A cast of tough characters shines in this historical about a British nurse searching for her missing brother. Supernatural elements are subtle and disturbing, as she navigates two worlds of friendly and hostile forces against the violent backdrop of WWI

THIS BOOK!! I read it 3 months ago and I still think about it multiple times a week. It's a mix of history and fantasy and grief and war and it is just so beautifully written.

The Warm Hands of Ghost by Katherine Arden is riveting, engaging readers from the first chapter all the way to the end. Immediately, I was invested in the characters, losing sleep because I wanted to know what happened next. Full of powerful imagery, I felt like I was there with them as they fought for family and survival on the front lines of WWI. Vivid and haunting, yet I wanted more.

(Thank you for the arc)

It’s been just over 100 years since the end of World War I. The last veterans have passed away and World War II has largely eclipsed what was called the Great War in a lot of Western minds. Katherine Arden’s heartbreaking historical fantasy, The Warm Hands of Ghosts, brings the horrors of the catastrophic First World War back to life through the eyes of a nurse and her soldier brother. Both characters search for each other in the wake of the Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres, July-November 1917) through figurative and literal hell.

Laura Iven was sent home to Canada after the Belgian hospital she was working at was shelled by the Germans in the fall of 1917 and she received a near-fatal leg wound. Tragically, almost as soon as she recovers (mostly) and finds new work, her parents are killed in the Halifax Explosion. She only has one relative left, her brother Freddie, who disappeared during the Battle of Passchendaele. After what Laura has seen of the front, it’s hard to hold out hope that Freddie is still alive. She’s a cynical person but, when a package arrives with Freddie’s bloody infantry jacket and both halves of his ID tag, Laura pulls strings to be sent back to Belgium to search for him. (ID tags were split in half when a body was recovered. One half was sent to family members after the death was recorded; the other half would stay with the remains.)

Our first hints that The Warm Hands of Ghosts is not a straight work of historical fiction come from the three elderly women whom Laura boards with and nurses for. The three women run seances (Laura dismisses them as scam artists) that are surprisingly accurate. Readers who remember their Greek myths will clock the familiar-sounding names of the three Parkey sisters. Things get even stranger when Laura returns to Belgium and starts to hear rumors of a fiddler who offers respite from the bombs, the wet, and the deprivations of trench warfare, only to disappear by morning and never be seen again. It would be easy for Laura to dismiss her own strange encounter with the fiddler, Faland, except that the women traveling with her also have the same experience. It’s harder to explain away something as a hallucination or a dream if others remember it, too.

Freddie’s story is told in parallel with Laura’s. We know he’s alive after surviving the explosion of a German pillbox emplacement but his story is even stranger than Laura’s. It’s a miracle that Freddie wasn’t killed by the explosion or by being buried in mud. Thanks to the presence of a German soldier named Winter who was in the pillbox, Freddie managed to dig them out. Once the two men emerge, however, they have a new problem. If they find the German trenches, Freddie will be taken prisoner and possibly shot. If they find the Allies’ trenches, Winter will be the one facing imprisonment and possible execution. There is no safety for either of them…until they run across a curious fiddle player who offers them refuge for a negligible price.

As The Warm Hands of Ghosts developed, I felt so much sympathy for Laura and Freddie. Both of them have almost died. They’ve suffered terribly at the disastrous whims of the generals who’ve sent so many people to their deaths over the course of the war. The easy thing would be to either go home and forget (Laura) or retreat into fantasy and oblivion (Freddie). The hard thing is to keep putting one foot in front of the other and search for a way through trauma and death. But what I love most about this incredible novel is that neither Laura or Freddie has to do the hard thing alone. There are hands—from friends and from ghosts—to pull them through their trials to the other side, whatever that might look like.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a beautiful and harrowing novel. I strongly recommend it to fans of historical fantasy or readers who are looking for a more original war story.

"The Warm Hands of Ghosts" by Katherine Arden is a WWI Historical Fiction Story with Paranormal Aspects!

Laura Iven, a field nurse during WWI, was wounded, discharged, and sent home to Halifax, Canada. She is stunned when news arrives that her brother Freddie, a soldier in the Canadian Army, is missing and presumed dead. As she touches his bloody jacket and ID tags, she can't believe what she sees and reads to be true.

Despite struggling with a painful leg injury, Laura decides to return to Flanders, Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. She's determined to discover the truth of what happened to Freddie, in the hopes that he's still alive...

"The Warm Hands of Ghosts" is told through alternating timelines of the main character Laura Iven, and her brother, Wilfred (Freddie) Iven. This is my first read by Katherine Arden and there is something to be said about an author whose writing and storytelling can transport you to where the story is taking place. In this case, it's 1917-1918 in Flanders, Belgium* during The Great War and I felt like I was there.

This is a hefty tale to take on, with topics of severe injury, death, and the darkness of war. Blending the horrors of war with aspects of Paranormal gives this story a diversion and unexpected mystery. This is the type of creativity I love.

