👍🏻I always appreciate learning more about WWII both at home and abroad. This novel focused on the German/Japanese Internment camps in the US during WWII and the cruelty that German Americans were subject to during this time. It also included the realities of POW's experiences and treatment by the enemy. I learned several facts from the non-fiction passages at the end of many chapters meant to give the reader background on each scene. And I also learned many tenets of the Mormon church through the characters' interactions as well.

👎🏼However, I must admit that this novel seemed as though it was written for a very young audience, in a story format that lent more toward a junior high age group. It was filled with rhetorical questions and underdeveloped scenes. And while it is based on true events, it struck me as a fictional story because of its execution. Personally, I felt that the writing was too simplistic and the dialogue too mundane to make a real connection.

😬In addition, at a whopping 575 pages, the novel seemed to have a lot of unnecessary minutia that didn't serve to move the plot along.

💯However, because I really did learn quite a bit, I'm going with 2.5 stars rounded to 3... but tbh, it just wasn't my preferred writing style.

🙏Many thanks to @netgalley and American Legacy Media for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Not many Americans are aware off the German internment camps in the US during World War II
This is a fiction novel that was inspired by true event in the US. One of the better kept secrets on how naturalized American Citizen that were born in Germany were discriminated against, stripped of their citizenship, imprisoned and deported back to Germany often with bad results ones they arrived back in Germany. They were treated as spies in the US and in Germany.
At the end of each chapter the author gives a footnote clarifying the factual data that inspired the story.
Another item is the treatment of the woman pilots. They were never fully accepted by the military, dealing with cranks from the all-male military including sabotage of the planes that ended some of them costing their lives.
Hank barely survives his time as a prisoner of war in Germany and his doubts about his religion doesn’t make it easier.
The religious undertones in the book is done in a nice way without it been preachy so that even a non-religious person will not take offence and enjoy the book
This is definitely a book worth reading

I will admit I am not finished with this book yet. It has a bit of a slow start for me. It seemed like quite a few different characters and took a bit for me to feel invested in their stories. I am enjoying it so far though and will update when I complete it :)

For Malic and Mercy by Gary W. Toyn

There is much history written in story format that I believe is written more for younger than older readers. The writing is simple and straightforward but for some reason did not “grab me” even though the story had potential to do so. I could not get into the story and found myself skimming ahead to see what would happen and how it would end. I chose not to invest more time to read word for word. I am sure that some will enjoy this book and learn much from it perhaps even being uplifted by reading it but, this book was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and American Legacy Media for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

I tried to read this book and the story could be fabulous. It is very interesting but the continuous references and footnotes took me out of the story so often I couldn't finish. If a book is fiction leave the references in the back, if its non fiction then yes the footnotes are. appropriate.

For Malice and Mercy by Gary W. Toyn

I've read novels that deal with the WWII interment of Japanese Americans and also camps that housed German POWs in the United States. I wasn't aware that over 11,000 German Americans were also sent to internment camps and many of them were then sent to Germany, a country that they had left so they could live in the United States. This story tells us about Karl and Marta Meyer, German immigrants, loyal Americans, and parents to two children who were born in the United States. Once the US enters the war, the FBI began rounding up some German Americans and Karl and Marta are taken from their home and stripped of everything, including their citizenship and rights.

Still, their son, Hank, wants to serve his country and he enlists in the US Army Air Corps while his sister works long hours as a nurse. There are also their friends, Chester, who is in the Navy and Billie, who is able to use her pilot skills to serve in one of the ways women were allowed to help during the war. This story uses real life events, either leaving them as they really happened or using those events as the basis for things that happen to the Meyers and their friends.

The story is told in a casual manner, as we get to know the characters and the challenges they face. After some chapters there will be notes describing the real events and how they were altered for the purpose of this story. Often I will research subjects of the historical fiction I am reading but there were enough notes that I didn't feel the need to look for more information. I did feel like the notes inserted throughout the book did take me out of the story and I would have liked them to be at the end of the book with the other documentation.

There is so much of the story that I could relate to what I've already read and I enjoyed being aware of events, large and small, while learning of real events that I didn't know as much about. Thanks to this story, I want to know a lot more about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and the dangers and resentments they faced as they did their part to help the war effort. I have gotten to add some new perspectives in the way I understand how WWII impacted Americans, including the German Americans who were persecuted in such shameful ways.

Thank you to American Legacy Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

Just when you think you have read every kind of WWII novel you could read, you are blindsided by one so good, so unique and written so we'll that you have to let everyone know!!

