I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this novel from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.  When I requested this book I did not realize that it was supposed to accompany The Tattooist of Auschwitz, nor that there would be recurring characters.  It has long been on my TBR, but I had yet to buy it.  (I ran to get a used copy days after finishing Cilka's Journey, because I NEED this in my life).  That said, please understand that this review is written with no knowledge of the previous book and solely on the merits of a stand alone novel.

The premise caught my attention immediately, and was what prompted me to request this book.  I was drawn to the idea of a young woman- a child still, really- taken into a concentration camp.  The idea of what she would have seen, and what she would have had to endure to survive, only to be then thrown into a prison camp for it.  While some of it was pretty glossed over, I still got a good feel for her hurt, her terror, and her pain.  I am reading a lot of reviews that say that they couldn't really get a "feel" for the place- the freezing cold and unlivable conditions.... I have to say I didn't have that issue at all.  I was pulled straight to the camp in Siberia.  I felt for the women there, Cilka's co-prisoners.... at times more than I felt for Cilka.  I saw them through her loving eyes.

Cilka herself was a hard sell for me.  Oh, I loved her, and worried over her.... I wanted her to be free; at the same time her very nature made it easier to concentrate on others.  She was this angelic, completely selfless woman, always asking for aid for a friend instead of herself once she gets to Siberia.  The things that she did to survive Auschwitz weighs on her, as do the things that she must still do, and yet she worries over every single thing she is offered that others don't have and will take, say, a special job, only to help the women in her hut.  Is anyone ever really this pure, especially after everything she endured?  I feel like I need to see this character from another's point of view in order to fully see her.  It was easier to care for the doctors, For Josie, oddly even for Boris.

Many reviewers have spoken about the woman that Cilka is fashioned after- you see, a Cecilia Klein did exist.  There are those saying that this is not an accurate portrayal of the woman, though.  I haven't done the research (though I should) and refuse to weigh in except to say that this is fiction.  Historical fiction takes liberties- I firmly believe that the places... the things the prisoners deal with... are accurate; but could Morris have taken liberties with the actual characters? Of course.  I don't mind that, personally, but it's something to think about if you are a stickler for complete accuracy.

As for myself, I just wanted a good story that would bring this timeline to life for me.  Cilka's Journey did that.  The story was well written, and the writing had a good flow to it.    It was easy to follow through the present scenes and Cilka's memories, and the transition was never jarring.  I loved the characters, and the little details that helped me feel more connected to the camp.  For me, this was a five star book.  Honestly, I could not put it down, and I can't wait to read her others.

On the adult content scale, this one is definitely geared toward adults.  There's language, violence- both physical and sexual, and abuse.  Even though the sexual encounters aren't the most explicit, I felt like they were really powerful.  It hurt me, what these women endured.... I have to give this book an eight.

Having read Heather Morris' previous novel about Auschwitz, I had an idea of the style of story I could expect with 'Cilka's Journey' and I did enjoy (if you can use that term for such a topic) this novel very much.
I must say I actually enjoyed this novel more than its predecessor - it is presented to us as one woman's struggle through unimaginable atrocities, which is as faithful to her life as records will allow while also interweaving elements from other peoples histories of the time. The novel is not trying to be a difinitive account of life at that time, but rather it is self aware of what t is trying to do - bring the stories of these forgotten people to amass audience - and I commend Morris for that.
Harrowing at times, the novel tries to keep the resilient spirit of Cilka alive and I feel presents her as a worthy subject for us all to know.

How wonderful to know more about Cilka. The many fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz will be thrilled to pick up where they left off. So glad this amazing story is being told.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced review copy of Cilka's Journey! I was looking forward to learning more about Cilka, as she was a minor character in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, but her story seemed intriguing.

What I loved about this book was the focus on strong women and learning about Gulags in Siberia. I had heard a lot of German concentration camps, but not much about Stalin's camps. Cilka was a powerful character, and her relationships with her fellow prisoners were warm and familial. They really seemed to take care of one another, and risked a lot to keep others safe. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to Cilka's life pre-camp and hearing about her family.

