Happy Thursday, all! Today I am super excited to share my review of another book I group read, and we unanimously endorsed, Breach by W.L. Goodwater! Now available from Berkley!
My Thoughts:
What a way to spice things up! A genre-bending novel with historical science fiction leanings? Breach sounds like the perfect way to test out science fiction again, and it was!
A wall is put in place to separate Soviet-occupied from unoccupied Berlin. After ten years, the CIA discovers the wall is being breached.
Here’s where the “fun” stuff enters…Karen is a magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment (you mean we don’t have one of those already?! We should!), and she is sent to assess the breach and see if it can be fixed. What she discovers instead is much more than she planned for.
A dab of politics, a background of history, and an alternate world, make Breach an original stand-out read. Magic is the winner in this forum and discovering just how so is yet another mesmerizing facet of this book.
Quirky and complex characters abound, along with smooth writing, solid plotting, adding up to a total escape of a read!
Disclosure to my sci fi and fantasy friends: remember I’m not a regular in either of these genres, but as a newbie, I definitely found this quite enjoyable!
Thank you to Berkley/Ace Rock Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
AFTER THE WAR, THE WALL BROUGHT AN UNEASY PEACE.
When Soviet magicians conjured an arcane Wall to blockade occupied Berlin, the world was outraged but let it stand for the sake of peace. Now after 10 years of fighting with spies instead of spells, the CIA has discovered the unthinkable:
THE WALL IS FAILING.
While refugees and soldiers mass along the border, operatives from East and West converge on the most dangerous city in the world to stop or take advantage of the crisis.
Karen, a young magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment, is sent to investigate the breach in the Wall and see if it can be reversed. Instead she will discover that the truth is elusive in this divided city, and that even magic itself has its own agenda.
BECAUSE THE REAL PURPOSE OF THE WALL IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED.
Check out these reviews by the other Book Besties:
Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark
Mackenzie at PhDiva
Have you read Breach, or is it on your TBR? Do you have any favorite sci fi/historical fantasy reads? Happy Reading! ~ Jenni THR
Jennifer ~ Tar Heel Reader 
I love your review! And I love the cover of the book, but when I read “Soviet magicians” I knew I wouldn’t be able to believe the book. These are two incompatible words, like “Arctic gorrilas”. Of course it’s a book so everything is allowed within the author’s product of creation. The phrase just impressed me so much, I had to leave a comment 😁
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Thank you, thank you for your comment and for explaining that to me. I’m definitely a newbie to two of the three genres under this one fits, and I don’t know enough to know that’s not a feasible or common scenario. Thanks again. ♥️
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Oh no! I didn’t mean to sound like an expert on Sci-Fi. I’m not. It’s probably a completely probable course of events in this genre. I meant the Soviet Union only. I was born there. The culture was strongly opposed to any magic (or miracles). Even kid stories tended to be practical and moralizing, not magical. That’s why for me it’s so hard to imagine such a phenomenon as a Soviet magician.
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That totally makes sense to me now, and I appreciate you coming back to let me know. Thanks for sharing about the culture of the Soviet Union. I can see why it didn’t make sense. So helpful!
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I should have said it in the very beginning but I thought it would be too much a deviation into a personal history.
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No worries at all! ♥️
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Hey there, if you are still following, another blogger friend (comment above, InknPaper) found the connection to the historical elements and what the Soviets labeled “magic.” I think it may fit with what you described of the cultural norm?
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Oh, yes, thank you for letting me know! That sounds interesting, and this way it would fit the reality quite well 😊
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Glad you enjoyed! Fabulous review ❤
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Thanks so much, Holls! ♥️
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Wonderful review. I think I will give this sci fi/historical fantasy a try. Happy Reading.
