“Nothing makes a party sing like the knowledge that death awaits you tomorrow, but you’ve dodged it today.
If you loved Kate Quinn’s The Diamond Eye and are looking for similar reads, you’re in the right place! This gripping historical fiction tale, based on the incredible true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Soviet sniper during World War II, introduces readers to a courageous mother who defied all odds in a male-dominated world at war. If you’re captivated by books about strong female leads, especially set during WWII or featuring incredible women heroes in history, you’ll find these reading recommendations just as compelling. From riveting true-story adaptations to powerful tales of women in combat, join us at What We Reading for books that celebrate the bravery resilience, and strength of women in history. Whether you’re interested in novels about female snipers, WWII heroines, or historical fiction with strong female protagonists, these page-turners are all about the unsung women who shaped history.
The Diamond Eye Summary
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is a historical fiction novel based on the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Soviet sniper who became one of the deadliest women during the Second World War. Set against the backdrop of the conflict, the novel follows Mila’s transformation from a university student and mother to a fierce and skilled sniper with over three hundred confirmed kills. As she fights on the front lines, she gains national fame and is hailed as a hero, but a series of deep, personal sacrifices also mark her journey.
The story follows the challenges Mila faces as a woman in a male-dominated military, her internal struggle with the emotional toll of the war, and her complex relationships with both her comrades and her family. After her rise to prominence, she is sent to the United States on a diplomatic mission, where she meets Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt, becoming a symbol of Soviet strength and resistance. Quinn blends action, emotional depth, and historical detail to bring Lyudmila’s remarkable story to life.
The Huntress – Kate Quinn
First up on our list of books like The Diamond Eye is another one of Kate Quinn’s best novels, The Huntress. The story follows three main characters: Nina, a young Russian bomber pilot; Ian, a British journalist who becomes involved in the search for an infamous Nazi war criminal; and Jordan, Ian’s daughter, who is grappling with her own past. The central figure is the ‘Huntress’, a brutal Nazi woman responsible for hunting down and killing innocent civilians during the war.
As Nina, Ian, and Jordan’s lives intertwine, they all become connected to the mystery of the Huntress and her pursuit of vengeance. The novel explores themes of war, guilt, and justice, emphasising the power of memory and the lingering effects of trauma. Tension builds as the characters confront their own roles in wartime atrocities, and seek redemption in a post-war world.
The Women In The Castle – Jessica Shattuck
Jessica Shattuck’s The Women in the Castle opens with three women, all of whom have just lost their husbands who had been involved in a failed assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler. The women – Marianne, the wife of a resistance leader; Benita, a former Nazi sympathiser; and Ania, a Polish refugee – are brought together in a crumbling Bavarian castle, seeking refuge and struggling to rebuild their shattered lives.
As the novel progresses, the women’s complicated histories and differing experiences of the war are brought to light, revealing their personal traumas, secrets, and relationships. Similar to The Diamond Eye, The Women in the Castle explores themes of guilt, forgiveness, survival, and the moral ambiguity of life in the aftermath of war. Through these women’s stories, the novel paints a powerful portrait of the consequences of war on ordinary lives and the long road to healing.
The Tattooist Of Auschwitz – Heather Morris
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a heart-wrenching historical novel based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish man who became the tattooist at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during the Second World War. The story charts Lale’s harrowing experiences as he is forced to tattoo numbers on fellow prisoners, including a young woman named Gita Furman. As Lale and Gita form a deep and passionate bond, their love becomes a beacon of hope amid the horrors of the camp.
The novel explores themes of survival, love, and resilience in the face of unprecedented horrors. As Lale navigates the many dangers around him and the moral dilemmas they present, the novel delves into the power of human connection, even in the most brutal of circumstances. One of the best books like The Diamond Eye is also based on a true story, it is a moving tribute to the strength of the human spirit, of love and survival during one of history’s darkest times.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Tattooist Of Auschwitz
The Secrets We Kept – Lara Prescott
Lara Prescott’s The Secrets We Kept is set during the Cold War and follows the CIA’s covert operation to smuggle Boris Pasternak’s controversial novel, Doctor Zhivago, into the Soviet Union. The novel centres on the lives of two women: Sally Forrester, a CIA secretary turned spy, and Irina, a passionate translator of Pasternak’s work. Both women are caught in the dangerous world of espionage and political intrigue as they become part of a mission that may alter the course of history.
As the narrative shifts between the personal and the political, The Secrets We Kept explores themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the power of literature to challenge regimes and inspire revolution. With its richly woven plot, the novel offers a glimpse into the hidden world of spies and the intense lives of the women who served as both agents, secret keepers and operatives in a turbulent period, similar to Mila in The Diamond Eye.
The Light Between Oceans – M.L. Stedman
The Light Between Oceans is a deeply emotional and morally complex novel set on a remote Australian island after World War I. The story follows Tom Sherbourne, a lighthouse keeper, and his wife, Isabel, who experience the joys and heartache of loss as they struggle with infertility. When a boat washes ashore with a dead man and a living infant, the couple makes the fateful decision to raise the child as their own, believing it to be a gift from God.
As the child, Lucy, grows up, the secrets of her origins threaten to unravel the lives of all involved. The story immerses readers in themes of love, guilt, and the consequences of choices, as well as the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in times of desperation. Like The Diamond Eye, M.L. Stedman’s book is about the impact of decisions made out of love, the struggle between right and wrong, and the irrevocable consequences of the past.
Lilac Girls – Martha Hall Kelly
Another one of the most poignant books like The Diamond Eye, set during WWII, Lilac Girls is based on the true stories of three women whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. The novel follows Caroline Ferriday, a New York socialite and philanthropist, who works tirelessly to help Polish women who were victims of Nazi medical experiments in concentration camps during the war. The story also focuses on two other women: Kasia Kuzmerick, a young Polish woman who is sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp, and Herta Oberheuser, a German doctor working at the camp, participating in its many horrors.
As the narrative alternates between these three women, Lilac Girls explores themes of survival, trauma, and the long-lasting effects of war. It also delves into the complexities of forgiveness and justice in the aftermath of unspeakable atrocities. With its richly developed characters and heartbreaking storyline, it is undoubtedly one of the best follow-ups for anyone who loves Kate Quinn’s writing.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
