Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Clementine is a seventy-two year-old reformed con artist with a penchant for impeccably tailored suits. Her life of crime has led her from the uber-wealthy perfume junkies of belle epoque Manhattan, to the scented butterflies of Costa Rica, to the spice markets of Marrakech, and finally the bordellos of Paris, where she settles down and opens a legitimate shop bottling her favorite extracts for the ladies of the cabarets.

In 1941, as the German's stranglehold on the city tightens, Clem's perfume-making attracts the notice of Oskar Voss, a Francophile Nazi bureaucrat, who comes to demand Clem's expertise and loyalty in his mysterious play for Hitler's favor. Clem has no choice but to surrender fully to the con, but while she knew playing the part of collaborator would be dangerous, she never imagined it would be so painfully intimate. At Oskar's behest, and in an effort to win his trust, Clem recounts the full story of her life and loves, this time without the cover of the lies she came to Paris to escape.

Complete with romance, espionage, champagne towers, and haute couture, this full-tilt sensory experience is a dazzling portrait of the underground resistance of twentieth-century Paris and a passionate love letter to the power of beauty and community in the face of insidious hate. 

Review:

Historical fiction centered around WWII could be an entire genre in and of itself.  There's All The Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and The Paris Library, just to name a few.  One would think that everything on this subject has already been written.  And you'd be wrong.  I believe this is because WWII really was a world-wide event, that everyone on the planet was affected in one way or another.  The Perfume Thief, by Timothy Schaffert, comes from the perspective of people on the fringe of Parisian society:  gays and lesbians, prostitutes, singers, actors, and entertainers.  These are people who the Nazi's either loved or hated (or both).  If you were a member of one of these groups, you could never feel safe, as the Nazis would applaud them one day, and then round them up and send them to camps, the next.  

Perfume is actually the perfect metaphor for this ever-changing state of danger.  Fragrance evokes powerful memories, and yet can smell different on different people, or in different seasons. And the same smell can make each person react differently.  It's all in the eye (or nose) of the beholder.  

This is a story, not just of WWII, but of memories.  Clementine, who is in her seventies, is hardly your typical senior citizen.  She has lived an extraordinary life as a lesbian in eras from the Gilded Age in America through the Roaring Twenties, the Great War, and now WWII.  Her memories are held as various perfumes and what meanings they had for her.  This was a more cerebral book than I thought it would be.  The characters, unusual storytelling, and insight into the world of perfume made this an outstanding reading experience.

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

Clementine's entire world is centered around perfume.  She uses it to help people recall memories of lost loves, nostalgic childhoods, exciting vacations, or whatever her clients want to cling to.  The language used in this book is lush in its details that conjure images of steamy nights, and exotic locales. 

 There are also details that I hadn't known about concerning Paris during the occupation.  Jewish businesses, seized by the Nazis, became private department stores of pilfered Jewish goods.  Rich Parisians, Nazi Officers, and others had their choice of what was stolen from the Jews,  It was quite disturbing.

The novel also details the cabaret and bordellos of Paris.  These establishments mostly catered to Nazis. But the novel shows that the people who ran these businesses couldn't have chosen to turn the Germans away. It's sad to remember that many of the women who became pregnant by Nazis were tormented at the end of the war, and often killed, for being seen as collaborators.  But most of them had no choice in the matter.

Characters:

I love how Clem forms many strong friendships with people of different ages.  She has friends her own age, but she also befriends young people, as well.  But she does not take on the role of a parent to these younger people.  I found this refreshing.  Older people don't need to become a "mentor" to people just based on their age difference.  But she does worry about her friends as the Nazi occupation drags on.  As more and more homosexuals are targeted and sent away to camps, Clem is very concerned with protecting her young male friend named Blue.  As Blue starts to take risks, Clem worries that she is the only one to see the danger ahead. 

Day is another memorable character.  Fashioned after the great Jazz signer, Josephine Baker, Day is an African-American woman who has settled in Paris after years of missed opportunities in America.  With one mega hit song to her credit, she is a popular entertainer in Paris.  But even though she is not French, she takes risks moving information from Nazi's to the Resistance.  I loved Day's spirit.  

Zoe is another entertainer in the nightclub that Clem frequents.  This is one of those situations where you can't tell, from first glance, how she is resisting.  She is having an affair with a Nazi officer, after all.  But, really, she doesn't have a choice in the matter.  If a Nazi officer wants to make you his mistress, their is little a woman can do.  But Zoe remains strong.

