A dual time line novel about Lacey in 2022 discovering the work and life of Sophie and Hanna during WWII. Wood hits a sore point for the Royal Family to craft her tale of life at Windsor, It's well done. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC A good read.

Sophie Klein is The Royal Librarian during the war.
However, she is there to foil suspected attacks on the Royal Family especially the princesses.

Many years later Lacey Jones is looking through her grandmothers papers when she finds a letter with a Windsor Castle stamp and decides to try and find out more.

1938. Sophie Klein, lives in Vienna, her parents are worried when the political union of Germany and Austria happens. They want both of their daughters to leave Austria, and before things get worse and because the girls are classed a mischlings.

1940. Sophie makes it to London, she’s now the Royal Librarian at Windsor Castle, and she enjoys her job. Sophie misses her family, she worries about her younger sister and writes numerous unanswered letters. When she discovers Windsor has been compromised, the two young princess lives are in danger and Sophie doesn’t think about the personal consequences and the assumptions the authorities will make?

2022. Philadelphia, Lacey Jones has always been close to her grandmother affectionately known as ‘Gubby’, when she makes a startling discovery, her grandmother was born in Vienna and she has a letter stamped with the Windsor Castle crest. Gubby doesn’t want to talk about the past, Lacey starts investigating her grandmother’s childhood, how she ended up growing up in America and what link she could have to the royal family and Windsor Castle?

The dual timeline story is told from Sophie’s and Lacey’s points of view and is very easy to follow and understand.

I received a digital copy of The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood from NetGalley and Avon Books UK in exchange for an unbiased review. What an outstanding and thought provoking narrative Ms. Wood has written, it looks at life in Vienna during the Anschluss, and it’s full of wonderful descriptions of Windsor Castle, the Royal Library, and all the famous landmarks and including The Long Walk, Windsor Great Park, Frogmore House and it's the oldest castle in the world.

The author cleverly explores the possibility of Edward The Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson being sympathetic towards the German cause and they met Hitler, what English government would do if the Germans invaded, where to hide priceless national treasures and did they had staff working undercover in the royal households?

An emotional and moving story about family, making difficult choices, kinder-transport, war, secrets, spies, misconceptions and finding out the truth. Five stars from me I highly recommend The Royal Librarian and Daisy Wood’s previous book The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris.

Loved this book! It was gripping, fast paced and interesting. I loved the interchange between the past and the present, discovering the story bit by bit along with the characters in the novel. The historical element of the story is of a lesser known aspect of World War Two history, which I enjoyed also. Highly recommend!

This is the best historical fiction I’ve read so far. The author Daisy Wood captivated me with her writing and she has found a new fan in me. This story take place in two different times in history and my favorite was the past during WWII Europe and getting to know Sophie Klein, a young librarian who lost everything when Hitler invaded Austria. She is sent to Windsor Castle to keep an eye on the royal family to protect them under the guise of being a librarian who will help translate some compromising letters written in German. Sophie is also going through grief and loss, dealing with the death of her parents and parting ways with her younger sister who was of the few lucky children who were taken to the US and given a new life. So many things transpire during these times and in present day Lacey discovers that her grandmother holds many secrets, including an older sister named Sophie who she lost contact with and considered her a betrayer due to some misinformation and a set up. Loved this book from beginning to end!

Thanks NetGalley for a copy of the real librarian. I have read two of Daisy’s books and loved them. This didn’t disappoint. Although this is fiction I loved the reference to history

Well written and good story. Keep writing Dsisy!!!

This is a richly, beautiful story about family history that can change your perspective of your world. The description of the early life of Sophie and Hanna (later called Gubby) in Vienna, is visceral. It’s also compelling, breathtaking, evocative and most of all hauntingly heartbreaking. As the story progresses, these formative years really are the touchstones of how both of their lives shape up.

