Another Kristin Harmel book that is brilliantly written. I absolutely loved this this book. If you haven’t read this book or any book by Kristin Harmel I don’t know what your waiting for. Go read them.

I have always loved stories about World War II, and think they are so important to tell. In The Forest of Vanishing Stars, Yona is raised in the wilderness after being stolen from wealthy German parents. After her kidnapper dies, Yona eventually finds herself helping Jews fleeing the Nazis. Yona is able to keep many people safe, as a result of the survival skills she learned growing up. This book had an interesting concept, but I felt like the first half dragged on. Yona kept stumbling upon different people to help. The ending gets more interesting once she is confronted with her past. The authors note showed that Harmel did a lot of research for this book, but I was just hoping for a little more. I think there was just too much of Yona hiding out in the woods, going on and on for me to fully enjoy it.

I have read a lot of World War 2 books. It is a period I enjoy reading about but often times need to take a break after reading so many books that are similar. The Forest of Vanishing Stars, to me, was a fresh new perspective for this time period. It is an aspect that I was not as familiar with and with the author's note seeing how well researched this book was it truly earned 5 starts in my book.

The book starts with a hint of magical realism and has some aspects that may require some suspension of belief or a very strong belief in higher powers. That being said I think it was worth the storytelling that these stretches allow for. Yona was stolen as a 2 year-old child by an 82 year-old woman, Jerusza, who saw it as a necessity. She raised her in the woods, teaching her to be self-sufficient and a survivor. She also taught her to be wary of other humans.

When Jerusza passes away Yona finds herself wandering alone the woods of Poland. As she moves she comes across a group of Jews escaping the ghetto. She quickly realizes that without her help they will not survive and decides her purpose is to help these individuals in need before resuming her independent life. What she doesn't forsee is the impact that living with and depending on others will have on her future.

An outstanding blend of WWII fiction and fantasy elements.
At first this novel didn't feel like a WWII historical fiction book. An old woman hears God's voice telling her to go into the city and steal a baby away and raise the child in the forest. It sounds like the start of a fantasy- yet the city is Berlin and the forest is in Poland, and a ruler named Adolf Hitler is about to come to power. Still the first part of the novel details how Jerusza teaches Yona the art of surviving in the forest, and how Yona longs for something she has never had - a true family. Shortly after Jerusza dies, Yona starts to encounter other people in the woods. They are Jews fleeing for their lives. Yona was raised knowing the Jewish traditions, for Jerusza was a Jew, though she was also taught about other religions as well. And Yona knows that by birth, she is German. Yona has a deep sense of right and wrong, however, and to her it is always right to help a fellow human being who is in need. So, even though she has always been taught to be fearful of other people and to stay away from them, she begins to help those that she finds lost and alone in the forest. Soon she finds herself living with a band of Jewish refugees. But living in a community brings new challenges for Yona, who knows little about the ways that groups of people operate. And the ever-present danger of discovery by the Nazi's keeps the group moving to avoid danger after danger. Will Yona find the true family that she has always longed for? Will the Jews of the forest be able to survive against overwhelming odds? The reader has to keep reading to the end to find the answers to these questions!
Fans of WWII fiction who think they have read every different kind of novel that there is to read about the war will find that there are still plenty of twists, plenty of surprises to be found in stories like this one. I loved how it felt a bit like a fantasy at first, and how Yona wrestled with difficult questions of identity and belonging all throughout the book. This was an excellent novel and I could hardly put it down until I was finished. I highly recommend it.

Story: Yona, stolen as a toddler, has lived in the forest all of her life. She hardly remembers the life in Berlin that she had. But the woman who took her, Jerusza, has taught her to take care of herself in this forest, and she has not even been in a village. She knows the forest, how to fish, feed herself, take shelter, and travel without the outside world. Yet after Jerusza dies, she is alone, and then she finds people who need her help, the Jewish who had run into the woods to escape prosecution from the Nazis. She beings to help them, and she learns more about herself and also the world around her. What will happen to her, will she be found out, or will they all survive? This story is based on what really happened in WWII, though it is fictional. Will she find her family, does she want to find her family, and who will she embrace into her heart?

