Member Reviews
There can never be too many stories about the mostly Jewish experience in the death camps of WWII. It is a horrible truth that needs to be remembered. This story is based on the experiences of 3 teenage sisters in Auschwitz and their life afterward in the new state of Israel. While the facts are emotional and compelling, the writing, for me, didn’t seem to bear the weight of the subject.
Thanks to NetGalley and St, Martin’s Press for the ARC to read and review.
This book is heartbreakingly good. This is the third book in The Tattooist of Auschwitz series. You do not have to read any of the previous books to read this one. I do highly recommend reading them though.
“Against all odds, three Slovakian sisters have survived years of imprisonment in the most notorious death camp in Nazi Germany: Auschwitz. Livia, Magda, and Cibi have clung together, nearly died from starvation and overwork, and the brutal whims of the guards in this place of horror. But now, the allies are closing in and the sisters have one last hurdle to face: the death march from Auschwitz, as the Nazis try to erase any evidence of the prisoners held there. Due to a last minute stroke of luck, the three of them are able to escape formation and hide in the woods for days before being rescued.”
The book is based on the true stories of Livia, Cibi and Magda. The story of how they all ended up at Auschwitz and what they had to do to be together and survive. The book focuses on their family and the aspects of what they encountered at this horrible place. The author does not go into a lot of additional detail about things that happened that did not involve the sisters. I read this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down. I was so drawn into the story.
I hope that the author continues to share these stories to give names to both victims who perished and also the victims who survived.
A story of hope and memory that is a perfect companion to The Tattooist Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey. I hope this isn’t the end of the series!
I have read the author's first two books in this series, "The Tattooist of Auschwitz " and "Cilka's Journey" and found both of them to be deeply emotional true stories of love, courage, bravery and the resilience of the human spirit.
This story is of three sisters, who when they were very young made a promise to their father that they would stay together, to always take care of each other and be there for each other no matter what. Quite a heavy promise to uphold if you ask me.
When the war arrives, and the youngest sister is ordered to go to a "work camp", the oldest Cibi joins her, upholding that long ago promise. The middle sister is sick in the hospital at the time and is left behind with their mother and grandfather. The two sisters are taken to Auschwitz, where they quickly learn the true horrors of Nazis camps.
Although Magda, the middle sister wants to follow her other two sisters and find them, she obeys the wishes of her mother and grandfather and hides from the Nazis for as long as she can. Finally they come not only for Magda but for the rest of the family as well. Magda is separated from her mother and grandfather, but eventually despite all odds ends up in the same camp as her two sisters, where they are soon reunited.
The sister's story is a great story of survival and love and I do not want to detract from that in any way. It is their personal story of surviving a living hell that we as readers will never fully comprehend. That being said, I must say that I don't feel this story has held up to the standards of the previous two. Their time in the camps felt glossed over and to me just seemed like they had it too easy compared to some other books I have read. I realize the focus of the story was on the sister's relationships with each other and the love of family, but I just feel that some of the story was written in a unrealistic style for the situations they were in. And to take the promise so literally, that they had to physically be together to be there for one another I found a little bit too much also, very unrealistic.
After saying all this I must say that the afterwards at the end of the book were a pleasant and welcome surprise. If nothing else they made the reading worth it. It was great to get the points of view of the surviving sisters and of their family members, this is what really touched me, hearing how all of this has affected generations upon generations and continues to do so. Reading the words of the family members we see that the Holocaust has continued to leave its mark on generations of families and it is something that should be written about, should be kept alive so that we do not forget the evil that lurks in the shadows, so that this horrible period in history is never repeated again.
I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans, just don't expect a real heavy read, it does tell of the horrors of the camps, but not in great detail. It is a good story of sisterly love and devotion which makes it worthwhile to read. I feel every survivor of that horrible time should have their story told, if somehow possible. One is no more or less than the other, they are all stories we need to hear and learn from.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the free ARC of this novel, I am leaving my honest review in return
It's 1929 and three young Slovakian sisters make a promise to their father to always look after each other and to stay together no matter what. That promise made by Cibi, Magda and Livia will be tested in the hell of Auschwitz as they do what they must to survive every day. I was overwhelmed by these three amazing sisters who managed to not only survive but thrive after enduring the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Their story was heartbreaking, inspiring and compelling from beginning to end making it impossible to put down.
