DeMaza's The Heroine of Auschwitz tells one of the most horrifying and evil stories in the most heartbreakingly beautiful way. His vivid imagery leaves a hollow ache in your heart and stomach, yet the strength, love, and resilience of his characters begin to fill that void. On one hand, I was left emotionally shattered; on the other, I was so captivated by his characters that I couldn’t stop reading. In today’s America, the message is clear: people must read history, acknowledge it, and—most importantly—learn from it.

First I must say I wish I had read the first book in this series. But I still loved this book and found it moving, heart-breaking, sad, and disturbing to think people can be so cruel. I have read many books about the wars and I never tire of learning more, hearing more stories and thinking how very brave people were in these times.

This, as with all war stories, is about survival, It is a well written and well research book and is a book you feel you can take to heart. It is a book that is filled with hope and emotion as well as courage and hardships. I highly recommend it and will be searching out the first book and looking forward to the next one.

Thank you NetGalley and Book Whisperer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book;

Embark on an unforgettable and deeply emotional journey through one of history’s darkest chapters with “The Heroine of Auschwitz.” This harrowing yet beautifully told story of courage, sacrifice, and the strength of the human spirit will leave you spellbound.

As someone who is particularly drawn to the history of World War II, I immediately was drawn to read this. The authors research dove deeper into the inner workings of the camps that I have not read and revealing the small but powerful acts of resistance and the emotional and physical toll endured by those who survived.

It must be noted that this is a very heavy book. The scenes are vivid, and at times difficult to read, but are crucial to understanding the story. You will feel the weight of fear, brutality, and unimaginable loss of those who lived through this horrific event. You also witness the flickers of hope and connection that helped the survival of many. This story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of continuing to tell and read these stories.

I would like to express my upmost appreciation to NetGalley, Mark DeMeza, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review with gratitude for the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this truly remarkable book.

November 1943, Auschwitz, Poland.

When the train carrying Rachael Kisch, her younger brother, Hannes and the rest of the Dutch Jews arrives in Auschwitz, they are unaware of the unimaginable horrors that await them. Rachael is devastated when she becomes separated from her brother. She promises to find him at all costs.

Well, that will absolutely pull at your heart strings, that's for DANG SURE!
I love historical fiction, but of course (& unfortunately) this book does have some parts in it that are factual. Mark DeMeza does an excellent job of balancing historical detail with gut-wrenching details that again, are based on real life events. We need to continue on telling these stories so people know to NEVER, EVER forget the atrocities that happened. (still boggles my mind how some people think this didn't even happen? Like what??)

I loved the multiple POV's told from Rachael and Ludwig, knowing that they kept each other alive just by being there for one another. (but like omg, MAJOR SOB HERE BECAUSE WHEWWWWWWWW! 😭 straight to the gut, that is for dang sure.)

I loved how they included historical information like Poland's annexation, the conversion of the base to Auschwitz, finding buried scrolls, murder statistics, photographing evidence, and the real-life tormentors such as Irma Grese, Josef Mengele, Rudolf Höss and Otto Moll who gave their all to ensure immense suffering. (& if you didn't know like me, they were eventually liberated in May of 1945 whenever Germany surrendered.)

I wish I could give this book a thousand stars because of how well it was written and of course the tragic events that happened that made me cry.
HUGE thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.

Great story of the natzi war. You can find love amoung the ashes and horrible situation. This was a sad book also with family getting separated and we never find out if they reunite

This was a good book if you like history. It was a good account of what happened to the Jews and their families. It's
a hard story to read, but tells the heartbreak and horror the Jewish people went through.

What a heartbreaking story. Really tough one to read. But enjoyed it at the same time. It was very well written. I couldn't put it down once i started. I was hooked. Very powerful. book to read

I just finished the Heroine of Auschwitz by Mark DeMeza and what an introduction to his work it was! I am definitely kicking myself for not finding his work sooner and I absolutely need to track down the first book in this trilogy.

It's common for authors of historical fiction to do research, but DeMeza clearly went above and beyond with the research for this novel. The depth of the research shines through the story, creating an indescribable sense of authenticity. As I read, I felt completely immersed, as if I was truly alongside the characters, experiencing their harrowing daily lives within Auschwitz-Birkenau. The characters themselves felt so remarkably real that their struggles and resilience leapt off every page.