Storytelling:

As Clementine narrates the story, we read snippets of her extraordinary, long life.   From a girl on a farm, to an woman who daringly wears men's clothing, Clem has lived life on her own terms.  There are letters between Clem and her one great love, spanning decades.  In order to ingratiate herself with a Nazi, she tells stories of her life as a con artist and thief.  These elements, as well as Clem simply recalling her many exploits, makes for a rich tapestry of storytelling. 

Ordinary People Fighting Back:

All of the people in this book, each in their own way, find ways to resist the Nazi's.  Although it would seem like the people working in the brothels are collaborating with their oppressors, that is far from the case.  Several of the prostitutes are spying on the soldiers, and they find ingenious ways to send messages to the established Resistance.  Plus, many of the characters resist in other ways.  The singers in nightclubs might sings songs in English.  People go out in the evening, daring the Nazi's to round therm up for being out past curfew.  Even Clem's choice to wear men's clothing is a risk, as a Nazi might decide she is a lesbian and make an example of her.

Perfume:

The depictions of the perfume industry was truly fascinating.  From the design of each bottle, to the ways in which the perfumes were manufactured, this was a true marriage of science and art.  The story centers around a mysterious diary of a famous Jewish perfume maker.  One of the characters is related to the creator of the diary, and if this connection is discovered, it would be a death sentence.  Clem vows to find the document before the Nazis do.  This leads to a journey of reflection as Clem uses her immensely interesting life to entertain the Nazi officer who is also in search of the elusive object.  It's a game of cat and mouse that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 3, 2021

Author:  Timothy Schaffert

Publisher:  Doubleday Books

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  368 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  Filled with lush descriptions, this historical novel of WWII is unlike any other.  A reminder of how the resilience of people, even in direst of situations.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

She thinks he’s either a stalker, a nutcase, or a harmlessly eccentric Oxford professor. He thinks she’s the long-lost descendant of Henry VIII’s last Queen, Katherine Parr. Amy is living a cautious life as a London private banker to wealthy oil sheikhs, but her quiet solitude is upended by the sudden appearance of two people: a half-sister who is virtually a stranger to her, and Oxford don Leo. Both need something from Amy, who has been emotionally frozen for years and isn’t sure she has anything left to give. She also harbors deep secrets—as does Leo. Even so, the two join forces to investigate the mystery of Queen Katherine’s lost baby, and soon long-suppressed emotions start to surface—and enemies start to close in. As they crisscross Europe in a quest for answers, Amy and Leo find themselves in danger of losing control of their secrets, their hearts—and maybe even their lives.

Review:

I wasn't really sure what this book was about when I was first offered an advance copy by the publisher.  But the description, and the whole not knowing if Leo was a stalker or a professor thing intrigued me.  I'm really glad I read this book.  This was a thriller with espionage, shady bank deals, and secret identities with an unreliable narrator, to boot!  Throw in some steamy romance , and you've got a fun, fast-paced read!

What I Liked:

Set up:

I loved the set up of mousy Amy being pursued by Leo.  Is he a stalker?  It certainly looks that way, at first.  He seems to show up everywhere she goes: her office, her gym, her apartment building.  It almost seems like he has secret methods to track her every movement.  Is he just really good at researching?  Or could he be a operative of Mossad (the Israeli version of the CIA)? And why would anyone want to track Amy.  Well, she is a private banker for rich foreigners.  Could she be involved with money laundering?  This set up sucks you in as you are trying to figure everything out. 

Characters:

Amy seems to be a very quiet, introvert.  She doesn't have many friends, and seems out of her depth working with a bunch of twenty-somethings in the high-end world of personal banking. But there are signs that Amy is not what she seems to be.  With a father who has taken her across the globe on numerous adventures, Amy has hidden talents.

Leo is also a man of many layers.  He is an Oxford professor, but he is also the head of a rich and powerful family of art dealers.  He is also extremely sure of himself.  This annoys Amy to no end, but also fans her growing attraction to him.  Every woman loves a man of mystery, and Leo is certainly that.  I also liked that he was devoted to his sisters, and showed lots of concern for their welfare.  This made him even more appealing.

