a strange way, the underwhelming romance almost takes away from the otherwise dry, tense atmosphere that Saracen builds; this book could almost read as nonfiction because the prose is so straightforward and unvarnished. 

Overall, this is worth the read if you're a history buff like me, and I think if you have a prior interest in the female snipers of the Soviet Union, you'll enjoy the incredible detail Saracen describes during the training period and also during the actual fieldwork. If you're looking for a romance, this won't satisfy you, but I do think that many will enjoy the centering of lesbian lives without necessarily having to include romance! 

If you're interested in any of the things I mentioned above, give this a shot. And Happy Pride Month to all!