I had the same issue with Cilka's Journey that I did with The Tattooist; it lacked emotion. There was a lot of telling of what happened and stilted dialogue - it seemed matter of fact, rather than emotionally driven. The flashbacks between Auschwitz and Vorkuta were a bit confusing at times. Also, I think Cilka's portrayal of selflessness was a little over the top - I couldn't imagine someone in her situation making some of the decisions she did. She seemed to have many opportunities for freedom or an easier life, but didn't take them because her bunkmates were not offered the same. Yet, she struggled with the idea of being faced with her 15 year sentence the chapter before, so why would she pass up any of these opportunities? Also, similar to The Tattooist, the ending wrapped up a little too cleanly.

I absolutely loved the Afterword by Owen Matthews. I got a much richer sense of the appalling conditions at Vorkuta, and the political climate - more so than the entire book!

I don't know how I could love this book any more. I adore this author, I loved her writing style, and I love the amount of research that went into this book. I am so happy to have the opportunity to hear Cilka's story. We met her in the "Tattooist of Auschwitz" (which if you haven't read, go and do it now!), and that glimpse of her was one to spark this continued journey. I never knew that some of those released from that awful concentration camp were then sent on by the Russians to work camps. How awful to survive one camp, only to be sent on to another. Thank you, Heather Morris, for opening my eyes to yet another part of our world's history that absolutely needed to be told. While tragic, I loved watching Cilka overcome yet another huge trial in her life and the ending made it all worth it. It shows that no matter what hard things we are asked to endure, we can find the strength to overcome and even come out on top in the end.

Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC of this book for me to read and fully enjoy!

Tears flowed several times while reading this book. Emotionally charged and moving story of a tragic time. While I don't think you have to read the Tattooist of Auschwitz first, I'm moved to read it now.

Very moving story of girl sent to a death camp at 16, and forcibly separated from the other women prisoners, When the war is over and the camp is liberated, she's charged as a collaborator for sleeping with the enemy and sent to a Siberian prison camp. It explores issues of morality and choice in a very compelling, heartbreaking read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jordan Hanley, and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

A review with a touch of caution...


Heather Morris knows how to break our hearts. After all, my heart did break when reading "The Tattooist of Auschwitz " last winter. In Cilka's Journey ,Morris returns with the tale of Cilka Klein, the young Jewish woman that Gita and Lale knew in the camp. Many men and women did not instantly find freedom with the end of the war. Instead, they found themselves facing the devastating reality of Stalin's gulags. For years, Cilka will endure a life of many hardships and grapple with the shame of what happened in Auschwitz.

Unlike her previous book where she interviewed Lale, the author never spoke to Cilka. Much of what is written in this book is based on what others ( Lale, Cilka's neighbors and people who knew her in the camp) had to say about her. As Morris states, the book is her way of pushing for more of the truth to come out. What is appreciated is all of the additional historical information that was compiled in the making of this book.

Now I cannot shy away from the controversy that does surround both the previous book and this one. The Auschwitz Memorial Centre has been very clear on the problems that have in fact created an inauthentic representation and that is largely because of Cilka's supposed relationship with a high ranking SS official. As well as several details about the camp that are not backed up by history. If this were to be a film, it would probably state "inspired by (some) real events" rather than "based on a true story. "

So my 4 star rating is evaluating this book as a novel of fiction and not a history book.


Goodreads review published 21/09/19
Publication Date. 01/10/19

Heather Morris has written another heart wrenching book on what it must have been like to be in the grips of uncaring and brutal men. It makes you question how you would handle such situations-- do as you're told to survive or defy the enemy. She soon learns the importance of her decision that leads her to a horrific place and dire consequences.