Final Notes: The Forest of Vanishing Stars 10/5 Stars!!!

I want to thank the author for writing this wonderful novel, one of the best novels I have ever read, and Netgalley for letting me read and review it! I cannot thank you enough, I will keep looking for all of her books, and I am planning on purchasing the audiobook of this, as a Christmas gift for myself! Yona is one of the most complex heroines I have ever met, and I felt her struggle, it was as if I was in the forest with her and as her during her story as it unfolded. If you only read one book this year, This is The Book!!!! I could have written so much more, but I do not want to bore or spoil this wonderful book! Until the next time, A Girl and Her Tablet is saying I’ll be seeing you soo soon!

I have enjoyed Kristin Harmel as I love historical fiction, specifically WWII historical fiction. And with so many of these titles out there, Harmel is still able to keep this category refreshing! I enjoyed this story, however I felt it was a bit slow the first quarter of the way through. However, the book was thrilling and had a mystery element to it that I enjoyed. Her writing is very engaging and I will recommend!

I struggled with the beginning chapters of this book, because of the mystical overtones - not what I expected. But the majority of the book was more typical of Harmel's writing and quite heart-wrenching. I was unaware of the large numbers of Jews who hid from the Nazis in the deep forests. I recommend this book for those who are looking for historical fiction with a touch of magic and romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This is genuinely probably one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. I could not put it down. Yona’s story is one for the ages. I’ve cried many times tonight reading this book. Strongly strongly recommend for anyone who is interested in holocaust fiction. This really inspired me to want to do more to help my fellow people.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this title.

Kristin Harmel has a lovely style, and her books are engaging and touching. However, I dont feel this was her best work. The descriptions of the forest got a bit longwinded, the heroine was too much of a super hero and her back story was unconvincing and with too many loose ends.
I still give the book 4 stars because, in spite of the irritations, I wanted to continue reading, and was entertained too the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for the ARC! What an amazing read. This books captivated me from the very beginning. Historical fiction at its finest. Highly recommend

Even though there are so many books that cover aspects of World War Two, you need to make time to read this one! The Forest of Vanishing Stars covers the story of the Jews of Poland and Belarus who hid out in the huge forest to evade the Nazis. Kristin Harmel’s writing held me enthralled from the beginning to the end, and even had me looking up maps of the area online to get a better fix on where all the action was happening.

Yona has grown up in the forest and knows how to use its gifts for survival, which is something most fugitive Jews did not know, as they had lived in villages and towns and only visited the forest occasionally. Yona becomes an indispensable lifeline for these refugees. Do NOT skip reading the author’s note at the end! Although it was obvious to me that she had done a lot of research, I was still amazed to read all the information in the author’s note.

Don’t miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own. While I received the eARC from NetGalley, I wound up mostly listening to the published audiobook by Simon & Schuster Audio. The narrator, Madeleine Maby, did an excellent job with the many voices.

Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres of books, so when I saw that The Forest of Vanishing Stars was available on NetGalley, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Based on the description of the book, it seemed different then other WWII books I had read previously and it definitely was.
This book starts with a 2 year old girl (Yona) being taken from her German family to be raised in the forest by a woman named Jerusza. Jerusza teaches Yona how to live in the forest and Yona continues to live there after Jerusza passes away. Its in 1942, when Yona encounters her first group of Jews fleeing the Nazi that these skills come in hand. The book follows Yona as she tries to help the fleeing Jews survive in the forest, learning to live with nature. Without giving too much away, Yona learns more about the family she was stolen from when she visits a German-occupied village and struggles with who she was born as vs who she is now.
This is the first time I've read a book that talks about the Jews living in the forest and how they survived. Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end of the book, Harmel provides a lot of context into what really happened during this time. I will say this book focused more on a love story/some almost magical elements then other WWII books I have read previously. For me, this book made it a little bit easier to read then some WWII books but I can see how others may feel that this takes away from what was happening at this time in our history. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves WWII Historical Fiction books!

