This is an emotional family saga, which follows a Ukranian family from the 1920s to the end of the second World War.

I particularly liked main character Katya, who is fictional, but whose experiences are based on that of the author's grandmother. When 18 year old Katya falls in love with a Hungarian soldier and has a baby out of wedlock she faces societal shame and is forced to hand her baby over to be brought up by her older brother and his severe and uncaring wife. When life takes another bitter turn and she is sent to a Gulag, a Russian workcamp she fears she will never see her child again...

This is the second book I have read by this author and it is just as powerful. Although the characters are all fictional they relate the harrowing experiences of many Ukrainian families at this time and, with the current situation in Ukraine these stories are particularly poignant.

"A mother's sacrifice. A secret to keep forever"
...

Having read one of author Tetyana Denford's previous books, which was written with such evocation and poignancy it almost broke me, I was fully prepared for this story to get to me in much the same way. However, I think that if anything, this recounting of generations of a family almost destroyed by WWII and its aftermath, is even more touching and definitely more thought provoking, albeit in a different way to its predecessor. So, here I am, in pieces yet again!

That it is also a historical recounting of the terrible injustices of war, inflicted on Ukraine, a country coveted by so many opposing forces of the time; is to take a mirror to recent and current events in that same country, albeit that some of the aggressors of the past, are now thankfully fighting with and for the Ukrainian people.

This book also forms another true fiction chapter in the lives of some of the author's own ancestors and those of countless other families she has researched, including those who cannot speak for themselves, or have no one left to speak for them.

Tetyana, has written a lovely 'Author's Note', placed at the end of the book, although I would almost recommend that you read this section first, as it wonderfully contextualises so much of the ensuing storyline.

...

Katya's story begins when she is a child living in Ukraine with her parents, who are farmers. She has an older brother Adrian, who has left home to live in the city, where he is working for a law firm and has married the rather nasty and opinionated Nadiya, who covets the kudos her husband's future as a judge will bring. As she turns eighteen, Katya too, wishes to leave the rurality of the farm to forge her own life, although by now, her father is failing fast and has little time left to live. She persuades her mother that a temporary lodging with her brother and sister-in-law would be beneficial for her, and it is whilst she is living with them that she meets young Hungarian soldier Alexander (Sasha). The attraction between them is instant and palpable, so despite all their best attempts at sticking to propriety, the inevitable happens and baby Alexander is born, although Sasha dies in action, unaware that he is to be a father and convinced that Katya had forsaken him.

Because of the social mores of the time, having a child out of wedlock is to heap shame and derision not only on you, but on any family and friends who know you, so an already broken Katya is now completely destroyed by the fait accompli which Adrian and Nadiya present her with. Katya's parents both die without ever knowing of the arrangement between brother and sister, but when it becomes clear that little Alexander is no more than an unwanted and troublesome pawn in Nadiya's plans to further her own future, Katya can take no more, so leaves their home to seek a new life and family of her own, leaving her son a locket holding photographs, which she hopes one day will encourage him to try and piece together the story of his past. Katya meets and marries farmer Volodymyr and together they have a son Petro, although she doesn't tell her husband anything about her past or the secret she keeps, so Alexander is to all intents and purposes, their nephew and Petro's cousin.

When WWII comes, Western Ukraine is first attacked and invaded by German troops, although they are eventually repelled and forced to retreat by the Ukrainian peoples' supposed saviour, Russia. Soviet forces however, are not the benevolent conquerors they purport to be and a new and even more violent occupation regime is enforced upon an already broken population. The two branches of the family are by now quite distant and rarely keep in touch, so whilst a knowing but stoically silent Katya takes care of much of the routine farm work, a now adult Petro and his father act together as part of an organised resistance movement. Meanwhile, Adrian and Nadiya have parted company, whilst cousin Alexander is married to Sofia, has a young son of his own, Evegen and manages his own grocery store.

