Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.

Fenna Vos grew up obsessed with Harry Houdini as part as an escape from her tough luck life. During World War II, she is recruited by the British intelligence while being an assistant (actually the brains behind the operation) for a magic show. Fenna uses her illusionist skills to help transform ordinary objects into things that Allied soldiers could use to escape from enemy lines. Fenna learns that her childhood friend and sweetheart is lost in the Netherlands, and she starts a desperate journey to find him and get him home safely.

Ways We Hide, by Kristina McMorris, is a historical fiction novel mixed in with real life figures. I didn't know anything about that side of the intelligence world, so it was fascinating to find out that there were quite a few events/inventions that actually happened. It was an entertaining and well written read, especially for people who enjoy history.

This book had some interesting parts, but for my reading, it was too long and the parts about her childhood could have been shortened to still give us the same impact. She is a talented magician, that gets recruited to help in the war efforts/helping with escapes. There is a lot of interesting history and strong characters that grow and that I cared about

Kristina McMorris, the author of ‘The Ways We Hide” has written an intriguing and captivating novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Romance. I love the novel and “magical approach” that Kristina McMorris has used in describing how illusion and magic can be a show maker, and yet be used during World War Two. The story takes place during World War Two and goes to the past regarding the characters and events. The places where the novel takes place are America, England, and Europe. There is danger, destruction, threats, and possible death.

The author describes her dramatic characters as complex and complicated. Some are survivors and brave. During the tragedy of war, some characters are depicted as evil, and some are kind and risk their lives to be helpful. The female protagonist in the story Fenna Vos, grows up in America, and after tragedy finds herself in an orphanage. Fenna seeks out her friend Arie, who had helped free her of a terrible situation when she was trapped. Fenna and Arie have their own communication and do understand each other. Both care deeply for each other, but Fenna sets out to make her own way in the world.

Fenna has always been intrigued by Houdini and magic, and creates a magical show. Military Intelligence in Britain, M19 is interested in her ideas and gadgets to help fight Germany, and Fenna finds herself involved with espionage. Fenna has no idea the perilous journey she has to face, and realizes that there are “many ways that we hide”.I would highly recommend this thought-provoking and unique historical fiction novel.

Book Title: Ways We Hide
Author: Kristin McMorris
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction
Pub Date: September 6, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars

Fenna Vos, a skilled illusionist who was raised by her widowed father in Michigan, her mother died in childbirth. Life hasn’t been easy for Fenna and then they get worst however, she but has the support of Arie Jansen, and his parents.
Fenna's always been interested in magic tricks, she and Arie learn to communicated by using a secret and code.
We read most of her story when Fenna was an adult, and the brains behind a Magician/Illusionist act.

After one late after a show she is approaches by Major Hutton asking if she could aid the war efforts by using her skills. When we join her as an adult, she’s now the BRAINS behind a Magician/Illusionist act.
She is approached late one evening by Major Hutton. He asks if she could aid the war efforts by using gadgets and other things that MI9 designed including hidden maps.

Kristin McMorris tells us about her research ~
She discovered that the British intelligence department responsible for this ingenious tactic was MI9, or what she dub the "go-go-gadget team of WWII." States that more than a few of the devices they engineered would absolutely amaze us.

I am not a WWII fan also prefer plot driven stories rather than character. ~ SO why was I attracted to this this? Well although I am not a fan of WWII as it was such a sad terrible time, I was curious about Michigan and yes the MI9 gadgets.

Also Kristin McMorris gives us a lot of info at the end of this book in the following articles:
 Author’s Note ~ she tells us how her research helps inspire her writing. For example using a webpage that inspired her novel " Sold on a Monday" there was a picture of children being offered for sale. (I didn’t read that novel but certainly am interested now!)
~ She tells us how the documentation of young victims back in 1913 in Calumet. Michigan’s
Italian Hall Disaster inspired this story. She offered many pages of information on her
research. In fact, the information at the end of this book are stories in themselves!
For more information, you can visit www.KristinaMcMorris.com
 ~ Further Reading: lists many resources
 ~ Acknowledgments
 ~ About the Author

Want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 6, 2022

This is an unforgettable story of two childhood friends that have no idea what’s about to come as they play games together. We never know what’s next … do we?

Magic. It started as simple games when Fenna was playing with her friend Arie in a small town of Michigan in the 1930s. Later, she used everything she learned to make some money managing a show. It was a blend of illusion and danger with her partner Charles on stage. When they had a loud argument over the way it was going, she was ready to depart. Just so happened that a recruiter from the war office in London overheard this loud dispute. He said, “Your unique skills should be utilized for a grander purpose than amusement on a stage.”

That’s when in 1942 she left NYC and started working as a temporary wartime civil servant in England. Fenna grabbed onto everything she knew within the world of illusion to create ways to help the fighters survive through the horrors of WWII. She created ways of using playing cards, board games, gadgets and various tricks to escape some seriously tough situations. Then she took a gamble on her own life. The storytelling was so involved, it made me feel tense at times.

