Fenna Vos has a very traumatic childhood. Her mother died in childbirth, and she is raised by her dad, a copper miner. She is also involved in the Italian Hall disaster, which resulted in numerous deaths including children. During the disaster, Fenna meets Arie Jansen and so develops a life-long friendship with him and his family.

During Fenna’s childhood, we see the development of her love of magic and how her and Arie communicate secret messages. It becomes her coping mechanism to get through the difficult times. We also watch as the relationship between Arie and Fenna develop into more. However, as they both get older, the relationship falls apart.

Fenna pursues a career as a magician/illusionist but like her relationship with Arie is not playing out the way she expected. After one of her shows, Fenna is approached by British Intelligence to use her illusionist and magical talents to help design gadgets to help the Allied forces win WWII and she decides to join the team. The story outlines lots of the different types of gadgets and tricks that were actually utilized by the Allies during WWII.

During Fenna’s work in this role, she is sent on a special mission to Holland. There she finds her path crossing once again with Aria, and lots of those old emotions are resurfaced. During this mission, Fenna will need to use her illusionist powers and other tricks to outwit the Germans and save someone’s life.

This novel, though about WWII, uncovers another facet of the attempts by the Allies to win the war. What is does have in common with other novels about WWII is the lengths individuals went in order to save lives and protect the ones they love.

What I loved:
1. Fenna - her background, her attitude, her brains, her resiliency
2. Historical fiction - always teaching me something new
3. Multiple plot lines that all come together in the end....not usually a fan of "surprise" or two many things going on but this worked for me!
4. Loved the Dutch connection/Holland portions.

What I wanted less of:
1. A tad too long for me - could have been shorter and still achieved the same effect.
2. Was aggravated in the middle because of too many stories!

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“It was a mistake to go backward. Moving forward is the way I’ve survived, eluding traps of all kinds, charging toward the unknown.”

Ways We Hide is one of those historical fiction novels that will leave you thinking about it days after finishing. There’s a lot packed into this book. It’s honestly three or four books in one. It’s a sweeping WWII saga with poignant scenes that will bring you to tears with fascinating historical details woven throughout. It’s the story of a strong woman shaped by surviving multiple tragedies who tries to reconcile her past with the future. It’s tragic yet hopeful and definitely worth reading.

In the first part of the book, we meet Fenna, who struggles during her magic act when her partner goes off script, After one particularly tense performance and exchange afterward, she’s approached by a British Military Officer from the War Office associated with MI9. He offers her a unique opportunity with the military to design gadgets to help soldiers fighting against the Nazis. (Think “Q” from James Bond.) She decides to accept this new assignment and embarks for London.

The next part of the story, we’re whisked away to 1928 and Fenna’s childhood in Michigan. She endures several tragic events as a miner’s daughter including the loss of her mother early in life and surviving a stampede. The one bright spot in her childhood is meeting her friend Arie. He shares with her a Houdini magic book, which she spends hours reading and learning tricks from. As her life progresses from one tragedy to another, she winds up living with Arie and his family. But, when her past comes back to haunt her, she reluctantly runs away to perform on the stage.

We’re brought back to present day 1943 where Fenna is in London trying to find ways to aid in the war effort. Once again, she must face her past when a secret mission leads her deep into Nazi occupied territory. She’s forced to confront past feelings and relationships and this is where the suspense really increases. It’s a heartrending story that will have you in tears by the end.

This book is phenomenal as far as storytelling. The characters are flawed yet lovable. The reason this is a four star read and not a five star for me is pacing. There were a few times in the middle I felt the story dragged a bit. Because there were so many stories in one, it felt almost like I was reading two different books. The author does manage to weave all the stories together beautifully, but there were some aspects that lost my interest until the story picked back up again. The last quarter of the book was unputdownable.

There are two brief love scenes with not a lot of detail. These occur at the end of Chapters 24 and 70 and are easily skippable if you prefer not to read those. There’s also some infrequent mild language. All in all though an epic read with complicated characters, interesting historical detail, and suspenseful situations that will leave you anxiously turning the pages. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and freely given.

I received a complimentary ARC of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, author Kristina McMorris, and publisher Sourcebooks-Landmark. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Ways We Hide of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Kristina McMorris has a formidable backlog of extraordinary stories, any one of which should receive at least ten stars, and The Way We Hide fits right in there with Sold on a Monday and The Pieces We Keep.

Personable, centered characters, backgrounds you can 'see', a plot line you can't see coming - this book has everything you could ask for in a novel. I am pleased to recommend Kristina McMorris to friends and family. She will bring you into her story, a willing participant, in that world she conveys so well.

This novel is a love story about family and those you make your family. It’s is about forging your own path despite the difficulties, which for Fenna becomes WWII. I loved learning about Harry Houdini who she admired. Fenna’s life isn’t easy but it comes full circle in the end.