It is now that the story of Katya and her son Alexander completely diverge, with Katya falling foul of Russian troops who, having got wind of the acts of sabotage committed by her husband and son, come to ransack the farm, arresting Katya in the process, who is now destined for what will be many years incarcerated in the Gulag Vorkuta in Siberia.

Meanwhile, unwilling to collaborate with the Russian invaders and having had his livelihood taken from him, Alexander has decided that it is time for himself, Sofia and Ev to make good their escape and begin a new life in Hungary. They must separate to flee however, and by the time Alexander has caught up with them, a terrible fate has befallen Sofia and a traumatised Ev is found sobbing for his mother. Father and son push on into Austria, where after a spell in a refugee camp, they spend a couple of years eking out an existence for themselves, before the idea of a voyage to the brave new world of America is floated for them to consider.

It is to be more than a decade before Katya can make good her escape from the slavery she has been fortunate and strong enough to survive, which is primarily down to her determination to acknowledge publicly the son she has had to deny for so long and to hopefully be reunited with him. Having walked the hundreds of miles from Siberia to home, her husband and son are miraculously still patiently waiting for her at the farm and she immediately sets about righting the wrongs of the past, fearful that her time is short.

In America, a settled Alexander and Ev are rubbing along quite nicely and have little time to give more than a passing thought to the Ukrainian arm of the family, although Alexander has never been truly comfortable with the couple who had adopted him and called themselves his parents, when he always felt more connected with his aunt Katya.

Is it too late for the connection to be made, or are the ravages of war about to call time on bodies which have been broken, even though their spirit remains strong and in need of closure?

...

In such a monumentally important, character rich, epic family saga storyline such as this, where fact and fiction are so seamlessly blended, I really wouldn't want any thoughts I might share to sound in any way disingenuous to author Tetyana Denford or her family, especially having read her lovely 'author's note' at the end of the book. However, I am hoping that the finished story is such a mix of memories, taken from multiple sources, that overall I am safe taking everything at face value, which is a wonderful dovetailing of historical fiction, romance and social history, much of which, sadly, could be lifted from the pages of the book and transposed into a narrative reflecting today's struggle between the people of Ukraine and their modern day Russian aggressors. Whilst in this story there were few secrets which were finally taken to the grave, the innocence of a childhood lost, the love of a mother for her child denied and the hope and promise of a family reconciled, were laid bare as a warning for the future, which unfortunately have largely gone unheeded by a new generation.


This wonderfully evocative and tenderly poignant, multi-layered storyline, is powerful, highly textured and rich in atmosphere. Narrated across multiple timelines and from multiple perspectives, whilst well structured and beautifully rendered, in the context that the author strove to include every aspect of the tortured lives her characters endured, I perhaps felt that she was in such a rush to commit all those memories into words that she lost her way a little when presenting the timeline, so that dates in time didn't always correlate with the ages of the characters, thus causing some confusion when reading, hence my 4 star rating, although that almost pales into insignificance in the scheme of the overall reading experience, so engrossed had I become.

If the events and locations are the threads which hold this story together, then the characters are the very fabric of this family saga. Whilst there is quite a large cast of characters, this is essentially the story of one family, the Lyubomirs, their extended family and their closest friends. Katya has always been a woman of strong will and highly opinionated, a female family trait it would seem. However, with the death of Katya's mother and Nadiya's welcome departure, future generations look set to be dominated by the male figures, who all vie for space in Katya's heart. Because of both their individual prevailing circumstances and those which affect the nation as a whole, all are emotionally complex, raw and passionate, which can often make them a little unreliable and volatile, despite their stoicism. However, whilst they might be difficult to relate to or invest in, as often the family dynamics and synergy didn’t welcome outside intrusion, I found them all to be relatively genuine, believable and authentic. All the main players, who have been well drawn and developed in their roles, were given a loud and clear voice with which to tell their story, together with an inner strength and determination to fulfil their destinies and set the records straight for future generations.