If you appreciate historical fiction that doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of the Nazi regime, this is a book you won't want to miss. The Heroine of Auschwitz follows two central characters - Rachael Kisch and Ludwig Albin, as they navigate their 'jobs' in the camp. watching their seemingly separate paths intertwine was fascinating and both Rachael and Ludwig powerfully illustrate that regardless of one's role in the camp, the terror and trauma were universal.

Another standout aspect for me was the inclusion of the historical notes and the author's note at the end. DeMeza reveals the inspiration behind the stories, which truly brought the characters and their experiences to life. For me, that is exactly why I read historical fiction, to connect with the daily lives of those who endured such extraordinary circumstances.

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The author provides us with an emotional view into one of history’s darkest moments of history in one of the deadliest WWII prisoner camps. Through the main character, Rachel Kisch, the reader gets a front row seat to the strength and determination of the human spirit as the prisoners fight for survival against the most horrific crimes man has ever committed against other humans.

The Heroine of Auschwitz is a beautiful tapestry of courage, sacrifice, and the discovery that true love and compassion can also be found through the direst of situations. Throughout the story, the author weaves crisp, historical detail with heart-wrenching emotion that is coupled with elements of unimaginable loss and windows of resistance, proving that no matter what, love will overcome.

I highly encourage any lover of WWII historical fiction to pick this one up and read it! With the numerous books I have read on this genre and topic, I still gained new insight into the atrocities that took place within this extermination camp.

#TheHeroineofAuschwitz #NetGalley #historicalfiction #WWII #Auschwitz #womenheroines

When the train carrying Rachael Kisch, her younger brother, Hannes and the rest of the Dutch Jews arrives in Auschwitz, they are unaware of the unimaginable horrors that await them. Rachael is devastated when she becomes separated from her brother. She promises to find him at all costs.
Ludwig Albin is a Polish farmer sent to Auschwitz and forced to work in the impossibly cruel Sonderkommando work group. Rachael and Ludwig become friends, but are kept apart by the barbed wire fence which stands between them. As each day passes, their relationship strengthens, and, exposing themselves to life-threatening risks, they work together with the camp resistance to help their fellow inmates and thwart the SS. The presence of Otto Moll and Irma Grese, two of the most evil and sadistic SS officers in the camp, means that death is only ever a gunshot away from them all.

A story of a family shattered by war and held together by the love and bravery of one woman. I have read many historical fiction books that are set around Auschwitz, but this is one of the best. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for offering this book on NetGalley and granting my request to read it. Anyone who likes reading about WWII and Auschwitz will enjoy this book. The author develops his characters so wee and also describes with heartbreaking detail the crematoria and the prisoners who had to work there most of which I had never read about before. The book leaves you hanging as Rachel and Ludwig are on their way to look for her brother so I am looking forward to the next book in this series (at least I hope there is one and we aren't left handing!)

I

This book was very moving.
I didnt know at the time it was a second book in a series but i will go back and read it.
It tells the story of Rachael and Hannes from when they arrived at Auschwitz and how they got separated. It was an amazing book the story bought tears to my eyes.

4 1/2 stars
Set in Auschwitz this is a heartbreaking story of the lives of Rachael and Ludwig and their experiences. This book has a dual pov which I found very interesting snd gave an insight into the different jobs the women and men had to do in the camps. This was a fascinating and also hard read at times, the author goes into detail to describe the hard conditions, the horrors they endured and many more heartbreaking moments. I felt that I learnt a lot from this book. I also found the historical note at the end super interesting to read, lots of the SS in this book were based on real people.
Having read many other books set in Auschwitz I found to be one of the best and also unique thst I’ve read. I would definitely recommend this book.
The only reason that I didn’t give it 5 stars was that it ended in a cliffhanger, I assume there will be another book though, which I would definitely read.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

The Heroine of Auschwitz was very nicely done.

It was thought provoking and really helped place your mind in that time.

