I have read a lot of world war two fiction. From books focused on concentration camps to female soviet pilots to Lithuanian refugees, I feel like I've read them all. So, I went into The Forest of Vanishing Stars hoping for nothing for than a book that had some good prose and didn't have nazi romance. This book exceeded my expectations. As a baby, Yona is stolen by an old woman and raised in the forests of Poland, being taught both Judaism and survival skills. Twenty years later, with her kidnapper dead, Yona finds herself torn from her isolation when she decides to help a group of Jewish refugees hiding in the forest.
Harmel's weaves a beautiful and often heartwrenching story that has an almost magical quality. While The Forest Of Vanishing Stars is no fantasy novel, it uses themes of destiny and its setting to blur the lines between reality and magic. Yet, for all its well-written characters, strong prose, and plot, what really made me love the book was it's religious themes. While Jewish characters are common in WW2 fiction, they are often denied agency and the religious aspect of Judaism rarely comes up beyond a few references. In The Forest Of Vanishing Stars, the characters' religion and beliefs are essential to the story. Yona struggles with her Jewish identity, as a presumably gentile child raised in Judaism and all the characters take strength from their belief in God.
A unique and worthy addition to the genre that is a must-read for anyone burnt out from WW2 novels.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is set during WWII, is has some historical contend however the mystical portion is not the type of reading I enjoy. The supernatural and historical was not a mix I enjoyed. I am sure there will be lots of people who will. However enjoyed Kristin Harmel's other books and can't wait for her next one. I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I love every Kristin Harmel book I’ve read so far. I absolutely sail through them and forget that I have things like chores and family and work. This book is no different, only it is. It is super duper amazing and even better than the rest. It is a unique take on WW II, a subject that has very much crowded the HistFic shelves these days (years), telling a a part of history I was unaware of — how Jewish refugees fled to the forest and lived there, hiding from the Nazis. An elderly psychic kidnaps a German child and takes her into the woods, teaching her the skills she will need to help Jews in the future survive the Holocaust. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and feels very much like folklore and history blended into one. Highly recommend.

I had a hard time with this one which is sad because I love Kristen Harmel! I won't fault her though, it was still a good read, just not my favourite

Nothing short of incredible. Like all of Harmel’s books, this grips you and transports you to another place in time. Phenomenally written and researched, Harmel gives us an inside look into forest survival during WWII. This is a book you don’t want to miss, and would make for some great book club discussions.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy, all opinions are my own.

LOVED IT!!!!!
This is a wonderful mystery set during WWII.
Kristin Harmel is a terrific writer!
I can’t wait to read more by her.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the authro for the opptunity to read a copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This book caught my attention first with its stunning cover and title, then the blurb had me excited to read it. This book was a unique book, although the time frame is WWII, it is a fictional book about a topic I have read little about; the many people who hid in the forests, whose lives depending upon not only outwitting the enemy but upon surviving harsh climates and and surviving nature herself. I enjoyed the story but at the end, the author's notes regarding her research and

80 year old Jerusza hears a voice telling her that she must rescue a child, a two year old girl from her german parents in Berlin. When Jerusza goes to take the child, she senses that the child knew she was coming; she renames her Yona (meaning dove, as she has a dove shaped mark on her wrist) and then shes takes the child to her new home, the forest. Jerusza teaches Yona, everything she knows about survival in the forest, she teaches her about many different religions, about many different subjects , including how to kill a man, everything the girl will need to know to make sure she survives.

When Jerusza dies in 1941, Yona is a young woman who knows nothing about the world outside the forest, nothing about people as she has had very little interaction with them. She tries to go about her life as usual, but keeps remembering that Jerusza said, that she was meant for something more and she cannot figure out what that could be, until she meets a family in the forest one day hiding from enemy soldiers. Through them she learns of the war and believes she is meant to help these people. The remainder of the book takes us through Yona's life while trying to helps groups of people to survive hiding in the forest and outwit the enemy forces. She learns of love, life and fulfills her destiny in the forest.

The writing was captivating and the characters individual and interesting. The story takes place during WWII and you can tell the author has done a great deal of research about the thousands of Jews who survived during the war by hiding in the forest. This is only my second book by Harmel and it will not be my last. Her author notes at the end of the book were just as interesting as the novel itself.

Kristin Harmel has come to be associated in my mind with a well-researched historical fiction novel. She delves deep into a topic, and stays as true as possible to the recorded history, while presenting the story and characters in a manner that creates empathy and interest for her readers. A Forest of Vanishing Stars is no exception.

Based on true events, the main character Yona is a young woman, stolen from her Berlin home at the age of two by Jerusza, the old woman who whisks her away to the forest, and teaches Yona the survival skills necessary to keep herself safe through many trials and events. With the outbreak of WWII, Yona begins to encounter Polish Jews who have fled into the forest, in an effort to evade the Nazis. She is able to teach them the basics of staying alive in the forest, always staying two steps in front of the oppressors.

