Katherine Arden quickly became one of my favorite authors with her previous works, The Winternight Trilogy. Her exquisite storytelling ability and breathtaking settings have wowed me from day one and I always recommend her whenever I can. I loved reading her children’s series, Small Spaces, but was avidly awaiting her next adult novel as I knew she would not disappoint. I was beyond excited to receive an ARC copy of this book, even though I had also preordered a signed copy from Arden herself.

Arden successfully mixed historical fiction and fantasy in this WWI novel with a mysterious twist. It was dark and heartbreaking but showed the realistic tole of war that affected people in many different ways. You don't see many books about WWI out there which is part of the reason why Arden says she wrote this book. So as dark as the material is, I enjoyed learning more about this pivotal historical moment. Especially Arden's notes after the story was over of why she wrote this particular book in this particular way. So incredibly unique and clever.

Arden's character development is flawless, and I could easily picture each character and match their personality to the scenes and dialogue as the story continued. You are introduced to a sister, Laura, who has been a frontline nurse during this long war. Wounded and sent home but now back after she hears conflicting stories of how her brother died. Laura is determined to find out what really happened to him. You are introduced to her brother, Freddie, a soldier stuck in a pillbox with an enemy German soldier, Winter, and their harrowing journey of clawing their way out and searching for safety.

As the storyline unfolds for this brother and sister, you follow them in their struggle of losing hope in this desperate and chaotic time. Their memories threaten to drag them to a dark place that they might not be able to escape. And that is where the fantastical element is added in this storyline. I can’t say much without giving away the clever and unique twist, but it enhanced the dark and harrowing journey for both of these characters.

I cannot say enough about how much I love Katherine Arden’s writing or how much this story affected me. All I can say is read it as soon as you can.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book so I was able to read it earlier than the release day. Of course, I am so glad to have the personalized physical copy in my possession now and it has immediately gone to my favorites bookshelf.

This book was simply incredible! The writing is dark, atmospheric, and achingly lovely. I truly can't say enough about how much I've loved everything Katherine Arden has written.

In The Warm Hands of Ghosts, we get a hauntingly beautiful story set during WWI featuring trauma, heartache, and ghosts. I'm going to have this one on my mind for a long time to come. Having the supernatural and fantasy elements entwined with such a devastating time in history was absolutely mesmerizing. I especially loved the authors note at the end. Make sure to read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

i got 20% into this one before i had to dnf. i knew it was historical fantasty going into it as her books typically are but it was, honest to goodness, terribly boring. laura’s pov in particular was a pain to get through, but freddie’s pov was much more engaging. alas, no one can say i didn’t give it a fair try 😭 the pacing was also an issue i had with her other series and i was hopeful this one was going to be different (it wasn’t)

Some books are good but in some ways are unoriginal and therefor forgettable, Katherine Arden does not write those kinds of books.
This book was absolutely unforgettable (like her others).
This is a fantasy tale that is intertwined with historical elements that make it that much more immersive.
You can't help but fall in love with the characters and become whole invested in the story that unfolds.
You can tell all the time, love and effort that was put into this book and its one of the reasons it is so good.
Highly recommend if you are at all interested in historical fiction/fantasy, enemies to lovers, or war time fictions.

Title: The Warm Hands of Ghosts
Author: Katherine Arden
Source: DRC via NetGalley ( ) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: February 13, 2024
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Why did I choose to read this book?

I have tried to read books by Arden before (The Bear and the Nightingale) but my brain has always gotten bored and I’ve sent the books back to the library. But this one sounded just weird enough that I figured it would hold my interest, so I requested it!

What is this book about?

This book follows Laura and Freddie Iven as they experience World War I from different perspectives. They are are from Canada, Laura is an honorably discharged combat nurse who has been told that her brother was killed in action, when really he was just missing in action. She goes back as a volunteer nurse to look for him and dives right back into the insanity of war. This book is how we bring ourselves and others away from the brink of oblivion and still live with ourselves afterwards.