This is a heart-wrenching story inspired by the lives and actual events experienced by three sisters, Cibi, Magda, and Livi. The sisters are living in Slovakia at the rise of WWII and cling to a promise made to their deceased father that they would always stay together. This is a story of their harrowing journey through the Birkenau-Auschwitz concentration camps, the death march, and their eventual relocation to the promised land, Israel.
Three Sisters is the final book in The Tattooist of Auschwitz trilogy. I’ve read the two prior publications in the trilogy and I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Although it was great to see familiar names reappear from her earlier work, Three Sisters is a standalone novel.
Aspects I particularly enjoyed about this book:
⭐️The courage and continued hope of the sisters throughout their imprisonment.
⭐️The inspiring and selfless way they care for each other.
⭐️The wrap up of their lives in the promise land following being liberated.
⭐️The afterwords from Livia and her family.
Many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Heather Morris for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Three Sisters is out October 5th.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#NetGalley #ThreeSisters #HeatherMorris
Another beautiful novel by Heather Morris. She captured the hope and horror of WWII (and the years after) for yet another group of brave souls who help us bear witness to the worst parts of humanity.
I would imagine that she will continue to be approached to tell these stories, and I will cry my way through every one.
5 out of 5 stars
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me Three SIsters in exchange for my honest review. Three Sisters by Heather Morris is the third installment of The Tattooist of Auschwitz series. Three Sisters is the conclusion to the series and I am pleased with how Morris presented the story as a whole. This book was another emotional journey into the past and continues to open my eyes to the horrors that many experience in the war.
In Three Sisters Heather Morris has brought to life the story of what three sisters lived through during World War II. Ms Morris has the reader living through how the sisters ended up in Auschwitz and Birkenau prison camps, to freedom, and finally the journey to Israel. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to review.
Heather Morris did it again. The way she makes such a hard historical subject enjoyable to read is a true gift. I literally couldn't put this one down. I know that it says it's # 3 in the series but I only picked up on one or two references that I recognized from the other books so I do believe it can be read as a stand alone book.
The resilience and grit of the three sisters portrayed in this book will stay with me for a long time. We can never truly imagine what the Jews endured at the hands of the Nazis however there were times that the author's descriptions made me feel like I was an outsider looking in. She did an amazing job with every description.
The fact that this is a true story and that at least two of the sisters are still alive for the author to get first hand accounts is awesome. These stories need to continue being told by the survivors!
I had read the previous book by this author. I have read so many WW2 books that I wasn’t really looking forward to another one. While the three sisters endured a lot it wasn’t as hard to read as some others. They’re strong women and their desire or promise to stay together is what helped them endure all they did.
I thought it was a good story, maybe a bit too long towards the end. I enjoyed it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
3.5 stars, rounded up
Warning - there is a major disconnect between the synopsis of this book and what it actually covers. My rating is based on what I hoped to get out of the book, not the quality of the book itself. The book itself was well written and expressive.
Three Sisters is the third book in The Tattooist of Auschwitz series. I will admit I’m looking to take a break from WWII fiction and only picked this up because it purports to be about what happens to the sisters after the war has ended when they arrive in Israel. But that’s not entirely true. The first 60% of the book covers their experience in the concentration camps and their escape at the end of the war. This first part of the book is a rehash of every other book about the concentration camps. Sad, depressing and horrible, but I felt like I’d heard it many times before.
I wanted to appreciate this more than I did. The story is based on real women, and my heart went out to these women. Their strength was amazing, especially their ability to put the needs of their sisters ahead of their own needs. As is said in the Afterword, the story is a testament to the power of love and devotion. But for me, I want to learn something new from historical fiction. This is why I blame the synopsis of the book. I expected a book about the influx of Jews to Israel after the war. It’s what I wanted to learn about. The synopsis literally says “ And this is where the story begins. From there, the three sisters travel to Israel, to their new home.” But it’s not where the story begins. The last 40% of the book describes their return to Slovakia and their attempt to reach Israel. I was much more interested in this part of the book, as it was all new to me. I wish the book had focused more on this time in their lives. I also wished that Morris had found a way to give us more details about the formation of the new country.