For Malice And Mercy: A World War II Novel by Gary W. Toyn is a historical fiction novel, but based in historical fact. Mr. Toyn has told such a great story, complete with chapter notes, to provide historical context to his story. This is a story about Hank and Ella. They are son and daughter to German immigrants, Karl and Marta. Karl and Marta immigrated to the US, met each other and we're married, and had Hank and Ella. They become naturalized citizens and are living their life in America when Pearl Harbor is bombed by Japan. Once that happens the government starts to round up not only Japanese immigrants, but German ones as well(historical fact). This book follows Karl and Marta's arrest and internment in a P.O.W. Camp, Ella's life in becoming a nurse and Hanks life and a enlisted man in the Army Air Corps. There is so much to this book, as it follows their lives before, during and after the war. But what is most prevalent is the amazing amount of research done to tell this story. And just when you think you have learned everything about WWII along comes another book that teaches you something new. Thank you Mr. Toyn, for creating such an amazing book. 4⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, American Legacy and Gary W. Toyn for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

I have an absolute fascination with WWII, especially the pacific theater but I almost always seem to forget that there were, in fact, German Americans in the United States at the time.

This is the story of the family of a naturalized German Family and their experiences during WWII.

The book was well researched, something that the author reminded you at the end of chapters with historical notes. Now these notes, while useful, do have the potential to pull you out of the story if you are someone that needs to just stay in the story.

Karl and Marta are naturalized German immigrants that settled and raised a family in Utah. As WWII goes on tensions in the community arise and after the events of Pearl Harbor, the family finds themselves rounded up and sent to an internment camp by the FBI and eventually deported to Germany.

Their son, Hank, went into the Army and their daughter, Ellie, was training to be a nurse.

This story is about how the family has to work through these events. How they find themselves trying to survive in a world where it feels like no one wants them.

Lives are tossed upside down, betrayal is just around the corner, and desperation drives.

This book had a lot going on and could have easily been its own duology or trilogy with each book focused on just one group but that did not take away from the book in my opinion. In fact, it made the book something harder to put down because i wanted to know what happened next.

It isn’t enough to say this was a wonderful book. It simply isn’t. I’m not sure I have words to do it justice, but I’m going to give it a try.

I enjoy historical fiction very much, especially the WWII time period. One of the chief reasons is that it’s entertaining as well as informative. I’ve never come away from such a book without learning new information in a compelling and gripping way. For Malice and Mercy is a great example.

For instance, I knew that many Japanese Americans we’re interred and relocated during WWII, but I didn’t know the same was true of German Americans. That was the case with Karl and Marta Werner, ripped from their home in the night, held without due process or charges, interred and ultimately deported to Germany. Could they have been treated more un-Americanly?

Their children, Ella and Hank, left to pick up the pieces in a community that subsequently saw them as traitors. Still they carried on. Ella becoming a nurse and Hank enlisting in the Army Air Corps. Coming from a Mormon background in Utah, much of the trouble they experienced both in the community and trying to settle their beliefs against the realities of a cruel war presented an ongoing struggle. Hank, after being shot down, betrayed by his grandmother and sent to a POW camp lost faith. Through a set of “miraculous” events he found his way back and to Billie, a hometown girl, who herself had to find a way home.

Wonderfully researched and written. Thank you Gary Toyn and NetGalley for the chance to read and offer my review.

This book taught me some of the untold stories of WWII and I have never read anything quite like it. It is based on one German family’s true events and is very eye opening. It is an incredible story.
Many thanks to American Legacy Media and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have very mixed feelings on this book. It was really well written, and fascinating, yet I didn't get any of the "feels" and almost felt like I was reading a super interesting history book.

First, this tells the story of a family and close friends of theirs. It tells their story from multiple points of view, which I love. But it's not just any family that's central to the story - it is a German family living in American during WW2.

There would be a chapter, or a few chapters from one point of view. Then there would be footnotes that explained how close to true life these events were and what really occurred. Then the next chapter/section would be about a different character. It was really well researched, and it was totally fascinating. But.... I also felt like the author took some super interesting, lesser known facts about events that occurred and built the story around them. So I didn't get a good flow from the book.

For instance, there may be a true event where the plan of a female pilot was sabotaged. In the story, one of the characters was there when this happened. Then the footnote would tell the story of the incident. I learned a lot about history, and how German Americans and female pilots were treated and I was shocked.

That being said, I couldn't stop reading - I had to know what happened next. I really enjoyed this book, but wanted more of a connection to the characters.

This was an interesting story based on WWII and how the US handled Americans of German decent.
I knew of the American Japanese Interment but never knew about the American German side of it.
The story takes place in Utah and focuses on German Mormon's. The story is about how faith can get
one through the hardest of times , even when we question our faith it guides us to the answers we seek.

This excellently written and thoroughly researched historical fiction novel of WW II started a little slow for me but gradually worked its way into my mind and heart. The main characters are fully developed and display all sides of their humanity-good and bad-over the course of the plot. Telling the story of WW II from the side of German Americans and women pilots-two under reported groups-made this doubly interesting to me. I thank #netgalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC of #formaliceandmercy to read.

