Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Everything about this book is so beautiful, it's hard to know where to even start this review.

Okay characters, let's begin there! Stephen is absolutely perfection in my opinion. He's everything I love an mc to be. His story intrigued me from the very first page and the way his story slowly unfurls throughout the chapters, blending his past and the events that led him to the main time line and the things that happen during the main plot was so well done! I honestly felt so connected to him and invested in him very early on. Similarly, Danny is a fantastic love interest. the way he's described through Stephen's eyes is so touching and just a joy to read, despite the many threats they face as individuals and as a couple.

All of the side characters were beautifully written too but to save time I'm just going to say that every character feels so alive so it's easy to get invested in all of them. I always think it's particularly special when authors manage that from just one Character's perspective and William Hussey made it look effortless.

The overall plot was every bit as compelling and painful as I expected it to be, perhaps even more so. It was also very beautiful which is very fitting given the narrative. The contrast between the beautiful love between two men and the horrific war that threw them together is just... well beautiful and painful in equal measures.

I don't really know what else to say, other than that I kind of wish I could read it again for the first time, not because there's lots of unexpected twists and turns (this story really doesn't need them), but because the experience of getting to know these characters within this time line, was so touching.