Ways We Hide, by Kristina McMorris, is a WWII- era historical fiction novel that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. As with her earlier book, Sold on a Monday, McMorris demonstrates her knowledge of the material in an informative and entertaining way. Though I try not to judge a book by its cover, I loved this cover! I had high expectations for this novel and I was not disappointed. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Ways We Hide is a beautiful epic saga of one woman's childhood and early adulthood in which she overcomes significant traumas to understand herself. Lovely writing and a carefully crafted plot made this lengthy book worth the read. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this novel.

I thought that Ways We Hide was incredibly enjoyable. I love WWII historical fiction and this was a really engaging story from beginning to end. Fenna's background and how she became an illusionist was fascinating and it was interesting to see the ways that she was able to utilize her skills when she was put into increasingly difficult situation as the book progressed. I liked that Fenna was a strong independent character who was very determined to do things on her own terms. It was also interesting to learn of the different ways that militaries used magic and illusion elements to help protect their soldiers and help the war effort.

Since I loved her previous book, I was excited to read this one as well and I’m glad I did. This was a heavy subject in a completely different way but it was informative and detailed. It didn’t engage me the way Sold on a Monday did, thus the lower star rating, but I think a lot of people will really enjoy this one.
Fen a Vos is orphaned and grows up in an orphanage and learns to be tough and stand on her own until she meets Arie, and they become childhood sweethearts but they get separated and don’t see each other again until they are adults.
As an adult Fenna is working as a magician/illusionist and after a show one night she is recruited by British Military Intelligence to design escape and evasion gadgets for airmen, POWs and others fighting the Nazis. She uses her abilities with illusion and misdirection to help the Allies win the war.

The author clearly has done a lot of research and she shares a bunch of her sources at the end which was interesting as well.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The Ways We Hide was a clever, and different story of intrigue during World War II. Ms. McMorris has done a wonderful job of presenting the story of Fenna, who winds up participating in the war effort in an unusual and interesting way, that I was unfamiliar with until I read this book. I recommend this book to readers that are interested in Historical Fiction, particularly during this time period. It's definitely well written and different than anything else you've read. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to preview this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first story that I have read by this new to me author, and it definitely will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, because the author pulls you into the story and makes you feel like you were right there with the characters. I love reading stories like that, so I definitely will be looking into reading more of this author’s works. I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys reading about true facts mixed with fiction and history.



I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the ARC! This one came out this week!

What an absolute story! When I tell you I was immediately pulled in, I was. Told in different time periods, the story moved through Fenna’s life, but it wasn’t linear.

Fenna’s time as an escapist’s assistance and behind-the-scenes mastermind had me mesmerized. I love old circus vibes and beginning the book with this pulled me in. The next portion of Fenna’s childhood built on the world before and provided more context. These were by far my favorite parts of the book.

Fenna’s experience helping the war effort and going on a daring adventure of her own was well done, but the pace slowed here. I found myself not as engaged, but as soon as I found myself feeling that way, the story threw in something exciting. In that way, my level of engagement was like a roller coaster. I wish the connection to her escapist experience was a bit more tied to this portion as it seemed to be just an explanation but no real substance.

Overall, this was a well done historical fiction novel. It accomplished much and developed memorable characters.

A Remarkable Tale of Intrigue and Illusion

SUMMARY
Fenna Vos’s mother died in childbirth, but Fenna is a survivor. She learned how to survive at an early age of ten when she was caught in a stampede. When her best friend, Arie Jansen gave her a book of magic tricks, her life was changed forever. She consumed the book and taught herself how to do all the illusions, escapes and magic tricks it contained. She keenly watched other magicians in films and theaters whenever she could and learned even more by studying and deconstructing their acts.

In 1942, Fenna, now 23, is performing a fairly successful magic show two times a day. Although she is the mastermind of the show, she partners with Charles Bouchard and they are currently performing in a Brooklyn, NY medium size theater. On her way home late one rainy night, Fenna is approached by an older gentleman with the British military. Christopher Clayton Hutton believes Fenna has “unique and innovative skills that should be used for a grander purpose than amusement on a stage.” He wants her to design secret and hidden escape aids to help the Allies thwart the Germans in WWII. Reluctantly, Fenna moves to London to use her skills to assist with the war effort. When drawn deep into a secret mission, she soon learns the true meaning of loyalty and courage.

REVIEW
THE WAYS WE HIDE is a remarkable tale of intrigue and illusion inspired by several actual events. Author Kristina McMorris’s writing is as spellbinding as Fenna’s copy of Houdini’s Book of Magic Tricks. The story is poignantly told from Fenna’s point of view and is smartly structured with shifts between the traumatic events of her youth and the current day

Fenna experiences many gut-wrenching events and you can’t help but be amazed at her courage both as a child and an adult in overcoming the obstacles put in her way. The unique childhood friendship she had with Arie plays a delightful and considerable role in Fenna’s life. Fenna’s character was superbly written. Her strengths, weaknesses and needs, and fears were all evident, making her come alive on the page.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Sourcebooks Landmark
Published September 6, 2022
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris is an amazing saga. Don't be daunted by the length of this book! I wish it was longer! The novel begins on a stage in Brooklyn in 1942. That is when we meet Fenna, a young woman performing as a magician's assistant. McMorris takes her reader back to Fenna's tumultuous childhood. Fenna survives a terrible tragedy and later is orphaned. Her childhood friend Arie becomes the most important person in her life, until Fenna disappears and begins a war time adventure. She leaves performing behind when she is asked to go to London to develop spy gadgets for English soldiers. Fenna is a dedicated Houdini disciple and the lessons she learned from Houdini save her life multiple times. Fenna knows how to dissapear. This heartwarming novel is full of suspense, romance and magic.
What a great combination!

