A very well written, knowledgeable historical fiction novel set in ww2 in which we, the reader are introduced to our main character Hodaya, who's only crime was to be Jewish. Hodaya and her family live understand Nazi occupation in the polish town of Bochnia, her life taken away in the blink of an eye. Taken to live in a ghetto before ultimately being transported along with thousands of others to Auschwitz including her parents, best friend and her younger sister Bayla.

Through absolute perseverance, grit, instinct and the sheer will to survive and protect the one thing most precious to her Hodaya's story is ab incredible one.

A beautiful tribute to those that weren't fortunate to survive such horror and evil.

This is a wonderful historical fiction novel, written so beautiful and heartfelt it perfectly ensnares the reality of what life during world war 2 was like for so many. I never tire of reading stories like Hodaya's, incredibly sad but, also truly heart warming stories of such amazing courageous characters.

I have no words to describe everything that this book made me feel.

At the imposing iron gates of Auschwitz, twenty-one-year-old Hodaya clings to her mama and papa, her little sister Bayla’s arms around her waist. But when Hodaya is sent one way and her parents the other, a plea to keep her sister safe is the last thing in her mother’s eyes. Hodaya makes a silent promise in return.

But Auschwitz is no place for a little girl, and keeping Bayla safe takes every ounce of Hodaya’s strength. She hates watching the spark in her little sister’s eyes dull, and as she hands over her daily rations of watery soup and stale bread to keep Bayla fed, she feels herself weakening by the second. But she vows to find a way out, even if it means sacrificing the young woman she once was.

Hodaya loses everyone she ever knew, everyone she ever loved but she can't lose Bayla. She's all that's left of the life before Auschwitz and she'll do everything in her power to keep her safe but life in Auschwitz isn't easy.

A Promise to My Sister tore my heart apart but it also made me believe in humanity and how we still need to hold onto every ray of hope. It's a beautifully written story of love and sacrifice and relationships. I loved the depth that was portrayed in the book and the way each character is written is incredible.
The book is truly compelling and unputdownable. Well written, emotional, but above all unforgettable. I wish I could give is more than 5 stars and if it was possible, I would.

Thank you @bookouture and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely amazing, got hooked from the fist charter and had problems putring it down. I was expecting it to end diffrentvbut was happy it didn’t.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.
This was a harrowing read as is to be expected with the subject matter. I found it to be well written and compelling.

Oh my heart! What an amazing and heartbreaking story! Hodaya, her younger sister and their parents are living in Bochnia, Poland when the Germans invade in 1939. As Jews they must wear stars and endure the hatred of not only the German soldiers but also the same people they once considered friends and acquaintances. As the war continues, though, Hodaya and her family eventually end up in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Scared and separated from so many she loves, Hodaya vows to look after her little sister, but the camp is no place for a child. Can Hodaya keep her promise to look after her sister?

This is such a brilliant story that begins with a brief prologue set in 1961 before Hodaya begins narrating her story during the war years. In the first half of the book the story alternates between Hodaya’s transportation and arrival at Auschwitz and flashbacks into her life before the the Germans invaded as well as then showing us the life she and her family face as the years under occupation continue. Hodaya and her family are Jewish, and you see some lovely heart-warming moments between the family and their friends before the invasion of ther Germans into the country.

The brief early chapters showing Hodaya’s arrival at Auschwitz sets the tone for this story and I like how this book doesn’t shy away from showing what life was really like for many during the war. The flashback chapters cover a large time period between 1939 and the initial invasion all the way through to 1943. I won’t say any details about what happens in the story, but there are a lot of dark moments even in these chapters showing how life was getting increasingly tougher for everyone especially the Jewish people.

I like how this book shows a lot of what was really happening at the time during the war, the attitude towards Jewish people, the ghettos, the round ups, the killings, it’s all shown in this book through Hodaya’s experiences and story. Once the story moves to Auschwitz it becomes even darker. We see many people separated with Hodaya somehow managing to keep her sister with her. The realities of what subsequently happened to those who survived (and those who didn’t) is shown in brutal detail, however it’s shown through Hodaya’s story, making this a much more emotional read.

