Kristin Harmel does it again! The Forest of Vanishing Stars follows the coming of age of Yona in the forests of Poland. For the first two decades of her life, Yona’s only company was the old woman who stole her from her home as a baby. Together they traversed the forests living and learning off the land. When the old woman finally dies, Yona finds herself alone until in a stream she comes across a leader of a group of refugees. Yona makes the decision to interact with the man but could that lead to dire consequences for both of them?

Harmel paints a beautiful and touching story full of heartbreak and strength. Yona puts her heart and safety on the line to engage with others without truly understanding what it means. Another great read!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Rating 4.5 stars

“Forest of the Vanishing Stars” is a fantastic book for fans of both historical WWII fiction and Kristin Hamel.

The opening of the novel reminded me a lot like the start of a fairy tale. Jerusza took Yona from her parents because she believed she had to—Yona’s dad eagerly became a member of National Socialist German Workers' Party. Yona learns to survive in the Polish forest and when Jerusza dies, Yona has to fend for herself. She joins up with a group of Jews fleeing the city and teaches them about survival in the forest. But what Jerusza never teaches Yona was how to cope with other people, and hence, a betrayal sends her back into solitary.

What I loved about this novel was the plot wasn’t your typical WWII premise; parts of the plot (such as the events of the war), the reader already knows, but that knowledge doesn’t make them stop caring about what happens to Yona. Kristin Hamel is a brilliant writer and her prose maintains that fairy tale-esque quality throughout the novel. So much about what you read about WWII can be utterly disturbing and while this novel tackles the dark parts of the war head on, underlying those moments are hope.

Thank you Kristin Hamel, NetGalley and Gallery Books Publishing for the eARC of this novel.

We can’t choose the family we are born into, but we can choose the person we become; for me, this was at the heart of this WWII novel. As always, this author does extensive research, and I’m always amazed at how much I learn while reading her novels. The protagonist in the story is stolen as a young child from her German parents by an old woman named Jerusza. She senses that danger is coming, and sees the aura that surrounds 2 year old Inge. As she brings Inge back to the forest in Poland to live and learn from her, she renames her Yona, for the dove birthmark on her wrist. Imparting much knowledge of the forest and survival skills, Jerusza prepares Yona for the years ahead, when she will no longer be with her and when she will need those skills to survive. Sometime after Jerusza’s death, Yona discovers Jews who have escaped the ghettos, and have moved to the forest to survive. She teaches them the life skills they will need, all the while allowing her “sixth sense” to know when to stay and when to break camp and move on, destroying all evidence they had been there. The descriptions of the forest are so real it seems that the reader is along this journey as well.

This story was based on the true story of people in the Jewish community who actually lived in the forests in Poland in an attempt to escape the Nazis. I had no idea this ever happened, so while heart-breaking, it was so interesting to learn of this piece of history. The author has written another stellar book, and one that is very much not your typical WWII book. And I might add – it was not written in dual timeline, which was a wise choice, as the flow of the book would have just not been the same, and I think it would have detracted from the story. Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books and Kristin Harmel for the ARC of this novel. Publish date is 7/6/21 – put it on your TBR stack!

This brilliant work of historical fiction by the author of The Book of Lost Names, Kristin Harmel, is a captivating story of a young girl who opens herself up to heartbreak and life-threatening danger in order to help others.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars takes place in Eastern Europe in 1941. Stolen from her German parents and held captive in the unforgiving and dangerous wilderness, Yona, a name given to her by her captor, finds herself entirely alone as a young woman when her captor dies. Yona has been raised in complete isolation from other people and has learned to navigate the challenges of her environment with wilderness survival lessons taught by her often cruel captor. Her life changes forever when she stumbles upon a group of Jewish refugees who are running from the terror of their Nazi pursuers. Shocked by what she learns is going on in the outside world, Yona pledges to assist the refugees and teach them what she knows about surviving in the forest.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a very unique and captivating perspective on war and the conflicts of life and what they can teach us. I was truly inspired by the breath-taking descriptions of the climate, vegetation, and wildlife, as well as descriptions of Yona's isolated and challenging way of life. It is a fascinating and heart- wrenching depiction and immersive tale of people who are beyond courageous and determined to survive against immeasurable odds and the strange young woman who decides to risk her own life to save a group of strangers.

