As Heather Morris interviewed Lale for The Tattooist of Auschwitz, the name of Cilka came up. Lale explained how Cilka saved his life when she was only sixteen years old. How she was in a position to save his life? Why did someone her age have the strength to survive three years in a place like Auschwitz? Why did she continue to be punished for choosing to live.

Cilka's Journey is the story of a young woman who survived a death camp by submitting to the sexual advances of SS officers. She did what she had to do to survive. Because of her choice, after Auschwitz she was imprisoned in Siberia for ten years. The story of her tragedy, her strength, and her survival is told in this book. While this is a book of fiction, it is based on Cilka's story.. Between the foreign names and the disturbing material, this is not an easy book to read. It is a story that needs to be told, because we must never forget what happened at these places.

Cilka’s Journey is the companion novel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz and was an amazing story. I have read many books about life inside concentration camps but have yet to read a story about what came after. This was my first foray into what it was like in a Siberian Gulag. I could not put this book down and highly recommend it.

Although this book is a work of historical fiction, Cilka Klein was a real person. She was incredibly brave and her story is inspiring. Despite everything she went through in life she still had grit and compassion. I also enjoyed the historical information in the authors note at the end of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Heather Morris, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this amazing book.

I want to begin this review by saying how much I loved the Tattooist of Auschwitz, I read the entire thing in five hours without a break. This story, however, was a step too far for me. Don't get me wrong, there is truth to this, words from the couple themselves, but I am such a purist that on a topic such as The Holocaust, in a place such as Auschwitz, I believe we owe it to those who endured it to work in fact. Their testimonies are painful and essential and to fictionalise parts of it is actually very upsetting for me, based on fact or not, and sadly there are an increasing number of books attempting this. Let me be clear, I DO NOT think the author is belittling the true story here, her respect for the family shone through in the first book. I'm sure some people will enjoy this follow on story, but personally I wish I'd stopped with Tattooist because now I'm questioning so much of what made that book so interesting to me..

First, the positives: Cilka's Journey is about a relatively underexplored time and place—the Siberian prison gulags of post-World War II. The author seems to have done a fair amount of research, and the pace is brisk.

The negatives: For starters, the main character, Cilka, is the epitome of a Mary Sue. Every character remarks on her bravery and beauty (apparently, despite spending three years in Auschwitz and at least seven more in a gulag, she never suffers from cracked lips, hair breakage, dark circles under the eyes, welts from mosquito bites, or flaking skin). She is smart, quickly learns the elements of nursing, and has such wonderful bedside manner that patients ask for her, even though she is a prisoner and not a professional. When granted favors because of her beauty, bravery, intelligence, and sheer goodness, she denies them for herself and instead passes them on to others. All that's missing is a halo.

Then there's the lackluster writing, all telling and hardly any showing. We never feel the brutal cold of Siberia, smell the stench of the cabins or hear the wind howling through their cracks, bend beneath the survivors' guilt we're told Cilka feels, ache with the hunger that she must be experiencing. (And I'd love to know how she knew that a certain date was the first night of Hanukkah, given that she had no access to a Jewish calendar for years.) The book's afterword, written by a historian, shows us more of what life in the prison camp must have been like than the novel does. Several incidents in the story that would have had me sobbing if written by, say, Anthony Doerr (All the Light We Cannot See) or Kristin Hannah (The Nightingale) simply had me thinking, Wow, this is written like a fifth-grade book report. For a much better sense of life in northern Russia (albeit in modern times), I highly recommend Lights All Night Long, one of my favorite books of the year.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cilka Klein survives Birkenau only to be sent to a gulag in Siberia, convicted of working with the enemy. From one hell to another she has learned to survive despite her youth. She has loving and tender memories of love from her family but, after being prostituted by German officers, she becomes, along with the other women in her hut, sexual prey to nightly brutal invasions. Women are not protected in her world; rather, they are beaten, starved and abused by their guards and fellow prisoners. She bonds with the women and through these relationships becomes involved in the medical section of the camp. Cilka lives in fear of her friends’ discovering her past and is blackmailed by one who knows the truth. Heather Morris’ description of the Siberian climate, unendurable living conditions, and constant stress of this woman provides her readers with an understanding of what people in these circumstances will do to survive. Cilka shows us that compassion can not be destroyed..

Just couldn't get "into it". Seemed as though the writer was just dispassionately telling the story in a way that did not allow me to get emotionally involved in what was was obviously a horrible situation. I did browse through the whole thing after actually reading about one third.