Side Characters:

I have to mention the hilarious group of characters who work in Amy's office.  They are funny mostly because they are such caricatures of entitled twenty-somethings.  Her running commentary (in her head) of how ridiculous they are is highly entertaining.

Secret Identities:

Without giving too much away, there are several people who are not what they seem in this book.  I loved the methods the author used to slowly reveal who they were.  These were surprising and super fun.  I had several "Ah ha!" moments while reading this book.

Romance:

The romance was also really fun.  I appreciated that the author didn't get too graphic with the sex descriptions, but, instead, slowly built up the sexual tension between Amy and Leo.  I keep saying this is so fun to read, because it really was!  The sex between them made sense.  Tor two people who keep avoiding truths, I loved it when they finally put their cards on the table and where hones with each other.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 3rd, 2021

Author:  Jane Elizabeth Hughes

Publisher:  Spark Press

Genre:  Thriller

Page Length:  352 Pages

Source:  Publisher

Format:  Paperback ARC

Recommendation:  This was a thoroughly entertaining book.  I really hope there is a sequel!  A must read for fans of thrillers.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel as part of a blog tour to promote this book.  If I did not enjoy the book, I had the option to withdraw my participation.

Synopsis:

Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and salt water to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time. Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.  

But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side by side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way. With America’s future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she’s falling for out on the front lines, she cannot fail. From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she’ll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought—and won—together.

This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman’s call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood.

Review:

As a lover of historical fiction, I was thrilled to be asked to take part in the blog tour to promote Radar Girls, by Sara Ackerman.  This novel tells the little-known story of the women who became radar technicians in Hawaii during WWII.  I loved the historical details, strong female friendships, and a swoon-worthy romance.  This novel was both entertaining, and enlightening.

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

Once again, I learned something new with this novel.  We've all heard about "Rosie The Riveter", but I had no idea that women worked directly with radar technology.  These women quickly learned all about radar, and aerial navigation so they could identify and guide planes among the Hawaiian Islands.  This was to free up the men for fighting.  But this was an opportunity for women to shine.  Women still faced men who doubted they were intelligent enough to master the skills necessary for this type of work.  And they faced sexual harassment, as well. 

Main Character:

Daisy is not a likely main character.  She is a loner, who doesn't think very highly of herself.  Although she has a talent for training horses, she rarely receives any praise,  This all changes when the war breaks out and Daisy, like so many women of her time, is called upon to get out of her comfort zone, learn some new skills, and make a contribution to the war effort.  

I love how Daisy rises to the challenge, despite her trepidations, to find that she is rather good at technical things!  As her confidence grows, she starts to develop friendships with some of the other women, and even with Walker, the son of the rich landowner who's ranch she has worked at for years.  But can Daisy overcome her self-doubt?  

Female Friendships:

Daisy, usually a loner, starts to form friendships with the other women in the WARD unit.  Yes, there are the usual petty squabbles that happen when you put many different young women together.  At times, jealousies over men made for a high school-like atmosphere.  But, more often than not, the women were supportive, and helped each other.  Where Daisy was quick to understand the complex computations needed to guide planes, she wasn't great at communicating.  Other women were talented speakers but found the math parts challenging.  The women shared what they knew and helped out others who needed tutoring.  

The reason for this was simple. This was wartime.  Anyone who lived in Hawaii witnessed, first-hand, the attacks on Pearl Harbor.  The residents wanted to do anything they could to prevent that from happening again.  But the women were also sensitive to when someone lost a husband, brother, or boyfriend fighting in the war.  There was plenty of misery, as the American losses mounted.  And each woman knew they could be the next person to feel such a loss.  So, I really appreciated how kind the group was to each other.

Romance:

It wouldn't be a book about war without a desperate romance.  Daisy has grown up in working with horses on the ranch of a rich and powerful family.  She was always considered one of the workers, and the family always made sure that Daisy knew her place.  When the dashing son of the ranch owner, Walker, starts to pay attention to her, Daisy feels confused.  He couldn't actually be interested in her, right?  But, slowly it becomes apparent that Walker has always found Daisy fascinating.  I liked that their relationship progressed slowly and was based on mutual interests, as well as attraction. 

