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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This book was good, but the romance fell a little flat for me. I like Daniel and Gretchen as separate people, but I don't think I like them as lovers. I hope the sequel will fix that for me! I also felt like Gretchen's character development was a tad unrealistic, since it happened so quickly and so drastically.
However, I liked the atmosphere of the setting, and I liked how Blankman wove reality and fiction together so well. that's a real gift of hers.
However, I liked the atmosphere of the setting, and I liked how Blankman wove reality and fiction together so well. that's a real gift of hers.
This was my first time reading a piece of fiction centered around this particular event in history and Hitler. I was so fascinated by all of the research that went into this, and the amount of truth that was worked into this book. I loved the main characters, and I feel that the author did justice to the psychological elements that were included. I could literally rave about this book for days.
Holy balls! This book was amazing. Easily one of my all-time favourite historical fictions (just fell short of beating Outlander). IT's incredibly fascinating and I would recommend it to ANYONE--especially people interested in pre-WWII Germany and Hitler's rise to power!
Grade: A-
This ARC was provided by Edelweiss and Balzar + Bray in exchange for an honest review.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Holy cheese and crackers, everyone, this book... As I write this review, I'm still suffering from the book hangover it gave me. It is easily one of the best historical fiction novels I've ever read. Gretchen is an amazing character. She practically thinks "Uncle Dolf" hung the moon, which I found interesting and disturbing all at once. The characterization of most everyone was downright amazing. It was creepy to see Adolf Hitler through adoring eyes, particularly since we all know what he turned out to be. I loved the psychoanalytics and how they played into the plot line as Gretchen learned and realized what "Uncle Dolf" and her brother really were. I loved the setting and how it just felt so real. Nothing is overly descriptive, but I felt like I was in 1930s Munich. It was good to see real characters woven into the plot, like Geli and Eva, along with Hitler's henchmen (best way to describe them). I had just read up a bit on Adolf Hitler before starting this book, so I worried where things with Geli would go. I won't spoil anything, but Anne keeps it historically accurate and I commend her for that. I've always known Hitler was spine-chilling and downright disturbing, but as Gretchen started to discover his true colors, so did I. I learned the more intimate details of what made him so psychopathic and creepy. I think that's a sign of a good author, that I was able to rediscover this real life villain.
One of the few things I didn't like was how quickly Gretchen seemed to accept the Jewish people. Obviously we all know they aren't the threat that Hitler claimed they were, but Gretchen had been taught for many years how horrible they were and she seemed to too readily believe Daniel and become a Jewish supporter. Additionally, one of the major parts of the plot is Gretchen solving the mystery of who murdered her father. I saw the reveal coming just a bit and anticipated who it would be, but I think anyone really could.
Language and romance were fairly clean. Violence was the worst. It wasn't as bad as it is in Rose Under Fire or other books that tell the horrors of concentration camps, but it could definitely be graphic at times.
The Verdict: I already want the sequel. At the end of the author's note, Anne said, "I'll meet you again in 1933, five weeks after a certain Austrian politician has been named Germany's newest chancellor..." Basically, I'm already making grabby hands for book 2, and it's not even listed on Goodreads yet! But that tells you just how amazing Prisoner of Night and Fog is. Not one minute is dull, as I've often found historical fiction can be, and you'll be on the edge of your seat, hoping Gretchen and Co. will make it out alive.
This ARC was provided by Edelweiss and Balzar + Bray in exchange for an honest review.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Holy cheese and crackers, everyone, this book... As I write this review, I'm still suffering from the book hangover it gave me. It is easily one of the best historical fiction novels I've ever read. Gretchen is an amazing character. She practically thinks "Uncle Dolf" hung the moon, which I found interesting and disturbing all at once. The characterization of most everyone was downright amazing. It was creepy to see Adolf Hitler through adoring eyes, particularly since we all know what he turned out to be. I loved the psychoanalytics and how they played into the plot line as Gretchen learned and realized what "Uncle Dolf" and her brother really were. I loved the setting and how it just felt so real. Nothing is overly descriptive, but I felt like I was in 1930s Munich. It was good to see real characters woven into the plot, like Geli and Eva, along with Hitler's henchmen (best way to describe them). I had just read up a bit on Adolf Hitler before starting this book, so I worried where things with Geli would go. I won't spoil anything, but Anne keeps it historically accurate and I commend her for that. I've always known Hitler was spine-chilling and downright disturbing, but as Gretchen started to discover his true colors, so did I. I learned the more intimate details of what made him so psychopathic and creepy. I think that's a sign of a good author, that I was able to rediscover this real life villain.