This is a thought-provoking and magnificent story. It is set both in 1938 and 2022, the time periods defined easily. In 1938 Sophie ‘lands’ in the Royal library at Windsor castle and the description and story of her life is a balm to a librarians soul. Gubby’s granddaughter Lacey is a likeable character and it was a joy to follow her exploration of archives and other sources in 2022 on the trail of her aunt Sophie.

Themes include World War II, the Anschluss, anti-semitism, discrimination, what it is to be ‘foreign’, abandonment, grief, humiliation, identity, survival, family, love, respect.

The prose make this an enjoyably easy book to read. The descriptions of Austrian delicacies and of the very British castle grounds and London are transportive. I want to thank the author for reminding me of an important piece of history that I had put to the back of my mind, and in being reminded, acknowledging that life and it’s history are never a straightforward singular path.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood.

I usually read very fast. I had to take my time with The Royal Librarian. I didn't want to miss any of it. There was so much packed into this story. I traveled to different locations. I traveled to different time periods. It was all so fascinating. It was an amazing journey. I finished the story with tears traveling down my face.

The story begins in Austria with the Nazi occupation. Sadness overwhelmed me in the first chapter. The reality of the story was devastating. Sophie is just nine years old. Her nineteen year old sister, Hanna soon finds herself caring for her baby sister. The Nazis have destroyed their lives in Austria. Hanna now has to keep her promise to her mother and get Sophie and herself to safety.

The story unfolds thanks to Sophie's granddaughter, Lacey. She stumbles across Sophie's secret exposed on a passport. She finds a letter that Hanna had written to Sophie in America from England before they entered the war. No one in the family knew about Sophie's past or the existence of a sister.

Lacey travels to England in search of her great aunt's story as a Royal Librarian. Hanna's story was exhilarating. She was so much more than just a librarian. Her life was surrounded by danger, treason, spies and excitement. She constantly found herself in the wrong place or discovering the unthinkable. She became a threat to unknown persons. She needed to be removed. I couldn't believe what happened Hanna.

Lacey learned a lot about her family while in England. It was a very intriguing visit. She also learned a lot about herself. She didn't really plan ahead, arriving in England before the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. She stumbled upon a place to stay. She stumbled on to her own happiness.

The Royal Librarian was an exciting read. I honestly did not know what I would be reading next. I not only enjoyed a historical fiction that dealt with WW2 and the Royal family, but I got a modern day romance.

Yet another great story from this author. The book goes back and forth from present to past telling the story of 2 sisters who were separated when Germany invaded Vienna. Her younger sister Hannah went to America and was adopted whilst Sophie ended up in London working in Warwick Castle helping with the royal library.
One day Lacey who is Hannah's grand daughter came across some papers about a sister that her grandmother had never mentioned and that she had also been born in Austria. Why had her grandmother kept that a secret. She became determined to try and find out by going to London herself. She eventually finds out the truth.
The book goes forward to tell how Lacey is getting on finding the truth and also to the past telling Sophie's story of the time whilst she worked in the royal library and the reason as to why her sister had never mentioned her.
I really enjoyed reading this book.

This is a dual timeline story, alternating between WWII Europe, and present-day USA.

The main character, Lacey, is stunned to hear that her grandmother has a sister that she has never mentioned. After some digging around, she discovers that her grandmother’s sister worked as The Royal Librarian at Windsor Castle during WWII.

As another reviewer said, “It’s difficult to fictionalize real events sometimes and even more so to fictionalize something that has been speculated about, but is not necessarily the truth. The British Royal Family definitely falls into this category and it’s hard to make substance out of speculation.”

The characters were underdeveloped, which made it hard to care about them, and a struggle to read, but the details of the castle and England were lovely, it was like I was back there.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

The Royal Family, libraries, historical fiction and a dual timeline. What’s not to love? It had me hooked from the very start, in the streets of Vienna where Hitler was fast turning citizens against Jews all the way to the cultivated grounds of Windsor Castle. I loved the brief but dignified appearances by the then Princess Elizabeth and the ending was just so, so poignant. She will always be a woman close to my heart and this book warmed my soul. It was heart breaking and wholesome in every way.