What is notable about this story?

This is one of the weirdest books I have ever read. The timelines are all criss-crossed, there is a supernatural vampire-ish element(?), and all I can say is that if you have experienced trauma that has left you with PTSD or other mental illness struggles, this book is gonna take you places you might not necessarily want to go. If you are a veteran, you may want to read some more reviews before digging into this one. It’s a metaphor AND literal at the same time and my goodness it is a lot to process. The layers that Arden places through this story are so artfully crafted that sometimes you won’t even know you’re being told something until like, three chapters later and you get hit by it.

This book is a trauma-laced mindfuck. Do with that what you will.

Was anything not so great?

For me, this book went on a bit long. At one point I was like “okay, I get it, it’s a METAPHOR” and that slowed my progress a bit. But in the grand scheme of things it’s a small quibble. If you like your books thoughtful and dense, this will be something that you enjoy.

What’s the verdict?

3 stars on Goodreads. It’s serviceable but I wouldn’t go out of my way to read it because of the subject matter. I could see this as a book that a history professor would assign at the college level for their students to read and analyze. For fun though? Nah.

This was a fantastic book. I have tried many times to get into historical fiction and it is often a bust for me but I really wanted to give this one a try. Katherine Arden did a fantastic job with keeping the readers engaged while adding a bit if magic and suspense. Additionally, she captures the struggles during this time period and allows readers to learn of what our family members and loved ones went through during that time. We all heard stories but never lived it. I will definitely be reading another book by this author.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an ARC version of this book.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a historical fiction novel set during World War 1 with and element of magical realism.

Laura Iven is a field nurse serving overseas when she is injured and sent home to Halifax. Her brother Freddie is a soldier serving overseas. Laura's parents are killed in an explosion in Halifax. Shortly afterwards Laura receives, via post, her brother's jacket and ID tags and is presumed dead.

The story follows two points of view. We witness Laura and her trip back to Belgium as she searches for her brother and answers to his disappearance.
We also follow Freddie's point of view as a soldier trapped in a pillbox with a German soldier as they need to work together to survive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I adore Katherine Arden and her writing! She has such a wonderful way of transporting you into her books and the time and place of her writing. This book takes place during WWI and I felt like I was in the trenches with Fred and in the makeshift hospitals with Laura. This book is a historical science fiction novel. I loved that it was historical and yet we are dealing with ghosts as well. I really loved this book!

Katherine Arden can make anything fascinating. In the Authors note at the end of the book she talked about how the United States doesn't talk about WW1 and instead put more focus on WW2 and she was totally right. I learned more about the first world war reading this book and then subsequently googling things that intrigued me than i ever did in school - which was my exact experience reading her other books. She has this way of writing that dives so deep into the characters that you are so fully immersed into their minds and the story, that you don't want to leave that world or those people behind no matter what the setting. I believe she could write a story about a trash heap and make it riveting.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is WWI historical fiction but Arden has given the story a speculative twist that makes it unlike any other historical fiction I’ve ever read.

The story follows a brother and sister who are both serving in the war. Laura is a combat nurse, while Freddie is a soldier on the front lines in Flanders. Laura is injured & sent home, and while there recuperating, receives word that Freddie has been killed in action. Something about this doesn’t sit well with her, and so Laura resolves to return to the war to either find her brother or at least learn the truth. Once she returns, she starts hearing strange rumors about haunted trenches and a mysterious hotel owner who offers his guests a wine that promises the gift of oblivion.

The truth about Freddie is that he and a German solder somehow found themselves both trapped under an overturned pillbox during heavy fire. The only way to survive is to work together and so they form an unlikely alliance. Neither man wishes to return to war and when they find a mysterious hotel, they take refuge there and are offered a chance to make everything they have been through disappear. At what cost though is the big question...

Arden does an incredible job capturing just how horrific war is. The way she describes the front line made me feel like I was right there in the trenches with those who were fighting.

