After reading the Tattooist of Auschwitz, I knew I had to read Cilka's Journey. Heather Morris does a great job bringing the characters to life. I enjoyed the continued story of Cilka after leaving Auschwitz. It was a chance to know more about her and her life.

If you loved the book The Tattooist of Auschwitz, then you will love this story. This is book two in the series. This book will make you feel like you were actually there. This story was full of friendship, heartbreak, and love. I highly suggest reading this book!

I really enjoyed this continuation of sorts from Tattooist if Auschwitz. This follows the incredibly brave story of Cilka, who we met briefly in Tattooist. Cilka is a kind and caring person who lives through unspeakable horror yet perseveres. Based on true events, this is a well written book. Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Title: Cilka's Journey
Series: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris
Rating: 2
Cilka is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, in 1942. The Commandant at Birkenau, Schwarzhuber, notices her long beautiful hair, and forces her separation from the other women prisoners. Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly given, equals survival.
After liberation, Cilka is charged as a collaborator for sleeping with the enemy and sent to Siberia. But what choice did she have? And where did the lines of morality lie for Cilka, who was sent to Auschwitz when still a child?
In a Siberian prison camp, Cilka faces challenges both new and horribly familiar, including the unwanted attention of the guards. But when she makes an impression on a woman doctor, Cilka is taken under her wing. Cilka begins to tend to the ill in the camp, struggling to care for them under brutal conditions.
Cilka finds endless resources within herself as she daily confronts death and faces terror. And when she nurses a man called Ivan, Cilka finds that despite everything that has happened to her, there is room in her heart for love.

Would I recommend it? No
Will I read anything else from this author: No
I don't want to make people made or upset when and if they read this, because I can understand that a lot of people either liked it or hated it, I'm sad to say that I will not be reading this author again. And you may be asking why, since I love historical fiction especially WW 2 historical fiction, but in this case the author and her writing style isn't for me. When I go into either a nonfiction or a historical fiction based on or about WW 2 I want to feel something, I want to see the characters come to life before my very eyes, see the places that the author and the characters are talking about, and feel what they feel and going though. And while quite of lot of people have said that they all felt that with this story, unfortunately that didn't happen for me. There were times I just want to put it down and not finish it at all, but a part of me was hoping that the story would get better ,that I would see the characters come to life, or the story would make me feel something but it didn't . With that said I want to thank NetGalley for letting me read and review it

Heartbreaking story that will pin you to the book and make a mark on you forever. This author has a brilliant talent for captivating a reader and make the story flow and become alive in minds of those who read it.
I cant wait until her next book is published!
True brilliance!

A heart-wrenching story of a young woman doing what she must to stay alive. Clika's Journey was well-written and so easy to get lost in the story. The horrors she went through at such a young age is mind-boggling that you'll hold your breath just to see if she survives it all. The part about her and her mother broke my heart into a million pieces. Cilka did what she could to help others without really thinking of herself. A must read.

Loved it! If you loved the tattooer you will love this. The author is incredible at making you feel like you are right there with the characters. Such a good read.

As someone who enjoyed The Tattooist of Auschwitz, of course I had to read Cilka's story. I was not disappointed. I enjoy reading WWII historical fiction, and this was a different perspective. I was so sympathetic to the women and enjoyed learning about a topic of which I was previously unaware of.

As soon as I heard there was a sequel to the Tatooist of Auschwitz, I knew I had to read it. I was surprised to discover that much of Cilka's Journey was actually not set at Auschwitz-Birkenau but instead at Vorkuta, a Siberian labor camp. I actually think I preferred having the setting being set in a new place instead of reliving the horrors of Auschwitz. Although, to be truthful, Vorkuta was a pretty awful place. The reader learns that Cilka was first sent to Auschwitz as a 16 year old in 1942. Three years later the camp was liberated by the Soviet army. Unfortunately the Soviets considered Cilka to be a collaborator even though she was forcibly raped by two S.S. officers at Birkenau for several years. She was then sentenced to a Siberian labor camp for 15 years where conditions were dismal and she once again was raped on a repeated basis. Her bilingual skills were noticed at the camp hospital and she gets to work there with Dr. Yelena Georgiyevena. Her position at the hospital allowed her a few extra privileges but also have some dangers attached with it too.

I have noticed in other reviews of this same book that readers couldn't put the book down. I had the opposite effect while reading the book. I HAD to put the book down and take breaks from it. Some of the scenes were just too horrific for me to imagine real people having to live through that I had to give myself mental breaks from the brutality, physical and mental abuse, and horrible living conditions at Vorkuta. Cilka was such a brave person to have survived both Auschwitz and Vorkuta. What amazed me the most about Cilka was her powerful selflessness. During several occasions she had the opportunity to earn special privileges, but instead gives up these opportunities to other prisoners. Her heart was so big. She is one of those characters who is beautiful both on the outside and inside. Although this book was hard for me to stomach at times, I'm glad that I read it. I would also love to see the author write another book about Cilka's friend Josie. I'm grateful that this book was made available to me by the publisher and Netgalley.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

While Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris didn't blow me away quite as much as The Tattooist of Auschwitz did, this is still going to be a must read (or listen) if you want to more about Cilka.