I thought the author did a remarkable job of making this story feel like it passes through one era into the next, sprinkling newness with the existing familiar, and you can recognize it in the character of Laura most profoundly. This might be the closest experience to Steampunk I've ever read without realizing it. Were there implied touches of Science Fiction in the mix, too?

"The Warm Hands of Ghosts" is a story with diverse characterizations and an original premise that I loved reading and I recommend it to readers who, like me, enjoy a blend of Historical and Fantasy Fiction. I believe I will be visiting this author's backlist very soon!

4.25⭐

*Flanders Fields in Belgium was a major battle theatre on the Western Front during the First World War where a million soldiers from more than 50 countries were wounded, missing, or killed in action. Is it any wonder why there are stories of ghosts wandering this land?

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Del Rey, and Katherine Arden for a DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

WOW. i don’t even know what to say. this book was incredible. The story was so heartbreaking & beautiful at the same time. I can’t wait for this to be published and tel everyone I know to read it.

This story is set during WW2, at the end of it. The main characters are Laura and Freddie, who are a nurse and soilder duo. Freddie ends up going missing and Laura goes on a mission to find him, leading us into this captivating story.

Katherine Arden’s writing style is beautiful and i definitely will be reading more of her work now!!

A beautifully written and dark tale to keep you captivated from the very start.

This book has a dark and eerie setting, something I have been loving as of late in the books I have been reading. Arden tells a beautiful story that delves into themes of war, despression, cruelty, madness and more (I recommend looking up trigger warnings before picking this one up).

I love how this book not only is set in the backdrop of war, but that it also deals with the topics of friendship and love and how much that can impact your life.

This book is not for everyone, but if you enjoy darker themes then this is the tale fore you!

This book was a jaw dropping tale that had me transfixed from start to finish.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing, NetGalley and Katherine Arden for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! It was much appreciated!

*4.5 stars

At this point, I honestly don't think Arden will publish a book I don't love.

With that being said, I'll caution readers who pick up THE WARM HANDS OF GHOSTS expecting a similar reading experience to The Winternight trilogy. Yes, this also has a woman going up against an eternal being, but Laura and Vasilisa are not the same type of protagonist, nor is Morozko and Faland the same type of villain. Arden's author's note at the end provides further context as to why this book is set in WWI, but with SO many books about WWII published year after year, it was really fascinating to have one focused on the early 1900s and the first world war as Victorian propriety and sensibilities are slowly stripped away as more people are forced to say goodbye to loved ones as they head off to a war they probably won't return from. Paring the horrors that both Laura and Freddie experience while at the front with the local tragedy of a ship exploding in the harbor in Halifax and the many civilian lives were lost helps to set the stage for The Fiddler and what he offers to the people that find his hotel.

This starts off slow, but stick with it because once Laura is back in Flanders things will pick up. The last 30% or so was impossible to put down because I HAD to find out what happened next. I found Laura to be an interesting character and can imagine the war was full of women similar to her that did all they could to try and keep the soldiers alive as long as they could. While she's not a comic book heroine rushing into the fight, she has a strong enough will to know that someone has to be at the hospital to help put the boys back together when they arrive broken and bloody. There are a few twists that I appreciated and I got a little teary eyed at the end when Laura reads the letter left for her (and for what she dreams of doing after that, I sincerely hope she follows up with her idea and makes it a reality).

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautifully written war story that reads like historical fiction but with a dash of the spiritual as an infusion that sparks contemplation and self-reflection. Excellent choice for a book club read with lots to discuss. Questions like what makes a hellscape? What are the limits to what we can handle? How do our 'devils' change as we do? "What would any of us do when thrown unprepared into a strange new world?" (Arden, 2024). Thank you for providing a copy for me to read and review. The cover done for Waterstones is absolutely STUNNING.

This book was a surprise. First, let me say it is bleak for much of the book. The setting is dark and delves into themes of war, madness, depression, hopelessness, human depravity, and cruelty... a lot of bleak content. Second, it also deals with the power of love and devotion, of friendship and family. It talks about the power of just believing in someone who doesn't believe in themselves.

Arden really sort of made a statement with this book, and I'm so glad I read it. One of my favorite parts was the authors note, where she discusses why and how she came to tell this story, and now I may find myself going down a WWI historical fantasy rabbit hole.

This book is not for everyone. But it was absolutely for me. I love Arden's writing style and over all what she has to say about the human experience and war in this story.

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story falls short of its potential. The writing style differs from the author's usual, making it harder to follow. The protagonist, Laura, lacks engagement, and the plot becomes convoluted.

While some elements showed promise, it ultimately fell short for me. Simplifying the narrative, focusing on the core characters, and avoiding convenient resolutions could have enhanced the story's impact. Unfortunately, the plot feels messy, lacking the depth and richness of the Winternight series....so it doesn't live up to that standard.

