Review by Sara Kay -- The Warramunga's War by Greg Kater

[Sara Kay]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Warramunga's War" by Greg Kater.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Warramunga’s War is the tale of an Australian soldier hurled into a friendship with a most intriguing character - a man with level-headed humor and Warramunga blood flowing through his veins. Their unexpected meeting launches them into all manner of thrilling exploits, spanning across the continents. As spies, self-proclaimed detectives, soldiers and friends, they adventure together through World War II and beyond.

The author, Greg Kater, has an enthralling way of balancing humor, suspense and action in this book. In addition to this, he sprinkles a touch of innocent romance. Not only does he spread these aspects throughout the book, but he also occasionally mingles them together into one event with stunning skill. He never hones in on one specific genre, devoting equal attention to each flavorful ingredient. He also grounds the delicious mixture of genres on the realism of well-researched historical events. He does this effortlessly, creating a relaxed easy book to read.

One downfall of Greg Kater's unique blend of genres is that he tries to inject horror and murder mystery into his book. One scene included terrifying and graphic sexual content. Thankfully, it was only a brief fraction of the book. This was meant to be part of the mystery and suspense aspect of the storyline. However, it seemed a bit out of place in the general atmosphere of the rest of the book. I genuinely think the author could’ve left out the graphic nature of that part without detracting hugely from the story.

All things considered, I would give The Warramunga’s War 3 out of 4 stars. I found the story interesting and relaxed, with a pleasing balance of the various genres. I equally enjoyed the cultural flavors portrayed through the principal and minor characters. The storyline was quite realistic as it didn’t follow the pursuit of only one climax and resolution. This did lend to the end of the book feeling anticlimactic as it tried to tie up various ends that were still at large. All ends were tied up, though.

People who enjoy relaxed reading, as well as a realistic and beautiful blend of genres, would enjoy this book. I wouldn’t recommend it to young readers due to that graphic scene, but otherwise, a very enjoyable story to read. Where else can you find a book that delves into the adventure of being a spy in World War II, while infused with that addictive Aussie flavor?

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The Warramunga's War
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[Oliver_books]

I've read this one! This is not just a book about war and spies - no, this is a book about patriotism, intrigues, friendship, and betrayal. I definitely continued thinking about the story long after finishing it. Great Review by the way.