The author used a lot of resources -- articles, notes and books -- to write this story. While the book is 496 pages, the chapters are relatively short and it reads quickly with a lot of suspense. It includes a bit about Houdini’s role with spies during the war. We tend to think of magic shows as entertainment. Yet, the book shows us how powerful it can be to manipulate one’s attention to escape and hopefully survive any type of hostility.

My thanks to Kristina McMorris, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected publication date of September 6, 2022.

4.5
Fans of historical fiction from the WWII era will love Kristina McMorris's "Ways We Hide.". The integration of magic and gadget making breathes new life into the genre. The story is told from the point of view of Fenna Vos, the daughter of immigrants who was orphaned at a young age, escaped the orphanage to which she was sent and later taken in by her best friend, Arie's, family, Fenna is both both fabulously strong and vulnerable at the same time. She is fascinated by a book of magic tricks and the life of Houdini and pursues a life on the stage designing tricks and acting as the assistant to her magician partner.

She is solicited by a British man to come to London to help with the war effort by using her talents to design gadgets which can covertly carry information to the network of spies risking their lives to stop Hitler. The designs she and the M19 group she works with comes up with are captivating, In the Epilogue, I enjoyed reading about the true stories surrounding the these devices and the leader of this unit. I plan on reading his biography, as well.

This is a gripping story which brings you through the immigrant American life, the transient performer's life, a world at war and and what one will do for for those they love. There are so many ways we hide, most often in plain sight from the ones we love the most. I hope that you, too, will be spellbound by reading The Ways We Hide. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so different from anything that I have ever read and super intriguing. I had never heard of illusionists being used during WW2 and really appreciated the author's notes at the end. The notes really added to the story. I loved the MC, Fenna, and was rooting for her from the beginning.

I was pulled in from the first chapter but the interest died down a bit in the second half of the book. My main critique is that I felt the book was a little longer than it needed to be. It was paced very well; however, with the chapters being a good length.

I think this will be a bestseller for a lot of people. While it wasn't a 5-star read for me, I definitely am intrigued by the author's writing and will be checking out more of her books.

This is a wonderful story of love, courage, and a determination to help one’s country. Loved every minute of reading it!

The Ways We Hide was a beautiful, but at times extremely sad, WWII historical fiction novel. It is a story of a childhood friendship that begins during a tragic event and grows into a complicated love story that is marked by the events of a terrible war. Fenna, the beautiful American heroine, is a resilient and incredibly strong woman. Her amazing talent of being able to perform magic tricks sets her on a path of assisting Britain’s war efforts. Arie, Fenna’s best friend from childhood is a determined and brave figure who will do whatever it takes to save his family.

I did find the story a little hard to get into at first. It was not quite what I expected and different to other WWII historical fiction that I typically read. But then something changed and suddenly I just wanted to keep reading and finding out what would happen next. A fantastic book by a wonderfully gifted author.

I received an ARC copy of this book thanks to the author and NetGalley.

Historical fiction fans rejoice! Kristina McMorris has crafted another spectacular tale based on little-known parts of history with her imagination tying it all together.
Fenna Vos, a US-born child of Dutch immigrants, experiences immense tragedy and loss in her early years. An unlikely friendship and the magic of Houdini combine to help her not only survive but blossom into a magical performer in her own right. With World War II raging on, creative minds seek new solutions to help POWs. Fenna’s experience with illusions proves to be just what is needed and sends her across the Atlantic and into unfathomable danger.
A unique tale, the story of Fenna grabbed my interest and had me wondering which parts were true and which were imaginary. In her author’s note, McMorris lets readers know; I was so surprised to find that many of the outlandish events actually occurred or were based on real events! The author masterfully weaves a theme throughout the book and allows her characters to develop and grow over the course of the novel.
If you are looking for an edge-of-your-seat tale, look no further than this book. Countless times I gasped out loud at the situations playing out on the page before my eyes. It had great pacing, allowing me to find the breaks in the narrative while simultaneously wishing I could get back to the adventure instead of sleeping.
Even if you think you’ve read your fill of World War II historical fiction, The Ways We Hide offers a unique look into that time period. The author provides a detailed story with information about the era without the annoying “info dumps” found in some other historical fiction works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

As someone who loves historical fiction but is maybe a bit burned out on WWII novels, I was a bit worried about this book - however, I really ended up enjoying Ways We Hide.

Told by Fenna, who discovers her love of magic as a young child she grows up to become an assistant to an escape artist. She ends up being called by the British military intelligence to help design escape aids. I loved reading this part of the book as I learned so much about the devices they engineered to aid in the war.

I really enjoyed many aspects of this book - there was a lot of action that kept me engaged, bits of history I had never heard before and even a little romance thrown in there. If you love historical fiction, I would pick this book up!

Thanks, Netgalley, for the ARC of this book!

