Steel Machines – Dan Franklin

5 stars

“He wished for a heart like a steel machine.”

Excuse you, Dan Franklin, I didn’t sign up to have my heart RIPPED OUT OF MY CHEST

Jesus, Steel Machines is beautiful. I don’t know what’s scarier: the fact that this massive murder machine was built without much understanding of what they were doing, or the reality of World War II and the prosecution of anyone not part of Hitler’s ideal.

Steel Machines is also extraordinarily sad. The closer I got to Otto, the more heartbreaking the story became. I’ve been lucky enough to never have to live through wartimes like that, but my soul ached for this poor kid just trying to survive the day. And then I found out what was really going on, and IT WAS SO MUCH WORSE

This book had me in a stranglehold from the very beginning, and I had so much dread for what was happening… I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Dan really built the tension and crafted such realistically human characters (even Frank, and I really didn’t want to like him); I literally can’t get over this book.

While Steel Machines was my first Dan Franklin read, it certainly won’t be my last! Though now I’ll be ready to take a direct hit to the emotions!