The novel tells a refreshingly traditional story, supported by an often brilliant plot. Benioff switches tones with perfect control – no recently read novel shifts between registers as quickly and confidently, from humor to devastation. This captivating story perfectly blends tragedy and comedy. Delightfully, Benioff has created a funny, sad, and thrilling novel. He masterfully combines humor and horror. As a skilled storyteller, Benioff writes with grace and cinematic flair about hunger, cannibalism, and the atrocities of the Nazis. If City of Thieves were a film, it would begin like Schindler's List and end like Raiders of the Lost Ark. City of Thieves is a coming-of-age story.