The Kappillan of Malta by Nicholas Monsarrat
The brief blurb on the front cover says "a better novel than The Cruel Sea." I have yet to read The Cruel Sea, but my understanding is that this is supposed to be high praise indeed. Certainly, it was well worth reading, and will probably reward re-reading. The only minor issue I had was that the first chapter seemed to drag a bit, due to being introduced to everything and everybody.
There are a couple of other things which may be annoying for the two people who might actually read this review. The love subplot starts out quite saccharine, although if my memory of age-17 hormones hasn't gone completely false, this is not necessarily inaccurate. The setting is an island with a very strong Catholic culture, with some significant Victorian England thrown in, during wartime. So there is bombing and hierarchy. It's not pure grimdark by any stretch of the imagination; just not for reading on a day when you need puppies and rainbows.
There are a couple of other things which may be annoying for the two people who might actually read this review. The love subplot starts out quite saccharine, although if my memory of age-17 hormones hasn't gone completely false, this is not necessarily inaccurate. The setting is an island with a very strong Catholic culture, with some significant Victorian England thrown in, during wartime. So there is bombing and hierarchy. It's not pure grimdark by any stretch of the imagination; just not for reading on a day when you need puppies and rainbows.