This is a duel timeline book set in 1938 and 2021.
Sophie and her young sister Hannah are of Jewish decent although not practicing Jews. They live in occupied Austria where their mother runs a bakery and their father works in the National Library.
Sophie herself is a librarian. Traumatic events take place and Sohie and Hannah need to leave the country before they are captured by the Nazis.
A place is found for Hannah in America and Sophie has to let her go.
After many days and many hours queuing at the passport office to get a visa to leave,Sophie is recruited by two officials working for the British Government. They want her to work in the library at Windsor Castle, primary looking our for any correspondence from the exiled Duke of Windsor.
He is a Nazi sympathiser and she must pass on any such correspondence to a contact in London.

America 2021, Lacey, while looking for her grandmother's passport finds out that she was born in Austria,something that her grandmother has never told her. She also finds a letter which is stamped from Windsor Castle and from someone called Sophie. Lacey decides to travel to Windsor in the hope of finding out what happened to Sophie and why her grandmother has never mentioned her.

What a really good read. The beginning of the book set in Vienna was a hard read. The way the Natzis treated the Jewish people is just beyond belief.
When Sophie was working in the Castle my heart was pounding faster the more Sophie was trying to find things out as I had a feeling all was not as she thought it was.
The 2021 story was good too. Lacey had had an emotional time lately and it took a lot of courage for her to fly to the UK on her own.
The ending of the book was good but a bit sad too as it all could have been so different for Sophie's grandmother.
A book that I couldn't put down.

THE ROYAL LIBARAIAN

DAISY WOOD




Interesting and well developed characters will lead the reader through a well developed tale of World War Two events. Struggling to escape her Nazi occupied country, the main character flees to a new life in England. Through a series of events she secures a position working for the royal family. Known to a few others this new job has other responsibilities. These secondary responsibilities send her through a series of misunderstood decisions. Years later the discovery of misplaced correspondence starts a whole new investigation into the problems from years ago. Read along as we see how events wrongly thought of are corrected.



5 STARS




I have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.



Spencer Birt

Thank you to Avon Books UK for the ARC on Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Set in dual timelines 1938 and 2021. 1938 Sophie and her sister Hanna lose both their parents tragically in Nazi-occupied Austria. Sophie arranges for safe passage for her sister Hanna to the United States and begins working for British Intelligence as a librarian at Windsor Castle.

2021 we are introduced to Lacey, who finds a letter with the Royal stamp among her grandmother's possessions. She travels to Windsor to uncover the mystery of her grandmother's sister.

I loved reading about Sophie’s role as the Royal librarian at Windsor Castle. Well-written and well-researched does a phenomenal job.

I enjoyed this book but not as much as I thought I would and, given that the focus of "library" throughout I was hoping for more of a literary read. Nevertheless, the characters were believable and the plot engaging.

The only part I found unlikely was that I think the sisters would have discovered any misunderstandings themselves - I didn't think that this was believable. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC

The Royal Librarian is a novel with dual timelines, set in 1938 and 2021. In 1938, Sophie and sister Hanna desperately need to leave Nazi occupied Austria. When Sophie secures safe passage for Hanna to the US, she is secretly tasked with observing the Royal household in Windsor, employed as a librarian. In 2021 America, Lacey discovers a letter to her grandmother that was sent from Windsor Castle. What is her family link to Britain, and can Lacey discover the truth?

I really enjoyed the WWII part of the story, it gave a fascinating insight into behind the scenes at Windsor Castle. A well written and planned novel, Daisy Wood is definitely an author I will look out for in the future.

The Royal Librarian is a captivating read that combines history, espionage, Royalty and a bit of romance.

The story is told in dual timelines: 1938 and 2021.

In 1938 WW1 is fast approaching and we meet Sophie Klein who tragically lost both parents and now she fears for her own safety and that of her younger sister Hanna .