Some of the things Hodaya and the other prisoners go through are truly heartbreaking. I’ve read a lot of real life accounts (as well as heard from family) of what happened in Auschwitz and other camps but even knowing some of this stuff, this story still had me shocked and emotional from all that happens to Hodaya and the other women in the camp. The brutal way they were treated, starved and more is shown through the story, and yet despite everything that happens and how soul shattering their situation is, I love Hodaya’s love for her sister Bayla and her determination to keep her safe no matter what.

During their time in the camp, as hope grows ever scarcer, Hodaya comes across a German corporal who seems different from the other officers, but with the passing days making her start to question her own sanity she struggles to know whether to trust the man or not. I enjoyed getting to know Alaric’s character, and what we learn about him later in the story. Some of the other characters I liked included Bayla and Naomi. Although the story follows what happens to Hodaya, some parts of the narrative are quite slow at times. This is because Hodaya spends quite a lot of time thinking and questioning life and God and the cruelty she and others are enduring. These passages have great meaning and relevance to the story, but to me they also slowed down the tale quite a bit too.

The book has some German and Polish (and occasional Yiddish) words and phrases used which have no translations and while not knowing the words doesn’t ruin the enjoyment of hte story (and I was lucky I knew the Polish words used) I would have preferred it if these were also written in English or explained somewhere at the back of the book, as I know a lot of people might not know the Polish derogatory terms for the Germans for example. The book has some brief author notes at the end which explain a little more about the story.

So much happens in this book as it moves through the years towards the end of the war and slowly builds up to its ending. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, desperate to find out what happens to Hodaya and others and there are lots of dark moments and dark things happening that your heart lurching as you read. The prologue has such a somber tone to it that I wasn’t sure what was going to happen in the story. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end but when I finally read the end it just felt perfect. The epilogue had me literally in tears. I don’t often cry when reading a book, I might feel emotional, have a little water in my eyes, but I don’t usually outright cry, but this book was one that actually made me cry but in a way that was good. I won’t say what happens at the end, but it’s a very satisfying end given what happens and for anyone wondering if they want to pick this up, you won’t be disappointed.

Overall, though this book does have some dark and harrowing moments with the Holocaust and all its horrors shown in detail, the book does have a thread of hope running through it in Hodaya’s character and what happens with a few others. The story does contain some things which might be too upsetting for some to read with mentions of deaths, violence, racism and of course the realities of the horrific things that happened at that time and in that place. There are also a few uses of the f swear words too. It’s a darker story with most of the tale set within Auschwitz-Birkenau itself and the dark realities of what people went through shown in a good way, but despite it’s darker side, it’s also a beautiful story with an ending that will have you in so many tears (in a good way!)

I want to start off by saying that I apologize for my late review. I didn’t want to rush through this book. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genre to read. This is by far a favorite and the characters I will never forget and hold close to my heart. I knew that I wanted to read this book based on the cover and the title alone. I went in to this book not wanting to know anything. I know this is the author first debut book. I do plan on reading and auto buying her books. I did end up buying my own ebook copy because I love this book and these characters so much. Yes this book came out August 29,2024 I highly recommend this book over and over again.
I respect and love Hodaya a 21 year old with her strength on protecting her sister. During the hardest time in the world during WWII. I can’t relate but I understand her feeling about God and the whys. The anger that she carried with her during those times in the camps. Watching her loved ones that she card about disappear. Hodaya is trying to hide everything about and where people are going from her sister. To keep her mind free and innocents. When one young SS solder is fighting his own battles and trying to make things right by himself and god. He is determined to keep these safe. Because he has change his ways of believing what he was taught for fight for.
If you are like me and love hearing and reading about the those hard times back then I highly recommend this book.
I want to end with that I felt at times when Hodaya was alone or fighting herself I was there wanting to dry her eyes. This didn’t feel like any other book I have read. It felt like a movie. And people I wanted to help. My reviews will be up everyone. Thank you to the author and netgalley from this opportunity to read again. A powerful and tearful bookj.

