In terms of research and historical detail, this really is superb with a dark desperate overarching tone to the story. The second theme is that of the closing weeks of the Second World War. Felix’s innocence has a painful intensity to it, but it’s also very sweet and powerful. I have to admit this was a little frustrating for me as a reader, but once things finally got in the open, I enjoyed Felix’s delight in the change in his relationship with Baldur. Felix’s hesitancy fits well with the period setting, and is almost painfully slow at first with some misunderstandings born of lack of self-belief. It’s a surprise and delight to him when his feelings are returned and I loved the way that he blossoms with Baldur. The story is written from the first person point of view of Felix and he’s a shy man who suffers a little from low self esteem. Firstly there is the relationship between Felix and Baldur. When Baldur is injured, he invites Felix to take some leave with him and the pair grow close, but any sort of relationship during wartime is almost impossible. He has an enormous, almost worshipful attraction to pilot Baldur which he keeps to himself. His job is to get the planes, which are defending Berlin from attack, ready to go and fly safely. The focus of the story is mechanic Felix.

It made me think about the cost of that war on the German people and how tragedy spanned both sides of the war. I shouldn’t have worried though because the story is set at the end of the war, where Germany is tired, almost defeated and desperately trying to defend itself from a stronger force, rather than being the aggressive attackers. I was also a little apprehensive at how the war would be shown from a German angle. I don’t think I’ve read a story set during World War 2 taken from the viewpoint of a German soldier and so I was curious when this story came to my attention. As the Allies close in on the airfield where Felix waits for his lover, Baldur must face the truth that he is no longer the only one in mortal danger. Away from the pressures of the airfield, their bond deepens, and Baldur shows Felix the kind of brotherhood he’d only ever dreamed of before.īut there’s no escaping the war, and when they return, Baldur joins the fray again in the skies over Berlin. He takes a few days’ leave to recover, and he takes Felix with him. When Baldur narrowly cheats death, Felix pulls him from his plane, and the pilot makes his riskiest move yet.

But there’s no room for love at the end of the world, never mind in Nazi Germany.

He’s especially attached to fighter ace Baldur Vogt, a man he admires and secretly loves. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who’s attached to a squadron of fighter pilots. The Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance.

Skybound by Aleksandr Voinov