Unlike any other historical fiction that I have read, and inspired by true stories of Jewish refugees, I was intrigued and fascinated by this, suspenseful, skillfully written, and majestic story of bravery and could not put it down!

I would like to express my appreciation to Kristin Harmel, NetGalley, and the publisher for allowing me an early read of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #ForestofVanishing Stars

This book takes place during World War II, but is not your typical Historical Fiction novel.

It starts off with Yona being stolen from her parents and forced to live in the forest. Jerusza teaches Yona how to survive by hunting and protecting yourself, however that doesn't last long as Jerusza dies and Yona is forced to learn by her own instincts.

She ends up meeting a group of fleeing Jews, who she helps them by teaching them just as Jerusza has.

There are so many emotions in this book such as danger, illness, death, love, jealousy, self-sacrifice all while keeping you turning the pages wanting more!

You won't be disappointed if you pick this up!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!!

Kristin Herrell’s description of a Jewish woman’s unique survival from WWII is enthralling. The combination of historical events and a personal experience depicted in the wilderness drew me into the story.
Look forward to reading more from Kristin Herrell.

My thanks to the author, Gallery Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

Tangled meets The Nightingale meets Where The Crawdads Sing.
After reading many World War II, this is unlike any WWII novel I have ever read. The story starts off with the kidnapping of a young girl who is raised in the forest many miles from her home in Berlin. The young girl, Yona, is taught by a brass, old women with foresight of events to come. When Yona is left alone during WW II, she provides help to jewish families fleeing to the forest.
The forest provides protection for all who learn its secrets and Yona has lived a lifetime in the forest to help familes survive. Yona in turn begins her coming of age journey and learning about the outside world during one of the worst times in history. Beautifully written, unique and based on true life events.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read this early copy.

Anyone reading this review has probably read their fair share of WWII novels. There are many great ones out there, but at some point, the story lines tend to start sounding similar. Not this one. The Forest of Vanishing Stars is unlike any other WWII novel that I've ever read. The main character, Yona, is kidnapped as a child, and her entire life from that point on leads her to the moments that she was born for. The moments that would allow her to make a difference in the world. And yes, I said moments. There is one after another that will take your breath away.

Kristen Harmel's writing is amazing - she makes it easy as a reader to put your feet into the story. To feel like you're there, experiencing what the characters are experiencing. Parents that want to raise their children in a safe world. People that want to love and be loved. Helpful people, and hurtful people. Doers and complainers. Regular every day people that are faced with the choice to become a hero, or to just stand by and watch evil happen.

This is a must read for anyone even remotely interested in WWII historical fiction. And if you've never read that particular genre? This is a great place to start.

I especially appreciated Harmel's auther's note at the end. It's always fascinating to read how much research went into a story.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC that I received of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the very first page, this book just gripped me. The story follows Yona, who has a past that she doesn’t quite know about. Jerusza kidnaps Yona away from her parents, raising Yona as her own. Jerusza shelters Yona away from what is going on in the world around her until she passes away. Yona then has to forge her own path until her pass catches up with her in an undesired way. The story was intense and amazingly written. I loved reading Yona’s story and love the author’s vivid and heart-pounding description woven throughout the story. Highly recommend this book!

A two year old little girl is kidnapped from her German parents and raised in the forest with the old woman who took her. She was told she was taken because her parents are bad people. As WWII looms in the world, Yona learns how to live among the forest and how to survive the brutal winters and sees the forest as her home. Groups of Jews begin to flee the towns to take refuge in the forest as well. As their paths cross with Yona, she becomes an important person in their survival and they become the family she has never had. She learns that home isn’t just a place but also the people you love and who love you.

