1914 (The War Years Book 1)

I really enjoyed this book. The Keeton brothers at war is a fascinating insight to a period in history the is distant but the themes are relevant today. I love Danny and Charlie, such good foils for each other.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I particularly love books that are a part of a series, taking me on a lasting journey. Author James Farner has some unique reads with his books that have "year" titles, letting you know exactly what era you will be entering but this only the tip of the iceberg with his enticing tales. "1914" is the story of twin brothers, Danny and Charlie, who enter World War I as soldiers at the young age of fourteen. Their story of adventure, hardship and the struggle to survive is one not to be missed in this well written and enticing read.

I just finished 1914 earlier today, and although it's not the kind of book that I usually find myself reading, I was glad to have been able to try something refreshingly new. The first thing that stood out to me early on with this book is that the read has a vibe that is far from easy-going and uplifting; I think that this does a great job of capturing the dark mood of the setting and expressing it with a sense of realism that, in my opinion, is often essential for war-time related books.

Of course, as with any book, '1914' is not perfect - and I do think that some parts could benefit from an experienced editor and maybe some more background research in regard to the military lingo (there's a few inconsistencies, but nothing major). But other than that, I'd say that '1914' is ultimately worth the read and it has left me satisfied. James Farner seems like a promising writer, I may check out some future books when I get the chance.