Whilst on this occasion, not always a comfortable journey for me in my position as an 'armchair traveller', the story has a large physical footprint and I visited multiple locations, spanning several decades, in all of which the author paid great attention to detail, using the full palette of the words at her disposal to imbue the sights, sounds and smells, which lifted the images off the page and into my reading space, affording me an excellent visual depth and a profoundly perceptive and immersive sense of time and place, that I could almost step into.


What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey of discovery, by some amazing authors, who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses. This was another of those “one of a kind” stories, which had the power to evoke so many feelings, that I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor the next, so I can only recommend that you read 'The Soldier's Child' for yourself and see where your journey leads you!

I have memories from this story which I won't forget in a long time. Thank you, Tetyana!

Forced to watch her child grow up under the care of her brother and sister-in-law has left Katya broken. Adding to that, war was underway and Katya’s home country of Ukraine was being torn to pieces. Now several decades have passed and Katya’s life began anew. However, her tragic past, how she was affected by the war and with a piece of her heart still missing, Katya hopes to one day reconnect with the son she was forced to give up.

While the story is mainly based on Katya’s tragic experiences, there is also the point of view of her son Alexander, the child she hoped to one day see again. His trials were no less impactful.

What a fabulous story of courage, strength and determination. This touching saga was based on the true story of the author’s family, making this heartbreaking read all that more compelling. Even more, with the current events going on in the Ukraine right now, this sensitive story had even more of an impact.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Soldier’s Child is the first book that I have read by Tetyana Denford which is based on a true story and given the title I presumed it would be about said soldier Alex and his child who is also named Alex. The synopsis suggests one thing but in fact the reader is given much more as the story is epic in its span and duration and details how one family was ripped asunder by war and invasion. But, it also shows one women’s spirit and determination to do what others believed was the right thing even though she knew deep down that what was expected of her was cruel and wrong. One thing is certain, a mother’s love for their child never wavers and she will not find peace no matter how much she suffers until the truth comes out. This may take many years and countries and continents will have been traversed but in the end war, conflict and disruption may scatter people but the truth will always attempt to win out.

Part one starts off at a slow and leisurely pace where we are introduced to Katya and her family who live in the Ukraine. It’s 1918 and the horrors of war still linger with the Soviets on Ukraine’s doorstep. How little has changed in over 100 years and that’s what resonates with the reader as the further you delve into the story which only serves to only make this an even more emotive and at times upsetting read. Katya lives on a farm with her mother and father. Her father is ill and slowly wasting away. Her brother Adrian has married Nadiya and moved to Rohatyn where he works as a judge. The descriptions of the area where Katya lived were so beautiful and inviting and you can sense that pre war everybody was happy and content in their lives but threats, dark shadows and danger now lurk around every corner. Katya meets and very quickly falls in love with a Hungarian soldier named Alex. Romance blossoms and they hope to marry. Katya I sensed was impulsive, opinionated and had a fiery nature to her soul. She was proud and determined, both qualities which will stand to her when the worst befalls her later in the book.

The love between herself and Alex although brief rung true and when she falls pregnant, she wishes to keep the baby. But fate has other plans and Alex is killed in action. Not wanting scandal to ruin their family her brother and his wife insist she give the baby boy - Alex - up and they will adopt him and raise him as their own with Katya being known as his aunt. Nadiya was just so cruel, mean, spineless and horrible to Katya. She backed her into a corner where no other choice was possible for her. Let them adopt the baby or could she face going to a home for unmarried women and endure the shame associated with this. I felt desperately sorry for Katya that her one last connection to the man she loved so deeply was severed through no choice of her own.

At this point part two began and there was a huge jump in terms of the timeline and it was very disconcerting. I felt like I had missed out chapters and it was as if I had to try and fill in the blanks. This was a pattern that I had to get used to for the remainder of the book. At this point I wanted to know what happened to Adrian and Nadiya? (it was explained but only in the later stages). Alex is now a father and married to Sofia with a son named Ev. Was he very young when he married as mentioned down below this is where the timelines and ages became confusing for me. How did Katya meet her husband Volodymyr? Has she forgotten all about Alex now that she has another son Petro? It did become clear that she hadn’t but I felt these questions needed answers in part two rather than having them raised and not providing definitive answers until the last quarter or so.

