City of Thieves

by David Benioff

David Benioff is one of the producers (or, if you prefer, "makers") of the awesome TV version of Game of Thrones. Did you know he writes novels, too. Because I did not until I stumbled upon City of Thieves. And let me tell you, the man can write.

This is the (imagined) story of his grandfather, Lev Beniov, during the siege of Leningrad by the Nazis. After he gets separated from his group of friends he is thrown into a prison cell over night where he meets the larger-than-life Kolya. Kolya takes everything that happens in stride and basically keeps Lev's worries about what is about to happen to them in check.

Instead of - as they fear - being executed they are sent on a fool's errant by a commanding officer: find him a dozen eggs for his daughter's wedding cake within days. In the starving Russia, this is next to impossible. But, as their lives hang in the balance, they set off on an adventure in search of the eggs, anyway.

The characters are both likable in very different ways and eventually become friends - as indeed we as readers wish they will. But along with all the giddy approach of Kolya to what is happening all around him there is grave loss and devastation and, ultimately, great sadness.

Beautifully written and gripping from start to finish.

9/10