Ramona Thompson

This is an amazing story of the horrors of concentration camps and survival. Cilka survives not one but two different imprisonments, and in surviving, helps others endure the horrors they are living. The fact that she finds her love just as she is about to boars a train that should have separated them forever, brings her the love and happiness she so richly deserves.

Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is the amazing “followup” to her prior novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. This novel focuses on the Cilka, the “strongest person” Lale knew.
Ms. Morris has done a fabulous job interweaving the small amount of facts that are known about Cilka’s life with fictional details that result in a remarkable and honorable novel depicting a resilient, selfless soul that through no fault of her own, truly overcame every obstacle that anyone can ever think of, and even those that one cannot, to survive and live on with the love of her life.
I was continually amazed at all she was able to overcome, and where she was able to draw the strength from deep within, when many others would not be able to accomplish a quarter of the same trials and tribulations.
My heart ached for her and for what our people have had to unjustly suffer through now for hundreds of years.
Stories like Cilka’s need to be heard so that she can be remembered, so all the lost souls can be remembered, and so that we can never ever forget.
I was impressed by the amount of research, love, and passion Ms Morris placed into this novel and the information and afterword that was added thereafter.

Excellent read 5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This review is automatically posted to my GR account and will be posted to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Cilka’s Journey
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Having read The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I was really looking forward to this sequel and I was definitely not disappointed.
Cilka survived Auschwitz any way she could, including “ sleeping with the enemy” . Now because of this she is sentenced for 15 years of hard labor in Siberia in one of the most notorious gulags of the Soviet era. Once again, she has to learn to survive. During her stay, she makes both friends and enemies, there are those who help her and those who are her enemies wanting to expose her hidden past.
This was a hard book to read in terms of all the hardships Cilka and her bunk mates had to survive, so it’s not appropriate to say I “liked” the book. However, it is a must read historical fiction with good character development and story lines based on real events and real people. Definitely worth 5 stars.
Thanks NetGalley, St Martin ‘s press and the author, Heather Morris for the “read now” advanced copy.

This book continues the story of a Cilka. The author tells the story in a way of making you feel like you are living it along with the characters in the book. I highly recommend this book to all readers!

This book is about a real person, based on many interviews of those people, who knew Cilka Klein. Cilka was 16, when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1942, where she survives until the liberation. The Soviets charged her as a collaborator for sleeping with the enemy, and sent her to Siberia. The book has only a few snippets of Cilka's experience in Auschwitz, it is mostly about her life in Gulag. The author is focused mainly on her, and does a pretty good job in showing Cilka's character, especially her reactions to situations, and how she is is able to prove herself to the people and memories that haunt her. This story is about a journey of Cilka's survival, and the price she paid for it, and it does have a happy end, just the way we like it. And the best part is that the author did not make up the happy end, it is a true story.

I have just finished this heart breaking book. I felt so much sadness for Cilka and for the other prisoners. The author writes in a moving way, describing things as she goes along. Its a beautiful book, one that everyone should read.

Heart wrenching historical fiction at its best.A story about the bravery of a young woman who survived a concentration camp then is sent to a prison.Her strength her desire to survive to have a good life will keep you riveted to the pages. #netgalley#St.Martinspress

" Cilka's Journey" - Heather Morris. Author of best seller "The Tattooist Of Auschwitz" .

A work of fictional novel based on the life of Cilka Klein and family. A woman whose life the reader will follow from Cilka at sixteen into womanhood. A tenacious woman whose will to survive.....to live is unbelievable. From concentration camp to life in frigid Siberia. And, in the face of this struggle she is able to love.

This author has given us a work...a woman who is unforgettable.

Cilka’s Journey is another heartfelt, thought-provoking tale from the author of the renown Tattooist of Auschwitz. When Auschwitz-Birkenau is liberated by the Russian army, Cilka’s time at the death camp comes to a close but her story of hardship does not end there. She is branded a traitor by the Russians and sent to the Siberian prison Gulag to serve a 15 year sentence. While there, she must face head-on the many difficult circumstances that cause negative flashbacks of her time in Auschwitz and learn to persevere nonetheless.

As with the Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is a story that desperately needed to be told and I applaud Heather Morris for doing so. It is evident the immense amount of research Morris did to learn and portray the essence and spirit of the real-life Cilka. Much is written about WWII and the holocaust, but there is little portraying the darkness and unspeakable indignities beheld by those sent to Russian prisons. Morris does so with honesty, heart and understanding.

