Review: The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein

So, you may remember THIS review, in which I raved about Code Name Verity for...a long time. (Honestly, I haven't stopped yet...) What you may not know is that I tried Rose Under Fire, by the same author, and in the same series, not too much later, and was...let down. Not disappointed, just let down. It wasn't the same. It wasn't as good. So, when The Temperamental Writer mentioned this one, I was skeptical, to say the very least. But I was told that it was *better* than Rose Under Fire, and that JAMIE WAS IN IT (I was just rereading my CNV review, and I said that he's pretty much my ideal man...that still stands) so I knew I need to try it. And, to my delight, I was not let down, nor disappointed in any way, shape or form! 

In fact, lest that be too little of a recommendation...I stayed up from 2 AM to 6 AM reading it. XD (Long story. I was not able to fall asleep, but...I probably could have tried harder. XD)

A German soldier risks his life to drop off the sought-after Enigma Machine to British Intelligence, hiding it in a pub in a small town in northeast Scotland, and unwittingly bringing together four very different people who decide to keep it to themselves. Louisa Adair, a young teen girl hired to look after the pub owner's elderly, German-born aunt, Jane Warner, finds it but doesn't report it. Flight-Lieutenant Jamie Beaufort-Stuart intercepts a signal but can't figure it out. Ellen McEwen, volunteer at the local airfield, acts as the go-between and messenger, after Louisa involves Jane in translating. The planes under Jamie's command seem charmed, as Jamie knows where exactly to go, while other squadrons suffer, and the four are loathe to give up the machine, even after Elisabeth Lind from British Intelligence arrives, even after the Germans start bombing the tiny town . . .

Worldbuilding/Writing Style
Can we talk about how good Wein is at varying her voice when she's writing from multiple POVs? Can we please? Because it's AMAZING! And I don't usually like multiple POVs, but...I like it when she does it. A lot. (Plus, her overall writing voice is SO realistic for the period, and it's incredible.)

In terms of worldbuilding...also fantastic! There are so many tiny details that really *make* the setting, like the ways the planes work, and the gas meters, and, and, and. (And can I say: probably part of the reason I didn't like RUF as much was because it wasn't primarily set at an airfield. XD What can I say, I love the way Wein does airfields! So, I was happy to have one here.)

Also, I really enjoyed all of the music references! 

Plot
The plot was, as ever, wonderful! The pacing was phenomenal, and I loved everything that happened! I knew what was going to happen at the end, given that I had read CNV, but that didn't make that (or anything that happened in the interim) any less interesting! I'm going to be honest...it's a character driven book, so while I thought the plot was excellent, I'm saving my squealing for the characters. 

Characters
So. Three words: character. driven. book. *soft squeal* Which means all the characters have to be excellent, and by and large they ARE! (We'll go from least favorite to most favorite, because I should probably leave my squealing over Jamie for last. XD)

Old Roundhead was kind of the worst, but I liked how we did see him grow a bit through the book in a rather Gary D. Schmidt-ish way. (I.e., realizing that authority figures also grow and change.)

I liked Ellen--loved her voice, in particular--but I found her sections the least compelling of the three. I thought that some of her motivations were a *wee* bit lacking...like when she finally *spoiler* reveals she's a Traveller *end spoiler*, that feels like it kind of comes out of nowhere. But her friendship with Jamie is awesome, and very sweet. 

Jane was wonderful and scary! I loved that she had been a singer, and how well she mentored Louisa, but the bit at the end was kind of freaky. 

I really liked Felix Baer, even though he wasn't in it much! I'm not sure why...I just did. I guess I have a soft spot for stabby guys with their own soft spot for music??

Okay, on to my favorites!

Louisa. Was. Awesome. She's FIFTEEN YEARS OLD and doing things like taking care of herself, getting a job, helping Jamie cover for his bushed airmen, and *spoiler* using an Enigma! *end spoiler*. And ahhhhh, the way Wein describes her gut-yearning to be DOING something...<3 <3 <3. Also, her relationship with Jane is so sweet, and so is her relationship with Ellen, and with the other spoilery female character who shows up! (What is it about Wein and actually good friendships in this *cough* somewhat perverted *cough cough* world? I love it. I love it so much.) Also, I do love that she's Jamaican. The diversity feels perfect and unforced, and I'm here for it. Short summary: I love this girl.
(Also, her last name (Adair) happens to be part of the last name of some of my favorite people, so that was a plus. :))

Spoilery character squealing time! *highlight for spoilers* QUEENIE I WAS HOPING SHE WOULD BE IN HERE AND SHE ISSSSSSSSS!!!!! Ahhhhh the moment when she opens her window to help guide her brother home, and it hearkens back (or forward, I guess?) to the Peter Pan references, and YES. And then when she falls asleep on the table and is practicing her German! And her brother having to not recognize her, and the hijinks that ensue! (Also, the moment when dude puts his arm around her, and Jamie's like ...should probably do something about this, but it's more like rescuing him from her, than vice versa. XD) I just...loved having her. She's 100% her Queenie self, and I needed that. (But the part at the end! Where she puts her coin in the bar and says she's not going to come back for it! TOO SOON, QUEENIE. Or perhaps too early? Idk. *cries*) (I was a little disappointed that Maddie didn't make an appearance, because we *know* that she visits Jamie at the hospital, but oh well. She's implied. :) *end spoilers*

Okay, on to Jamie. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh my Jamie! HE'S SO PERFECT and don't even try to tell me otherwise. The way he totally feels responsible for everyone in his...what's the world, squadron? flight? group? anyhow. The men who report to him. They're HIS MEN, and he's going to keep them safe, whatever it takes. And he's what, nineteen? And absolutely being the dad of the group and...<3 <3 <3 I just love it. I also REALLY love all the camaraderie between the men--so good! 
And the moment where he's like "keep your mucky hands off the lasses" THANK YOU ELIZABETH you have NAILED my Jamie!!! (So satisfying, tbh. The part in CNV where he's totally about to DECK that dude for insulting you-know-who (or maybe you don't, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers, here) is THE BEST.) He's just so much the gentleman and I love him so much. 
(But also--his thinking-for-himself and healthy disrespect for authority is so Jamie, too. :)) 
(And the way he's totally father/brotherly towards Louisa, too!) 
Short summary: JAMIE IS THE BEST.

Romance
None, really? This book was mostly about the friendship, and I like that a lot.

Content
Some swearing (esp. British-isms, nothing really bad, although [edit] I have been informed that there was some taking of the Lord's name in vain), gruesome injuries, death, racism.

Overall Rating
[Which I apparently forgot the first time? Where is your BRAIN, Sam?] 4 stars!

Reminds me of...
I mean...it reminds me of Code Name Verity, I suppose? :) I really can't think of anything else, besides the books I already listed in my CNV review.

Have you read anything by Elizabeth Wein? Do you like WWI or WWII better? What's your favorite war? (Okay, that sounded weird. XD)