Many thanks to Kristin Harmel, Gallery Books, and NG for allowing me to read an ARC of “The Forest Of Vanishing Stars”.

Although the first chapter was a bit “phantasmagorical”, I am so glad that I kept reading...the book grabbed me at that point and sucked me in...I didn’t want to quit! Yona is a remarkable and strong woman and the fortitude of the Jews who she helped to survive in the forest was incredible. A thoroughly enjoyable WWII historical fiction novel...you will love it!

The main character is a girl named Yona. Who was kidnapped at birth from a lady in the woods. Yona’s parents were Germans and they were bad people according to the lady who took her. The German’s were very harsh towards the Jews who all fled to the forest where Yona lived. Yona tried to save and help many Jews. I thought the book was very interesting and kept my attention the whole time.

FOUR STARS!

I wasn't sure that I wanted to read yet another book about WWII but I kept hearing about this book and seeing information on #bookstagram. Go glad that NetGalley was able to honor my ARC request.

I am half way through this and I love Yona. She is strong, resilient and kind! I need a few hours of uninterrupted silence to finish.

My heart aches and breaks for the Jewish people in Poland. Survivors among evil, awful persons.
This is my first book by Kristin Harmel. I’ve enjoyed her storytelling even though it was hard to stomach at times.
I’ll have to pick up another of her books soon.
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Great book! Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy to review.

I loved how the book didn’t go back and forth between time-periods and I was totally invested in the story too. Yona being the female protagonist in this one had me hooked from the beginning.

It was emotional when you think about the heartache of loss and all the upheaval they went through, but story was well-written though and I loved it!

Excellent. Based on true events during WWII. Yona is a character that makes you think and feel. The details are so vivid that you feel like you are living and surviving in the woods with Yona and the group of Jews.

Yona is stolen from her German parents at the age of two by Jeruza, and old woman. Jeruza raises Yona in the woods. Yona doesn't meet another human until she is a teenager. Jeruza makes sure that Yona learns survival techniques, many languages, and how to gather food in the forest. Yona comes across a group of Jews fleeing the Nazis in 1941, and she helps them to survive in the woods. In the process, they teach Yona about family and love and loss and belonging.


"After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @gallery books and @netgalley for the eARC of The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel. This was my first read by Harmel and I now know why her books are popular by so many. I absolutely loved this one!

Yona is taken from her home in Berlin, Germany when she is just two by Jerusza, a women who lives in the forest. Jerusza has taken Yona to save her from her fate. She teaches Yona how to survive in the wilderness. Jerusza lives to be quite old but when she dies, Yona is left to survive on her own. Yona knows nothing about WWII and the Nazi's. But soon, she meets a group of Jewish people who have fled to the forest to escape and she quickly befriends them. Showing them how to survive and helping them to stay safe. But, Yona is betrayed by one of the group and she flees. She leaves the forest and and meets a Nazi officer. Does she know this man? Could it be her father? Yona learns that her friends she abandoned in the forest are in danger. She goes back to the only family she has ever known. Will it be too late or will Yona guide them to safety?

This is one of the best books I've read so far this year. This is more than a story of WWII. I can't put this story into words. Let's just say; I could not put this book down. This story also sheds light on what purpose we have. How things come full circle and how God puts you right where you are meant to be although you may not know it at the time.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars releases on July 6, 2021! You are going to want to mark your calendar but this is one not to be missed!

As I slowly lay the book down, tears streaming down my face. I am left contemplating the nightmares, and the true bravery of the people who lived through World War II. The horrors that they had to observe and overcome in order to survive. The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a twist on the normal WWII novel. Kristin Hamel takes on a different viewpoint, and I am still recovering from the emotion this provokes.

I am left contemplating Yona, and her truly epic life. Her life begins in Berlin, with her two loving German parents. Yona is stolen from her childhood bed during the dead of night, by Jerusza. A woman who was lead to this child, knowing she is meant to take her, and have her learn the ways of the forest. And learn Yona does. She speaks several languages, moves amongst the trees without making a sound, can find her own food, can kill a person using just her hands, build temporary shelters to live in, and even burrow underground in a makeshift winter house, that keeps her warm and safe. All this knowledge that Jerusza gives her, is leading to a certain moment in time.