She has also created a poignant story about family and loss as much of the story focuses on the siblings trying to find their way back to each other because, with the deaths of their parents during a bombing, they are all each other has left.

The speculative element was what pushed this to a 5 star read for me. This mysterious fiddler out on on the battlefield who lures people to him, almost like a Pied Piper. Is he meant to be the Devil or something else entirely? Whatever he is, he truly embodies the soul crushing nature of war.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a haunting read that is going to stay with me for a long time.

I went into this pretty much blind, as I tend to do with books once I add them to my list. I liked that this book examined the mental ramifications of war even more than the physical, while still using period-appropriate language and diagnoses. (It's clear that Arden put in a lot of research on that front.) And while the story was overall very dark and depressing, we do end with a semblance of hope. I usually struggle to get into historical fiction, and this one was no exception, but the audiobook was a great help. I can't exactly put my finger on what was missing, but this didn't quite reach 5 stars for me. Regardless, I fully recommend. This has me looking forward to The Winternight Trilogy, the first book of which has been sitting on my shelves for years now.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is one of those books with the right amount of action to keep me entertained and is a historical fiction set in WW1 and scratches a part of my brain that I thoroughly enjoy The sibling love through war brought tears to my eyes. Absolutely loved this book and I will keep a lookout for more books by this author in the future.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I didn't know what to expect when I began The Warm Hand of Ghosts. For starters, I didn't read the blurb. Then, to top it off, I might be the only person on the planet who didn't enjoy the Winternight Trilogy (I know, I know, for shame). I enjoy Arden's writing, especially her ability to create lush atmospheres, but I rarely care about her characters. Unfortunately, this remained true in The Warm Hands of Ghosts.

Set during the final years of World War I, Arden transports readers to 1917 Belgium after the Battle of Passchendaele. After the devastating loss of both her mother and her father, Laura, a discharged war nurse, returns to the Western Front to search for her brother, Freddie, who is presumed killed in action.

At its heart, The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a story about the horrors of war and asks, what if the devil came to play in Hell on Earth? It's an intriguing premise, and if executed well, one that could result in necessary conversations about the impact of war on both sides of the line and soldiers and citizens alike. However, Arden's surface-level attempt at an answer ultimately fails to leave a lasting impact.

My overall issue is that Laura's storyline is uninteresting, unfocused, and honestly unnecessary. I found Freddie and Hans' storyline more imaginative, and had Arden focused most of her time here - I think it could have been a more successful story. Farland, Arden's devil character, is essentially wasted. Arden shoves you face-first into the violence and wastefulness of war, but you come out clean. It sorely lacked in emotion and vulnerability.

Now, the reviews for this book are very strong, and knowing that I didn't like Winternight, may mean this is more of a me thing and not a book thing

This book is small but nightly and I didn’t realize how much I adored these characters and how invested I had been on their happiness until the last few chapters of the book.
Winter and Freddie were my favorite part of this story. Their meeting, their journey and the way they end up falling for each other just seized my heart and did not let it go. I was squealing when they finally kissed.
Laura was a force for her brother and I felt for her journey so much.
The concept of ghost and the devil during the events of world war 1, world war 2 and the civil was even is not a foreign concept and has been explored before but I love the spin that Katherine put on it. It was heartfelt, it was well researched and it was an incredible story.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This novel is very interesting and filled with well developed characters. It was a bit slow moving for me over the first half of the story, but once the characters returned to the front in Belgium, the story picked up and was much more captivating. The supernatural elements were interesting, but not as fascinating for me as the overall storyline and characters. I would give it 3 and 1/2 stars, as the slower pace of the story made it difficult for me to stick with this novel all the way through. But it is definitely well written, and a treat from an exceptional author.

First off, I want to say Katherine Arden clearly has a way with words. The descriptions and atmosphere are beautiful. It’s apparent she spent a lot of time doing the work to research this book.

