An elderly movie star reveals her earlier years with with openness, clarity and purpose--that's the overall focus of this very intriguing and impactful book. I honestly feel that this novel was unlike any I've ever read before. I loved that there was a strong female heroine who found herself in an unspeakable situation and rose to the occasion, making decisions as she refused to be a victim but faced the horror of the Nazis on her own terms.. I loved that Barr truly pushed the envelope, letting us see inside this character's mind as she weighed options and bravely faced off with the most horrific of human beings imaginable. So compelling -- I really enjoyed how we witnessed the growth of a heroine who wanted to make sure that those who committed atrocities would be punished. I also enjoyed Bima's softer side -- her capacity for love, sympathy, and grief. A real stunner of a book!

I loved Woman on Fire and was thrilled to read and review the author's newest release The Goddess of Warsaw. The story is told in two alternating timelines, the year 2005, where a young actress approaches a Hollywood legend Lena Browning, formerly Bina Blonsky, to tell her story in a new film, and the past where we learn about Bina's past.

The story was complex and captivating, though I had to power through the first half. Bina's constant thoughts and borderline obsession with her brother in law was distracting to me and got in the way of the story. I understood where she was coming from and the role the relationship had in the overall plot but it was just too over the top for me.

The last half of the book really took off and the last 25% made it worth the read. I found the ending very satisfying. While this wasn't quite on the same level as Woman on Fire, this is one of my favorite authors and I would recommend it.

I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley.

A young, successful actress convinces an aging Hollywood star to let her star in and direct a story about the older woman's life, a story that's been hidden from the public.

Bina Blonski, the Jewish daughter of a wealthy family in Poland, begins a promising career as an actress, which is abruptly ended right as the Nazi's invade her country. She and her family are forced into the Warsaw ghetto where Bina decides she wants to join the internal resistance and fight back, in contrast to her husband, an intellectual, who is amassing an archive of life in the ghetto.

Bina's will to survive transforms her into a woman she hardly recognizes: an assassin, a thief, and a woman who trades sex for food and medicine.

Most of this book recounts Bina's time in Warsaw during the war, including an account of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The book then turns to Bina's life in Hollywood as the famous actress, Lena Browning, who uses her cover to settle scores with Nazis hiding in the US.

Steeped in historical detail and unsparing incidents of survival, the book is well plotted, engaging the reader in following Bina's quest to survive and exact revenge. The last few chapters, taking place close to present day, include three significant reunions. The first felt believable and poignant, while the second and third felt less so, more an attempt to tie up loose ends and let the reader know the fate of important secondary characters.

I'm rating this 4 stars, mostly because of how these last chapters were handled, but overall, I highly recommend the book.

Lisa Barr is one of my go-to authors and she never disappoints! Enjoyed this book thoroughly. Highly recommend.

Lena Browning is a legendary actress. A Hollywood icon. Now in the last years of her life she wishes to come full circle. Her plan begins by sharing her life story with a young, popular actress who can easily play the role. As Lena flashes back to the early 1940’s she describes in detail her life as Bina Blonski, a beautiful blonde Jewish actress who has been thrown into the Warsaw ghetto by the Nazis. Her mother, father and sister - all killed. Her husband is a mild mannered journalist who is determined to record what is happening, while his brother Aleksandr and Bina want to fight back. They will save as many Jews as possible and are willing to kill when necessary. Bina’s Aryan looks and theatrical skills allow her to infiltrate the outside world. She arranges weapons and supplies for the small group of resistance fighters she has joined. When her husband is taken from the ghetto Bina acts on her hidden lustful feelings for Aleksandr. And then everything falls apart. Bina escapes and does whatever it takes to survive. Landing in Hollywood with a new identity Bina (Lena) spends her life in the spotlight using her money and fame to target Nazis who escaped unpunished after the war living lives they did not deserve. While the novel is fast-paced and an absolute page-turner, I found some of the romantic gestures to be a bit unrealistic and unnecessary. Nonetheless, the story is filled with many unexpected twists. If you're looking for a Holocaust story, I highly recommend it. Personally, I need a break from this genre for a while, but my mother-in-law thought it was riveting.

This was a great book. This was my first book by this author, and I was hooked from the first page! Intense, heartbreaking and so suspenseful! Loved every word! You can tell that it's a meticulously researched historical fiction, I would Highly recommend this!