Honestly, when I started reading this, I was thinking "why are we reading about a magic show?" Then, it all made sense. This historical fiction novel follows Fenna Vos, the daughter of Dutch immigrants, who finds herself dealing with hardship after hardship. We meet her as a young girl, and quickly follow her through adulthood and going to London to help with the war effort in 1943. This book was captivating. I was hooked almost from the beginning. It takes a few surprising turns, but this story is incredibly moving. I loved the characters and I felt that the author delved deep into their personalities so that we could understand their motivations and driving forces. Overall, this is a great historical fiction novel.

McMorris is a successful American author of many historical fiction novels, her most recent of which was "Sold on a Monday". This new release is in the same genre and this time set mostly during WWII. We meet Fen who is a young woman working as a magician's assistant, but in reality designs most of the tricks. The story then jumps back in time to her troubled childhood and the traumas that made her what she is. Later she is asked to work for the war effort. The author has taken some real events and people and crafted a wonderful story around them, entertaining you as you are educated about events. This is a fabulous recommendation for fans of books such as "The Alice Network" and "The Nightingale". I really enjoyed it.

I am just not sure how to put my thoughts into words with The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris. I really wanted to love this book as much as I have loved her previous books.

This book started strong for me and I was really invested in Fenna’s story and how her love of magic helped her to learn to survive on her own. But halfway through when Fenna went from magician/illusionist to spy I felt like the story spun its wheels a bit and I got lost and uninterested.

Then towards the end McMorris wrapped it all up nicely and I enjoyed the ending.

I would definitely say give the book a chance and read it.

Thank you netgalley and Sourcebooks for and ARC copy.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #SourcebooksLandmark for the free copy of #TheWaysWeHide for review. The opinions are my own.

Yes, it's another woman in WWII story, but it's loosely based on true events and has the unusual premise of the protagonist, Fenna, as an illusionist - great start, right? Reading the Author's Notes at the end made me realize how difficult it is to write historical fiction when you try to base it on facts. #1 the facts don't always work in your timeline; #2 the facts are usually full of holes; #3 the facts can be dry. How to pull that into a readable story??

I love the premise of this plot: A young woman becomes an illusionist who, because of her fascination with Houdini, designs her own tricks while working with a partner. Her expertise lands her in London working with MI19 in a secretive environment creating "illusions" for soldiers to help them get home if captured. Things like hidden maps, compasses, knife blades, etc. disguised as other common things. There really was a person who designed that "Bond" like stuff that helped save many lives.

I think if I'd known the book was based so much on real events I would have been more engaged. It's just amazing how an author can find several true events that happen reasonably close to each other, learn of fascinating people, and then find a way to pull those pieces together into a cohesive story. This book doesn't suffer from one of my main pet peeves: an abundance of angst. Though Fenna struggles with memories of a childhood trauma (one of the true parts of the story), McMorris doesn't let the character sink into self pity and oh-woe-is-me hand wringing. I liked Fenna and Arie and found them believable.

I have a small quibble with some of the dialog (particularly the men) which I guess is supposed to be reflective "of the era", but it sometimes felt corny and like a bad movie. That aside, the book is readable, well researched and written, and I recommend it as a different approach to a WWII novel.

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris is a historical fiction about Finna, an illusionist, who is recruited by British Intelligence to help in WWII. An interesting take with a bold female with an unconventional job, but it is slow in places. I would have liked more of her work in the war than her backstory and the love story, but it was still a good read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest review.

While I was reading this book, I told my husband that it reminded me of the character “Q” from James Bond, so I was quite elated when I read in the author’s notes that Fenna’s boss at MI9 was in part the historical inspiration for Q.

Told in first person by Fenna in 3 parts labeled 1942, 1928 & 1943 respectively, we follow her from a career of designing escape acts back to her childhood and the defining moments that led to her admiration of Houdini and fascination with escapology. During this time, she befriends a boy named Arnie who will impact her life in many ways throughout the rest of the novel. I enjoyed their friendship and subsequent development of their relationship. Fenna’s work on the gadgets for the serviceman during WWII was fascinating as were her suspicions about her secretive boss, Hutton and his mysterious excursions. A sudden and enigmatic encounter with Arnie leads Fenna on a harrowing adventure to uncover the truth in her family’s homeland. Keep the Kleenex handy! Recommended for book clubs.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the free copy provided for an honest review.