I have a physical copy of Cilka's Journey and I decided to listen to the audio on Scribd as well as read the book which is the same thing I did with Tattooist. I think that is a great way to read this book, and I liked that the audio has a bonus interview with the author which the book doesn't have. The narrator for Cilka's Journey is Louise Brealey and she was very good, she really brought Cilka and her surroundings to life for me.

Just like Tattooist, this is a bit of a tear-jerker, but you will marvel at Cilka's strength and tenacity. I can definitely understand why Lali called her the bravest person he knew, and her story really broke my heart. The book is mostly about her time at the gulag, but it also has flashbacks to her time at Auschwitz. I really liked how Morris did that, and it helped me to understand and get to know Cilka even better.

Song/s the book brought to mind: The Sun Will Rise by Kelly Clarkson

Final Thought: Although I think the book format was good, I would also highly recommend Cilka's Journey on audio. It added a little something extra for me and if you are a fan of audiobooks like I am then I think you will enjoy it. This book breaks your heart but at the same time will make you feel like you can conqueror anything. Even though I know this is fiction and not everything happened, Cilka's story will stay with me for a long time and I will forever be thinking about what she had to go through.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

I didn’t read the first book. I think I will go back and read it. These books always tear a my heart strings, but I find them so interesting. I wish we could have found out more about Cilka’s nursing afterward. Did she continue to help in that field? I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

An amazing book and sequel to a heartbreaking story. While reading The Tatooist of Auschwitz I wanted to learn more about Cilka and I was so excited to hear this sequel was coming out.
Heather Morris did not disappoint.
Cilka's story told more about what horrendous things happened to some prisoners upon release from the concentration camps!
Cilka is released from Auschwitz and is very quickly incarcerated for her "Crimes" which were just the things she did in order to survive. She is sent to the coldest place on earth, a gulag in Siberia. Again, she must do everything possible to survive. She makes friends and helps them survive but fears they will find out what she did in order to get sent to the gulag.
Does she survive? Will her friends find out what she did?

Obviously well written and thoroughly researched. I was quite interested in the story, but I couldn’t stick with it. I tried twice, but the book is dark and so depressing. I just did not enjoy reading it.

Fantastic book. It’s hard to say that about such a horrific experience but it was beautifully written novel.

This book broke my heat in just the same way The Tattooist of Auschwitz did. I fell in love with the characters and Cilka is a book character for the ages. I would recommend this to everyone, not just lovers of historical fiction. It was poignant and moving. The story will stay with you just like all that came before it.

Wonderful read for anyone who loved the Tattooist of Auschwitz and wanted to know more of the other characters.

Cilka has been liberated but is now charged with essentially aiding and abetting the enemy by what she did to survive. While Cilka plays a smaller role in Tattooist, this novel centers on her story and fills in what happens to her after the liberation, while looking into work camps in the Soviet Union. It can be read alone, but would highly recommend reading it as the second, as a few comments assume the reader has already read Tattooist.

Definitely a 5 star read and one of my top picks in 2019.

Cilka is a victim of circumstances, but she has the grit to make the most of her life. Taken into a concentration camp at age 16, she is enslaved to an SS officer for his pleasure. After WWII, this is considered to be "consorting with the enemy" and she is moved to a Russian gulag to serve out a 15-year sentence. Though the conditions are only marginally better, Cilka receives an assignment to the medical clinic. She is taught to nurse and become an EMT of sorts. This sense of purpose gives her hope, which she is badly needing. To find purpose and love make life fulfilling. Cilka reaches for this, even in her horrid circumstances.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris in exchange for an honest review.

Cilka’s Journey is a follow up book based on a character from The Tattooist of Auschwitz. I haven’t read that book yet and followed along with this one so it can be read as a stand alone.
Cilka’s Journey is based in the Serbian prison camp. Sent there thanks to what she did to survive a Nazi concentration camp, this story is heartbreaking and about a subject you don’t hear much about in historical fiction novels. I felt for poor Cilka who can not catch a break but who really did her best to survive and help as many others make it through as she possibly could.

Cilka's Journey is a story that will change your life. I didn't think I could be more astounded and moved than I was after I finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz but I was.

The horror and tragedy that Cilka faced daily for 15 years, starting at age 16, will tear you apart as you read. You will find yourself angry at humanity but then have your faith in humanity restored just as quickly.

Cilka's Journey is book two but can be read as a standalone.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through NetGalley. Any and All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Cilka’s Journey” is a follow up of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz”. I thoroughly enjoyed “Tattooist” and was really looking forward to “Cilka’s Journey.” It did not disappoint! If you enjoy Historical Fiction and enjoyed “The Tattooist of Auschwitz,” this is a must read.

The novel, based on a true story, moves between Cilka’s life in Auschwitz and Birkenau Concentration Camps during World War II and post-war in a Siberian camp, Vorkutlag, one of the largest and toughest camps in the entire Gulag system. Cilka was convicted of working with the enemy as a prostitute and spy during WWII and sentenced to 15 years hard labor. This is a story of Cilka’s survival in both locations. The detailed horrors she witnessed and experienced are prevalent. What makes this book different from other WWII concentration camp stories is her life in the Siberian camp. “Both Hitler’s concentration camps and the Soviet Gulag existed for the same purpose—to purge society of its enemies, and to extract as much work from them as possible before they died.”

It is a gut-wrenching story that is hard to put down. I found myself constantly rooting for Cilka and amazed at her dedication to others. I highly recommend this book!