This book was simply, a lot. A lot of detail. Historical. Emotional. Physical. Made me want to cry, keep reading and throw my kindle simultaneously. And I loved it! (I also loved that I didn’t need to read her previous work to understand it but I will be going to get it!)

Like most books that are regarding WWII and : the Holocaust, this book strikes a lot of chords. The difference in this one being, it takes place with the atrocities and dangers that still lay ahead for so many people after the war was over.

The main take away I got was “what would you do to stay alive during the worst torture and eventual death imaginable ?” I like to think I’d be even half as strong, determined and smart as Cilka but I have no idea. Absolutely love this book.

Folks who loved "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" likely will enjoy "Cilka's Journey," Heather Morris' follow-up novel in which she explores what happens in the aftermath of World War II to the beautiful woman kept as a sex slave by concentration camp leaders.

Deemed by the Russian liberators to be a collaborator with the Nazis, Cilka is sent to a Siberian gulag for years of hard labor, repeated rapes and more misery.

For me, "Cilka's Journey" is a superior book to "The Tattooist of Auschwitz." In her novel about Lale Sokolov, Morris failed to paint a sympathetic portrait of the tattooist and his struggles to survive the concentration camp. I've read a lot of books about the Holocaust. Most of those books leave me in tears because I'm so moved by the plight of the Jewish people who endured so much. I didn't feel that when I read "The Tattooist of Auschwitz."

"Cilka's Journey" is better. Morris does a better job of letting the readers feel Cilka's hardships and emotional turmoil. I cared about her and wanted her to get her happy ending.

(This review is posted on Goodreads, on my Facebook and in Facebook groups 52 Books and The Book Club Girls)

It's unthinkable that a survivor of the horrors of Auschwitz should suffer the further injustice of a sentence in a Russian gulag, but that was Cilka's reality.

This book centers on Cilka's time in that gulag, though there are flashbacks to her time in Auschwitz. At the beginning I wondered just how depressing this novel would get, but two things kept the darkness from becoming overwhelming: Cilka's enduring hopeful spirit and the author's sensitive handling of the women's abuse.


Cilka's compassion for and understanding of others (even when they judged her harshly) made her a highly sympathetic character, and it was interesting to read about the various medical jobs she did.

Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed, and since the love story wasn't developed at all until almost the very end, I couldn't get invested in it. Also, I was left wondering about Cilka's life after the end of the novel. I wish the author's note had at least mentioned whether she continued using her medical skills.


I hadn't read The Tattooist of Auschwitz, but this worked fine as a standalone.


My review is based on an ARC of this book.

I’d rate this a 4. This is a tough, gut wrenching book to read, not because of the writing but because of the horrendous challenges faced by those in the novel. Cilka’s Journey is a continuation of sorts of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, including some of the same characters. This novel follows the journey of Cilka, a young survivor of Auschwitz. She was a young 16 when she entered Auschwitz. It catalogued the horrors endured in the Auschwitz concentration camp (deaths of family members, friends, and others) and what was needed to survive but this “journey” continued with her being taken prisoner by the Soviets for “collaborating”with the Nazis after the end of World War II. She was taken to a Siberian gulag with an additional 15 year hard labor prison sentence. A double whammy in the worst possible consequence. She did again what was needed to survive in the gulag, but completely devoid of emotion and in a way removing herself psychologically from the everyday horror of life, with temperatures well below freezing in the long winters, and the sleepless white nights of the summers. It would almost seem unbelievable and unrealistic on what transpires, but the sad part is this is largely a true story. Among all the horrific challenges facing the prisoners in the gulag, Cilka through her strength (from where it is hard to believe for all she endured in Auschwitz and in the gulag), did as well as she could and became a trusted worker and friend but constantly being dogged by her past in Auschwitz. Recently there has been an inundation of World War II novels, which generally are so depressing, so I was a little hesitant to take on this book but this novel primarily focused on the Soviet gulag system which I was less knowledgeable on. This novel, too, is difficult to read and hard to comprehend man’s inhumanity to others, but it did provide me with a greater understanding of the equally horrible conditions sustained by those in the gulags.

This is a heartbreaking novel of contradictions: incredible personal strength, resilience, psychological and physical torture, rape, kindness, ingenuity, and truly the indomitable human spirit when faced with the challenge of just staying alive. I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I really loved The tattoist of auchwitz and am so happy to be able to read more. Cilka was a favorite character for this. This book is so inspiring. I recommend this book and the tattoist of auchwitz to all of my patrons at the library. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I'd read The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and it touched my heart. This book not only made me feel the same, but that it's based on truth, and that it is about another form of imprisonment, the Gulag (something about which I'd known nothing, other than the name) makes it even more unique and interesting. While this book has ties to the previous, it can stand alone. (Although I'd recommend both.) To believe that anyone could have gone through the Holocaust, and THEN be sentenced to hard labor, in horrific conditions, is unimaginable to me. The characters in this book stay with you, and it will remind you that the human spirit can really get through just about anything. Put this on your pre-order list. I promise you'll thank me.