I am highly surprised by how easy this book was to read. That's not to say there weren't heavy/tough plot lines to get through. But unlike a "typical" Holocaust novel, there was romance, love and lust, and moments of levity. The merging of old Hollywood brought a level of modernity as well. I am normally very interested in Holocaust literature. However, in light of current events, I've been delaying reading this book. This book is a work of fiction but it tells a story of so many we've heard over the years. The story of Bina Blonski is one of heroism, female empowerment, and a telltale example of the Jewish people surviving horrific acts of brutality and living to share their stories. We must continue to read books like these, even if it's hard, so that we never forget and don't let history repeat itself.

This was SO SO good!! Fans of WWII historical fiction, unforgettable female main characters and authors like Pam Jenoff do not want to miss this latest by best-selling author Lisa Barr. With a little bit of everything, from a dual timeline narrative, to an unrequited love story, espionage, courage and bravery and heartbreaking loss, this book was incredible on audio and frankly unputdownable. I won't soon forget these characters and it was so timely to the increasing anti-semitism going on in the world today. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

If you pick up one historical fiction book this summer, have it be this one! I read it through Netgalley and knew immediately I had to buy a physical copy. I felt so many emotions while reading this amazing book. Told in dual timelines, you get an understanding of what life was like for Bina in the Warsaw Ghetto, as well as what her life became in Hollywood post WWII.

I appreciate the suspense aspect of this book as well, which I think is why I was so drawn to it. Among the plots of sacrifice and bravery exists a deep rooted desire for revenge. This book isn’t your typical WWII novel and I appreciated the depths that Barr went to to show what it was like for Jews to survive in the ghetto. I feel like most of the WWII books I have read have been centered more around the concentration camps.

For Readers Who Like:
- Suspense
- Dual timelines
- Historical fiction

Thank you @netgalley and @harperperennial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Goddess of Warsaw is a riveting novel that I couldn’t put down. There are many intricate plots and in-depth characters throughout this beautifully written book. And it was very educational yet emotionally moving. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read other Lisa Barr books!

This is an awesome story! I know Lisa Barr is a fantastic writer because out of all the World War II fiction I’ve read I’ve never disliked the heroine until this one. I have also never rooted for a character I disliked as much as I did for Bina. I loved that Bina was a bundle of contradictions. She was a larger-than-life, fierce resistance fighter, but she was also run-of-the-mill petty and jealous. Trashing another woman’s appearance because she’s getting close with your brother-in-law who is off limits to you is not a good look. At times she could be really selfish, but she repeatedly put herself at risk for the sake of others. This book is filled with complex characters in impossible situations, and is a dazzling display of anger, desperation, perseverance, and ultimately triumph. A big thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for access to the eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴."

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗪 is another action-packed and emotional story from Lisa Barr. It's historical fiction and a thriller with a dash of romance rolled into one, and I could not put it down!

Lena Browning is Hollywood royalty but her life story is more unbelievable than any role she's played - born Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew imprisoned in the Warsaw ghetto, she used her Aryan beauty to work as a spy and assassin during WWII. Even as she built a new life and rose to fame after the war, Bina's continued her quest for justice, using her high-profile career as a cover to pursue Nazis who escaped justice.

“𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.”

I recommend the author's last book, 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦, all the time because of the way it uniquely melds different genres and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book is no different - it's got glamour, suspense and a kickass female heroine but it also examines themes and issues that are still relevant today. Barr does a masterful job of entertaining you while also make you think.

Thank you to Harper Perennial for the copy to review.

Lisa Barr set a high bar with Woman on Fire, and The Goddess of Warsaw lived up to it. Set in a World War 2 Jewish ghetto in Poland, this story was graphic, heavy, and horrific, but exquisitely crafted. The Goddess of Warsaw explores themes of family, desperation, humanity, revenge, and sinfulness, making the title feel rather ironic. I really enjoyed how the past and present day (ish) timelines made for a full circle experience of the story. Lisa Barr presents compelling, poignant, and propulsive historical fiction, and I look forward to reading what she comes up with next!

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This is a horrific tale of Nazi atrocities in Warsaw Poland and the courageous people that fought back. Bina/Lena’s story is not pretty but is very believable. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is real as are the resistance fighters that defied the Nazis attempts to move the ghetto population to the Treblinka extermination camp. As far as I can tell, the characters are not based on real people but a representation of those that fought and died during the siege. The story captured my imagination from the beginning and will stick with me for a very long time.

Really like this HF. I listened to it so it felt a little confusing at times but great writing and plot. I liked the shocking moments sprinkled in.

I had high hopes for this, seeing as it has such a high goodreads rating and the average on NetGalley is 5 stars. However, I'm in the minority. I've seen other people explaining the reason why this one was not a winner, so I'm not going to reiterate it too much, but here are my qualms with The Goddess of Warsaw (I DNF'd arounf 35%, so there might be some inaccuracies if you read further!)