I like that the forest itself becomes a character in the story. The forest doesn’t see the differences in race or religion. It provides protection for all that learn it’s secrets and take refuge in it.

Kristin Harmel never disappoints in her writing. I have read four of her previous books and always look forward to her next, Do yourself a favor and read the Author’s Note at the end. It is a wealth of information about “real life” groups of Jews who survived the atrocities of WWII in the protection of the forest.

Thank you Kristin Harmel and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinions.

After being kidnapped as a toddler and raised in isolation in the German woods by a mysterious Jewish woman with powerful foresight, a young woman is shocked to find out that the world is at war. When she stumbles upon a group of Jews trying to escape the Nazi regime, she teaches them the survival skills that have kept her alive. After she is betrayed, she ends up in a German-occupied town where her past comes back to haunt her.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is the type of historical fiction that makes you roll your eyes with how unrealistic it is. As a heroine, Yona was completely unbelievable, a girl with no character flaws but who was expertly taught in all matters - languages, medicine, religion, etc. - despite growing up in near isolation in the woods. In all, Harmel's latest is an over-the-top story that steals its best moments from inspiring real events without adding enough strength into her fictional narrative to bring it all together.

"By the grace of God, may we all be vanishing stars."

The Nightingale meets Where the Crawdads Sing in this moving WWII saga of loss, grief, courage, and survival. Kristin Harmel’s The Forest of Vanishing Stars traces the life of Yona, a solitary girl raised in the wilderness, and the unexpected turns of fate that find her leading Nazi-ghetto escapees through the forest to safety.

"She didn’t yet know that she had been born for the sake of repairing the world..."

Kidnapped as a toddler by an old crone with mysterious visions, Yona has rarely encountered other human beings and has spent her entire life living in the forest. She’s amassed boundless knowledge and incredible survival instincts, making her something of a guardian angel to the dozens of escaped Jews, fleeing Nazi imprisonment, through the woods.

"Maybe great risk is the only way to a better life."

To stay alive, the group must avoid illness and injury; must keep warm through the winter; must find reliable sources of food and water; and above all, must not leave any trace behind by which they might be tracked by German soldiers. Yona acts as their guide, teaching the escapees how to survive while she learns how to navigate the art of human relationships for the first time.

"When we find happiness, especially where we didn’t expect to, we must hold it close with all our might."

The book started strange, with Yona’s origin both heartbreaking and unsettling, and I didn’t have high expectations based on the first few chapters, but I’m glad I stuck it out! Harmel’s prose is poetic and moving, and the rawness of the story is almost palpable.

"In the times of greatest darkness, the light always shines through."

The story moves at a rapid pace, and there is a lot happening, all the time. But for a story like this one, where characters are quite literally fighting to stay alive, that feeling probably matches the characters’ lived experience pretty well, so it fits the dynamic appropriately.

"You must promise me that you will survive and tell stories of the things you have seen. That you won’t let your family’s deaths go unavenged."

Harmel writes beautifully and heartbreakingly about what it means to have faith, to have a family and a home, to belong, to choose your destiny, to do what is right. (And the “twist” at the end felt so perfect!) Such an impactful story! I would recommend The Forest of Vanishing Stars to any fan of WWII fiction, especially those seeking a unique perspective.

"Your identity isn’t determined by your birth. All that matters is what we make ourselves into, what we choose to do with our lives."

——

A huge thank you to Kristin Harmel, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Recently, a friend had posted on Facebook asking for people to recommend a "Wow" book. (As in one that will keep you up late at night.) I immediately thought of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and told her to get it as soon as it publishes in July. I love Kristin Harmel's historical fiction novels, but this one tops them all! Even when I was only a quarter or halfway through, I was recommending it and couldn't stop talking about how incredible it was.