Story:

The story centers around how the women become an integral part of the war effort as radar technicians.  It shows us a technical side to the war effort that was really complex and interesting.  There is always the threat of another invasion to Hawaii, and that propels all the residents of the Island into action.  I liked how the author was able to build tension in the story from this threat, and the everyday threat of airplane pilots getting lost and not making it back to the landing strip.  The women's work was literally savings lives each day.

There was also a side story involving Daisy's family and Walker's family that provided added obstacles for the couple.  Although this was a minor part of the book, it was something that was threaded throughout the novel, and was part of a satisfying resolution at the end of the story. 

What Was Missing:

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I wish there would have been more than a passing acknowledgement of the Japanese-American's who were placed in internment camps during the war.  I know this wasn't the focus of the story, and the author perhaps felt this wasn't her story to tell.  But I wish Daisy and her friends would have known a Japanese-American family and showed concern for what was happening to them.  I think it would have added to the story, and given an even deeper insight to life on the Island during the war.

Trigger Warning for sexual assault

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  July 27th, 2021

Author:  Sara Ackerman

Publisher: MIRA Books

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  368 Pages

Source: Publisher's blog tour

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  If you love historical fiction, this book is your ticket to adventure.  I highly recommend this book!

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A Fifth Avenue address, parties at the Plaza, two healthy sons, and the ideal husband: what looks like a perfect life for Katharina Edgeworth is anything but. It’s 1954, and the post-war American dream has become a nightmare.

A born and bred New Yorker, Katharina is the daughter of immigrants, Ivy-League-educated, and speaks four languages. As a single girl in 1940s Manhattan, she is a translator at the newly formed United Nations, devoting her days to her work and the promise of world peace—and her nights to cocktails and the promise of a good time.

Now the wife of a beloved pediatric surgeon and heir to a shipping fortune, Katharina is trapped in a gilded cage, desperate to escape the constraints of domesticity. So when she is approached by the FBI and asked to join their ranks as an informant, Katharina seizes the opportunity. A man from her past has become a high-level Soviet spy, but no one has been able to infiltrate his circle. Enter Katharina, the perfect woman for the job.

Navigating the demands of the FBI and the secrets of the KGB, she becomes a courier, carrying stolen government documents from D.C. to Manhattan. But as those closest to her lose their covers, and their lives, Katharina’s secret soon threatens to ruin her.

Review:

As a person who loves historical fiction, I found this book frustrating.  On the one hand, I really appreciated A Woman of Intelligence, by Karin Tanabe, for its depiction of how women were stifled in mid-twentieth century America.  I could really understand Katharina's sadness at leaving an exciting career to becoming someone burdened with unrealistically high expectations on how she should be a mother.  I found this exploration of motherhood and marriage really interesting.  

However, I found the spy aspect of the story to be over the top.  That, along with a developing attraction between Katharina and another man that didn't really go anywhere, made my interest wane when it should have pulled me in.  I was also troubled by Katharina informing on fellow Americans for being Communists.  Considering she was quite intelligent, I was surprised that Katharina would get caught up in the "Red" fever of McCarthyism.

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

The novel shines with all the details of how women were treated, and expected to behave, in the 1950's.  Katharina is multi-lingual and has a worldly view on life.  But even at her exciting job with the United Nations, she is forced to quit when she marries and becomes pregnant.  All the small indignities that women endured were shown, such as how doctors wanted to put her on valium to "calm" her down (i.e. make her less opinionated).  And her husband controlled every aspect of her life, from how she dressed, if she breastfed (and for how long), and how much free time she had (very little).  She was expected to find fulfillment solely by being a doting mother.     

Characters:

Katharina was an unusual character for a women of the 1950's. She had a strong education, getting a masters in languages, and had a career at the United Nations.   It was almost surprising that she would ever want to get married, given how much she enjoyed the single life.  She partied hard, was often drunk, and enjoyed one-night stands, often as a single person. 

But Katharina was also rather tragic.  She really wasn't cut out for being a stay at home mom.  Part of this was due to her husband, Tom's, insisting that she should not need any help with childcare.  With two young children, this left her often short on sleep, and patience.  So she felt very lonely and overwhelmed. 

I loved Katharina's mother-in-law, Amelia.  According to Katharina's husband, his mother was never there for him, and left him with nannies all the time.  This is why he insisted that Katharina do everything herself.  But as we get to know Amelia, we see that she did most of the childrearing, but insisted on having a social life, outside her role as a mother.  Part of this was to offset the sting of her husband's numerous affairs.  But it was also a way for her to take control of her life.  I really admired that about her.

