Eastern Europe during WW11

All WW11 stories, true or fiction are heart breaking, Kristin Harmel spins a beautiful and enlightening tale one that represents the 1000’s of Jewish people who fled the ghetto. It also the story of Yona , a young woman who was taken from her family when she was only two to be raised in the forest by a woman who teaches her how to survive in the wilderness. Her skilled came handy when she connects with a group of refugees.

This is one stirring adventure that is captivating from start to finish. Inspired by incredible true stories of survival “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” is a powerful account of a young woman effort to teach a group of Jewish refugees she encountered in the woods how to evade the Nazis and survive the harsh winters. In turn they teach to open her heart.

Not only is it a unique story colourfully written around facts it also provides us with suspense, thrills and a bit of romance. Most captivating part is when the Nazis were tracking the group then the narrative slowly culminates till we reach the terrifying climax. So well said. Also fascinating is the depth in the personal interaction between the characters and there are a lot of people crossing Yona’s path. The story is told from her point of view.

Ms. Harmel did her extensive research to stay true to the facts but has enhanced the experience with her fertile imagination to give us a more palatable read to enjoy. In her notes at the end of the book is a detailed list of books, documents, notes. etc including an interview with a survivor.

I am a huge fan of this time in history whether the story is fiction or not so not surprising that I loved this story although I admit this one particularly will stay in my mind a little longer.....

Well done

I read The Book Of Lost Names, also by Kristin Harmel a few months back, and I quite enjoyed it. This is another historical fiction set in WW2, with a strong female protagonist, however it had a very different spin on it than most WW2 fiction!

Yona is kidnapped from her wealthy German family at the age of two, and is raised by her kidnapper (who happens to be a kind, quite elderly clairvoyant) in the forest in Eastern Europe. They manage to survive independently off of the land, while Jerusza manages to also give Yona a thorough education over the years, including teaching her multiple languages.

Into her adulthood, Yona finds herself suddenly alone until she comes across another group of Jewish refugees who live in the forest to hide from the Nazis.

I went into this book expecting to really like it, as the premise was so interesting, and I enjoyed the author’s last title. However, I found it dragged terribly and for about the first 2/3’s of the book I kept wondering where it was even heading, as the plot was unclear.

I was glad to be given the opportunity to read this one, but ultimately I was glad to be finished with it. I couldn’t help feeling irritated at some of the unanswered (important!) questions I had by the end. I sadly, would not recommend this one.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest review..

I need to start this review by saying I like historical fiction but I am not a fan of WWII so take please take with a grain of salt.

I enjoyed everything that had to do with surviving in the woods and how the main protagonist protects a group of people and learns to build relationships with people as she led a solitary and isolated life.

The subject is difficult and although the author is very good at telling her story (I especially liked the note at the end of the book where she explains her search), I am still not captivated by that era. I will say though that this one felt different because it was largely set into the forest.

If you do enjoy WWII, do not shy away from this one; you will enjoy!

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

This story has to be one of the most unique perspectives on World War II that I’ve ever read about. Yona is raised in the forest by a mysterious old woman. She is educated in several languages and survival in the outdoors but has very little experience or knowledge of human kind.

This book dives deep into Jewish customs and culture as well as survival in the harsh forest. Although I found it slow it was still intriguing enough to keep me wanting to learn more about Yona and her unique life. I have never read about the Jewish survivors hiding and surviving in the forest, and am definitely interested in hearing more of these amazing stories.

I haven’t read anything else by Kristin Harmel but have heard great things about her other books. This is definitely a unique read and I recommend it to anyone who love historical fiction. I never knew where the storyline was going and did end up rushing through the end a bit to see if anything more exciting would happen. But I’m still glad I read it.

I really enjoyed discussing this with Wanda @a.book.well.spent and am excited to hear her final thoughts! Thanks for the buddy read 😊

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for my advanced copy! This book is out on July 6th!

Who is your favourite author of historical fiction?

#theforestofvanishingstars #kristinharmel #historicalfiction #books #buddyread #netgalley #arc #lovetoread #readmore #readhistoricalfiction #booksbooksbooks #letsread #mybooks #bookish #whatimreading #bookstagram #bookreview

Oh my goodness if you want a book that will teach you how to survive in the forest year round or to learn how some of the Jews survived the Hitler wars, you need to read this book. I can't believe how a young girl learned so much from an old lady that was so unloving, to her. This is a really great story that is based on true events at this devastating time in history. Yona is a wonderful main character that it is not hard for us to relate to, she has such an open sweetness and innocence. I also found the other characters very easy to care about, I could even feel for Yona's parents especially her mother. I truly enjoyed this book and would definitely read more by this author and recommend it to others.
I received a free download of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. This review is totally my own honest opinion.