Cilka's Journey was an interesting story, and the nonfiction pieces included at the end of the book supplied very enlightening information about the gulag system. However, the author's style of writing, which is that everything is present tense, is a negative for me. It makes the writing seem overly simplistic and the sentences themselves seem choppy. I had planned to read The Tattooist of Auschwitz when I finished Cilka, but I checked and it, too, appears to have been written in present tense, so I think I'll pass. Perhaps the author chose this style to make the reader feel "in the moment," but it was an annoyance to me and detracted from the book. I am rating the book fairly high based on the story itself and the informational pieces at the end.

This is the best book that I have read this year. Beautifully written, the story based on the life of Cilka Klein was emotional, sad, and mostly horrific. Parts of it were so difficult to read knowing that this was a true story., unbelievable to think that this is the treatment inflicted on young girls at the time ( and everyone else for that matter). I have read many WW2 books, but this was one of the rare ones that really touched my heart in so many ways. I enjoyed reading the author’s notes at the end talking about her research into Cilka’s life.
I did not read The Tattooist of Auschwitz, but I intend to, since I’d like to read everything this author has written.

When I saw Cilka’s Journey available for request on Netgalley, I knew I wanted to read it. Last year I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz and I enjoyed it a lot. What I didn’t expect, though, is that I would end up loving the sequel even more.

It was very interesting to me to read about a different part of history that was still connected to WW2. When Cilka is finally freed from the horrors of Auschwitz-Birkenau, she is ordered to go to the Vorkut Gulag work camp in Siberia for “sleeping with the enemy”. Her sentence is set at fifteen years of hard labour. It was shocking to realise that even after the concentration camps were liberated, things definitely didn’t improve for everyone. The conditions in the Gulag were only slightly better than they were in the camps. Luckily, Cilka was a badass woman who knew how to fight for herself and survive. It was incredible to learn about her struggles and her life.

The one thing that kept me captivated until the end was the strength that Cilka showed even though she was so ashamed of her past actions. She feels guilty of doing everything she could to survive Auschwitz and tries to make up for that by helping as many people as she can in the Vorkutlag. When she is given the opportunity to work as well as train to become a nurse. This seems to be her calling and she picks it up in no time at all, helping everyone who comes to her. There is also a love story involved, but this is secondary to Cilka’s own journey of forgiving herself and working through living with the choices she has made in de past.

While she works hard, the women in her hut become like her family. There are struggles between them, but also a lot of love and support. Just like in a real family. Through all the hardships they have to suffer through the women develop a camaraderie that is unparalleled, and incredible to read about.

The one thing I wasn’t very happy with was the ending. It was very unsatisfying to me and left me with many question. Cilka was released very suddenly, and got on a train to leave. There is a brief moment where we see her meeting up with her long lost friend Gita, but nothing more of her further life is disclosed. I would have loved to find out whether she continued working as a nurse outside of the camp as well.

This book is based on historical events that were heartbreaking to read about. I found myself wanting to stand up for the injustice, yet drawn into finishing the book to find out if Cilka makes it out. I would allow my teen to read this book, as an older more mature read. The violence was disturbing but I think necessary for the story to be realistic. Lots of kiddos to the author for telling Cilka’s Journey.

Cilka's Journey is a book that every high schooler and college student should read. Cilka has survived Auschwitz, only to be arrested and charged with collaboration. Now she is on her way to Vorkuta Gulag. Once again she must figure out who to trust, and how to survive. I have not read the Tattoo Artist of Auschwitz, but that didn't seem to be a problem. There were flashbacks and pieces of the backstory provided as needed. This is an incredible story about a very hard time and place. The treatment and living conditions are well documented and correct, but done very well. Heather Morris is an incredible author.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I have read many WWII books but this is my first one telling about the prison camps after the war in the Soviet Union way up in Siberia. These camps were still functioning up into the 1950’s, this book offers quite a bit of information about them. I have the author’s previous book The Tattooist of Auschwitz in my library but I read this one first. My first suggestion is to pay close attention to the first two chapters, they set the stage for the entire rest of the book.
This story is about Cecilia Klein, called Cilka, whom was first taken to Auschwitz when she was barely sixteen, she lost her parents and sister there, and she was forced into life as a prostitute for the German soldiers. When Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviets, she was then convicted for corroboration and sentenced to hard labor to a Stalin gulag prison. This is a fictional story based upon the true events of Cilka’s life and journey.
I loved the way this story was told, the writing was excellent, the character development is perfect, the chapter titles informed you what year they covered while we switched back and forth between Cilka’s time in Auschwitz and then in the gulag, this helps so much in following the timeline. Of all the WWII books I’ve read, this is one of the best. The descriptions of life in the hut, the women’s treatment by the soldiers, the nursing duties Cilka learned and performed, the epilogue and absolutely the whole story is awesome, the research is excellent.
I appreciate and am so glad to have been given the opportunity to receive this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets a high 5 stars!!! Well done Ms. Morris, well done!!

