I really wanted to love "The Ventriloquists," but unfortunately, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. The premise had so much potential—focusing on a group of Belgian resistance fighters during World War II who use a ventriloquist act as part of their covert operations—but it felt flat and often confusing. The characters were hard to connect with, and while the historical aspect was fascinating, the execution felt a bit all over the place.

There were moments that made me think it was starting to pick up, but then the pacing slowed down again, and I found myself losing interest. The writing style didn’t resonate with me either; it was a bit too detached and didn't pull me into the story. Overall, it didn’t leave the lasting impression I was hoping for, and I found myself skimming through parts toward the end. It’s definitely a unique take on historical fiction, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

A fascinating untold story of resistance to the Nazis - a subgenre of historical fiction that never gets old. But I agree with other reviewers who say it should have been much shorter, especially given the scarcity of information about the real Belgians who pulled off the ultimate joke.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The setting was wonderful and definitely felt like it was well-researched by the author, which I appreciated it. This book kept me engaged and entertained the entire time I was reading. However, the ending did feel a little bit rushed, but not enough to significantly affect my enjoyment of the book. The characters in this book were also wonderful. Overall, I really liked the Ventriloquists.

This was a great historical fiction novel. I really fell in love with the characters, and there was suspense which kept me reading quickly!

As much as I love reading historical fiction about little known episodes in history, especially WWII history, this book didn’t hit the mark for me. There were too many characters, and I was unclear who the narrator was most of the time. The story was interesting, but told in a very convoluted way. I felt like the author would gotten the point across better if the plot had been simplified.

TBH, this title doesn't really spark any desire to read it. So ignore that part.

This is an interesting WWII story about a group in Belgium working to put out a satirical version of the local Nazi propaganda newspaper. And that's pretty dangerous, obviously. There's a young person with a thing for making things explode. There's a writer and a professor and a smuggler (who also happens to be a madame of sorts). It's inspired by actual events. Not to give anything away, but this newspaper was actually published and distributed and there are still copies in existence. But who will survive once the Nazis find out what is going on? It's a great story and it was definitely hard to put down.

I have a list of my top five favorite World War II novels, and E.R. Ramzipoor’s The Ventriloquists now counts among it.

The characters, some of whom were real people who dared to stand up to the Nazis and some who were created by the author, are deep, complex, and unique individuals who come together in a stunningly powerful way to make a statement when they know they are doomed no matter what.

Ramzipoor is able to use this sense of impending doom; the presence of the Nazis would be doom enough on it’s own, to give their characters a reason to speak up and act out. What else have they got to lose, really? And Aubrion, Noel, Lada, Gamin, Wellens, Spiegelman, and even the boys in the workhouses have nothing to lose. It’s clear they don’t really see themselves as having much to gain given, again, the fact that the Nazis are in Belgium.

So under the guise of their resistance movement, and as an ultimate act of resistance when they are conscripted to aid the Nazi propaganda movement, they create a newspaper that mocks the Nazis and their propaganda and pull off more than one ruse to manipulate the Nazis into helping them.

The Ventriloquists is in turn humorous and tragic. It is a story of hope in the face of certain defeat. It is the story of what humans can do for one another when it seems like the end is nigh.

(Thanks to NetGalley, Park Row, and E.R. Ramzipoor for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest & original review.)

DNF @ 10%. No connection to the writing or storyline. Too many characters to keep track of. No intrigue or investment in the plot.

The Vetriloquists was a stunning story of how WW2 brought out the courage in ordinary people. I particularly enjoyed the Belgian newspaper and the stereotypes each character was given before we met them. I highly enjoyed this work and will be looking forward to reading more of Kamizoor’s work in the future!

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much promise. The cover is intriguing, the title invites you to explore its pages, the summary is full of compelling tidbits. Now that I have finally finished it, I'm sorry to say it didn't live up to any of that promise.

I finished the book because I was at least a little interested in how the story would resolve. I loved that it was based on a true story and that Aubrion is a real person. It's great that these people have a voice now, that their story has been told. But it was a bit boring. I've read many a historical fiction set in Europe during World War II and they usually tug on my heartstrings a bit. This one did not elicit much emotion. I was happy at the end not because of how it ended but because it was over.

The biggest problem I had with it was the narrative. It didn't work for me. The parts in "present day" were uninteresting and seemed to only be there to further the telling of the Faux Soir storyline. And when Helene would break into the Faux Soir storyline to interject, it would throw me out of the little bit of atmosphere it had built up.

It's an inspiring bit of Belgian history told in an uninspiring way.

* received for free from netgalley for honest review* Amazing read and as always love the historical note at the end, would read again

I didn't finish this book. While the premise was interesting enough, it was too long and too many different threads for such a short amount of time period.

This debut did not disappoint. Helene is a 12 year old orphan who is surviving by living as a boy. She sells copies of a propagandist newspaper in Brussels in 1943. She's drawn into a secret network when she meets a journalist who is underground publishing newspapers. When the Nazis track down the team, they force them to turn these newspapers into propaganda for the public to go against the Allies - the other option is to be killed. The historical detail is so well thought out.

Well written and well researched novel. Perfect for fans of WWII historical fiction. This story shows the power of coming together for a good cause, and the power in the written word.

I love historical fiction and was so excited to read this book. The premise sounded super interesting! Unfortunately, I didn't get very far into it. There were so many characters and it was confusing. I may pick it up and give it another try some other time. But for right now, it just didn't work for me.

Amazing storyline and perfectly written characters!! A must read for any lover of historical reads!!!

This book is so hard to follow. I wanted to love (I read and appreciate a lot of WWII historical fiction), but there were so many characters, and it was all over the place.

One of those astonishing acts of courage (and humor) almost forgotten is brought to life in this novel about WWII Belgium. The Nazis had already taken over Le Soir, Brussel's most popular newspaper, turning it into a propaganda rag, but members of the Belgian Resistance decided to put out an alternative version of the paper on November 9, 1943, giving a nod to the 25th anniversary of the German defeat in World War 1. The idea of an anti-Nazi issue morphed into creating a satirical paper filled with typical Brussels humor--the Faux Soir.

To make this happen, an unlikely gang of Resistance members gather to create this bright moment in the lives of worn-out citizens. There are challenges with sourcing enough paper, ink, and setting up distribution. All of this the group takes on with audacity and, yes, humor, even though none of them expect to survive.

E.R. Ramzipoor gathers historical figures and creates new characters to step in for people whose names are not known. All are bright, well drawn figures who will win your loyalty. One especially, the man who is a "ventriloquist": someone who is able to recreate the writing style of absolutely anyone or thing. In this case, it's Nazi propaganda.

Not to spoil the outcome, but it is completely satisfying, even if the result of that outcome is heartbreaking. Ramzipoor has an engaging writing style and captures the character of exhausted Brussels after years of Nazi rule. There are almost too many details, but the bravado and poignancy of people literally risking their lives to make their sad nation laugh makes a wonderful read.

~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader

I'm not going to lie....I couldn't finish the book. I got about 1/3 through the book & was having such a hard time maintaining focus. There are so many characters and they're all over the place. I really wanted to like this too but it just wasn't for me.

As a lover of historical fiction, this covers ground that I thought would have been already written. However, it is a new story that is frightening and inspiring.