What I Didn't Like:

Informing on Communists:

The whole spy aspect of the novel is that Katharina (unbeknownst to her) dated a Communist in college, and has been asked to spy on him.  I wondered how Katharina could consent to informing on her fellow Americans.   With her background at the United Nations, it seemed to me that she became an informant to escape her dreary life as a mother, rather than because of a sense of patriotism.  And since the FBI did make Jacob out to be a dangerous KGB spy, she put her children at risk, which I found unforgivable.

Romance:

As Katharina becomes more and more involved with the FBI, she starts to develop feelings for an African-American man who is also undercover in the Communist Party.  I did not object to the interracial component, but rather that their relationship didn't really go anywhere.  She freely admitted that she her feelings were based on lust, not necessarily on the personality of the man, himself.  Again, I sensed that she was disappointed in her marriage, and so sought attention elsewhere.  This was so selfish and made me less sympathetic for her husband.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  July 20th, 2021

Author:  Karin Tanabe

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  Publisher and NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  While I liked this book's depiction of a woman's life in 1950's America, some aspects of the book, such as the spy part, didn't work for me.  I recommend checking this one out from the library.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City it’s up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic.

Review:

I know I'm late to the party, but wow!  T.J. Klune  writes an entertaining novel.  I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, but the Extraordinaries series is just amazing.  While the Extraordinaries introduced readers to a world where super-heroes are real, Flash Fire tackles real-life issues of police brutality, and the use of drugs to "cure" certain behaviors.  I loved both the teenage characters (mostly LGBTQ+ representation), and their parents.  And the relationship between Nick and Seth is really sweet and inspiring.  In the background, there is a nefarious scheme that we finally start to understand.  Given the tremendous cliffhanger at the end of Flash Fire, I can't wait to read the next book.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Nick is such a fun character.  Even though he has a very supportive father, he has many challenges.  Nick faces mixed messages regarding his ADHD.  At times, people seem to discount Nick's behavior as a product of his "condition".  Then, later, his friends are reassuring Nick that his ADHD is a wonderful, unique part of his personality.  This must have been really frustrating for him.  I rooted for Nick to be taken seriously, for him to put his heart on the line for Seth, and for him to be happy.

Nick's father is a policeman who has a flawed past.  Losing his temper years ago, he assaulted a suspect and was demoted from detective to street cop.  It was more of a slap of the wrist, considering his conduct.  And this story addresses this privilege.  I liked that Nick's dad faces Gibby (who is black) and her parents to start to take responsibility for his actions.  But Nick's dad has also done other questionable things that he has to confront. If I were Nick, I don't know if I could forgive him.

We already know that Seth is an Extraordinary, and he takes this as a serious responsibility, (and a burden).  Seth can's be there every time someone's in trouble.  But, how does one decide who will get your help?  This really haunts him.  He also starts to resent how he can' be just a regular teenager and have fun.  This was completely understandable.  What Seth is able to do is know how precious life is.  His heart is open, and he loves Nick unreservedly.   

Themes:

Besides addressing the role of police (a very timely topic), I really liked how the author examines ADHD.  He absolutely affirms that this is condition that makes Nick wonderful and unique.  But some of the characters often lose their patience with Nick, and don't appreciate how he has so many thoughts going on at once.  There are also characters that see ADHD as a burden, who want to "cure" people who have it.  It makes me so sad that people look at kids with ADHD, or Autism, and see something that needs to be fixed.  Is this because they see these conditions as an inconvenience or a burden?  Or do they truly believe that people with ADHD can't lead happy, productive lives?  I think the author (and I, myself) see ADHD, Autism, and other conditions, as just another variation of someone's personality.  Yes, there are challenges, but I hope that people can be accepted for who they are, at this moment, and not have someone try to "fix" them.

Okay, I'll stop preaching now.  

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  July 13, 2021

Author: T.J. Klune

Publisher:  Tor Teen

Genre:  YA Contemporary Fantasy

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  For humor, romance, and a mix of serious issue, this book can't be beat.  I loved it! 

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Lorena Adler has a secret—she holds the power of the banished gods, the Noble and the Vile, inside her. She has spent her entire life hiding from the world and her past. She’s content to spend her days as an undertaker in a small town, marry her best friend, Julian, and live an unfulfilling life so long as no one uncovers her true nature.