Thank you to @netgalley and @kristinharmel and @simonschusterca for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
I’ve always enjoyed books by Kristin Harmel, and this book was no different. This one is unique from the standpoint of what the characters are doing to survive during WW2. This book is based on people who lived in the forest to avoid the Nazis; this story proves I have way more to learn about history.

The story is from the Jewish perspective and learning how these people learned to survive living in the forest despite tragedy. The start of the book is different but intriguing, we are introduced to Inge, who was born to affluent parents in Berlin, her father a budding member of the fledgling Nazi party. She was stolen away from her parents by a woman who lived in the forest because Inge was important and needed to be away from her parents.

Take the time to read it, I enjoyed the whole story, but the last third of the book was my favourite.

Wow! What a great book. It gripped me and would not let go. Again, i learned something new about WWII. I really liked Yona. Lots of side characters and got distracted but it was all good. It had a witchy feel to it. I cant really pinpoint what or where but it felt mystical and kept waiting for something out of blue to pop up.

You could feel the people's pain. It was such a great book.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC.

I've been avoiding writing this review.
I REALLY REALLY wanted to love this book, and it started off feeling like I was going to. I love a touch of magical realism and "witchy" female characters. Make that character Jewish? WOW! Yes, please! I love an opportunity to see and feel myself in characters in new and exciting ways.

The premise for this book is also SO GOOD. Living off the forest? Jewish Resistance? Give me all of it!

Unfortunately, this book very quickly turned to disappointment for my little hopeful heart. Jerusza's character was completely unlikeable. Maybe her cold quirkiness was meant to be endearing, but all I could think of was Mother Gothel from Tangled. Not a good look for a character I was ready to fall in love with and forgive for what was REALLY an unspeakable act. Not only that, but because of the outcome/ending, I don't even feel like the ends justified the means. Her actions may have been excusable in my reader's eye if it had led somewhere more than a superfluous romance that was completely unnecessary.

I also found that the pacing was way off. After the first 100 pages or so, it started to drag... and drag... and drag... And then repeat itself and then drag again. Oh, and that promise of magical realism? Yeah, it completely disappeared after serving the author's purpose of getting the reader's buy-in on Yona's backstory.

Yona's character was also very odd. At times, she knew everything about the world because of her "education", at times she knew and understood nothing. Then, sometimes she knew about things in civilization that she would have had no means of comprehending having lived in the forest and being completely cut off from human contact.

The plot (aside from the historically accurate facts) required so much suspension of disbelief, relied heavily on coincidence, and then ended up exactly where the reader hoped it would not go. Into sappy, soapy romance land, for no reason. The author insists on telling the reader what her very clear messages are (about god and the value of life and perceived differences between people). There is no subtlety or nuance.

That said, this book is well researched, creative, and tells an important piece of my history that I cannot completely dismiss. Sadly it needed more nurturing and editing that it clearly did not get. I am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to have read this book and for ensuring that these stories keep getting told despite the deniers. I know that Harmel has more in her than this. I just hope her next novel doesn't break my heart like this one did.

This book was fantastic. Reading this book is like an escape to a whole other reality where you can forget your everyday worries for a few hours and regroup yourself to face whatever may come next. It moves along at a really pace making for an enjoyable read. the characters are so real that you feel like you have known them forever and the story grabs you and keeps you interested until the very end. This book needs to be read

Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the author Kristin Harmel for the ARC copy of The Forest of Vanishing Stars.

This was the first book I’ve read by Kristin Harmel and it definitely will not be the last, can’t wait to read more of her books! This book was very well written, had excellent character development, caught my attention immediately and held my interest throughout the entire story. The author had done extensive research prior to writing this book and it really showed throughout the story. I honestly have nothing negative to about this book. This was the best ARC I have read yet, highly recommend!

a wonderful story full of emotion, adventure and tragedy.
sometimes difficult to read, the characters were very human.
loved the setting and the descriptions were so good.
a different perspective of WWII.
Recommend!!

This coming-of-age story is based on real life situations that the author relates in the background information at the end of the book. A unique story; a very inspiring and almost spiritual tale. Harmel’s wonderfully developed characters, that you will love or otherwise love to hate, and a fast-moving story line leaves you breathless and at the edge of your seat and makes this a riveting read. Don’t start reading this book if you are not prepared to stay up all night.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is a perfect book for historical fiction and outdoors lovers.

I really enjoyed this book because it is so different from other books I've read about Jews escaping.

The amount of research is amazing. There were so many times where I felt like I was in the forest and knew all of the characters.

I have felt so many emotions and I will always think about this book.

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this book!