The story then splits into two narratives. We follow Alex and Ev as they face a journey which no one would wish to make, which takes them far from their homeland. The reasons for this departure are valid but really they should never have been allowed to occur in the first place leading to a family devastated and enduring such secrets, lies and pain. To be honest, I preferred Katya’s viewpoint as opposed to Alex’s. I understand the necessity of its inclusion and the details given as to his journey with Ev but it was more of Katya I wanted to read about.

I found the chapters told from her viewpoint when she is sent to the gulag absolutely fascinating and full of horror and imagery that is hard to get out of your mind. The scenes set in the Gulag are particularly harrowing and knowing this is based around a true story only serves to highlight what hope and courage drove Katya on in the most harrowing of times. Once again, her resilience, persistence, tenacity, backbone and willpower nothing short of astounding. What sustains and carries her through the most agonizing and excruciating of times is the love she has for the son that does not know he is her mother. She is desperate and resolute that she can survive and return to share her truth. Whatever the repercussions of that truth may be she does not care she just knows that can’t let the lies continue as her pain and struggles have gone on too long.

At times the narrative of The Soldier’s Child is perhaps too stretched out and I will admit that for a lot of the book I was confused as to the timeline and what age characters were supposed to be as it jumps around an awful lot without a clear distinction as to what year I was reading about. This confusion lasted for quite some time and I felt the book was quite disjointed due to sudden leaps in the timeframe. I was just getting settled into reading about a character and then all of a sudden with a turn of the page there was a new setting with a different character and several years had passed. More clarification was needed regarding this as I feel it would have helped the flow of the story better. But once I got passed this and could figure out where things were going I was able to sit back and absorb the story in its entirety and appreciate it for what it was. That being a story of secrets, survival, determination and strength in the harshest of times when your world has been torn apart through tragedy and loss. It highlights the sacrifices a mother made and in doing so she only ever thought of the wellbeing of her son.

Overall, The Soldier’s Child was a very good read despite some of the issues I had with it. There were one or two instances where I felt some information was inaccurate in that some details changed but I sense this was a simple oversight when editing and they didn’t detract from the story. Tetyana Denford has written a story that is powerful and impactful full of hurt, pain, regret, heartache and repentance and if you have a few spare hours you wouldn’t go far wrong in picking up this book.

The Soldier’s Child is an incredibly emotional and dramatic story which although a work of fiction is based partly on events in the author’s own family. The story is narrated from two main points of view – Katya, and her son, Alexander (the soldier’s child of the title). However, at certain points we also witness events from the perspective of Sasha (the soldier of the title) and Alexander’s son, Evgen.

Although a lot of the events take place during WW2 and focus on the dreadful experiences of the people of Ukraine during that period, the action of the book spans six decades, from 1918 to the 1980s. The story moves back and forth in time and personally I would have found it helpful if all not just some of the chapter headings had shown a date. The inclusion of a family tree was incredibly useful for helping me keep track of characters and their relationships. The book does include some words in Ukrainian and Russian so be prepared to refer to your favourite search engine if they’re unfamiliar to you.

Most stories need a villain and in this case it’s a female character whose destructive actions result in Katya being parted from the man she loves and, later, from her son Alexander, in the process changing the course of Katya’s life.

The standout sections of the book for me were those describing Katya’s terrible experiences in Vorkuta, a Soviet labour camp where she is put to work in a gold mine alongside others who have fallen foul of Stalin’s regime. As well as gruelling work often with no tools but her hands, the extreme cold of Siberian winters and a near starvation diet, the possibility of death for a minor misdemeanour or on the whim of a guard is everpresent. The resilience needed to survive this is unimaginable.