Laura returned home from nursing the wounded and dying on the front lines of WW1 to a Halifax that exploded in a ball of fire (look up the real-life Halifax Harbor explosion) that took both of her parents. When she receives news that her younger brother is missing, presumed dead, she returns to Flanders, determined to find out what happened to her last remaining relative, for better or worse. Meanwhile, Freddie, her brother, awakes after an explosion in No Man’s Land, to find himself on the brink of life and death, with only an enemy soldier to guide him. Then they meet a mysterious stranger who promises more than the misery around them, but at what cost? As the siblings each have interactions with this strange man, they’re faced with the darkest side of humanity, both in real life and possibly the world beyond…..

This book is told from the POV of each sibling in parallel timelines.

This book is positively unforgettable from beginning to end. From its setting against the Halifax Harbor tragedy (If you’ve been to Halifax, or ever go, I recommend the Halifax Maritime Museum for more information on this. It was a huge tragedy that was just unbelievable in scope.), to the firsts of WW1, I couldn’t look away. Each parallel storyline, which follows the siblings, was great. Very vivid and exciting with great writing.

And there’s some great twists in there that left me really stunned. It’s quite a jaw-dropper in parts, and I really enjoyed that it had not only the vivid mystery and thrills of the main storyline, but some good twists in there as well. That’s really all I can say.

This is another great book to start the new year with. It’s a great historical thriller that you’ll sail through on a chilly evening!

4.5 ☆

I’m so so happy I was able to get a copy of this arc!!!! It’s as wonderful as it sounds!! Not as creepy or horror related as one may think, but the horror really does come through the question of how much are you willing to forget the pain? Both of the point of views of the siblings worked so well- I love winter and freddie’s relationship throughout the story. It showed the psychological horror and effects of war quite well- I’m very pleased with the story over all. Kudos to the author!

Even though I love Katherine Arden, I did not expect to love this book. Typically I don't like war books, and I don't read much historical fiction, but since this was written by a favorite author and also has speculative elements, I wanted to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did! It was hard to read at times because of the brutality of war, so plenty of content warnings for violence, war, bombing, amputation, injury, death, etc. Arden tackles themes of PTSD and the importance of memory. The character work was fantastic and the paranormal elements were interesting. The writing has a dream-like and often nightmarish quality; Arden doesn't shy away from the brutality of war, and she writes about it in a way that amplifies its absurdity and violence.

This author knew how to make a reader really feel; whether that be heartbreak, longing, loneliness, both hope and hopelessness, even feelings of cold and exhaustion. I just find that to be an absolutely astounding talent. Despite the bleak contrast of war, seduction of the devil (the fiddler), feelings of love and friendship continue to prevail throughout. I will gladly be selling this when it comes out in February!

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! I’m a big fan of Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy so I’m not shocked that I loved this one as well.

This book started off slow for me, but once I was few several chapters I was hooked. Arden did a great job of creating a dark, suspenseful narrative that kept me glued to the page (especially the portions describing the horrors of the trenches). The different POVs kept me actively engaged and knitted together beautifully by the end.

Don’t shy away from this gem based on reviews comparing to Winternight - while vastly different, there are elements of this story (Faland’s character in particular) that will take fans back to the magic that Arden creates!

I absolutely loved this book except for the last couple chapters. I loved how The Fiddler was put in the middle of the war. I enjoyed the dual POV between the sister and brother until the end. Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed and the relationships felt thrown into the book.... just because. It would be a five star read if the last couple chapters were cut out. I will be recommending this book but i will tell them what pages to stop reading because it will feel "thrown in". Otherwise, it was a fun book and very well written.

Laura is a nurse who has returned home to Halifax after being wounded in France during WWI. After the terrible Halifax explosion takes her parents, she receives an odd package from the front which implies the death of her brother Freddie but did not confirm it. Haunted by her mother’s death, Laura decides to head back to France to work in a private hospital in the hopes of getting to the truth about Freddie’s death. Freddie also has his own storyline, deep in the trenches. He has to decide who is a friend and who is an enemy and what the true meaning of honor and courage is.
This was a fabulous work of historical fiction with an element of magic worked in. It was harrowing to read but a page turner nonetheless.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts follows the story of Laura and Freddie Iven. Set during WWI both siblings are serving on the front lines in Belgium. Laura is a field medic. She is seriously wounded and discharged back to Canada. Freddie goes missing and is presumed dead. When Laura receives a box of Freddie's belongings she decides to take a job with a private hospital and travel back to Belgium to discover what happened to her brother. We discover that Freddie is still alive but injured and trapped in an overturned pillbox. He forges an unexpected alliance with a German soldier to try to escape and return home.

I truly enjoyed this story. This book is combines historical fiction and the supernatural. It really captures the devastation of war and grief. It is filled with complex characters who don't always make the right decisions but are doing the best they can given the circumstances they find themselves in. Katherine Arden is a brilliant writer and I am always excited to fall into the stories she creates.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've never been a fan of World War fiction or war fiction in general, but The Warm Hands of Ghosts had me in it's grip from moment one.