Book Review: "City of Thieves" by David Benioff

City of Thieves by David Benioff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Description From Amazon
"From the critically acclaimed author of The 25th Hour, a captivating novel about war, courage, survival — and a remarkable friendship that ripples across a lifetime."

"During the Nazis’ brutal siege of Leningrad, Lev Beniov is arrested for looting and thrown into the same cell as a handsome deserter named Kolya. Instead of being executed, Lev and Kolya are given a shot at saving their own lives by complying with an outrageous directive: secure a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake. In a city cut off from all supplies and suffering unbelievable deprivation, Lev and Kolya embark on a hunt through the dire lawlessness of Leningrad and behind enemy lines to find the impossible."

"By turns insightful and funny, thrilling and terrifying, City of Thieves is a gripping, cinematic World War II adventure and an intimate coming-of-age story with an utterly contemporary feel for how boys become men."


This historical fiction book is absolutely outstanding! David Benioff did an amazing job with imagery and rich dialogue that connects the reader with the two main characters instantly and throughout their journey and quest for a dozen fresh eggs. The story takes place during the Germans' 900 day siege of Leningrad, a time when food and rations were scarce and fresh eggs were nowhere to be found. Their life depends on the successful acquisition of these eggs, but along the way the characters forge a bond of friendship that is unbreakable. The dialogue is a wonderful mix of lighthearted comic exchanges and gut wrenching, emotional passages. The author gives the reader a great peek into the lives of Russian citizens during WWII and the Leningrad siege. I truly didn't want this book to end. If you are interested in learning more about the this period in Russian history, I recommend "The Siege of Leningrad: 900 Days of Terror" by David M. Glantz.