What didn’t work for me is the pace and the characters. I didn’t understand exactly what was happening and why I should really care about either character’s point of view. I wanted to get to the action faster, but it was a brutal slog to even get to the fiddler.

The fiddler as a villain was too much and over the top for me as an atheist, so reading about a watchtower deity just wasn’t for me.

Overall, this is just a book that was not for me. I think it can really work for those who like a depressing war story that’s historically accurate with an element of speculative.

Just not my type of story and that’s okay.

I DNF’d this at about 65%, but not because there was anything wrong with it- it just wasn’t my vibe right now. Arden is a great writer. Her characters were engaging, real, and I cared about them. I just didn’t care very much for the setting. This is very historical fiction with gothic interwoven and lining the pages. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this kind of story, but it just didn’t flow in a way that made me want to keep reading it right now. Granted, I’m really busy at work right now, so that could be it, but it wasn’t enough to grip me in the midst of those busy days. At least not right now.

If historical and gothic are your vibes, this is going to be a good one for you. The mix of gothic elements with the very real and gritty side of war in the early 20th century is phenomenal. Arden doesn’t shy away from the scars and traumas of that time, and it makes the setting incredibly real while still having these paranormal gothic elements that were also all the rage at that time too. It’s a very well done book.

Arden just doesn’t know how to write a bad book. She knocked this one out of the park.
Her presentation of an overshadowed point in history displayed her deep research and understanding of the time period but didn’t overwhelm the reader in the dry facts.
Her handling of the question “what would an old god/devil do in this rapidly changing world?” was masterful.
As always, the prose was heartbreaking and beautiful.

Thanks NetGalley and DelRay for the ARC!

A brand new book by the one and only Katherine Arden who is known for her beautiful writing and atmospheric stories. In this novel we follow Laura, an injured WWI nurse, who wants to find her brother, a missing soldier and this leads her to finding help in unexpected places. It's a mix of history and fantasy and grief amid war, it was very different from the Winternight trilogy as I don’t really know what to expect plot wise but it was great and emotional!

At the outset, I must admit to some bias in my choice of book and this review. Katherine Arden wrote one of my favorite historical fantasy series ever, starting with The Bear and the Nightingale, and so when she announced her next book I was first in line.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a historical fiction novel with some speculative elements. We follow three characters, Laura Iven, Freddie Iven, and Hans Winter, as they deal with the horrors of the Battle of Passchendaele. Laura is an injured combat nurse who has come back to the front in search of her missing brother, Freddie. Freddie finds himself in a bombed out pill box with German soldier Hans Winter and the two develop an unlikely partnership through their escape. But will they reunite? Between the bombs and the mysterious violin player who seems to haunt the battlefield, or at least the soldiers, the prospect seems unlikely.

Arden writes in her author’s note that she chose World War I as her setting for this story because of the contradictions inherent in the times, for example, the widespread use of long-range artillery compared to armies communicating via messenger pigeon.

She was also fascinated by the psychological remnants of this time on the survivors. “Europeans in 1914, rich with plundered colonial wealth, believing wholly in their cultural supremacy, discovered that they were capable of sending their children off to live in holes and murder each other.” What sort of scar does this decimation of previously essential beliefs bring to those who survive?

Katherine Arden is a master of atmosphere, so I knew when she took on the ghastly World War I trenches that the results would be devastating. I was not disappointed. I heard every bomb whistle and felt the mud cover my body with Freddie and Winter, and tasted the antiseptic of Laura’s hospital. And that was just the background. When I understood the implications of the title of this book, I cried.

This story is a story of familial devotion in the face of unimaginable tragedy, and yet it is also a story of memory and how we remember our own histories when the foundations of our world seem to collapse. It is also an analysis of how much we might give up of ourselves to forgo the pain of remembering. What bargains might we make with what devils in the face of such death and disaster?

Katherine Arden has created a world of terror and trauma with characters that are so beautiful that the disparity between the two is heart-rending. This book is a beautiful ode to humanity in the darkest of times and is worth not only a read, but a re-read.