Since the age of two it has just been Yona and Jerusza in the vast wilderness. Coming into contact with the outside world only when it is absolutely necessary. Yona craves people and is curious about everything outside the forest. Jerusza finally passes, leaving Yona to survive on her own. She knows something big is brewing outside the protection of the forest, but she does not know what.

Yona comes across a group of starving Jews, who have escaped from the horrors of one of Poland's many ghettos. They are not prepared to survive, through the winter, let alone the next month. Yona takes them under her wing, to teach them how to survive. Her intention is not to stay. However, the pull of people, and all their wonder draws her deeper into this group. Making them her family. With a family comes the sting of hate, the blossoming love, and the true feeling of belonging. Which makes Yona wonder about her own birth parents, are they good people, is she like the people she is saving? Or are her parents apart of this horror that is spreading across Europe? This mystery comes full circle. Yona is left wondering if it matters who gives you life. If blood determines who you become. Or does your heart propel you to be who you truly are.

I fell completely in love with the characters of this book. Kristin Harmel's deeply layered characters, draws you deeper in to the story. Her ability to strip down the characters to show the rawness of emotions that come to the surface, when dealing with unfathomable circumstances. If you love historical fiction, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a must read. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read this astounding book. What are you waiting for go pre-order it today!!

"Perhaps the most complicated things are also the most beautiful."

"Home is not a place, but the people you choose to love."

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a heart wrenching story of survival during horrific times. I had so many emotions going through me as I read. I cried, got really angry and kept hoping for good things to happen.
This book had me captivated and engrossed from the start. The research that Kristin Harmel did for this book had to be extensive. Details of plants and herbs used for different reasons , and the descriptions of the Forest had me feeling as if I was there with Yona.
This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this unique and inspirational story.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars was beautifully written, but in the end not for me. I found the story unique and historically accurate. The beginning captured my attention, but as the book went on, the story felt rushed. Some of the characters felt surface level and not as developed as they could be. If you love historical fiction, I would still recommend this novel, even though I didn't find a connection with the story or characters.

I just reviewed The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel. #ForestofVanishingStars #NetGalley

Be kind if at all possible. Simple words from a Jewish survivor who once survived in the Polish forest to escape the mass murders of their Jewish counterparts by the Nazi Germans during WWII. 3.3 million Jewish people lived in Poland before the war. According to records, 3 million of those lost their lives in just the country of Poland. The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel is the fictional version of the true events of these brave forest survivors. It’s wonderfully written and backed by so much research by the author. This is a story we all should read and remember. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy. The publication date is July 6th 2021. Please read it!!

Disclaimer: I got this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes place during WW2 and shows the horrifying events of what happened when the Nazis came. The beginning of the book with the fairytale and folklore aspects intrigued me, but I’m unfortunately the ending fell flat for me. I thought Yona was going to do something big but she only helped a couple of people so it felt anti-climatic.

Historical fiction, well written and researched as always by this author. This story covers a horrific time in history of the holocaust. I always learn sometime when I read one of her books.
Though I don’t enjoy hearing about this time it is so important to understand what People went through and I am thankful for books like this that help keep history alive.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

This was a creative and different retelling of the horrors that occurred during the Holocaust. I loved brave Yona who always stood up for what was right. Characters were well developed and the story flowed nicely.

I read this book. It took me a while, since I didn't really feel a connection to Yona, the main character. But, as the story went on, I did get the connection. At the beginning of the book, you find out that a child was taken from her parents. In the back of the book, you feel like you know why. There were some parts that were a struggle to me, since I have no idea of where places are located. I enjoy Kristin's books. But to me, this one is just ok.

