Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity of reading an ARC by Kristin Hammel called The Forest of Vanishing Stars. This is the third book I've read from this author and she is one of my favorites. She beautifully tells a story, it's hard to put her novels down, you become so engrossed. Highly recommend this novel.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: A young German girl, originally named Inge but renamed Yona, is kidnapped from her parents and raised by a lone woman in the forest. After the old woman’s passing, Yona has the opportunity to use her survival skills to help Jewish families escaping the Nazis.

Review: This book is a MUST READ for lovers of WW2/historical fiction. While I have been a bit burnt out on that genre lately, I was pleasantly surprised to find a totally new twist and perspective on that time period. To know it was inspired by true events was the cherry on top. Kristin Harmel is a beautiful writer that brings her characters to life. I felt like I was trekking through the forest and surviving right along with them. This book is worth your time!!

This novel is just beautiful and incredible. I have read so many World War II involving the Nazi atrocities but this novel is just so different from all of those stories. I have often wondered when reading these novels if people hid in the forests to protect themselves from these atrocities but never came across such stories. This novel gave me an opportunity to read a story exactly like that. Inspired by true events and a fictionalized story this novel evokes so many emotions. A incredible read makes you cry, angry and question the world we live in today. An absolute must read!

What a story! I have read so many WWII historical fiction books, but none like this. I learned about another aspect of the Jew's fight to live and it touched me in so many ways. Kristin wove some magic with a lot of heart break, survival, and triumph while writing this book.

Highly, highly, highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Yona, the female heroine in Kristen Harmel’s latest novel The Forest of Vanishing Stars. At first I was unconvinced that large groups of Jews could live in the forest for years, and skipped ahead to read the Authors Note at the end. Then my heart was captured by this book.

Yona was stolen as a two year-old and raised in the forests by a woman who trained Yona in how to survive in the forest. They lived for decades in the woods. When bombs begin falling from overhead, people begin wandering the woods, but are uninformed in how to survive. Yona saves the day repeatedly. She isn't all that knowledgeable with human relations and there is always a pecking order within a group. And then add in complications with Nazis trying to kill those in the forests. Even though I've been increasingly frustrated with historical fiction lately, I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author Kristen Harmel, for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is July 6, 2021.

This book was so good. It was a great story with a different approach. I loved learning about living in the forest too. Definitely a page turner for me!

I enjoyed reading this book and learned much about the people that had to live in the forrest during WWIII.. While there is some fantasy in this story it felt like most of it was possible and actually happened. I would definitely reccomend this book

Once again Harmel (as in The Book of Lost Names), has managed to capture the true essence of survival for both Jews and non-Jews and what subtlety touch on the important role Righteous Gentiles played during the Holocaust. As the numbers of first generation Holocaust Survivors reach epic lows, it is important for the mantle to be passed onto the second and third generation to continue to teach and testify to what happened. Equally as important is Harmel's mission of exploring lesser know acts of survival and endurance that the WWII generation faced.

A wonderful, compelling, well-written story of story of survival, heartbreak, loss, and courage. This is my second book by Kristin Harmel (I recently read and LOVED The Book of Lost Names), and it did not disappoint! I’ve read a lot of WWII fiction but none like this one with its unique take (and at times, a bit of a “fairytale” feel).

A two year old girl is stolen from her wealthy, German parents and raised in the forest by her kidnapper, an old woman who felt compelled to kidnap the young girl in order to change the girl’s fate and perhaps the fate of others, too. The girl, Yona, grows up in the woods, constantly on the move, surviving only on what the forest has to offer, what the old woman has taught her, and natural instinct.

When the old woman passes away, Yona is in her early 20s and completely alone for the first time. But not for long. She encounters a group of Jews in the forest, fleeing their home in an effort to escape the Nazis. They know little about surviving in the forest, so Yona promises to teach them everything she knows.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a beautiful , heartbreaking read. The premise of the book, a young girl kidnapped in pre-war Berlin and raised in the woods is a different slant on historical WWII stories, but was well done and the development of the main character made me fall in love with her. The heartbreak of Jews suffering during the war was counterbalanced by the main character's concern and care for those she discovered and rescued in the woods.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars was captivating from the very start. There was great character development, interesting personalities, even when they made you furious with their decisions. I've read tons of WW2 books but none before this that brought you into the forest and showed that side of survival. 5 stars for Kristin Harmel's latest book!

Well researched book but the ending was abrupt and felt rushed. The main character is very compelling but the appearance of her "secret" felt a little too contrived.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book...lovely, lyrical and haunting with a mystical heroine who leads a group of Jewish refugees to safety in the forest and teaches them how to survive but doesn't recognize the incredible goodness of heart that makes her so unique.