One of the few things I didn't like was how quickly Gretchen seemed to accept the Jewish people. Obviously we all know they aren't the threat that Hitler claimed they were, but Gretchen had been taught for many years how horrible they were and she seemed to too readily believe Daniel and become a Jewish supporter. Additionally, one of the major parts of the plot is Gretchen solving the mystery of who murdered her father. I saw the reveal coming just a bit and anticipated who it would be, but I think anyone really could.
Language and romance were fairly clean. Violence was the worst. It wasn't as bad as it is in Rose Under Fire or other books that tell the horrors of concentration camps, but it could definitely be graphic at times.
The Verdict: I already want the sequel. At the end of the author's note, Anne said, "I'll meet you again in 1933, five weeks after a certain Austrian politician has been named Germany's newest chancellor..." Basically, I'm already making grabby hands for book 2, and it's not even listed on Goodreads yet! But that tells you just how amazing Prisoner of Night and Fog is. Not one minute is dull, as I've often found historical fiction can be, and you'll be on the edge of your seat, hoping Gretchen and Co. will make it out alive.
Another great World War 2 story. This is a story of an unknown Jew's friendship with a pure blood German girl. She is adored by Hitler, abused by her brother and loved by her friends. She is also intrigued by the Jewish boy who seems to be following her.
I love how this book has both historical elements and a love interest.
I love how this book has both historical elements and a love interest.
“If you think love means secrecy, then you don’t understand what love is at all.”
I've never read a World War II book before, I'm usually more a contemporary YA/fantasy type reader, but the cover and the plot of this book just captured me and the thought just didn't let me go until I had it and read it.
And I'm so glad I did. In the beginning, it plants a thought into your head that you probably never had before. That Hitler was human, that to some family, to someone, Hitler was a "normal" person. To Gretchen, he was uncle Dolf.
Gretchen is a made up character, but everything happening around her are true events. As a German reader, reading this book in English was kind of surreal. The English language put a wall between the image of Hitler in my head (planted there from various school lessons and documentaries), and the character in the beginning of the book. I think it made the purpose of the book even stronger, portraying Hitler as somebody else, something else, a caring uncle, somebody who goes out into the country for a picnic with people he cares about.
But of course it doesn't stay that way, his past and his future are catching up to him fast. And you, as well as the main character Gretchen, realize who and what he really is. I was out of breath more than once while reading, and even started looking over my shoulder occasionally. This was the first book that actually made me a little bit paranoid. For no reason at all actually, since it's set in another time, but it hit somewhere way too close to home.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Prisoner of Night and Fog", and Anne Blankman's writing style. I can't wait to see all the characters again in the next book. (Even the "bad" once. She portrays them so well, and the character development deserve a gold star for itself!)
I've never read a World War II book before, I'm usually more a contemporary YA/fantasy type reader, but the cover and the plot of this book just captured me and the thought just didn't let me go until I had it and read it.
And I'm so glad I did. In the beginning, it plants a thought into your head that you probably never had before. That Hitler was human, that to some family, to someone, Hitler was a "normal" person. To Gretchen, he was uncle Dolf.
Gretchen is a made up character, but everything happening around her are true events. As a German reader, reading this book in English was kind of surreal. The English language put a wall between the image of Hitler in my head (planted there from various school lessons and documentaries), and the character in the beginning of the book. I think it made the purpose of the book even stronger, portraying Hitler as somebody else, something else, a caring uncle, somebody who goes out into the country for a picnic with people he cares about.
But of course it doesn't stay that way, his past and his future are catching up to him fast. And you, as well as the main character Gretchen, realize who and what he really is. I was out of breath more than once while reading, and even started looking over my shoulder occasionally. This was the first book that actually made me a little bit paranoid. For no reason at all actually, since it's set in another time, but it hit somewhere way too close to home.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Prisoner of Night and Fog", and Anne Blankman's writing style. I can't wait to see all the characters again in the next book. (Even the "bad" once. She portrays them so well, and the character development deserve a gold star for itself!)
What an incredible book. I can't believe it's taken me this long to read it. I'm looking forward to the sequel!
I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. It's another novel set during the rise of Hitler's regime in the late 1930's, but it's not only about him. The historical facts woven into the story line, the rising fear of the Jews, the pathological personalities of those that followed Hitler and the outliers of the story, expanded my emotions to many different realms.
I've come to realize that enjoying historical novels set in this era does not make me a sociopath, as some may have suggested. I love to read about the triumph of the human spirit, the drive of those who live with a purpose and the dedication people have for their families. These traits seem to be the underlying theme for novels about WWII and the reason I keep coming back to read them.
I've come to realize that enjoying historical novels set in this era does not make me a sociopath, as some may have suggested. I love to read about the triumph of the human spirit, the drive of those who live with a purpose and the dedication people have for their families. These traits seem to be the underlying theme for novels about WWII and the reason I keep coming back to read them.