Auschwitz - 1943 - Such a great, heart breaking story. Promises we make are hard to keep. It will bring you to tears. A must read!

In this heartbreaking yet heartwarming World War II historical fiction novel, readers follow sisters Hodaya and Bayla from the days of the German occupation and invasion of Poland to their imprisonment in Auschwitz. When they are separated from their parents, Hodaya promises to keep Bayla alive and safe (or as safe as she can) in the camp, even if it means she weakens over time. When help comes from an unlikely place (a German soldier named Alaric), Hodaya must grapple with how she will keep Bayla alive and if trusting someone else is worth it. With a powerful sisterly bond at the center of the narrative, these two characters are a force to be reckoned with as the heart of the story. Bayla is adorable, and Hodaya’s fierce protection of and devotion to her engages the reader with the narrative. With brutal details and a backdrop of Auschwitz, their relationship contrasts with the grimness of their setting in a way that highlights both aspects of the narrative. A powerful historical fiction novel with incredible characters, a haunting setting, and an emotional rollercoaster at its center, Rutledge’s latest book is incredibly moving, emotional and vibrant, and fans of the genre are sure to enjoy this book and Bayla and Hodaya’s bond.

A Promise to my Sister is the very impressive debut novel from S.E. Rutledge. No matter how many historical fiction books that I read set during World War Two they never fail to have a deep and lasting impact on me. As they say, they may be gone but they will never be forgotten and this story is testament to this. This is a powerful, heart-breaking and emotive read. The heroine Hodaya becomes a character full of strength, resilience and courage despite her faith and trust in God wavering and being severely tested for all the degradation, humiliation and torture that she is put through.

A brief prologue set in Bochina, Poland, introduces us to a woman who has never spoken of the hardships that she has endured. All her memories and the events of the war have been smothered and she is desperate to move on and forget but she can’t. Who is this woman and what has happened to her? Even from the brief page or two of the prologue there is a dark and depressing atmosphere and a sense of so much that occurred that can’t be repaired or erased from memory. It entices the reader to read on and get stuck into the story proper.

The story then goes back in time to August 1939 and we meet Hodaya and her young sister Bayla and her parents who live in Poland. The family are Jewish and have struggled to get by but they are united by their strong love for one another. We gain an insight into life before the invasion of Poland by the Germans. We learn that Hodaya loves to paint but has quit school to work in a diner to earn some money for the family. Here is where she meets Naomi who becomes like a second sister to her. But the Germans are drawing ever near and when they reach the city and war is declared the lives of Hodaya and her family are irreplaceably changed forever. Bayla is only 11 when the order to leave the ghetto arrives and after enduring several years of rules and regulations all because of their religion the family are packed away along with Naomi on cattle trains bound for Auschwitz.

As a reader you know the unspeakable horrors that occurred there but for the characters it’s all new and you feel desperation, sadness and anger at what you know will be in store for them. Men and women are segregated and her parents are sent to the side that no one wishes to go to. Hodaya has to take on a new role as mother to Bayala who should not be with her in this particular section of the camp but as the title suggest she makes a promise to her sister and to those she could not save that she will do everything in her power to protect Bayla until she no longer has the chance to.

Throughout her experiences and the more suffering that ensues and the depths the human soul and physical body are plunged to the more Hodaya believes God has turned away from them. Who would let this happen to them? You wonder this yourself as this still happens today. This aspect of the book would make a great debate for a book club. You feel every bit of the misery, anguish, resentment and despondence that builds within Hodaya but she must battle on. Her ingenuity is to be admired despite her broken soul being tormented. The character of Alaric as mentioned in the blurb is a divisive one. Can one person fighting on behalf of Hitler view Jews as human as his leader does not? I would have loved even more exploration of his character as I felt we barely scratched the surface. But on reflection there couldn’t have been too much of a focus on him as he was a guard and Hodaya a prisoner and if he was found doing what he did to aid people than the worst fate would befall everyone despite all that they had already endured.