But when the notoriously bloodthirsty and equally Vile crown prince comes to arrest Julian’s father, he immediately recognizes Lorena for what she is. So she makes a deal—a fair trial for her betrothed’s father in exchange for her service to the crown.

The prince is desperate for her help. He’s spent years trying to repair the weakening Door that holds back the Vile…and he’s losing the battle. As Lorena learns more about the Door and the horrifying price it takes to keep it closed, she’ll have to embrace both parts of herself to survive.

Review:

I love fantasy books.  Authors can create worlds and situations that examine real world themes, and do so without sounding preachy.  What We Devour, by Linsey Miller, is both a coming of age story, and an exploration of serious themes such as worker exploitation.  With rich world-building, colorful characters, and important themes, this was a highly entertaining book.

What I Liked:

World-Building:

There are so many rich details to this world, but the author seamlessly incorporates them in her storytelling.  I never felt like I was reading the obligatory "exposition" scenes.  Some characters are sharing a body with a "Noble" spirit.  These people can heal and create things.  Other characters have a "Vile" spirit within them.  They mostly cause destruction.  Lorena has both a Noble and a Vile spirit within her.  This makes her quite unique.  I liked that, in order to use their magic, the characters had to make "deals" with their spirits.  A deal might be taking away a memory, or causing a small injury in exchange for a magical deed.  Most people with Noble or Vile spirits are taught how to make iron-clad contracts with their spirits so that the spirit won't take too much, or cause something the  host person doesn't want to happen.  The people with this ability are also "bound" to a rich person who can control what kind of contracts they make.  Essentially, the people with magic are kept under tight control by the wealthy.  Lorena, who has been in hiding, is unbound and approaches her spirits in a more cooperative way.  As a result, she can do both wonderful and awful things with her magic.

I also liked that the characters studied their abilities in a kind of scientific way.  They would come up with a theory and test it out.  They'd look at their results, come up with a new hypothesis, and try again.  This demystified their abilities from mere magic to something organic that would be found in this universe's world.

The spirit characters did seem more magical than the living characters.  There were ghosts, and The Vile.  Both type of spirits could communicate with the living. But the Vile had an agenda.  They wanted to open The Door that is holding them back in another realm.  The Vile could look inside a character's mind and manipulate someone into doing the Vile's bidding.  So the characters had to constantly question what was real or not. 

Characters:

Lorena has been hiding out in a small village so that no one would notice her abilities.  This created a stable, but boring life.  When she is taken by the prince to the big city, she realizes that to deny such a big part of herself was actually harmful to her.  I loved that message.  You should never suppress who you actually are in order to "fit in".  Ultimately, doing that leads to unhappiness.  

The prince reminded me of The Darkling in Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo, but more sympathetic.  The prince has done, and will do, terrible things to keep The Door closed.  But he takes no joy in it.  He really wants to be understood. I found his motivations to actually be in line with Lorena's.  They both want to protect the most people from the coming catastrophe.

Representation:

There were a variety of characters who helped enrich the representation in this book.  Lorena, although not explicitly stating it, seems to be somewhat asexual.  She enjoys the romantic parts of a relationship, but the sexual part?  She can take it or leave it.  There were other characters who were gay, or who had various skin colors, and backgrounds, which added to the richness of this world.  Also, I really appreciated that there wasn't some epic attraction between Lorena and the prince, or it would have felt like a rip off of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series.  While there were some aspects of that series (like the misunderstood darkling character), this was a truly original story.

Story:

I really enjoyed the story.  Lorena has a wonderful story arc.  She went from hiding out and letting others decide her fate, to making friends, and making her own choices.  And she had enough self-worth not to settle for a dreary life.  

The story itself centers around the threat that The Vile poses to the world.  The Noble and The Vile have been banished to another realm, and a magical door is all that holds The Vile from taking over the world.  The prince, along with Lorena and a group of other young people with magic must find a way to keep the door closed.  But it's a losing battle.  What will happen when the door opens?