I really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction, particularly WWII, is my favorite genre so to say I have read a lot of it is an understatement. This book presents an aspect of the war that I hadn't read about before. Yona is a young woman who was taken from her bedroom in Berlin when she was 2 years old. Jerusza, the old woman who kidnapped her, raises her in the forest away from everyone and everything. They have little contact with other people. When Jerusza dies, Yona finds herself alone until she comes across Jews who are fleeing the Nazis. Her whole world changes and she learns about companionship, love, and betrayal. I had not heard about the Jewish camps living in the forests and it is obvious that the author did her research. You can picture what she is describing and all of the emotions and struggles that Yona and those she helps are feeling. It was refreshing, if you can say that about a book set in this time period, to read a different part of the story and hear about those that were willing to take a stand. Be sure to read the Author's note at the end (I generally skip these but found it really informative).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Inge, a two year old, lies in her crib; close by her loving parents sleep. Jerusza, an old woman on a mission, stands over her, observing the child’s dove-shaped birthmark. She snatches the child,escaping through the window. Inge becomes Yona and never sees her Berlin home again. Jerusza spends the rest of her life teaching survival skills in the deep forest to her protégée. When she dies, Yona is on her own. Constantly moving, she eventually discovers her life’s mission: to save Polish Jews on the run from Nazi slaughter. Through this experience she discovers what it is to love and be loved. This discovery guides her to make choices she herself doesn’t understand; the cruel reunion with her father challenges her beliefs. Kristin Harmel’s unique perspective on the Holocaust presents a strong and skilled female protagonist; the title is a metaphor for those individuals who became “vanishing stars” while hiding under the protection of the forest canopy. The courage of both Yona and her new family linger long after the last page..

Although WWII is a time period that is hard to read about, it is one of my favorite time periods. The Forest of Vanishing Stars in not your typical WWII story, but Kristin Harmel tells the story in a different aspect that is compelling and unique written around facts.

After being stolen from her wealthy German parents, Inge is raised in the wilderness by a young woman named, Jerusza, whom teaches her the way of wilderness survival. Jerusza changes Inge's name to Yona, which means dove due to the dove-live birthmark on Yona's wrist. The one thing Jerusza does not teach Yona is love-what it should feel like to be loved and how to love. Love leaves and makes you vulnerable. Once Jerusza dies, Yona comes across a group of Jews fleeing the Nazis in Poland. Yona teaches them how to survive in the forest and in return, they teach her special lessons in life and family.

The tile of the book is a perfect fit. When I put two and two together with vanishing stars representing the Star of David Jews were required to wear on their clothing, I got goosebumps! I found this to be clever!

This is a book that will stick with me for awhile and I find myself talking to my family, friends, and co-workers about non-stop.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After being kidnapped from her wealthy German Parents as a baby, Yona now lives in Eastern Europe surviving off the land. After her captor dies, Yona is forced to face her loneliness when she comes across a group of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. She learns about the cruelty happening in the world and promises to do her best to keep them alive.

Although this is a work of fiction, the off-grid society and other details were all written around facts. I’ve always enjoyed reading WWII fiction and non-fiction, and this was an eye opening experience. This book taught me about a society of Jews that were surviving Nazi Germany by living off the grid and it was something I had never known before. I was impressed with the author’s ability to create an elaborate beautiful story around a piece of history.

This book felt like a hybrid of Where the Crawdad Sings and the Great Alone. The detail and world building set up a beautiful realistic setting. I felt like I could feel, hear, and smell everything the characters were experiencing, and that is not easy to do. This read had a little bit of everything: romance, thriller and history. The book was well paced and felt like a smooth comfortable read. This book is unique because it takes a tragic reality and turns the narrative back to the survivors while staying raw and true to history.

I’m knocking 1 star off because some points felt underdeveloped and left me wanting more. It felt like some parts were thoroughly explained while others were rushed. Another reason for knocking off a star is because of the typos. I found roughly ~7 typos in this book that were easy catches. Personally, typos can mess up my flow and ruin parts of the immersive experience.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would love to read it again but in physical form. This is the perfect story to read by the fireplace with a cup of coffee. It was a smooth experience and I learned something new, which is always good!

I really enjoyed this "different" WWII historical fiction novel. It read beautifully and took a different angle than your typical period historical fiction novel. Yona was a wonderful character and reading about her forest survival techniques was very interesting to me. The only con for me was some of the pieces of the book fit together a bit too well (finding her father in the village, her father finding her in the woods)... seemed a bit farfetched to me.

Kristin does not disappoint! What a terrific and engaging read! A difficult subject where she adds a bit of romance, heart break and as always in her books - closure. I have posted my review on Goodreads and recommending to all of our my fellow book worms.