This was such a heartfelt book. I’m so glad that the author decided to investigate her families history and find the lost pieces. World War 2 has always been an interesting topic for me. Hearing this families stories and even the aftermath of the war was just so interesting. I can not imagine having to work for something you hate and despise in order to hopefully stay alive only to then be killed for it. The trials that took place back then to decide if someone was guilty of helping or being involved with the regime at the time will never make sense to me. This book made me look into even more of World War to and find out more facts about the other countries that were affected. This is a great read if you want to think and be introduced to new information, or at least new to me.

“Every Estonian family has a story to tell.” – loc 705.

“Candles for the Defiant” is a WWII Biography of author Kaia Gallagher’s family, told in a way that feels more extraordinary than nonfiction alone. Kaia’s family’s story is backed by extensive, painstaking research as Bruno, Asta, and her own mother’s plight during WWII unravels.

Estonia is a small country in Northern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea, Latvia, and Russia. Gallagher’s penning offers readers the opportunity to be educated, learn the history, and understand what the Estonian people went through during WWII, specifically as it pertained to Kaia’s own family.

From Bruno to her late aunt Asta, as well as her mother, grandmother, and the rest of her family, “Candles for the Defiant” lays out her family’s experiences during WWII. Despite being someone who considers themselves well read on WWII history, having grown up with the History Channel, and random history pop quizzes from their father, I was taken aback by the plight of the Estonian people. For instance, they believed the Germans would save them from Soviet occupation. Deportations, imprisonment, and rebellion was already playing out under Soviet rule, the presence of German soldiers offered the people what they hoped would be an escape from communism.

Gallagher peels back the layers of all her family went through as she unburies her Estonian past. From Asta’s fiancé Bruno’s infiltration of the communist party in an attempt to undermine their efforts and maintain Estonia’s independence, to his case to prove his Estonian patriotism and staunch denial of ever being a true communist, to Asta’s quick downward spiral and the gapping chasm her death left within the family. WWII often is remembered for its genocide of Jews, and rightfully so. However, “Candles for the Defiant” shows us a new perspective of the civilian struggle during WWII, those outside of the Jewish faith and other targets of the Nazi’s, the Soviets, and later German occupation of Estonia gives readers an otherwise largely undocumented perspective of WWII.

What author Kaia Gallagher has done is extremely impressive. Showing readers Estonia’s occupation by the Soviets is an incredible firsthand perspective. Much of the heroics that played out had to be kept hidden for fear of Soviet reaction at the time. But what she’s uncovered and laid bare for us across the page is a masterful feat.

Gallagher offers a humanized perspective, like that of fleeing from Soviet occupation via German ships. The luck her mother felt that a German soldier was helping them escape is unlike anything I’ve ever read. You feel so rooted in her family’s well-being and the terror they feel under Soviet rule. It’s an uncomfortable realization that these American allies were so terrorizing that German soldiers were considered a welcome, aided relief. “Candles for the Defiant” is a moving and powerful biography of an oft forgotten country of WWII, hats off to Gallagher and her remarkable work of nonfiction.

I really appreciated the extremely personal piece of history this book gives a peek into, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone with even a passing interest in history.

This doesn't impact my rating, because I love what I've listened to and it's no fault of the author, but I cannot listen bast a certain chapter. It may be the fault of NetGalley's audio player, but past chapter 8, no chapters will play. This is not a problem I've experienced with other NetGalley audiobooks, so this may be an issue to look into.

Thanks so much to Kaia Gallagher for sharing her family's tragic story. Also thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/Audiobook.

I am not sure if I have ever read a book about Estonia…I’m 100% a world history nerd, too! Candles for the Defiant is a personal story about Kaia Gallagher’s (the author) family. It shows the stoic defiance the people of Estonia have to make it through so many wars and tragedies. I feel honored to have read such a personal story…and I want to learn more about the Baltic country.

Kiiri Sandy was a wonderful narrator with a soothing voice to tell the story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atterberry Press, for a copy!