The story starts off with a Tangled feel. An elderly woman kidnaps a young child (Yona) and keeps her hidden in the woods, training her for all aspects of survival until the woman's passing at the height of World War II. She also kept Yona from any other human contact. If that wasn't interesting enough (which it totally was), Yona encounters a group of Jewish people hiding from the Germans during the Holocaust. Not only does she teach them how to survive, but she also forms a bond with them. The stakes get even higher and Yona learns some unsettling truths about herself and about how truly prejudiced some people are.

My only minor critique is that I would have liked to see a character who appeared earlier in the novel come back at a pivotal point later on. It probably would have been unrealistic to expect this, but there were other little coincidences throughout the story that would have made it somewhat plausible. Not having this character reappear did not take away from my enjoyment in the slightest, however.

I can't stop thinking about this novel. Everything about it was just so powerful from start to finish. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to live in the woods in fear for your life, nor do I want to. I highly encourage everyone to read this, especially with antisemitism being on the rise again, and also because it's just such a great story. It's definitely one of my top picks for 2021.

Movie casting suggestions (there were so many characters, so I just chose a few):
Yona: Julia Goldani Telles
Aleksander: Ronen Rubinstein
Zus: Jack Whitehall
Jerusza: Louise Fletcher

This was another great story by Hamel! After reading her novel, "The Book of Lost Names", she is an instant read for me! This latest novel did not disappoint! I liked how our main character overcame so many challenges in evading the enemy during World War II. This was another great story for that genre!

Prior to World War II, a child is stolen from a German couple in the middle of the night. The child, later renamed to Yona, was raised by her kidnapper in the woods. She was taught how to fight back, and how to survive. She was also taught that she had to learn these things because she had a big destiny in front of her.

After Yona's kidnapper dies, Yona wanders through the forest. She later runs into a group of Jews and vows to keep them safe. She teaches them to be one with the forest, and how to hunt and hide. But the one thing Yona can't seem to hide from is her past, which she later comes face to face with. She must decide which side of the war she needs to be on.

When I saw that the writer of the Book of Lost Names released another book I couldn't wait to read it. And The Forest of Vanishing Stars doesn't disappointment. From the very beginning you fall in love with the characters, and the rich and compelling story. And to later find out that elements of the story did occur during World War II was really amazing. It was a great read and impossible to put down. A must read.

In each historical fiction book I read I learn something new. In all I learn the atrocities that the Jewish people had to live with. The horrors of seeing the ones they love murdered. How they see each other in starvation. And how strong their faith is. I wish mine was one hundredth as strong. If only. What these people went through is beyond horrible. Beyond the scope of my human brain. I can't begin to comprehend what possessed a group of haters to do what they did to these people who were just busy living their lives. Until they weren't. Until they had to flee. By any means possible. It's just so sad. So horrible. I'll never understand hatred and racism.

Two quotes from this book that really stuck to me. Touched my heart. The second, longer one, is from the author's note. Be sure and read it all at the end of the book. And have tissues handy. Lots of them...
"It's the cracks in us that make us who we are, and you.. you are stronger than anyone I have ever met, I think."
"Let's not forget the past. Let's not forget the heroes who fought so that others could survive. Let's not forget to be kind to our fellow man.
Be nice if at all possible. It's such simple advice, but if we can all do that, every day, maybe we can be the change. Maybe we can stand together. Maybe we can build the world a better future. Her's to lighting a candle, or a piece of wood, in the darkness-and to letting that light carry us through."

This is a story of a child taken from her parents at the age of two. Taken and raised in the woods. Taught how to survive. How to live alone. Yona was this little girl. She grew up to be a strong young woman. With strong opinions and feelings. To love the world and its beauty. But most of all she is a strong young woman with a heart. She wants to save people. To be a part of a family and be accepted. She saves a whole lot of innocent people in this book too. So I do believe that she was taken for a reason. A very good reason. You'll learn that. You'll understand why she was taken.