A good read. Although this story is fictional, it is based on the the fact that during WWII, groups of people survived in the forest. It was an interesting look at the harsh conditions of survival in the forest and the lengths people would go to for survival. It also explores the idea that just because one is born to one life, how they are brought up and what they do with how they're brought up contributes to who they are. It did take a little to get into but once I did, it was a compelling read.
I recieved this book as an ARC and all opinions are my own.

3.5/5

I really have mixed feelings about this book.
The writing was phenomenal, of course. A true Kristin Harmel book. However, I wasn't impressed by the plot. I felt like there was too much going on, but at the same time there was no action. It was always the same thing over and over again. Some moments really made me cringe. I felt like too many characters were introduced while not bringing much to the plot.
I did enjoyed the beginning and the ending of the book. The writing style saved it for me!

Truly astonishing! A little girl is taken from her parents in her home in 1920s Germany by a woman called Jerusza who felt she was saving her. She raised her in the forest and taught her skills such as hunting, fishing, foraging for wild mushrooms and berries and making herbal preparations for illnesses and injuries. Yona learned several languages, how to store food for cold winters and survive in the wild using her instincts. She basically learned how to read and respond to nature. Her life was a practical existence with Jerusza who was not a tender woman. As a forager, spending time in the woods is one of my favourite things to do. But what a far cry from depending on your wits and knowledge to survive for months or years! Not just survive weather and animals but survive evil animals.

Fast forward to WWII. Yona's skills come in extremely handy as she joins a group of escaped Jews in the forest. They learn reliance, courage and patience. Dangers are rife, especially as the Germans go to great lengths to liquidate Jews. The author describes daily life in the forest as well as tough decisions which have to be made for the greater good.

The significance of the stunning book title and Yona's name are amazing. I like that the author was meticulous in her research. Her thoughtfulness really, really shows. Kudos for handling this poignant subject with such care. Though fictional, people truly were forced into dire situations such as this during WWII.

My sincere thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this sobering yet achingly beautiful book. It really grabbed my heart and held tightly.

I always look forward to a new Harmel book, because I can always guarantee learning something new from a different perspective. Having read almost all of Harmel's backlist, I would say this one take a different route and tone that we are used to from her, but it was still a worthy read. There was definitely more mystery and adventure to it than her previous novels.

What I enjoyed about this one was that the main character, Yona, was still learning about herself and her past while still fighting to support the Jewish community in a very harsh time period. Yona is navigating her own story and coming to terms with her story and this I really enjoyed. It was sort of a historical fiction coming of age. Yona's character was quite well developed, the most developed and enjoyable in my eyes. Despite her own struggles, she continues to support others in need where she has developed skills.

I also really enjoyed the portrayal and importance of the forest and the land in this story. It almost felt like its own character. I would argue that the forest was my favourite character. There was a lot of intrigue to it and it was an essential component to the story overall.

The writing was detailed, but also straight forward (not flowery), which helps the reader become more immersed in the story. The story had twists and turns, but was never slow or sluggish. The though and research that went into it was strong.

The significance of the title to this story is something else. It was a really beautiful piece of the story and tied it together in a wonderful way. This story is about redemption, survival, community, forgiveness and much more. I think many readers will enjoy it.

Inspired by true events in Poland when a few Jews escaped from the ghetto during WW2, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a tension-packed book. Distressing, action-packed, and in many ways heartwarming, the plot races along as the Nazis and Russians attempt to recapture those fleeing,only to shoot them.
A young women who was stolen from her parents in Berlin grows up in a forest and learns survival. When she helps one group of naive escapees, she realizes this was her destiny. Two more groups join them and the book races to a climax.
The author has portrayed the main characters well, the fear is palpable, and the conclusion ... well, I won't spoil it.

This book was superbly written and I could not out it down. The characters were believable, the story alternates between heartbreak and joy. I would highly recommend this book.

After reading The Book of Lost Names I said to myself I'd read all of Kristin Harmels books. And this one did not disappoint.

I loved the idea of the book being about survival in the forest. It was a different spin then most ww2 historical fiction. I also loved how we find out in the authors note that the although the characters are fiction, the book was based on an actual group of Jewish survivors totalling around 1200 that somehow managed to survive hidden from the nazis.
The book starts off with lots going on and I was worried it might fizzle out but it never did for me. It was action packed from the very first page. It was heartbreaking. It was romantic, it was a page turner. A fantastic novel.

Yona was taken from her parents at the age of 2years old and raised to survive off the forest and in the forest by her kidnapper. 2 decades later her kidnapper dies and Yona is left to survive alone. She meets some Jewish people fleeing the ghettos in their hometowns that the Germans have set up. She decides to help them survive in the forest and teaches them to disappear and become invisible to trackers.

This book was so full of emotions for me, of all kinds, the horrors of what the Jewish people went through but also the strength and courage they show in this book about survival and taking care of each other.