I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. 
 There are certain things that I've come to expect from any book written by Aleksandr Voinov: 
 Historical settings with incredible attention to detail, characters that are unique and complex each in their own way, and the emotional impact of a battering ram. This book was no exception. I haven't read much by L.A. Witt, so that's probably why I can't 'hear' her voice as well as Aleksandr's. They worked so well together that the story is as seamless as if it were written by one person. 
 The setting is France during the last year of World War II. From what I've heard, Aleksandr is a WWII nut and it definitely shows. I was drawn in immediately because of the attention to detail and the way the setting was described so vividly. Everything from the uniforms, the weapons, the landscape...it was written so perfectly that I could easily imagine being there. 
 What really made the book a five star read was the tension between characters who are so different on the outside but are really quite similar at the heart of things. Their interactions are filled with a mixture of hatred, confusion, compassion, and longing. John's interrogations and Hagen's reactions put so much psychological tension in the mix that I just couldn't put the book down. I loved every bit of the story because it never let me stop feeling. I was a big emotional mess until the end and I wanted to reread it as soon as I was done. I could go on all day just trying to explain how much Unhinge the Universe made me feel. 
 I'm so happy that I was able to read this one. Bravo, Mr. Voinov and Mrs. Witt.