This story is very heartbreaking and also very uplifting. Heartbreaking in all that brought this story together. All that the people in this story went through to just survive. Uplifting in that they cared for each other. Even with all the loss and all the deaths. All the horrors that they saw and endured, they still found love. They still had faith. They still stood strong together. And they accepted a young woman, without question, who only wanted to help. Who only wanted to be a part of their lives. What Yona saw in her years was not all good. Some was very very sad. Death of so many innocents.

This book made me literally weep big huge ugly tears. Made me so sad and sorry. I felt so sorry for the characters in this book. They were innocent and hopeful. Trusting. Why do people want to be so cruel. What is in man's heart that can make them do these awful things? I will never understand it. From any race. From any country. It's just wrong. This is just one of many stories of how the Polish people survived. My dad's people are Polish and it makes me wonder if they went through anything like this. Or like any of the historical books I've read. Most likely, just as this author said, they did. I'm so sorry that these things happened. Do not ever let it happen again. Do not think it couldn't either. If you forget, it can. If you stop remembering, it can.

Thank you to #netgalley, #kristinharmel, #gallerybooks for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 HUGE stars and the highest recommendation. Read it. Learn from it. Don't ever forget!

All hail Queen of historical fiction, Kristin Harmel ! I love everything she writes ! Every book researched to the fullest and just amazingly brilliant ! I am not sure anyone writes a better book about this era than her ! And I have read every single book by her. This is a must read for sure !

I wish to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books – Simon & Schuster Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a different type of story of World War ll. It is about the length that some groups of Jewish people went through to survive the mass murders that were taking place all around them. While a fictional account it certainly feels real and the author pulls the reader into the story from the very first page. The book begins in 1922 when a two year old girl is kidnapped by an old woman and taken into the forest where she is raised by her captor and taught survival techniques. As she matures the young girl learns which things found in nature are safe and which are not. She learns how to build camp sites and to hide all traces of the camp having been there to avoid capture by enemies. Later she puts these skills to use as she discovers Jews hiding from the Nazi invasion in her forest. She teaches her skills to these strangers and bonds with the first humans she has come in contact with since her capture many years earlier.

If you are a fan of Where the Crawdads Sing, you will love this book. Kristin writes believable characters that you quickly love and with whom you bond. You cheer their accomplishment and also grieve with them for their loses. Even the Author’s Notes and Acknowledgements at the end are enlightening and informative and reader continues to learn about the horrible experiences of actual people. I highly recommend this book.

Truly I’m not sure what to say about this book. I loved it (at least as much as Harmel’s last novel), but I’m also still processing it. It was unlike any other Holocaust historical fiction I’ve ever read. It was deeply intriguing and deeply anxiety inducing. The plot did not go in the direction I anticipated, so I felt very on edge, worried for when the other shoe would drop. But it was also convicting and a beautiful interpretation of religion and morality.

Thank you to Gallery Books for the advanced copy of The a forest of Vanishing Stars!

Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite authors so I was very excited to receive a copy of her newest book, The Forest of Vanishing Stars. All of her books that I’ve previously read were written in the same style—there was a present character that was discovering a story from the past. This one was not written that way and at first, I think it affected my enjoyment of the book, which was totally my own bad. When I got to the point of realizing that this book was different and I shouldn’t have assumed anything, I really enjoyed it.

Yona was taken from her German parents when she was just a baby and has lived in the forest her whole life, living off the land. Then World War 2 begins and Jews are hiding in her forest for safety. Yona must decide if she is going to take the chance of interacting with these “outsiders” that she was warned about by the woman who raised her, or take a chance and help these people struggling to hide and survive.

Another enthralling story of survival, perseverance, and love from Kristin Harmel. Great for fans of historical fiction. It was also interesting to read her notes at the end about how much was based on real life events. As much as I’ve read about World War 2, I had never read about these people that hid in the forest and were hunted by Germans. Very interesting!