First, I don't love that Lisa Barr is elevating Bina to "goddess" status with this title, personally. It feels like it's just another attempt to dramatize the story, which is already done PLENTY in the prose itself. This book is SO OVER THE TOP! The Holocaust was monstrous even without the additions that Barr is making. I'm a trained historian, I very much appreciate when fiction authors properly represent the atmosphere of the time period they're writing about. Every single strife and hardship falls upon Bina and her family that could possibly happen--I understand that fiction tends to have some coincidences for the sake of the plot, but what I read in this novel was even more than I expected.

Bina's lust over her brother-in-law is honestly kinda gross to me. Even if he wasn't her husband's brother, the narration of her desire for him is A LOT and just made me feel icky regardless lol. Then, the other kind of lust present here: blood lust. So much of it. SO MUCH. I didn't even get very far into this book and it was inundated with killings of various kinds. There are better ways to portray these occurrences that aren't so insanely dramatic. Bina also ended up with a very important role in the resistance without really much vetting at all? That is SO unrealistic and left me feeling like I got whiplash lol--she barges into the room and demands a place in the resistance so the lady in charge is like "here you go, have this super important mission even though you have no tactical background and your feelings for your brother in law are evident enough that I'm noticing them but I also trust them not to effect your performance" like I'm sorry, what??

Anyways, I'm happy for the people who liked this book, but I was definitely not one of them.

“The Goddess of Warsaw,” by Lisa Barr, is a WWII historical fiction book. I went into this book blind (yep, didn’t read the synopsis) due to the lovely cover. At first I thought this was going to be like “Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” but with a WWII slant - nope, nope, nope. The positives - this book’s pace moves. There’s lots of action. The fact that the book is divided into sections really helped with time jumps - and the backfill of information also helped pick up the pace. I don’t know how accurately the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was described - but suffice to say that it was a horrible event for all involved. I could see this being picked up as a movie of some sort - there’s a lot of material. What I found a bit, well, odd was that while there’s a lot of killing going on, there didn’t seem to be (especially with an event that occurs on US soil) a lot of punishment, which I found odd (I mean, there are always cover-ups, but - really?). I think the ending was a bit too nicely wrapped up but for those who like complete storylines, it was a good ending. I did find the lusting after a character a bit heavy-handed, but I got it … though I did skim those parts a bit. Overall, I found this book to be fast-paced, enjoyable, and engaging.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. I really enjoyed Lisa Barr’s “Woman on Fire” from a few years ago so I was very excited for her new book, however, I was pretty medium on The Goddess of Warsaw. The setup is compelling - a survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising goes on to become one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood and no one knows her origin story. For me the distribution of this book was lopsided - I felt the author spent too much time on the war years and didn’t dedicate enough time to the Hollywood years. I thought the part about Bina being a Nazi hunter was the most compelling plot point and it didn’t get enough time. I also found the movie conspiracy at the center of the Hollywood aspect of the plot to feel a little thin and it strained belief at multiple different points. The end also felt improbable and over the top, but I suppose that was the point. Overall, the second half felt rushed. I think true fans of historical fiction will probably enjoy this more, but this doesn’t count as a must read for me.

An absolutely phenomenal and topical read— definitely my favorite book by Barr yet. This had everything I needed in a historical fiction. I recently haven’t be drawn to pick up historical fiction because I needed more of an escape from my books. That said, this book was EVERYTHING. It had suspense, action, romance, heartbreak, and so much more. It truly transported me into the life of Lena Browning. Even more important, it was eye opening reading this story amidst the increased anti-Semitism occurring presently. This book will stick with me for a long time.

*Jewish rep
*WW2/Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
*Survival against all odds
*Forbidden Love
*Multiple timelines
*Femme Fatale
*Revenge

The Goddess of Warsaw is an exceptional historical fiction about one of the most horrifying events in recent history that many people are forgetting already or, even worse, denying. It's a poignant and compelling story of survival, featuring an incredible and complex heroine who had to make impossible choices to keep her loved ones and herself alive. And after surviving the Holocaust, she continued making dangerous choices to enact revenge on those who tormented and killed her people.

The Goddess of Warsaw was a difficult read at times. Seeing the parallels between Europe of 1930-1940s and the present time, with the explosion of anti-semitism and the dehumanization of the Jewish people that is so rampant right now, caused me a great deal of distress. (Lisa Barr also addresses these parallels in her author's note). Regardless, or maybe because of that, The Goddess of Warsaw is a must-read for historical fiction fans. I am glad I had a chance to read this book. It's going straight on my "favorites" shelf.