The first few chapters I found to be a bit all over the place in that the timeline jumped around as there were chapters detailing their lives in the weeks pre war, then chapters regarding the family’s transport to Auschwitz and amidst that chapters concerning the families incarceration in the ghetto. I would have preferred a straightforward timeline from the get-go rather from a point further on in the book as it made things feel disjointed and difficult for me to settle into the book. But when the timeline followed a more regular pattern this is where the book really took off for me. The writing just got better and better and rarely if ever does a book bring me to tears but towards the end I was fighting them back.

The imagery, the words used to convey sentiments and feelings regarding the situation were all excellent and so profound at times. I would have stopped and reread passages and taken further time to absorb them only for the fact that I was eager to keep reading to see what was going to happen. The author doesn’t just describe what Hodaya and Bayala went through at the camp she lives and breathes every moment of their time trapped behind the walls and brutal of a prison that should never have been established. It’s a real sensory read at times. The themes of ones faith and the capacity for survival when amidst excruciating conditions are hammered home through fantastic writing and the reader questions everything in the same manner as Hodaya.

With A Promise to my Sister I was expecting a typical read in the WW2 genre. I say typical because I read so much in this genre and at times I feel I have read it all can there be anything new brought to a genre that can become over saturated? But here the author has excelled herself and Hodaya and her bravery, determination and defiance shine through. Those many victims of Auschwitz and so many other camps will not be forgotten with storytelling and writing the likes of this and if this is what the author is writing for a debut I can only imagine what she will write in the future. A compelling, thought provoking read that I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and S.E. Rutledge for the e-arc!!

Books written about the victims of the Holocaust can’t help but bring you to the valley of despair, horror & heartbreak … but when those same books leave you with renewed feelings of hope, inspiration & the reminder that the strongest weapon we will ever possess in life & surviving it’s difficulties is the power of love … then that book is worth reading.

And this one does just that!

A book that moved me to tears of sorrow & joy … and one that will stay with me for a long time!

A great story from the author describing life in Auschwitz. Hodaya was lucky that Alaric decided to help her and Bayla to survive. in the horror camp. A lovely twist at the end as well.

My Review: An absolute page turner. I read this book in one sitting. I was gripped by the writing and the story. We briefly find ourselves in the 60s but mainly the story is told before and during WWII. We follow Hodaya’s story and that of her sister Bayla. Their loves are turned upside down many times, and being stuck in the hell that was Auschwitz, surrounded by death, sickness, unpleasantries, fear and the knowledge death is only a walk away. The sisters encounter an Angel in human form.
This book is beautiful, horrific, beautiful, traumatic, beautiful and real. I give it 5 stars and a recommendation for anyone who reads WWII historical fiction, I look forward to more by the author.

This story follows Hodaya and Bayla, and their family from Poland, who are Jewish, as things slowly change there after WWII. It takes us from their time in their homes, later on in the ghetto and their family is eventually sent to Auschwitz. Her parents are sent one way and she and her sister another as she works to save her sister and get her through hell on earth. She has a little help from one of the most unlikely of places.


The writer did an excellent job of drawing us into life in the camp. It was a very descriptive book of the darkest of times, with beautifully drawn characters. It did jump around in timelines a bit before they ended up in Auschwitz which was a little confusing for me. However, I thought the writer did a great job of writing a beautifully told story and I look forward to reading more from them.


Thanks to @bookouture, @netgalley and the author for this ARC

Thank you @bookouture for my stop on the book tour of A Promise to My Sister by S.E. Rutledge.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and A Promise to my Sister is definitely one of the best HF books I’ve read. It is a story that deeply touched me and soon won’t forget.

A Promise To My Sister follows the journey of Hodaya and her Jewish family living in Poland during World War 2. They are deported to Auschwitz where upon arrival the family is separated. Two sisters are now alone in Auschwitz without the protection and safety of their parents. Clinging to her little sister, 21 year old Hodaya makes a promise that she will do whatever it takes to ensure Bayla survives. The sisters endure unspeakable horrors, hardships, pain and suffering yet Hodaya never gives up. She makes huge sacrifices to try and honour her promise. But is it enough? Will they both survive? Will they escape the evil that is Auschwitz and be reunited with their family again? No spoilers from me. You absolutely have to read this book.