The Soldier’s Child is a story of the cruelty of war, of displacement and forced separation from loved ones. And the sad thing is that Ukrainians are once again suffering at the hands of an invader who has no regard for human life. However, it’s also a story of courage, hope and resilience. And we see that again today in Ukraine.

(My rating reflects the number of timeline anomalies I noticed in the book}

As Ukraine is torn apart, Katya falls in love with a Hungarian soldier, ultimately having a baby by him. Separated from her son, she vows to reunite with him, whatever it takes.

This was another unputdownable read that I have read by this author. Beginning in Ukraine in 1920 and travelling to America this story is told over several decades. This is a story of absolute hardships and bravery in the worst of times for Katya and many others who struggled to survive in the Gulag (Labour Camp). What these poor people had to endure was nothing short of barbaric. Katya was such a strong and courageous person . The sheer determination of Katya to survive was exceptional. Once you start reading this book you will just keep wanting to keep reading to discover what happens to these heart warming and courageous characters. Now not everyone is nice but you will need to read this hook to find out more. I loved reading the authors notes at the end and to discover this book is based on true events of the authors great grandmother and grandfather. I give this book all the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Soldier's Child” by Tetyana Denfors is a gut wrenching novel about a mothers love for her child. Katya is pregnant and alone, her love killed in battle. She is forced to give up her child to her brother and his wife. This book doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war, especially the brutality of the Russian Army.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheSoldiersChild #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #HistoricalFiction #BooksSetDuringWWII #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

The Soldier’s Child by Tetyana Denford is a powerful and heartbreaking family saga that will leave you breathless.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel takes us on a journey across continents, from Ukraine to America, as we follow the members of one family. The story is centred around a mother’s love for her child and the sacrifices she must make to keep him safe.

It takes the readers on a heartfelt journey, delving deep into the complexities of human relationships and the power of resilience. The narrative seamlessly weaves together the threads of love, loss, and determination, creating an unforgettable tale that will resonate with readers on a profound level.

The characters are deeply flawed, yet so relatable that you can’t help but feel their pain and struggles.

Denford’s writing is evocative and poignant, painting a vivid picture of the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction and family dramas. The Soldier’s Child will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Ukraine, 1941: Katya falls in love with a Hungarian soldier, named Anthony. Shortly after he is killed in battle she discovers she is pregnant. As an unwed mother she is forced to give away her son. Her brother Adrian and his wife Nadia adopt Katya’s son and raise him as their own. She can’t possibly take any more heartbreak. When Katya is taken against her will, she is transported to a labor camp. The only hope she has is the memory of her son Alexander and the only way she will ever see him again is if she can escape.

The Soldier’s Child by author Tetyana Denford is an utterly heartbreaking and unputdownable story of love, resilience and hope. This story takes place from just after World War I ends and through World War II. The author does a phenomenal job of carrying the reader through each page attaching them to the well developed characters. I felt emotionally invested in the family and Katya was an extremely likable and amazing person. She demonstrated such strength, hope and unconditional love for family, in such a volatile time. This was a story based on true events and that made it even more compelling. I highly recommend this rapid page turner, absolutely phenomenal.

A grim reality of how cruelty, lies, and hardship framed one family.
Katya fell in love and was denied both her love and her child through the cruel machinations of her sister-in-law, who was a hideous person.
Although, there was some joy towards the end of her life, I thought most of Katya’s existence was bound in misery and turmoil.
Poignancy at the end, but I felt like quaffing a few stiff drinks while reading. The book does accurately demonstrate the brutality of the Russians and the hell of the gulags.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! The Soldier’s Child based on true events by Tetyana Denford was a heartbreaking novel about a teenage girl finding true love but then losing it all to uphold her family’s reputation. Years later, having survived the war, Katya’s last wish is to be reunited with her son Alexander. As a mother, I could never imagine having to give up a child and always be left wondering if it was the right thing given the circumstances. I was moved to tears by all Katya had to endure over her decade of imprisonment and astonished by the strength of her spirit to overcome the obstacles in order to reunite with her family. This novel is true testament to human spirit and one I would recommend to anyone interested in historical novels unfolding in the Ukraine during the Stalin years.

