Historical Fiction is a genre that I've really come to love. The chance to experience times and events through someone else's eyes can be astounding, and while I know I could read more true life recollections, I prefer the advantage of the novel format. I appreciate the history shared, but with a bit of artistic license to bring a bit of light to the darkness. Let's take a closer look at today's ebook of choice and Rachel's Random Resources tour guest for a prime example...
The Lost Daughters of Ukraine
by
Erin Litteken
Boldwood Books
About the book...
A story of the strength of the human spirit, the personal cost of conflict and how love can be found even in the darkest times.
Summer 1941. War rages in Europe. The Germans march towards Ukraine. Halya, Liliya and Vika are no strangers to sorrow. They lost family during the Holodomor, loved ones in Stalin's purges, and war looms once more on the horizon.
Vika lives in fear for her children. She and her sister survived the terror famine by leaving their whole family behind. Now, years later, many believe the Germans will free them from the Soviets, but she’s not so sure. Should they stay in Volhynia or flee the approaching Eastern front?
Liliya has lost too much in her 17 years. As those around her join the resistance, Liliya wonders how she can fight for her friends, family, and country. When the choice is made for her, can she find the will to survive and protect those still with her?
Twelve-year-old Halya is struggling to discover who she is. But as the war escalates, can her mother Katya’s tactics keep her safe from the Nazi soldiers rounding up slave laborers? How can a child survive the horrors of war on her own?
These daughters of Ukraine will face devastation and loss as they fight to survive and protect the ones they love.
A gripping page-turner of love, loss and resilience for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read the first novel penned by this particular author and was absolutely floored. It was a time period I was familiar with, but from a countrymen I was not, and events I had only heard mention of in passing. Being brought into those harrowing times but then, and in this new work, takes your breath away.
The atrocities endured are astounding. To lose one's country to one enemy, only to have it taken by another, making your homeland the continual battlefield for so much time is beyond belief, and yet a historical truth. Reading about things that sound so BEYOND and yet were realities is mind blowing. The things people endured, were exposed to, and survived... make your heart simply ache... but not everything shared was so grim. There were moments of stillness where they could just be. There were times when the darkness was so complete, and yet hope still endured. There were pockets of love that were uncovered unexpectedly, but cherished that much more for their rarity.
It's a heartbreaking, yet beautiful story about the strength of a people to survive, endure, and blossom, beyond the expectations of their captors to create a life worth living in a world not ruled by hatred, but hope. A great pick for Historical Fiction fans that you won't want to miss!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the author...
Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. Her first historical fiction title, drawing on those experiences, will be published by Boldwood in June 2022. She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you and to Boldwood Books for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of tour for more bookish fun!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
No comments:
Post a Comment