** spoiler alert ** Kristin Harmel has proven to be an author that I will always read everything she releases. The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker's Wife, and The Room on Rue Amelie were three that I loved along with others.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a historical fiction book which is mainly set in a forest in Poland. I enjoyed this book despite feeling that there were several things that just felt like they were unbelievable. Yona knew that it was midnight but there was no reference to the moon. Also Zeus was distraught one night because his daughter would have been six that day. How in the world was he able to keep track of the days living in the forest/being on the run for that long? I feel like both of these should have been corrected by the editor. I know that it is being picky as a reader but I just struggled with these.

This story felt more fantasy at times which I know is just my opinion. I enjoyed the story despite this and will continue to read anything this author publishes. I would recommend this book for anyone would enjoys historical fiction or some fantasy.

______________________
Sorry for the delay in a review. Have been struggling with mental health and have gotten behind.

I actually read this book when it first came out and am just now sharing my thoughts about it. As soon as I reread the synopsis, I was immediately dropped back into this amazing, unforgettable story.

It seems like I have been reading a lot of books set in the time of World War 2 lately. The characters and the storyline in The Forest of Vanishing Stars gives that time a different spin from other books I've read, featuring the point of view of a woman who has learned to survive alone in the wilderness. As she gets close to civilization again and discovers what's happening in the world around her, she is able to educate and save some of the refugees she encounters.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a unique, very enjoyable look at a horrible time in history, a story that will give you hope that there is still good in the world. I highly recommend it for all historical fiction readers.

There are so many historical fiction books about World War II, but this one is different and so good. Focusing on a strong female protagonist and a little known survival story during the Holocaust, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is unique in this genre. Excellently written with in-depth character development, I highly recommend this novel.

Beautifully written historical fiction about a group of Polish Jews who survived the Nazis by living in the forest.
I had no idea how these people survived except for their strong will and determination. The author cites personal interviews with survivors and non-fiction accounts.

This is my third book by Kristin Harmel and her books leave me amazed, wanting more and just in awe of her beautiful writing!

The Forest of Vanishing Stars was great but I didn't love it as much as the other two I've read. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and I would've love to have an epilogue or learned what happened next.

I did enjoy the main character with her bravery, strong willed spirit and willing to help others no matter what it meant for her own life. There were many points where I had to stop and take in all that was happening because it was so powerful and hard to imagine.

Harmel's writing takes me to the exact location and makes me feel like I'm right there with the characters. I can't wait to read more books by her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this ARC.

When I saw that Kristin Harmel was coming out with a new book on @netgalley I jumped on the occasion and requested to have an advanced copy. I read a couple of Kristin Harmel’s books and really enjoyed them. My only “complaint” was it always seemed to be a different version of the same story. But so far this book is really different from her other novels. The story is about Yona who was stolen from her family at 2 years old by an old woman and has lived in the forest her whole life. Her solitary life is interrupted when she meets a group of Jews fleeing from the Nazis. She is stunned to learn what happens on the outside world. But when she is betrayed and escapes to a German-occupied village, her past and her present collide.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars
A Novel
by Kristin Harmel
Pub Date 06 Jul 2021 |
Gallery Books
General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction


I am reviewing a copy of The Forest of Vanishing Stars through Gallery Books and NetGalley:



A young woman who was stolen from her wealthy German parents, and was raised raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Soon her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror.




The woman who was 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.





I am reviewing a copy of The Forest of Vanishing Stars five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

This is a colorful story of WWII that I found riveting. Yona was stolen as a child from her German family and raised in the forest by the unusual woman who had taken her.

I loved learning how they survived in that difficult environment. The information about foraging, plants used as medicine, their shelters, and other things they did to adapt were engrossing.

WWII came along, and some Jews fled to the forest in hopes of hiding from the Nazis. The story is carried along by alliance of people for whom the forest was their only chance of survival. The cruelty of the Nazis was unfathomable.

This book was supplied to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.