I appreciate St. Martins Press, Heather Morris and #NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book Cilka’s Journey. I loved this book! Cilka's Journey was heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Cilka was a real woman who actually experienced the imprisonment we read about through her story. She was merely a girl of 16 when she was taken to Auschwitz. She did whatever she needed to do to survive. After being freed from Auschwitz, she was transported to a Russian gulag for prostitution with the SS Guards in Auschwitz and sentenced to another 15 years in yet another prison camp. Her treatment in the Russian camp wasn't much better than the prisoners received in the German one. Through all this, she manages to help other women in the camp.

I was given the opportunity by Net Galley to read an early copy of this book. I hadn’t read The Tattooist of Auschwitz yet so I read that first. Both books are extraordinarily hard, but worthwhile reads. After finishing The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I couldn’t wait to find out more about Cilka. She went from Auschwitz to a Gulag in Siberia because the Russians considered her a collaborator of the Nazis. This even though she was continually raped by two of the commanders in Auschwitz. The man who was The Tattooist called her the bravest person he ever met. I think most people would have given up after they ended up where Cilka did instead of being liberated. Even though the author didn’t have the first person accounts of Cilka that she had in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, she gives a a well researched account of what her life would have been like in the Gulag. It was wonderful to be given a chance to read about what her life was like after Auschwitz.

At 16 Cilka Klein finds herself deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Nothing in her short lifetime can prepare her for the horrors she witnesses everyday. Catching the eye of a high ranking SS Officer leads her to an administration job, easier work, but leaves her vulnerable to his advances and assaults on a regular basis. Cilka’s only wish is to survive this nightmare that is now her life and to assist the friends she has made in the camp any way she can.

When the Russians finally liberate the camp Cilka believes her nightmare may finally be over. But some who saw her position at camp as too favorable give negative testimony and Cilka is seen by the Russians as a collaborator with the enemy. Cilka is sentenced to 15 years hard labor in Vorkuta, a Gulag in one of the harshest territories in Russia. The nightmare she thought was over is now only beginning. But despite all the physical and emotional hardships she now has to endure, Cilka is determined to live. In time she develops close relationships with her hut mates and upon chance is taken under the wing of Yelena Georgiyevna, a doctor at the hospital in Vorkuta, and is trained to become a nurse. As Cilka’s spirit is tested on a daily basis, she is determined to help her friends survive this new nightmare, while always remaining hopeful she will someday return to her beloved Czechoslovakia.

Heather Morris’s, Cilka’s Journey, is a triumph of the human spirit. To witness this young woman who not only survives, but lives is truly remarkable. Heather Morris lets the reader not only see, but feel Cilka’s strength, fear, shame and sadness. Her resolve to survive and change not only her desperate situation, but that of others is something extraordinary. As a reader I cried, cringed and cheered for every accomplishment she managed to make. Everyone needs to take the opportunity to read this poignant novel. It will touch your heart in so many ways.

In summary, Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is a story of one young woman’s determination to survive despite all the odds against her. It’s a story of faith and courage in the face of evil and desperation.

I want to thank the publisher St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

I can't emphasize how much I loved and was moved by this book. Morris states in the beginning of the novel that, although this is a work of historical fiction, she learned about the real-life Cecilia Klein from Lale, the Tattooist of Auschwitz. Although there are many works of historical fiction about the Holocaust, this is one of the first I have read about the all-too-common experience in notorious Russian gulags. It is almost impossible to imagine a life as difficult as what Cilka endured, and to think that she could be as strong, caring, and generous as she was despite all of it. At times, Cilka almost seems too perfect, too selfless, always thinking of others before herself. But when you compound that with the shameful "secret" Cilka holds, despite her "secret" being Nazi rape and unwanted privilege at Auschwitz, you can understand why Cilka feels that she needs to atone for those sins.

Morris does a fantastic job at showing how it is possible for a person to survive throughout years and years and years of these horrifying tribulations, all written in a way that will make you not want to put the book down. Not only did Cilka have to spend four long years at Auschwitz-Birkenau, but she also served more than a decade at the Siberian gulag. From my perspective, it seems undoable. But Cilka manages to do it, through keeping her head down but not losing hope or a sense of resistance, through making friends and finding joy in those friendships, through trying to make a difference, through just merely surviving. In the end, Morris creates a beautiful and heartbreaking story filled with loss and death, but also tiny joys and celebrations. Cilka is an entirely lovable and beautiful character whose journey is too powerful to describe. You will not regret picking up this book.

Just WOW! I loved the first book - The Tattooist of Auschwitz but this one ... I have no words except - READ IT! This is one you can't put down until it's finished. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC.

When I heard that Heather Morris had written a sequel to The Tattoist of Auschwitz, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

Cilka, who we meet in Lale and Gita’s story, trades one hell for another as she is liberated by Soviet troops but accused of collaborating with the Nazis and sent to an infamous gulag in Siberia. There she faces the same obstacles she did in Auschwitz: how to survive at all costs without sacrificing her humanity.