The main character, Fenna, is a skilled illusionist with multiple life changing events. The Ways We Hide is full of loss, family, danger, and a bit of romance. I enjoyed reading about a part of history that I had no knowledge of. The writing is wonderful, and it is evident that extensive research was done. Unfortunately, I thought the story was a bit slow in some areas and I was not fully engaged until more than halfway through. The author notes at the end are very informative and fascinating. If you are on Facebook check out the author's page to view clips of M19 gadgets that were used for servicemen. An interesting story with a wonderful ending.

The ways we hide by Kristina McMorris is an intriguing book of relationships, illusions, escape, personal struggles, and overcoming the past. This book will have you reading late into the night to finish the story. The ways we hide has love, tragedy, and discovery of our strengths and pathway through life. You will meet the well developed characters of Fen and Arie and journey with them through their lives. The ways we hide is a historical fiction novel set in WWII. I have read a lot of other books about WWII but haven't heard of the escape and evasion side which is presented on the main stage in Kristina's book. I recommend picking up a copy of The ways we hide soon and begin your journey with Fen and Arie.
I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Not your typical WW2 story. How does a poor miners daughter from Michigan find herself helping soldiers escape? With magic. An unusual take on ways to fight a war.

I received an ARC of this novel from Sourcebooks through Netgalley in exchange for my review. This is the second novel I have read from Kristina McMorris and it did not disappoint! Her novels are always unique and well researched and I always feel like I’m getting a sneak peak of a time in history that I knew little about . In this case I knew quite a bit about WWII but Kristina McMorris put the events of WWII through the eyes of a young lady, Fenna Vos, who aspires to be a female Harry Houdini. Fenna had no idea that her ease with magic would very soon be used as a weapon of war. I thought Fenna was a very strong character placed in a unique situation and this made for a very compelling story. I highly recommend.

I ABSOLUTELY loved this story!!! And I love this author as well!!! How fascinating to discover this extraordinary part of our history with "creative hiding places"!!! Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!!!

The Ways We Hide was a very thought provoking World War 2 historical fiction. I lost count of how many times I searched for more information. I needed to know more. U.S. Schools just didn't teach enough. University history classes didn't teach enough. Growing up; my mom didn't share enough. It is authors like Kristina McMorris that are teaching me so much. The horrors of WW2 can not be repeated.

The Ways We Hide tells the story of Fenna. The story begins with her early years, because it explains why she is the way she is. The story illustrated her talents for escape and creating illusions. After all that is the reason M19 wants her in England. Arie, her best friend and first love is the reason she does the unexpected.

The Ways We Hide gives glimpses into the challenges for an American women; moving, living and working for the British Government. Fenna was so brave to make that move. Traveling on a ship was dangerous and uncomfortable. She had two strikes against her from the beginning--woman and American. Her situation added a lot of drama to the story. I honestly don't know people like her did it.

The Way We Hide tells the story of desperation. Fenna does the unthinkable and goes behind enemy lines to prove her own beliefs. The reader learns of the struggles of the SOE and the risks they made. We owe them all so much. I learned more about the challenges of blending in a foreign country and got gaining the attentions of the Nazis.

I could go on and on but you need to read this story. The more we know the less risk we are at repeating the past. The story is filled with so many emotions and unexpected twists leaving me shocked and reading on and on. This is not a warm and fuzzy book. In fact it felt real. The horrors or war riddled the pages. It is filled with shocking surprises and lots of terrifying moments.

The Ways We Hide is a historical fiction, so I didn't expect a happy ending. I wanted it one but isn't reality. In war there is survival and death. The story is a great reminder.

This is a book that grabs you immediately. Fenna Vos is a magician (masquerading as a magician's assistant) who is recruited to assist the British War Office creating hidden devices and maps to help Allies captured and hiding behind enemy lines. As soon as you are drawn into this intriguing concept, you are taken back in time to Fenna's origin story. Warning, she hasn't had an easy time of it. The author has done considerable research and overlays many stories of the time over Fenna's story, and many of them are tragic. Magic is how Fenna copes and she becomes quite good at it, leading to her eventual recruitment by the British War Office.

Her time in England is a bit anticlimactic if you are expecting her to devise disappearing airmen tricks, but that isn't what saved so many. The genius was in the small tricks such as hiding maps in monopoly games. Once again, Kristina McMorris has done her homework. She includes many actual details of this brilliant and creative group.

The real excitement comes in the last third of the book when Fenna has to push out of her comfort level to save someone important to her. This part of the book comes complete with many of the true horrors of World War II as seen through the eyes of the Dutch.

My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.

DNF
30% into this book and I gave up. I dislike magic/magicians, so this book just wasn't a good fit for me.

I will start by saying I absolutely loved Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris and was so looking forward to reading Ways We Hide. Unfortunately I abandoned the book at 60 percent in. Every once in a while there was a section I started to enjoy so I continued to keep reading. After giving it a whole hearted attempt I found I just could not get into a rhythm. The book just dragged on. I see many great reviews for this book so I am sure there is an audience for it. If you are a fan of Kristina McMorris I would recommend giving it a try. Maybe it was just my frame of mind at the time. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.