Seems to be an alternate history fantasy more than just a fantasy. Well written and enjoyable, but not interesting enough for me to want to read any more in the series. And Turtledove threw in completely unnecessary sexually graphic descriptions that just didn't add anything but lasciviousness to the overall plot. ( )

A Fantasy world War II, with some elements of Magic like Dragons. Overall , I prefer this treatment to the "In the Balance" series by the same author. ( )

An interesting idea, World War 2 retold in a fantasy world with no technology. Dragons replace airplanes, etc. In general this follows the plot of WW2, but in Turtledove's own world. Like another reviewer I spent a lot of time in the first 2 books matching real countries to the countries in the book. The novels follow participants on all sides and civilians, and it was a fun book to read. As difficult as it may be for us to believe now, this actually happened, so while the plot may seem arbitrary and unlikely, its just the story of how World War 2 happened, in a fantasy world. ( )

i picked up this book shortly after having been introduced to the fantasy genre. thank goodness it was only after having read good fantasy that i encountered this. i never finished this book, and i can say it is definitely some of the worst writing i've ever attempted, fantasy or otherwise.

turtledove jumps from one pov character to another so rapidly in the beginning that the reader is incapable of forming so much as an opinion, much less a connection, with any of them. aside from that, the political situation as spelled out here, and even more so the characters' responses to it, are so ludicrous - so far from being even remotely realistic in their portrayal, it was laughable. a reader simply cannot accept such a huge cast of characters with seemingly not a one of them holding an ounce of practical intelligence.

while this wasn't the first fantasy book i ever picked up, it was the first turtledove book i ever attempted. it was so horrific, it is also now and forever the last. ( )