Kristin Harmel has created a masterpiece of story and I highly recommend this book. Much gratitude to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing this advance copy. I couldn't put this down!!

Learning from our history is critical. Kristin Harmel brings to life the story of Jews seeking refuge in the forests of Poland. The struggles of Yona translate for decades and show the battles that women face. Yona's leadership, determination, and dedication create a character you want to read and emulate. If you are passionate about learning about WWII and the Holocaust, I recommend The forest of Vanishing Stars.

In The Forest of Vanishing Stars, Kristin Harmel tells the beautifully heart wrenching story of Yona, a German-born girl who had been kidnapped and taken to live in the forest at the age of 2. When her kidnapper and teacher, Jerusza, dies, Yona begins a journey of self-discovery, adventure, and love that brings her face-to-face with the outside world, the plight of Jewish refugees, and even her Nazi father. Which world will she embrace: the glittering one Jerusza stole her from, one of isolation in the woods, or something new?

I simply could not put this book down and devoured every single page over the course of about 24 hours. From the very first page, Harmel weaves a complex, engaging, and truly exquisite coming of age story. Despite having read my fair share of WWII historical fiction, I've not read anything about the thousands of Jewish refugees who hid, mostly successfully, in the Polish forests until the end of the war. Not only is the plot itself fast paced and excellently researched, but Harmel's character development was masterful as well. This novel had everything I love in a great book: a fascinating historical setting, complicatedly believable characters, love, and adventure.

I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

I was privileged to receive an advance copy through NetGalley. Kristin Harmel has done it again! A story of survival and faith like no other Ive read. Yona is a character I won’t forget. Harmel's description made me feel I was in the forest with these amazing characters. I I have learned so much of this time period through Harmel’s books. I was not aware of the large group of Jewish citizens who fled and lived in the forests to survive. Can't wait to recommend to my reading friends. Sure to be another best seller!

I've read hundreds of Holocaust stories but this one if different, from the very first page. The author did extensive research and it pays off in this engrossing novel. It's perfect blend of fact and fiction, where the fiction helps to illuminate a painful history.

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What an amazing book, 5 stars! The latest book by Kristin Harmel, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, will keep you up reading late into the night. Once you start reading this book, you will not want to stop, so be prepared. I stayed up really late one night and then got up the next morning at 5 a.m. to read more.
This book is historical fiction set during World War II. The main character is a strong young adult woman who was stolen from her parents at a young age, by a very mysterious woman, who raised her in the forest. After her kidnapper dies, she discovers a group of Jews hiding in the forest, after fleeing the Nazis. She decides to help this group by teaching them how to survive in the forest, which leads to her betrayal.
This book is a must-read, it has it all; history, love, survival, heartbreak, shock and anger, you will not be disappointed. The author's extensive research is evident throughout the book. After reading the author's note, I was shocked to find out people actually lived in the forest for 2 years during this time and survived. Wow! I had no idea, it made my heart break for what they went through. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the Advanced Readers Copy. #ForestofVanishingStars #NetGalley

Inspired by true events that took place during WWII, this novel takes the reader on a journey through the Polish wilderness following a young Yona who learns the ways of survival and existence during a perilous time in history. She is taught the ways of the forest and eventually is leading a solitary existence while oblivious to the events taking place in the villages outside the forest walls. She comes across a group of fleeing Jews and teaches them the ways of survival. What begins as a moment of helping turns into Yona joining the cause to fight for freedom and wrongdoing. She learns as much about family and love as the others learn about existing and living in the forest. Eventually an event from her past as a child comes back to threaten her very content way of life.

Kristin Harmel weaves her magic once again of taking actual events and infusing enough character and storyline to make it her own. Another outstanding novel by an author who knows how to tell a remarkable story.

Thank you to #netgalley and #gallerybooks for an advanced copy of this book. It is due to be published on July 6, 2021.

Wow! I have heard nothing but good things about Kristin Harmel’s work and was so excited to get an ARC from netgalley to review. This was the first and definitely not the last of her books I have read. I love historical fiction but as anyone who does knows there are a lot of WWII stories out there. Because of that it takes something special to get a five star for me. This book had it all...love, war, religion, family, loss, and what it takes to survive. The beginning of the story has a young child being taken from her family and raised in the forest. At first it was hard to understand how this related to a WWII story. As you go on you quickly realize how every thing that led Yona to where she was happened for a reason and put her exactly where she needed to be to save lives. The character development was so good watching Yona learn and grow through all the events was so well done and even learning all the background and emotion of the side characters you grew to love even the worst of them. This book kept me reading way past bedtime and I didn’t want it to end. So good it will go back on my TBR for a re-read later.