So, I recommend this to those who are still looking to learn about the concentration camps. For those who have already read other books on the subject, including the author’s first two, I can only give a more cautious recommendation.
I both read and listened to this. I found the narrator, Finty Williams, did a less than stellar job. The voices of the young sisters often came across as whiny.
My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.
Three sisters is about three Slovakian sisters who make. promise to always look out for each other. When the youngest is taken by the Germans the oldest goes with her to stay together, while the middle is in the hospital sick. THis story shows determination by the sisters to stay alive and together. It is heartbreaking to see what they go through and how hard it is for them.
I did not want to put this book down it was intriguing to read about the strength of these girls that later became women. I am glad I read it and was able to learn from it as well.
** I received a copy of this bok from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**
Three Sisters written by Heather Morris is much more than the typical "Holocaust" novel. At times, it is gut-wrenching and painful to read. But, the love for family pervails and warms the heart. It is a story of survival against all odds and triumph. The main characters, Cibi, Magda, and Livi are based on real people which makes the book even more poignant. I don't like to summarize the plot, as anyone can read a synopsis. I highly recommend this novel. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this magnificent novel!
Having read the previous two books by Heather Morris, I was excited to see that she had a new book releasing. This one featured three sisters who did their best to keep a promise they had made to their father to take care of one another. But the events of the period certainly made that a monumental task! When the oldest and the youngest are taken to a concentration camp, the middle child is devastated. Who wouldn't be in this situation? But she is mainly upset that she is not with them, even if it means she too is put into a concentration camp. At times very difficult to read, this book shows the enduring human spirit and the incredible will of these sisters to keep their promise and to survive. Not to be missed is the afterward, which features the real life family members giving their thoughts on the sisters. The incredible opportunity that the author had to meet these women was certainly not wasted in her efforts to tell their story.
Another winner from Heather Morris! I loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey and this is an excellent addition to these stories. All of them tell the stories of real people. They are well researched. In Three Sisters, the author spent time interviewing two of the sisters as well as children, grandchildren. To me, the best part of the story was after the war and the concentration camps. We see the attempts to go back to their old lives as well how they forge new lives in Israel. Somehow these three sisters not only survived because of their strong bond with each other, but went on to have wonderful lives. I loved this book!
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't wait reading it once i stated because i needed to know how the story ended. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is the third in the series. I’ve enjoyed them all and found the stories compelling. This was also good, but I’m not sure if I’m a little burnt out on the Holocaust stories or what, but there didn’t seem to be a lot of “new” in the storytelling during the sisters’ time in the camps. I did find the part about their new lives in Israel interesting, but by then the book was dragging a bit.
All of that being said, this was a good book. I’d probably give it 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 and would recommend it to others.
“They abandoned us and now they’re welcoming us home?”
Three Sisters is the third book in a series about the Holocaust, written by Heather Morris. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Chilka’s Journey but found this book to be very slow with nothing really new to learn. All three books can be read independently of each other.
The story centers around three sisters who make a promise to their father to always stay together. Morris actually interviewed two of the sisters for this story which is amazing. I am currently 64 percent into the book and am skimming through to get to the end. As I always say I really don’t like to rate a book on the Holocaust poorly so this is a difficult rating for me. I commend authors for continuing to write about this very difficult time in history. We must never forget. So thank you Heather Morris for keeping this history alive and telling the sisters story. I will continue to look for your up and coming books.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a heart wrenching story. And to find out it was true mind boggling. So beautifully written to draw you right into the three sisters lives before during and after. Brought tears to my eyes.
I can't imagine the lives they lived and having to go through all that. Thank you to the author for making this not just a touching book but a very important book to read.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.