Of note, A Promise to my Sister is S.E. Rutledge’s debut novel. I was shocked that a first time author can write a book of this calibre. The book was full of vivid descriptions, raw emotion and well researched facts and details. A heartbreaking yet triumphant novel that I will never forget.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publish Date: aug 29

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Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “A Promise to My Sister” by S.E. Rutledge.
Hodaya and her family are sent to Auschwitz. She is responsible for taking care of her younger sister, Bayla. I was flipping through the pages so fast to see what would happen to these sisters. This book is heartbreaking yet inspiring. I truly couldn’t put it down.
S.E. Rutledge just became a MUST READ author to me! Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#APromiseToMySister #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetDuringWWII

This was a very emotional and moving story of perseverance in times of struggle and war. This is a historical novel which is set in a very traumatic time in many peoples life and we see our main character Hodaya be ripped from everything she knows, to them be separated from her parents when taken to Auschwitz leaving her in charge of her sisters care and safety. Rutledge has created a character which had me sobbing and feeling emotions that I am not qualified to feel about this period in time as well as rage for everything that she is going through - watching everyone about her lose their spark for life. This make them a very powerful author who is able to take such a highly talked about time in our history and make it their own with their own cast of unique characters. I will be interested to see other works by this author.

This is my absolute favourite genre of book. World War II, and the Holocaust in particular is a special interest of mine. Added to that I know that Bookouture books are always worth a read. Now the downside to that is that I judge books set in this period extremely harshly, and it's almost impossible to get 5 stars from me. So my rating is a real testimony to how good this book was.

A Promise to my Sister tells the heartbreaking story of Hodaya and Bayla, Polish Jewish sisters who, along with their parents and an unimaginable number of others were sent to Auschwitz. Their exact story is fictional, but it so easily could have been real.

Set at various points from 1939 up until 1961, the author has done an amazing job at captured just how confusing and terrifying those times must have been.

A Promise to My Sister by S.E. Rutledge is a highly emotive, exceptional debut novel.


@bookouture

As a reader, you would not believe that this is Rutledges irst novel, such is the excellent narrative, structure and flow. Rutledge has a profound ability to place you inside the story, experiencing every nuance, emotion and sensation. This book broke me, it had me in floods of tears by the end and as such, it is a story that must be shared

Hodaya and Bayla were separated from their parents at the entrance to Auschwitz. Hodaya catches a glimpse from her mothers eyes and she knew exactly what she was saying; "Take care of your little sister, I love you both". Auschwitz was no place for any human, let alone two children, yet Hodaya is determined to take care of her little sister, even as hope fades along with their descimation due to extreme starvation

This story is not just an account of the horrors of Auschwitz, it is a celebration of the hope, bravery and tenacity of the prisoners and those who would try to help them

Absolutely recommend

Thank you to Bookouture and S.E. Rutledge for this incredible ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

#thetea 🫖📚 #audiobooknarrator #narrator #bookrec #tbr #tbrstack #bookblogger #history #bookouture #historicalfiction #review #arcreview

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of A Promise to My Sister By S.E. Rutledge. This is my first book by this author. It was an enjoyable read that was well written and researched. The story was an emotional one, one of bravery, courage, determination and love, torture, sacrifice, and the will to live. Such a powerful book that should be read by everyone. I did find the chapters to jump around a bit too much for my liking, but it was a good book even with that criticism. I gave it a 4 star rating.

4.5 stars rounded down to 4 stars.

This book was one of the most powerful and heart-wrenching books I've ever read. It's utterly devastating to read about what people were put through in concentration camps during WWII, but the strength and courage of the main character, Hodaya, was inspiring. I liked the dual POV in this book that alternated between the time leading up to them being taken to the concentration camp and their time in Auschwitz.

I don't typically cry during books, but this one brought me to tears several times. I also did not realize until I finished the book that this is a debut novel. The research that obviously went into this book and the level of detail make me so excited to see what she writes next!!