I received the copy in exchange for an honest review.

The main character of the book is Nadezdah “Little Boar” Buzina, a Cossack female pilot defending Russia, who dreams about shooting down as many German planes as possible. These dreams become more difficult to achieve when she suffers severe burns and becomes the sole survivor of a flight.

She and her friends from the all-female regiment are trying to be as much of a nuisance to German pilots as possible, especially when they progress too close to Stalingrad.

The aerial battles were very well depicted and enjoyable to read. The relationships of the pilots and their commanding officers were believable, as well as the commissar who has a personal vendetta against the Cossack pilot. I liked Nadya’s character, as well as some others.

There is also an addition of LGBT ‘sprinkle’ which I thought was dealt a bit too easily. As far as I know about Stalin’s Russia (and indeed, Russian politics towards it today), I think the responses of people were not severe enough, but I may be wrong.

It is an enjoyable book, especially if anyone is interested in a different perspective of the Second World War, as it is told from the perspective of a woman and describes the fight of Russians against Nazi Germany.