Harmel has taken a different tact with this book, maintaining a single timeline throughout the story. The majority of recent historical fiction novels have relied on a dual timeline strategy, and it was refreshing to stay focused on the one storyline throughout. And I urge all readers to pay attention to the Author's Note. Harmel offers valuable information and insight into the very real situations that were faced by many people fleeing the Nazis, and taking refuge in the great forests of Europe.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Simon and Schuster Canada for providing me with an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

It's been a while since I've read a WW2 book. This novel takes place in the forests of Poland where we meet many Jewish people who are in hiding. It was so sad and heartbreaking. An excellent read, although I did find the ending a bit abrupt. I wanted more of Yona's story.

This was a strange book. I had no idea what it was about when I started it and even after finishing it, I find the story so bizarre. There were parts that I absolutely loved, but the main character never sat right with me and made me dislike the book more than if she hadn’t been in it.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a historical fiction novel that takes place during WW2. It tells the story of Yona who as a baby was stolen from her parents and raised in the woods. You read that right, A baby who was raised in the woods by a stranger who learned how to read, speak multiple languages and know literally everything there was to know about nature.
She also never was allowed to speak to another living person.

After her guardian dies when Yona turns 19, Yona comes across a group of people who fled Jewish ghettos to escape to the woods. She begins to teach them to survive and although she has never been around anyone ever, somehow adjusts pretty well to being with them.

After being with them a while, an event happens at camp which leads her to leave and she finds herself in a city where she comes face to face with a Nazi officer who just happens to be her father (that she somehow remembers from memories of when she was two 🙄).

This story was so incredibly hard to believe and extremely far fetched. I wanted to like this book so much and was so excited to read it, but it just fell flat for me.

There is a lengthy Author’s Note at the end of the book which speaks to the real life people and events the book is based on. I found this fascinating and wished it had been more focused on this instead of some magical type being and her improbable ties to her past.
This isn’t a book I would recommend as there are other historical fiction books I enjoyed so much more - 2.5/5 stars
Rounded down to 2 stars

Kristin Harmel has written an atmospheric, deep-dive into life as a Jew during WW II. The descriptive prose and strong storyline make this a quick read, although you may want to stretch it out to make it last longer. Thank you NetGalley for my copy. My comments and opinions are my own.

This book was very different storytelling of WWII and Jews fleeing Nazi occupation. Very interesting story of people living in the forest to escape Nazi occupation. I loved that Kristin Harmel provides her research at the end of the book.

I was intrigued by the fact this was a world war 2 novel and that is dealt with a side of the story I wasn't wholly familiar with.
This book was well written and had sone great characters. I loved the story and how these people managed to survive. Definitely recommend it

4.5/5
Excellent page turner, but the ending was somewhat predictable. The intrigue was phenomenal in this quick paced, heart-wrenching story. Details were obviously well researched making this a very captivating read.

Longer review on GoodReads App.

This was my first book by Kirsten Harmel and I know it will not be my last.

I love her writing skills and the way the story flowed. I read it in two days. I could not put it down. I was not sure about if at the beginning I have to admit. The magical aspect was different. I am so glad that I kept reading and did not put it down.

The story of Inge/Yona was heartbreaking. She is such a brave heroine in this story. My heart was breaking know this was a true story of people fleeing their villages in Poland during WW2. This is not like any other WW2 story I have read.

If you are a fan of Historical Fiction and you have not read this book, please do! It is a story that everyone should know about.

Thank you Kirsten Harmel, Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy for my honest opinion.

Based on a true story, this historic fiction by Kirsten Harmel was well researched and delivered a compelling story of a time period that is most often difficult to read about.

Set in the forest in Poland a young woman who was raised to be a survivor, knowing her way around the forest. She helps many Jews trying to survive the Holocaust by teaching them to be survivors in the forest which provides them shelter, a source of food and comfort from herbal remedies.

This magical, mysterious journey captivates the reader with her beautiful writing, strong character development and folklorish feels.

Harmel has the gift to deliver an inspirational story of survival in the most difficult of times. This book won’t disappoint!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book.

Another fantastic HF with a strong female lead. So many great quotes in this book that I loved. So happy I was approved for this book. This was my first by Harmel and I definitely plan to get into her backlist soon.

By the end I thought this book was amazing. I flew through the last half, and loved the people, the story, everything. But something about the first half just dragged for me and I had a hard time staying focused. I think a reread would be even better. A solid book.

A piece of World War II historical fiction that starts with the abduction of a 2 year old German toddler by a somewhat mystical old woman living in the forest. The child becomes one with the forest and, as she matures, slowly realizes that her knowledge might help save the lives of many Jewish people fleeing the Nazis by hiding in the forest.

It is a unique fictional perspective of the true history of the Jewish partisans in WWIi. In so doing, the book effectively questions notions of survival, grief, loss, home, family, and fate.

However, as the story progressed, the more contrived it felt, Hammel attempts to make insightful comments that on reflection felt trite. Common tropes regarding grief (ie: the woman who has lost everything has nothing left to lose but pride); young vs more experienced love; Germans soldiers (largely all being selfish, hateful, evil); and, a secret piece of information revealed at the end (that could change everything for the protagonist), all felt stale and overblown.

The book that I could, initially, not put down ultimately became a slog to finish. Overall, there are many more impactful books that address this historical period in a more compelling and heart-felt way. I eventually felt like I was watching a Hollywood depiction of the holocaust which attempts to be more provocative than it really is. I was not a fan!