I was captivated by the characters in this novel about World War II. Some were monsters, some flawed, brave, weak, strong, angry and redeemed. It was very well written and you could really feel the atmosphere of this time and place in history.

Two young women, Jewish sisters, hiding in an attic. If not for the kindness of strangers they would have been at the mercy of Nazi soldiers. But then, one of those soldiers arrives at the house. Not to search it, but because he lives there. When he discovers that his mother has been providing refuge to these “enemies”, he becomes enraged and is determined to turn them in. He can’t bring himself to do it, however. And soon his mother’s mission becomes his as well. A very good story from one of my favorite genres!

The main reasons you’ll want to read this fantastic historical fiction book are (1) that it has an engaging plot, (2) amazing character development and (3) it’s full of thought-provoking insights into human nature.

A German officer with two Iron Crosses and a panzer division under his control is on leave after surgery and comes home to discover that his mother is hiding two Jewesses in the attic. You will love Max Wolff’s evolution from a true Nazi hero to a disillusioned German now sympathetic to fellow Germans of Jewish heritage. It made me happy to discover an author who chose to show us his complex and interesting characters, rather than tell us about them. It’s rare for an author to allow his readers to weave character’s actions and attitudes together with historical facts presented and come to their own conclusions. For this very fact, I’m inspired to read more by this author. His vivid descriptions allow readers to become part of the story. I love learning about history by feeling I’m part of the story rather than reading huge info dumps in conversation between characters.

I have read many WW2 books and never learned about Veronal. If you aren’t familiar with it, you’ll learn about this window of escape for many Jews.

It’s not often books are written from the perspective of a German soldier. You’ll read about how many of the Germans were “deluded by a strident call to patriotism” and, in retrospect, felt they’d “become the weapon of an evil government with fearsome ambitions.”

“Don’t you think your beloved Fatherland is a very strange place if helping other human beings has become a crime?”

“How can a Christian pray for a Jew?”

“That’s my deepest fear. That the war will end, and we will still be prisoners of what they did to us. until the day we also die.”

This unique read is worth your time and will be one I’ll reach for again and again. It’s heart wrenching and emotional, yet tension filled and unpredictable. I’m in awe of the resourcefulness and resilience of those caught up in a country at war.

I was gifted this copy by Marius Gabriel, Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Talk about a stunning book! The hideousness of WWII in Germany is not glossed over here but instead readers are thrown into the deep end of grief, sorrow and loss with brief reprieves of love and hope. Beautifully written and charged with emotion, this raw story is about overcoming insurmountable odds and finding and clinging to freedom. But it comes at a drastic cost.

Hardened Max Wolff, a panzer leader, is discharged from the German army due to a severe head injury. When he unexpectedly returns home he is disgusted to find profound changes. His compassionate mother is harbouring a huge secret. Max clashes with people throughout the book and discovers who his friends really are...and are not. He begins to see life through others' eyes rather than making them pay and correcting the "wrongs" of his father.

Largely told from a German soldier's perspective we see that no one is unscathed. Entire towns are decimated. Women and children are left to die. There are many levels of evil and the Gestapo are at the top of the list as they attack with impunity.

"But I can't really remember what being happy feels like." Lola has good reason to believe this. Her life has been absolutely shattered. The sun no longer shines for Lola and her sister, Heidi in a time when ration-book theft is punishable by death. The Nuremberg Laws are in place. Jews are treated with abhorrence and everyone is forced to do things they otherwise wouldn't. Dreadful torture is inflicted upon those who were deemed illegal simply by existing. Their loss is unfathomable. Additionally, Germany's "liberation" by Russia involves wholescale rape. It was fascinating to view these times from Germans. The prologue and epilogue are brilliant.

My sincere thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this crushing but hauntingly beautiful book. It ought to be required reading.

Wow! I do not normally read this type of novel, however the story caught my interest, so I decided to give it a shot. What a great read! The story and characters were well developed. I found myself totally engaged in the book and could not put it down till I finished it! A truly must read book for all!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Wow! I've read a lot of novels about WW2 & Nazi occupation but this one just seemed unique, to me. The author takes us from the beginning of the Nazis' rise all the way to their eventual downfall and everything in between. It almost felt like Lola was sharing pictures of her life and family, as Hitler was rising, to before her & her sister ended up at Max's mom's house. With Max the focus is more on his inner dialog as he goes through all that's happened in the last several years. I didn't love the end. I felt like it could have been wrapped up a bit tighter but I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger either. Over all it was an interesting read and impossible to put down. .

This was so powerful, raw and so real.
The book was engaging from the very beginning, i was hooked immediately, and felt so close to the characters that i felt actual pain as they suffered throughout the book.
The author is a real mastermind, he succeeded in describing the scenes of destruction and pain so vividly that you would almost feel squeamish of how much you felt what was written.
The character development was immaculate, even during their hardships and despair, Lola and Max went through a lot to grow up as human beings and they showed me how love is more powerful than politics and race.
I really enjoyed it.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review via netgalley and the publisher*

I tried to like this book. I wanted to like it, but alas it was not for me. I wasn't a fan of the writing style, it was too simplistic. I also don't love when authors are writing about people in America but they use British spelling. It throws me off and is very distracting! Stick to a theme!!

Told from a different perspective to the norm, this story will break your heart with its brutality, fear and realistic view of war torn Germany in World War II. Unlike stories that paint Germany as the enemy, this explores how the people of Germany suffered too, at the hands of Britain and America, and their own Nazi party and SS - devastatingly, particularly the women and children left behind, and from the perspective of two young Jewish sisters at the mercy of people who might help or give them away to the Nazis.