Title: The Warm Hands of Ghosts
Author: Katherine Arden
Source: DRC via NetGalley ( ) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: February 13, 2024
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Why did I choose to read this book?

I have tried to read books by Arden before (The Bear and the Nightingale) but my brain has always gotten bored and I’ve sent the books back to the library. But this one sounded just weird enough that I figured it would hold my interest, so I requested it!

What is this book about?

This book follows Laura and Freddie Iven as they experience World War I from different perspectives. They are are from Canada, Laura is an honorably discharged combat nurse who has been told that her brother was killed in action, when really he was just missing in action. She goes back as a volunteer nurse to look for him and dives right back into the insanity of war. This book is how we bring ourselves and others away from the brink of oblivion and still live with ourselves afterwards.

What is notable about this story?

This is one of the weirdest books I have ever read. The timelines are all criss-crossed, there is a supernatural vampire-ish element(?), and all I can say is that if you have experienced trauma that has left you with PTSD or other mental illness struggles, this book is gonna take you places you might not necessarily want to go. If you are a veteran, you may want to read some more reviews before digging into this one. It’s a metaphor AND literal at the same time and my goodness it is a lot to process. The layers that Arden places through this story are so artfully crafted that sometimes you won’t even know you’re being told something until like, three chapters later and you get hit by it.

This book is a trauma-laced mindfuck. Do with that what you will.

Was anything not so great?

For me, this book went on a bit long. At one point I was like “okay, I get it, it’s a METAPHOR” and that slowed my progress a bit. But in the grand scheme of things it’s a small quibble. If you like your books thoughtful and dense, this will be something that you enjoy.

What’s the verdict?

3 stars on Goodreads. It’s serviceable but I wouldn’t go out of my way to read it because of the subject matter. I could see this as a book that a history professor would assign at the college level for their students to read and analyze. For fun though? Nah.

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