I finished 1/3 of the story but just couldn't invest myself in the characters or the story. I kept hoping that the story would move along a little faster and make it worth my time but in the end it didn't grip me.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

The Soldier’s Child by Tetyana Denford
“Losing the ones we love are sometimes the sacrifices we make to keep them alive.” (Pg. 14)
Based on a true story, this book is full of tragedy and heartbreak but also survival. Set in Ukraine in the 1940’s, the main character Katya, age 18, falls in love with a Hungarian soldier and becomes pregnant. Ostracized by her family, she is forced to make a gut-wrenching choice. This begins a seemingly endless cycle of loss and anguish.
The Russians have invaded Ukraine, and this puts the Ukrainians in terrible danger of being arrested and sent to a gulag. Out of hundreds of books I’ve read about this time period in Europe, few have focused on the terrible cruelty of Russian forces. Ready to arrest any sympathizer, collaborator, or partisan, “They’re all over town, they spread around like…ants, confused ants, with nothing and no one to care about but destroying everything they touch.” (Pg. 124)
Denford tells this story with tremendous sensory imagery which makes the time and place come alive. “The dawn settled in a warm blanket of orange on the horizon, the bright blue peeking out above it timidly. A thin layer of frost settles on the house and the fields, highlighting everything in a soft shimmer. Pg 142)
Due to masterful characterization, we experience every emotion and hear the innermost thoughts and dreams of the main characters, Katya, her son Alexander, and his son Evgen. “She looked up as she walked down the well-trodden path. The sky was the kind of blue that made her feel like she cut through it: crisp, sapphire, hopeful; the kind of sky that makes a person grateful to be alive, grateful to breathe fresh air. Her father had once told her that every earth-infused step was a reminder that there was a path ahead, a path that she was on, and to keep on that path, to stay, no matter what.” (Pg. 142) Katya’s determination to survive never waivers. After 5 years of grueling manual labor at Vorkuta labor camp: “Forty-eight years old,” she whispered to herself. How long will I be able to live this life?” And she answered the face she saw blurrily in the windows at quiet moments: As long as it takes to find my son.” (Pg.167)
I highly recommend this book. The Soldier’s Child is an outstanding addition to historical fiction set in this era.
Rating - 5

A well written and heart-wrenching story of love and loss, and a reminder that the strength of a Mother’s love can overcome almost anything, in a time where the Ukranian people would have rather turned to the Nazis than the Russians, such were the horrors inflicted on them by Stalin’s army in WWII times.

The book starts at a gentle pace, which allows the reader to become fully invested in the characters and absorbed into their surroundings, with descriptions of Uzhorod so evocatively written that I could smell the fragrant flowers and feel the summer warmth enveloping me.

Katya, the main female protagonist, has an unimaginably tough life, after she is betrayed by her brother, forced to give up her illegitimate and much-wanted baby boy, treated with cruelty and contempt by her sister-in-law, Nadiya, and is later arrested by Russian soldiers and sent to a prison labour camp.

The story also follows Katya’s son, Alexander, as he experiences the war as a young man and struggles to keep his own family safe.

Katya had me emotionally wrung out. She never gave up hope and I really felt the intensity of her emotions. Her unbreakable love for her children is what ultimately gives her the strength to speak up and own her truth.