Themes:

This is a book that uses the fantasy realm to explore themes of worker exploitation and classism.  Lorena's mother worked in a mine until she is hurt in a fire. The hazards of the mine were completely preventable if the owners had just taken some safety measures.  This shows Lorena that the rich find the masses to be expendable.  The ruling class knows that The Door will open soon enough, and they are preparing, stockpiling supplies, and figuring out where they can hide out when The Vile show up.  They have no care for the majority of the people, who will die when The Door is opened.  This is the prime motivation for Lorena to risk everything to thwart the ruling class, regardless of the personal consequences.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  July 6, 2021

Author:  Linsey Miller

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Page Length:  336 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  An exciting beginning of a YA fantasy,  I loved the world-building and characters.  I can't wait to read the next book!

Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and suffused with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made Where the Crawdads Sing a worldwide phenomenon, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel. 

Review:

One of the reasons I love reading historical fiction books set during WWII is that no matter how many I read, I will always learn more than I knew before. I think because that war was so all encompassing and affected, literally, everyone in the world, we can hear endless stories about that time and still not fully grasp how devastating it was.  

The Forest of Vanishing Stars, by Kristin Harmel, tells the story of how some Jewish people hid from the Nazi's in the forests of Poland.  This was no easy feat.  Most of these people had no clue as to how to survive in the wilderness, particularly during harsh winters. But survive they did.  The novel mixes in some elements of Magical Realism, but that does nothing to take away from the very realistic situations, and resilient characters.  This book was highly engaging, and I couldn't stop reading it.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Yona, the main character, was abducted as a child and has lived  most of her life in the wilderness.  Her kidnapper, Jerusza, teaches her all about how to survive in the outdoors, including how to kill a man with her bare hands.  Since Yona was taken at such a young age, she never questions Jerusza, who is more terrifying at all times than maternal.  The one thing that Yona feels that Jerusza can't control is her loneliness.  For all her wilderness training, Yona is quite vulnerable when she meets other people after Jerusza dies.

I loved Yona for her bravery, and willingness to help others.  When she sees people in the forest who clearly won't make it through the winter, she doesn't hesitate to help.  What makes this brave is that all of her life, Jerusza has warned Yona to never have contact with people.  But with crushing loneliness, Yona simplu must connect with others.  

Jerusza is a strange character, but also a fascinating one.  Although her earlier life is unclear, Jerusza has strong premonitions that seem to come true.  She takes Yona away from a German couple who she knows will be involved in the coming evil (although she can't yet know about the upcoming war), and raises her to know how to hide and survive in the wilderness.  She never tries to be motherly towards Yona, but still has a deep obligation to prepare Yona for when she will be on her own.  

I think Jerusza has been severely treated by others in the world for her unusual gifts.  This makes it impossible for Jerusza to empathize with Yona's natural need to seek out others.  In her own harsh way, she is preparing Yona for staying hidden from the Nazis.  Jerusza teaches Yona much about Jewish traditions, and beliefs, but also about all religions, including Christianity and Islam.  It's no wonder that Yona feels such kinship with the Jewish people she finds fleeing in the forest.

Magical Realism:

I've never read a WWII book with a Magical Realism element, but it fit in just fine.  It was not a vital part of the story, but did help to explain Jerusza's motivation in taking Yona away from her parents.  One could argue that she could see that terrible things were going to happen in Europe, and acted accordingly.  Jews were already being persecuted by Christians.  One could probably guess that when times became challenging, Jews would be the scapegoats.

Romance:

Yona, having zero interaction with men, is unguarded when she finds a connection with Aa young man she meets in the forest.  Jerusza has taught her about sex, and birth control, but what she couldn't teach Yona about was how relationships work. I felt so badly for Yona as she learns the hard way about male egos, and betrayal.  

Story:  

After Jerusza dies, Yona is on her own. While she is surviving just fine, she is terribly lonely.  When she finds people struggling to survive in the forest, she can't help but want to reach out and teach them how to survive.  The story follows Yona as she shows the group how to finds food, and how to avoid leaving a trace so others can't find them.

Yona also learns about the atrocities that have befallen the Jewish people.  Just as I cannot fathom how incredibly evil the Nazis were, so does Yona.  She has never seen such cruelty, but is encouraged by the Jewish escapees need to survive, if just to make certain their children will live to continue on.  This was very inspiring to read, and made this a hopeful novel about an incredibly dark chapter in world history.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  July 6th, 2021

Author:  Kristin Harmel

Publisher:  Gallery Books

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  A suspenseful tale of Jewish survival during WWII, I was on the edge of my seat, and learned so much.