🎩🐇🕊💗📚🌻
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Thanks, Virginia! I hope you enjoy this one if you can fit it in. ♥️ xo
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What beautiful flowers Jen! Wonderful review my friend!😊💕Have an awesome day!💕💕
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Thanks, Sus! I was excited about how well they matched the cover! ♥️ I hope your day has been amazing! Did you get a bunch of snow? ♥️
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It’s just starting now Jen! Anywhere from 5-8 they are saying! Of course they are never right so……💕
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Ahh, I’m sorry! Our rain has moved out and I guess up that way. Winter Storm Avery! Luckily we were just warm enough to be safe, but we got way too much rain again. They said we’ll have several days of sun in a row now- can’t wait, and I wish I could send some to you! ♥️
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So intrigued by Soviet magicians and magicians during wars and in the CIA. For example I did not know that the CIA learned tricks from magicians http://mentalfloss.com/article/64872/11-things-you-didnt-know-about-cia-operations-soviet-union
and that magicians in Russia were not entertainers. The Soviet magicians were a group of people in the military that believed Russian soldiers had outstanding qualities that allowed them to fight with inferior equipment. They believed they had ” magical” qualities such as faith, ideology, and ” race.” So Soviet magicians were real and in this book I see a lot of history. You know I am a sucker for historical fiction. I am so curious about this book. I want to read it to find out where history meets sci-fi. Great review, as always!
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Aw, that’s great info, Ink! YES, this has a huge historical fiction element, and clearly I didn’t realize how far it went. Now I’m even more impressed with the book. Thanks so much for taking the time to share that with me. ♥️
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I must read this book now that I discovered th Soviet magicians! I am curious to see how muxh in the book is historical fiction and how much is pure fantasy!
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I think you need to read it, too! ♥️
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I read the article but didn’t see any mention of Soviet magicians there. Also I haven’t seen the info about about CIA learning tricks from these “Soviet magicians” there. Maybe it was in another source? I’m not arguing, though, I haven’t studied the depth and details of KGB work. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did try many tricks. To me, as to a common reader but with USSR background, the phrase will always sound awkward. Or, maybe, I should read the book and see that the phrase works quite well for the setting 😄
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the CIA did not learn tricks from Soviet Magicians. they learned tricks from magicians in general. Tricks learned from magicians were used during WWII and during the Cold War.
The “Soviet magicians” are from around WWI period and right after the war. There is not much about them in books but they were a real thing.
Check Strategy and Power in Russia1600-1914
By William C. Fuller
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Thank you! That’s very interesting!
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I wonder why the Soviet magicians are only mentioned here and there on Google search…It should be interesting to contact the author of the book to find out more about them. After all they are part of history.
Jennifer, did the book cites reliable sources ?
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It didn’t have any citations, but it was an ARC. I’m not sure if the final copy will have them added?
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Helpful info, Ink. ♥️ I’m so happy you found and shared this with us because it added to my reading experience.
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Still don’t understand why there is not much about them when you Google search the term….
Now I am extremely curious about them….need to check if scholars have written books about them.
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Readerwitch, I have really appreciated your insights. I never would have known a Soviet perspective otherwise, and I appreciate you sharing. ♥️
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I have a copy of this for review, but I’m so behind with my reading I just haven’t been able to read it yet. But your review has pushed it to the top of the pile!
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Tammy, I’m excited to see what you think since you read these genres more often than I do. I have learned even more about the history in the book since I read it and wrote the review. I feel like I discovered a whole new book. Happy reading, and I’ll be watching for your thoughts once you get to it.
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So not into Sci Fi, but this one does sound good. So…maybe I will “breach” into this one.
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The historical elements really made this fun, Marialyce. It was a nice genre stretch!
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it sounds really interesting! I’ll have to give it a look!
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I really enjoyed it, Mackey!
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Great review! I’m actually really intrigued by the idea of a historical fantasy. While I don’t typically rea book that fall into either category, I’m very tempted.
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Thanks, Sawyer! ♥️ I agree- the history is what lured me in, too, and through other bloggers today I’ve learned even more about the history in the book- love that! I hope you enjoy it if you decide to give it a go.
