This book was difficult to read, in the best way. It’s a historical fiction that pierces your heart and really makes you think.

Lena, on her deathbed, remembers her youth in Poland, her relationship with a military officer with whom she is not in love to her days in a Soviet prison camp, where she finds something like hope in a new way of living.

The Snow Hare is an emotionally engaging if very upsetting novel. I found at times that Lena was difficult to connect with - but by the novels end you are standing by her side, wishing her on.

There is some extraordinary writing from Licharowicz, and this marks her out as someone to watch.

Thank you to the publishers and the Netgalley for the ARC.

A very poignant & moving story showing the best & worst of humanity even within the same country & which resonates with issues still going on today & especially for Women to be recognised for their true value in society . I held my breath at times while reading this ,laughed & cried too it is a very powerful& moving story which I highly recommend others read #NetGalley, #Goodreads, #FB,#Instagram,#Amazon.co.uk,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC from Netgalley

I had turned away from fictional novels set in WWII in recent years as it became saturated by masses of Holocaust stories. These are always important stories to tell but I was wary some of which have rightly been denounced as exploitative of the victims sufferings.
The focus here is somewhat different as the focus is on the experience of Polish people under Russian control and in particular those views as enemies of the state. I am familiar with the Katyn Massacre but beyond that had never read much relating to Polish experiences and was astounded by this, particularly the latter stages of the story. The protaganist Lena lies on her death bed and relives her long life. Lena grows up in Poland with dreams of being a doctor and being one of the first females accept to university in Warsaw. Her sister dreams of getting married and Polish Officers stationed locally are invited to her birthday party as potential candidates. Lena's encounters with one of the officers leads her life on a road much different to what she had hoped. As Poland is caught between the growing tensions between Germany and Russia on the precipice of the collapse of the Non-aggression pact, Lena finds herself now a reluctant wife and new mother cut from her family. She is offered an opportunity to escape to the UK with her daughter but the pull of her family is too strong and leads Lena down a devastating path for survival.
I did find the first half a bit of struggle pacing wise but as I reflect it main have been purposeful to replicate the monotonous and endless days of Lena's life at the barracks. The second part of the novel was definitely more engaging.
The author draws from experiences of her grandmother during WWII and the mass deportation of Polish citizens to remote regions of Russia, most famously Siberia. A large portion of the story is focused here as we experience Lena and her families struggle to survive. It is a stark, gut wrenching description of their experiences in inhumane conditions.
This is a difficult read naturally, but I am glad I have read it particularly as it is a part of history I was completely unaware of. Lena is a young woman who cut off from all she loves finds a new path and hope in motherhood. This love carrys her throught the worst of experiences and human suffering in order to protect those who matter most.

4.5 stars rounded up

What a journey! This book was excellent, a heart wrenching story well told. The writing, while omissive in parts (some things won't become clear until later on), really brought Lena's story to life in a way that felt real, not forced. It was impossible not to hope and grief along with our characters. An added bonus was that I got the chance to learn about how some of the gruelling effects World War II had in Poland - something I knew absolutely nothing about. I do wish I hadn't read the blurb before I started reading though - I don't think it accurately reflects the book. Even so, I highly recommend this book.