Morris does an amazing job at bringing her characters vividly to life. The book moves at a fast pace, and I stayed up way too late finishing it last night. I was thoroughly invested in each character and the story was emotionally wrenching.

But there were some flaws. I felt that a few of the minor characters and their story lines were underdeveloped, and the dialogue was anachronistic at times. But, the positives significantly outweighed the negatives. I also loved how Morris showed us that rape is rape, even if the man perpetrating it isn’t as monstrous as the other men.

Once again, I feel like the book read at times more like a screenplay than a novel. But I don’t think this is a bad thing, just an interesting style. I would love to see a miniseries based on these books. Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for my free digital copy!

Cilka's Journey is the 2nd book written by Heather Morris. In her first book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz we are introduced to Cilka Klein. After her release from Auschwitz-Birkenau Cilka is convicted of working with the enemy and is sentenced to a 15 year prison sentence in Siberia. Cilka does what she has done since she was 16 years old and finds a way to survive. I really enjoyed reading Cilka's perspective and found the characters she encountered to be deep and beautifully written, even the villains of the story. Cilka's Journey is a must read for the fall!

Cilka’s Journey is even more compelling than Lale’s story. (The Tattooist of Auschwitz) The Russians of Stalin’s regime did a very poor job of liberating Auschwitz. Cilka was a real person sentenced to 15 years in the Siberian labor camps after spending 3 years in a concentration camp doing what she had to do to survive. The horrors of Auschwitz were unimaginable. Life in the Russian labor camps was harsh and cruel too. Yet Cilka kept her humanity and heart for helping others. Her story is one to be remembered.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

This was a difficult book to read, but it tells about a fascinating woman, Cilka Klein, who was a survivor in more ways than one. Cilka was only 16 when she and her family were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. After managing to survive Auschwitz, Cilka was then sent to the forced labor camp at Vorkuta. She was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for being a "collaborator." While some aspects of Cilka's life were fictionalized in this book, Cilka Klein was a real person.

I have read many books set during and after World War II, but this was the first one that dealt with Vorkuta. It is appalling to think that someone could survive one death camp, only to be immediately sent to what was essentially another death camp. It was so hard being confronted with so much violence and hatred throughout this book, but it was also a testament to the triumph of the human spirit.

I have not read Heather Morris's book that preceded this one, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, but I plan to read it soon. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Clika's Journey by Heather Morris

This story shows the preserving spirit of a young girl to survive horrifying circumstances and make a new life for herself as she faces the loss of family and friends along the way.

I found this book to be very interesting and informative. It showed the inhumanity of man against man. Clika was definitely a heroine by the way she survived her ordeal and helped others along the way. I had never considered the Nazis keeping a Jewish woman for their own pleasure. Then when the camp is liberated, finding out you are a criminal for sleeping with the enemy (against your will) and sentenced to Siberia. Tragedy upon tragedy, but there is always hope.

A novel about Cilka, one of the characters in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, loosely based on a true story. After the war is over and Auschwitz is liberated, Cilka is sent to a Siberian prison camp where she faces more challenges. It is hard to imagine how anyone could continue to survive in such harsh conditions. This is truly a story of perseverance. The plot moved along at a better pace in this second novel in the series. Review based on an ARC provided by NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Cilka's "Journey" after Auschwitz. I felt the book was a "stand alone" in that you didn't have to read The Tattooist of Auschwitz to understand Cilka's story. It did refer to a few of the characters in the previous mentioned book but really didn't impact the flow of the story. I learned a lot from the book in that I didn't realize that people were imprisoned after they were freed from Auschwitz for "crimes" committed while they were there. The characters are very real and while its a difficult book to read at times it is a story that must be told.

This new novel from the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz follows a secondary character from that book, Cilka Klein.

She was only a teenager when she was taken from her home in Czechoslovakia and sent to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Her youth and beauty caught the attention of Nazi officials there. Although she's powerless against their sexual assaults, she finds that their attention does give her a certain power. She gets warmer clothes, better food and a less dangerous work assignment.

But when Soviet forces liberate the camp, Cilka is considered a collaborator and sent to a gulag in Siberia. That's the main setting of the novel – her experiences in the concentration camp are visited in flashbacks.

Author Heather Morris grapples with a serious issue: When the rules of humanity are suspended, what blame can we attach to the actions of those who survive?

Although this is a novel, Cilka was a real person and Morris has some research to guide her. Without a doubt, Cilka was an extraordinary person who showed tremendous bravery. I couldn't help but feel, though, that Morris had stripped the character of some complexity. Cilka's actions are always cast in the most favorable, even heroic light. Surely we could forgive a traumatized teenager who vented her rage the only way she could?

Nevertheless, fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz will want to add this to their reading list.

I received an early review copy of this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
I was so excited for this one after having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Heather Morris is a beautiful writer and I appreciate her taking the time to tell stories needing remembered. Obviously books from this horrific time period are heavy reads; however, I think the story of relationship and the human condition made up for any intensity I experienced while reading.