Thank you to NetGalley for this sad, moving but poignant novel -The Heroine of Auschwitz by Mark DeMeza in exchange for a honest review.This story revolves around the 2 main characters Rachel and Ludwig 2 prisoners at Auschwitz and their struggle for survival.Rachel works at Kanada the warehouses that storied the Nazis plundered loot while Ludwig works in the gas chambers and crematoria seeing unimaginable sights that are straight out of hell.Ludwig enlists Rachel’s help as the prisoners plan a revolt to overthrow the Nazis.The time period for this story is from late 1943 until the liberation of the camp in January of 1945 a time period where the Nazis were particularly ruthless since it became clear that they were losing the war and resorted to unspeakable measures to cover up their crimes.This novel very compelling since it offered very personal accounts of a horrific time period.

What an amazing story - once I started to read it I couldn't put it down - in fact I read it in one evening which lasted until 3am. Most of the time I had a tear in my eye or a lump in my throat as I read more about the awful things they experienced.

I hope to have the opportunity to read more of Mark's books. Thank you for the advance copy, all the view expressed are mine and are given freely..

An unforgettable, deeply emotional journey through one of history’s darkest chapters. The Heroine of Auschwitz is a harrowing yet beautifully told true story of courage, sacrifice, and the indomitable strength of the human spirit. As someone who gravitates toward historical narratives—particularly those set during World War II—I thought I had read nearly everything there was to know about the horrors of the extermination camps. But this book proved me wrong in the best possible way. I learned more than I ever imagined I could about the inner workings of the camps, the small but powerful acts of resistance, and the emotional cost borne by those who lived through it.

The author does an incredible job of balancing historical detail with heart-wrenching humanity. The scenes are vividly rendered, at times difficult to read, but always important. You feel the weight of the fear, the brutality, the unimaginable loss—and yet also the flickers of hope and connection that made survival possible. This story reminded me just how vital it is to continue telling and reading these stories. A must-read for anyone interested in history, resilience, and heroism.

Worth noting, I had not read the first book in this "series," so I look forward to working backwards and reading Part 1 of the Rachael Kisch trilogy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark DeMeza, and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm continuing my journey through historical fiction set during the Second World War — and what a powerful novel this was. Mark Demeza plunges the reader straight into the heart of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous concentration camp.

We follow the story of Rachael, a young Dutch Jewish woman who is deported to the camp with her younger brother in November 1943. Upon arrival, they are separated, and the novel traces her desperate attempt to find him. Along the way, she receives help from Ludwig, a fellow Polish inmate who later becomes her companion.

This book does not shy away from the horrors of Auschwitz. The author offers unflinching descriptions of the cruelty inflicted by the SS, the horrific abuse endured by prisoners, and the inhumane conditions they were forced to survive.

I simply couldn’t put this book down. Honestly, I was desperate to know how the story would end. I wanted Rachael to find her brother. I wanted her to escape with Ludwig. A slight spoiler — that question remains unresolved in this volume. The ending is fairly open, but I like to believe that fate finally shows some mercy to our heroine.

This novel also introduced me to many aspects of Second World War history that I hadn’t encountered before. There are too many to list here, but I truly appreciated the effort the author clearly put into historical research. I value books that remain as close to historical truth as possible — that reference real events and draw inspiration from people who actually lived through them.

I must also commend the detailed and informative endnotes. They add meaningful context to the story and offer valuable insights for readers who want to explore the subject further.

“The Heroin of Auschwitz” is a heart-wrenching tale of Rachael and Hannes’s tragic separation at Auschwitz. The writing is excellent, but the horrors of the concentration camps make it tough to read. If you like historical war stories, this is a good read.

Having had strong emotions when I visited and toured the camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau, this novel brought back many memories and enabled me to envision the locale of what was depicted. There really is nothing new in this story of the harrowing experiences in the camps of a man and woman who are desperate to survive and meet each other at a fence separating the men from the women in a time frame just before the liberation of the camps. There are vivid descriptions of the atrocities and relentless violence inflicted by the Nazis and all of this compels the reader to continue reading and look forward to the conclusion in the next chapter in this series. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.

This is a heartbreaking book. It tells the story of Rachael and Hannes from when they arrived at Auschwitz and how they got separated. Rachael is picked to work in Kanada. Her position did help her and many in her camp. Then we have the story of Ludwig. He was picked to work in the Sonderkommando (SK) group to work in the crematoriums and the harsh conditions there.

This is the second book in the series but you do not need to read the first book to enjoy and understand this book.it was well written but hard to read due to the atrocities of the concentration camp. Thank you NetGalley and Mark DeMeza for the advanced copy of this book.