Sophie manages to find safe passage for her sister and she herself gets a job as a royal librarian at Windsor Castle

Sophie is more than just a librarian she is also British Intelligence

2021 in we meet Lacey and her family. By chance she finds a letter with the Royal Stamp in her grandmother's possession and goes to Europe to discover the secret her grandmother is hiding.

My favourite timeline was the past .

Daisy Wood writes with passion and vivid descriptions that you feel you are at Windsor Castle with Sophie and the Royals.

The pages turn quickly as you hold your breath for Sophie, cry for Sophie and admire her tenacity.

Highly recommend you clear your calendar and settle in for a page turning read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a informative and wonderful book to get lost in.

Windsor, 1940: Secretly tasked with foiling a suspected plot, Sophie Klein is placed in the Royal Library at Windsor castle, where the princesses reside. But when she learns that Windsor is compromised, Sophie must sacrifice everything she knows to save the future queen of England…

This is an interesting book, set across two timelines. Which works very well. There is a lot of well researched history in its pages. It flows nicely and is paced well. It’s got intrigue, twists and is an easy read. I really enjoyed this book.

The Royal Librarian" by Daisy Wood,
The story is a dual time line involving Sophia's story in occupied Austria and in Britain during ww2 and Hanna’s story as an elderly woman when a member of her family discover by accident that she’s Austria and not an American as they all thought.I thought it was an unusual story involving the royals but once I got into it, I enjoyed it.
I felt it was a slow start but one worth persevering for.

Daisy Wood is without a doubt a fresh new voice in the genre of Historic Fiction with her third book, The Royal Librarian set between 1938 and 2021.
Set in Windsor Castle in 1940 the protagonist Sophie Klein has been placed in the Royal Library in order to search out any documentation from members of the Royal family, namely the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, known Nazi sympathisers, seemingly supporting the Nazi regime and the rise of Fascism in Britain.
Fast forward to 2021 in the days after COVID when Lacey Jones is facing her own personal crisis. She is summoned to a family gathering and dreads going, but while there inadvertently comes across a letter from Buckingham Palace and wonders what it is doing in her beloved Grandmothers desk.
As a ghost-writer of biographs her interest in piqued, so much so that she eventually decides to go to London to see if she can discover more about her Grandmother’s past and family, little knowing that she will also be on a journey that will push her to the very limits of her emotion strength.
Sophie Klein was, until the rise of Hitler and the surrender of Austria to the Germans in 1938, a happy young woman working with her father in the highly esteemed Austrian National Library. He was of Jewish decent, her mother a renowned pastry chef, was of British decent.
She had witnessed her father beaten to death at the local park, her mother arrested, her home given to someone else and her security gone forever, forced to rely on anyone brave enough offer shelter to both her and her young sister.
A series of chance meetings sees her recruited for work in England, her sister sent to America for adoption and a new life beginning as she is admitted to work in the vast Libraries of Windsor Castle.
At first she finds the job overwhelming, the cold unbearable and the staff standoffish as she is Austrian, an unknown considered as a possible imposter, but as she makes friends and relaxes she forms a delicate friendship with the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
Sent to Frogmore Cottage to catalogue crates of papers sent back to Britain by the Duke of Windsor, she realises that someone has tampered with one of the crates. This incident brings home like nothing else, that she really is engaged in dangerous work, work which will eventually see her arrested and imprisoned.
The Royal Liberian is a well-constructed, well researched, fascinating return to a world of World War 2 intrigue involving people from all walks of life, but also captures a small microcosm of life inside the Royal household during the austerity of the War years. The historic content of the book presents another aspect of the early years of the ‘Anschluss in Vienna’, when brutally, destruction and hatred saw the beginning of rise of fascism throughout Europe.
The Royal Librarian is highly recommended for both its fiction and historic content which offers a salient reminder in today’s world of the lessons history can and should teach.