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Jennifer, I am so glad we read this together!!! It was a great new experience for me and sharing it with two besties is 👌👌👌 Wonderful review!!! 💗
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Very intriguing; I typically don’t read sci-fi but since this is magical realism, I could be persuaded, lol. I thought about Harry Potter when you said the CIA had an American Office of Magical Research and Deployment!! That is so Rowling…I loved it! Definitely not your everyday book! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Wonderful review! ❤
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Thanks, Steph! I still haven’t read my HP, but I’m getting closer! This book is so special with the historical elements, but it’s definitely quite different from my norm. I’m happy I read it, and it’s fun to try something different once in a while. ♥️ xo
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You’re welcome! Oh, gosh! I read each of the books except the last HP 6 times at least (I’d reread each one every time a new one was published) and I’m about to read book 1 with my daughter for “school” in the new year, haha! It sounds like it! I’m glad you enjoyed it! xo
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I know, I missed out on all the fun, but I bought the series, as well as the illustrated one of the first book, so I hope to read that over the holidays! I’m excited to finally see what I missed out on. I think these first came out at a very busy time in my life?! 😉 ♥️
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You did! Yes, you were busy..we were, lol! I actually didn’t know a thing about HP when the books were 1st published and missed the 1st two books. I was pregnant and on bedrest late spring/summer of 1999 with my 2nd son when the 3rd book was published (my favorite!), and my stepmom bought it for me to keep me occupied! Realizing it was a series, I had to get books 1 and 2, then binge read all 3. I don’t know if I would have read them when I did except for being stuck in bed,lol.
The illustrated books are so gorgeous! We bought them for our daughter’s 8th birthday and I had to control myself from stealing them! I assume that’s what she’ll read in the spring. Have fun reading it over the holidays!! ❤🤗
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I always considered Sci-fi to be out of my range until these intriguing contemporary titles started cropping up. This sounds really good, Jennifer. Great review!
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Thanks, Jonetta! I did, too, and somehow this crossover into historical intrigued me! I’m so glad I gave it a shot.
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I love the sound of this one, Jennifer! Thank you so much for sharing it:))
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Thanks, Sarah! I was hoping you’d see this review. A bit outside my norm! 😊
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Yay! I was delighted:))
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Oh, I so want a Scottish Office of Magical Research and Deployment! I’d deploy them to magically research a never-ending supply of free chocolate – wouldn’t that be better than anything either of our governments have ever done for us? 😀
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Yes, that would be the best thing ever! And it sounds like the perfect magic to me, FF!
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Well this one certainly sounds interesting, nice review Jennifer!
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Thanks, Carrie! It’s a different sort of read, but I enjoyed it!
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Wonderful review Jennifer!!! Glad you enjoyed!
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Thanks so much, Lindsay! It was quite different! ♥️
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Wonderful review my friend! Enjoyed discussing this one with you!
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Thank you, Berit! It was such a good read! ♥️
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Wow this sounds like a book is love to read! And the cover 😍😍and how is it that your flowers always match the book you review? Could you pleeeease take a Pic of your garden for us fans, one day? Pretty pleeeease? ☺️🙏
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Thanks, Jee! You are so sweet! Those flowers were from the florist because my garden is down to the very last dregs. We had our first hard freeze, and the only things I have left blooming now are azaleas. My camellias should bloom over winter, but I only have two small bushes of those. I bought those flowers at the florist, and them matching the cover was a happy accident. I usually buy a few things and see what looks best together. These flowers and this cover surprised me, too. ♥️
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I’m like praying for snow here which is unlikely lol I love snow! ☺️ I love all the flowers you’ve posted so far just so gorgoeus and have become like your signature 🙂 Can’t wait to see your camellias!
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Thanks so much, Jee! I LOVE snow, too, and it doesn’t happen often enough here either! Maybe I’ll get some snow pics too! 😂 ♥️ Happy weekend!
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Great review, Jennifer. This one sounds complex but glad to hear that you enjoyed it.
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Thank you, Diana! It definitely was complex and came together well.
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Fabulous review Jennifer! So glad you ladies took a chance on this and loved it! 🙂 That’ always the best!
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Thanks so much, Kendall! It is the best to stretch a little and get rewarded- love that! ♥️
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Genre bending is always intriguing! 🙂 Great review.
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Thanks so much, Chrissi! It really is- keeps it interesting!
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Yes please Jenni! This looks fab, great review you’ve really sold me on it!! 🤗
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Thanks so much, Beth! It was a different sort of read, and I’m so happy it appeals to you too!
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Wow – I would have never imagined these elements could all work together to create a cohesive story. I feel like this book would keep me guessing as I read!
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This one sounds like a lot of fun. Great review!! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Sarah! It was a different read for me, but I’m so happy I branched out!
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