The only negative I have to add is that at times I felt that the portrayal of Cilka’s character in such a saint-like manner was highly unrealistic. Morris successfully brings across the point that women in Auschwitz were forced to commit uncharacteristic and misunderstood acts solely in order to ensure their survival. Understandably, along with this comes an inordinate amount of guilt. However, Cilka was still human and I would’ve loved to have had her character a little more well-rounded, with perhaps a selfish or untoward thought every once in awhile. For this, I am giving this 4 1/2 stars rather than 5, still an amazing accomplishment. This will be a guaranteed 2020 hit, enjoyed by library goers and book clubs alike.

Many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Heather Morris for the privilege of receiving a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz earlier in the year I was excited to be able to read Cilka's Journey too. Now, it is important to note from the beginning that this is a story based on facts but embellished along the way. However, this did not detract from my enjoyment of reading Cilka's Journey.

I did find the timeline jumping of the book a little difficult to get to grips with at first, but after a little while I felt it actually added to the story, with Cilka's previous experiences at Auschwitz Birkenau shaping her decisions and thoughts at Vorkuta.

I also enjoyed the added sections at the end of the book giving a little insight into the Russian Gulag system, and also explaining a little about how Cilka's story was researched.

Overall a solid 4 star read. I just need to know what happened to Josie and Natia.......

I would consider The Tattooist of Auschwitz to be a five star book, and this one held its own pretty well at four stars. Cilka’s story, although partially fabricated and weaved together from the limited information, really painted a picture of life in Auschwitz and the Soviet camps that followed. It was a heartbreaking story just as our history is often heartbreaking. It focused on real and raw subjects and gives clarity to a particularly grievous time in history, and shows the reader how complicated that era was and how hard it was to survive. It’s horrific to imagine the judgment that was passed upon prisoners of Auschwitz for doing what was necessary, and subsequently for being punished further for having managed to endure the death camp. Cilka was indeed a very brave person, and Heather Morris is to be commended for continuing the legacy of a brave woman who was punished for her stoicism. I only wish that more records of Cilka’s life had survived so I could feel like I’m reading more fact than fiction (unlike Lale’s story in the Tattooist of Auschwitz). Regardless, there is enough information on Cilka’s life to construct a solid idea of her life (and enough information on the countless others who endured similar hardships). Like Lale, and because of Heather Morris, Cilka might be one of the bravest people many of us will ever “know”.

Incredible story of survival, living through such horrible events....this is the story of Cilka who survives concentration camp, not only once but, twice. The courage to survive was astounding, so heart wrenching, so emotional.
It is based on a true story which makes this book so incredibly heartbreaking.
I highly recommend you read this book.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author, Heather Morris, for the privilege to read the arc of “Cilka’s Journey.” This is my true and honest review.

I read about the life of Lale Sokolov in The Tattooist of Auschwitz. In that book, Lale spoke of many people he met at Auschwitz - Cilka’s Journey tells the story of Cilka Klein. Cilka was a brave, strong, intelligent girl who was punished for doing what had to be done to survive. Cilka's Journey is a wonderful read and is an example of how we can be strong if we dig deep enough to find that strength. It’s so difficult to understand that less than 100 years ago, the atrocities described in the book were going on. We skim the surface of these stories in our history classes and imagine the people as simply characters in a horrible tale. Books like Cilka’s Journey bring the memories of these people to life. Let’s learn from the experience’s of those who have gone before us. 4⭐️

Another beautiful, emotionally-driven novel from Heather Morris!

Cilka had already endured the horrors of the Holocaust for three years, but her story of survival doesn’t end there. After being liberated by the Russians, she once again has her freedom ripped away when she is charged with sleeping with the enemy, but this time there is an end date in sight. Fifteen years.

Cilka is sent to a prison camp in Siberia, where she faces inhumane treatment that is all too familiar to her. While many of the women prisoners have never experienced a place quite like it, Cilka’s time in the concentration camp had, in a way, primed her to deal with it, in turn allowing her to help the others survive the terrible ordeal. After befriending a female doctor, Cilka finds a purpose while there at the camp as she tends to the sick and dying. But is it enough to push Cilka to survive herself?

When Lale referred to Cilka as the bravest person he’d ever met, that really resonated with me, and now after hearing her story I couldn’t agree more. After everything she had been through at Auschwitz-Birkenau, I would’ve thought her spirit would be broken. But somehow she managed to push through and focus on helping others live, even when at times she didn’t want to live herself. She was given the opportunity to have safer, more comfortable living conditions but turned it down to stay with the women she’d grown close to while at the prison camp. She was even offered help after saving the daughter of a Commandant, but instead asked that her friend and friend’s baby be helped first. That’s just who Cilka was, always putting others before herself, and those around her saw and felt that. I truly believe it was her kind heart and selflessness that saved her.

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2697435611