The Soldier’s Child is a powerful story that reminds us that tomorrow is never guaranteed.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Tetyana Denford and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Soldier’s Child by Tetyana Denford is a powerful and moving historical novel that I just could not put down.
The novel spans many years, beginning just after the end of World War I. We travel across continents from Ukraine to America as we follow the members of one family.
We witness the terrible heartaches as the Soviets inflict a reign of terror. Many innocents were killed or sent to gulags. The people of the Ukraine looked to the Nazis for a better life which shows just how badly the Soviets treated them. Incidentally, my uncle was born in 1922 in Ukraine and he said that his family preferred the Nazis to falling into Soviet hands.
Unmarried mothers were frowned upon. We witness a mother’s sacrifice and also her love that will never die. “Losing the ones we love are sometimes the sacrifices we make to keep them alive.” We do what we can for our children, practicing sacrificial love.
A poor upbringing means a character longs for home. “Home was a dream he’d had his whole life.” Home is not found in bricks and mortar but in people. “He [father] smelled of home.”
We see the courage needed to both stay in the Ukraine and also to move out.
This is a novel about love – a love that lasts a lifetime – the love of a mother.
All the characters were realistic and well drawn. We see that not even death can separate us from those we love.
I absolutely loved The Soldier’s Child. The twentieth century was a time of great change, terrible cruelty and love. Love keeps hope alive. I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“Hope was the light she felt right in the center of her.”
I received a free copy from the publishers via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

The Soldier’s Child by Tetyana Denford

I enjoyed this book, the story was well written: Katya falls in love with a Hungarian Soldier, Alexander, falls pregnant out of wedlock which would be a great embarrassment to the family name and status so her brother, Adrian and his wife, Nadya, adopt the baby, Alexander, and raise him as their own while Katya the boy’s real mother is classified as an aunt. They all live together for a few years until Katya marries Volodymyr and moves out of Adrian and Nadya’s house and soon after Katya gives birth to Petro.

The book then goes on telling us about Katya’s and Alexander’s life until they grow old and die.

Now I would like to point out what no one else has: In chapter nineteen it is the titled the year 1940, in this chapter they mention that the Germans are pulling back from Stalingrad, The Germans only invaded USSR in 22 June 1941 and Stalingrad in August 1942. In Chapter twenty Alex and his little son Evgen meet Ihor who tells them he had a son called Lev who was fighting for the resistance from that moment Ihor is now called Lev in the book.

In chapter one it is the year 1949 and Alexander is arriving in America with his boy Evgen who we are told is thirteen years old, we know Alexander would be twenty-nine-year-old as we know from the story that he was born in 1920 but as the book goes on Alexander is aging but Evgen stays very young so that at the end of the book we are told that Alexander is very old when he died yet Evgen is only thirty years old. Thru out the book there are many Russian and Ukrainian phrase, I speak Russian and understand Ukrainian as I was born in Kiev while it was part of USSR in the 1970’s but I’m not sure if other readers would be able to understand what is being said as not all of it is translated.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review

This is a sad look at Ukraine as WWII is on the horizon.
While Hitler is known for his atrocities and concentration camps, Stalin killed far more people. Prison labor camps in some of the coldest places throughout Russia, meant very few returned alive. This story shares some of the history of this difficult time.
There is also the reality of a bastard child (born out of wedlock) and how difficult it was for the mother. While I believe sex should remain within marriage, we as societies have failed to show compassion.
This is a difficult read, but important.

Excellent story! It was slow in the beginning and I was concerned that I wasn’t going to get into the story but it picked up and I then really became involved with the story and characters. Historical fiction is sometimes like that for me. Great story and wonderful characters- definitely recommend if you like historical fiction! Thank you to NetGalley, Tatyana Denford and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC of this book to read and review.

The Soldier's Child is a wonderful book choice for all lover’s of historical fiction! Knowing this is based on a true story makes it all the more captivating … and heartbreaking! The author brings this era in Ukrainian and world history to life making you feel all the emotions from fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, ache, confusion and sorrow. This family’s story is proof that a human heart grounded in hope can overcome the most horrific of circumstances while still holding on tight to love and light.

Reasons to keep the tissue box close by…
World War II historical fiction
Ukraine 1941
forbidden love
tragedy and loss
a mother’s sacrifice
hope-fueled strength & courage
based on a family’s true story