Summary of The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden:
The Warm Hands Of Ghosts is Set during World War I, this novel intertwines historical fiction with supernatural elements. Laura Iven, a former combat nurse, is recovering in Halifax, Canada, after being discharged due to an injury. When she receives news of her brother Freddie’s death in the trenches, something about the circumstances seems off. Determined to find out the truth, Laura heads to a hospital in Belgium, where she finds rumors of haunted trenches and some mysterious figure who promotes oblivion through unnatural means.
Simultaneously, Freddie’s story is revealed. Following an explosion in November 1917, he and Hans Winter, an injured German soldier, became contemporaneously stuck together. Enemies by the book, manage to ally each other to escape. Their route takes them to a shadowy hotel where a host offers a reprieve from the war’s horrors but at the cost of having to pay it.
The novel introduces trauma and memory and the cost of survival through various supernatural elements and metaphors portraying the toll that war exerts on one’s psyche. This creates a haunting and reflective account.
Major Characters:
1. Laura Iven: Laura is a zealous and compassionate nurse. She is driven by love for her brother and the need to find closure. Her experiences highlight the emotional and physical toll of war.
2. Freddie Iven: A soldier, who grapples with survival and morality in the trenches. His alliance with Hans and experiences add to his depth as a character.
3. Hans Winter: The German soldier turns out to be an unlikely ally of Freddie, which gives the movie the human cost of war on all sides.
4. The Enigmatic Host: His mysterious nature allows him to offer an escape route for soldiers from their suffering. He is a character that infuses some psychological and moral depth into the plot.
| Title | The Warm Hands of Ghost |
| Author | Katherine Arden |
| Published On | Historical Fiction, Magic Realism |
| Genre | February 13, 2024 |
| Rating | 4/5 |
FAQs:
While intense themes and content, Katherine Arden’s The Warm Hands of Ghosts undoubtedly positions it as an adult book, at best, suitable for a more mature young adult audience-one could ably argue otherwise. The book covers the psychological and physical horrors that tend to come with World War I death. These themes create a mature read for those ages 16+, though potentially depending on one’s comfort level with some of the subjects.
This novel blends history and supernatural fiction against a backdrop of World War I. Laura Iven is a former combat nurse who was expelled due to injury and is now recuperating in Halifax, Canada, and everything about the circumstances surrounding her brother Freddie’s death.
The genre of The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden blends the genres of historical fiction, supernatural/magical realism, and psychological drama. This is a genre that produces an appealing story to fans of historical novels with a touch of the uncanny.