Although I haven’t read The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which I will read, I was enthralled with the story of Cilka and her powerful will to help others and survive the horrific conditions in the Soviet Gulag. Author’s notes reveal stories from Lale and his friendship with Cilka, which shows her determination to make life better for as many people as she can, with no regard for her own needs. In 1942, Cilka was only sixteen when she lived in Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The officers saw her beauty and used her for their own pleasure. She did what she had to do to survive, but is then charged with being with the enemy and sent to Siberia, where guards again notice her beauty. Instead of falling apart, she works for the safety of the people around her, making lifelong friends and showing women what it takes to be true to yourself in any conditions. This is a powerful book! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, and Heather Morris for this ARC.

What a harrowing, compelling, wonderful story-I could not put it down. This account of a Jewish Slovakian girl, Cilka Klein, at the age of 16 has her life and choice taken away by the Nazi regime. She is a survivor, however, and does what she determines is needed to live. We see her survive Auschwitz-Birkenau only to end up in a Siberian labor camp. Cilka does what’s necessary to survive this but also to help others survive also. This story is told with compassion but doesn’t spare the truth to sugar coat anything. #cilkasjourney will stick with me for a long time and I thank #netgalley for the prepublication galley to read in exchange for this review.

OMG - what a phenomenal read!! Ms. Morris has a great gift for setting the scenes and making the characters realistic. The book is so finely crafted that I found myself TOTALLY immersed in this novel from the first page.

I won't repeat the publisher's book blurb - they did a fine job in describing the book. I will tell you instead, that I've read many novels based on the real events of WWII, and this ranks among the best.

Based on the life of a real person, Cecelia (Cilka) Klein, this is the sequel to The Tatooist of Auschwitz, and a continuation of Cilka's story. This book stands strongly on its own, so don't feel that you must read The Tatooist of Auschwitz first to enjoy this book.

No story about the WWII concentration camps or the Soviet gulags is light reading. One cannot escape the feelings of horror,disbelief and great sadness about what occurred in these places at that time in history. The inhumaneness of it all is appalling. That's what makes books such as this so very important - that we truly see the horror, and take action to ensure it never happens again.

You will find Cilka's story heart-breaking and horrifying. But you will also see many acts of kindness, mercy, sacrifice, forgiveness and selflessness. You will cry, you will be uplifted, you will be in awe of the human spirit and will to survive, you will be enlightened. One thing is certain, after reading this book, you will never be the same. It sinks into your soul and it stays there.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Jordan Hanley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

An excruciating , painful story but very well written. The atrocities unbelievable as all the WWII stories are. We cannot close are eyes to this and must always remember. Hopefully never to occur again!

Cilka’s Journey was an enthralling tale of hardship and survival in a dark time in world history. Cilka, a young survivor of Auschwitz, is sent to a Soviet camp in Siberia after being accused of consorting with the enemy.
The book is a brilliant story of relationships between women: sisters, mothers, daughters, friends, enemies, no bond is left out. It is also a stark example of what happened to countless people under soviet rule, and the terrible atrocities that continued to plague the world long after the war had ended.