This was a fairly long book. When I started it, I remember thinking "this better be good for me to stick with it through 584 pages". As I moved along through the story and got to know the characters, I didn't even notice where I was in the book until I hit 50%. Then I thought "well the first half was really good and I have to see what happens to all these people I now know and care about". And when I finished it last night, I said "No, it can't be over yet! I have to find out what happens in the rest of their lives!" This book is that good. One technique I especially liked was the chapter notes at the end of a lot of the chapters. The book is a work of fiction about German immigrants in the US during WWII who are rounded up and sent to a camp in Texas under suspicion of being German spies. They ultimately get their US citizenship taken away and deported back to Germany as part of a POW trade deal. They leave behind in America an adult son and daughter who finds ways to participate in the war effort against Germany and have their own share of ups and downs with carrying a German name and speaking German fluently. The chapter notes explained actual events that happened during that time that the author wrote into his characters' lives. He gives the real names of the people he based the characters on and where you can find more about their story. It really made the whole story come alive more to think this stuff happened to real people and wasn't just invented in the author's mind. I read in the notes at the end of the book that the author mostly has written non-fiction books but I have to say that he made the transition to fiction very smoothly. I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

We all know the story, it's history, and we can't change it, but this book give us a look into happens that you really never hear about and most that I never knew. Do they make me unhappy, oh yes, and when you think about the enemy being your own country and fellow countrymen, it becomes both tragic and sad.
I never knew about the German interment camps, just the Japanese, and what happened to American citizens, sad but true facts are revealed in this fictional story that is filled with true facts.
We are on a journey of friendship, betrayal, torture, and finding forgiveness. A read to get lost in, and one that we need never forget what happens so history does not repeat.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher American Legacy Media, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is a great story that tells the story of German naturalized citizens and their family during World War II. I’ve read about what happened to Japanese Americans, but was not aware of similar stories for Germans. Karl and Marta were born in Germany, immigrated to the United States and became citizens. They had two children and were leading a good life on their farm when they were falsely accused of being German spies. They were initially sent to an interment camp, but eventually were deported back to Germany. Through other characters, including their children, the author tells us of women piloting planes around the country, and nursing injured soldiers. We hear stories of pilots and prisoners of war. The author also includes footnotes at the end of most chapters that tell the facts he used to create fascinating stories for his characters. All in all, this is a book worth reading.

What a captivating read this was! It does not get much better than this - a WWII Historical Fiction book based on real events. I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though I was a little intimidated by the length of it, but it flowed along so quickly. Ella and Hank Meyer are siblings born to German parents who moved to the US when they were young. Billie Russell is Ella's best friend and lives next door while Chester Bailey is a new neighbor who becomes close friends to all of them, especially Billie. When the war starts, Chester enlists and Hank enlists when he is old enough. Billie becomes a pilot and delivers war planes while Ella becomes a nurse. The stories of these individuals are so intertwined with each other which makes this such an addictive read. I found the notes, at the end the chapters, very informative.

Thank you NetGalley and American Legacy Media for the ARC of this fascinating book which was well researched and well written.

I've been plugging away at this for several weeks, but just can't get into it. The writer's style is not grabbing me - there is too much mundane dialogue, subplots and reliance on action propelling the book forward - ie who did what, when without a lot of insight into the characters backgrounds, feelings & motivations. It is a long book - 584 pages; I read 20% of it but wasn't engaged enough to continue. The experience of German born naturalized US citizens sent to internment camps during WWII could have the makings of a compelling historical novel. Concentrating on that plot line only would make for a better book.

Talk about an epic novel detailing a family - and each member’s contribution- to the war effort during WWII. We get to experience the era from multiple perspectives, including as a prisoner of war. What do you do when the world is in turmoil, and all that you have come to know is tossed on its head? The piece of historical fiction uses specific resources to bring a sense of authenticity to the story and its one that I need to absorb. This book not only looks at the bravery of the American forces, but also asks the reader to dissect what the government did to those of German and Japanese heritage here in America. It’s a great reminder that we are all flawed. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Forgiveness sets your heart free

Karl and Marta Meyer immigrated from Germany to the U.S. and raised their two children in Utah. When Pear Harbor was bombed tensions grew tight in the U.S. Japanese American's and German American's were rounded up and sent to internment camps. One day the FBI came and arrested Karl and Marta and they were sent to an internment camp and then deported to Germany.

Their son Hank is a soldier in the Army Airborne unit, and their daughter Ellie is training to be a nurse. The best friend of Ellie is Billie who lives with her grandmother across the street. Billie flies planes in the WASP which is a new division for women pilots.

The story is about the horrors of war both in the U.S. and in Germany. How some citizens of the U.S. were treated as spies because of their place of birth. It tells of the conditions in the internment camps. It is a story of the Nazi's in Germany and the horrible acts they committed against innocent people. The sights our young soldiers saw that tormented them far after the war was over. How faith kept a soldier surviving in an awful prisoner of war camp and how he found it in his heart to forgive one of his tormentors.

We see how families worry and grieve for each other when they are in danger and how much love and faith holds a family and friends together. The horrible part of war but also the goodness of people willing to help others.

It is an inspirational story steeped in history. I loved the history briefs at the end of some of the chapters. I learned so much I did not know. It was a good story, well written and well researched. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Gary W. Toyn, American Legacy Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of the book for my honest review.