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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
Set in Heim Hochland, a Nazi breeding home in Bavaria, this novel explores the intertwined fates of three women during World War II. Gundi, a pregnant university student and secret member of the resistance; Hilde, an enthusiastic supporter of the Nazi cause, thrilled to bear an official's child; and Irma, a nurse seeking to rebuild her life after a personal tragedy. As members of the Lebensborn Society, these women face tremendous risks and sacrifices. Inspired by real historical events, the story delves into the clandestine operations of these maternity homes, where babies deemed "racially fit" were taken from their mothers to be raised in the new Germany. Amidst the darkness, the novel highlights the power of connections and the resilience of women, showcasing their capacity for heroism in the most challenging of times.
This is a must read for fans of Kate Quinn and little-known World War II stories. The different perspectives of the women at the Lebensborn Society was fascinating to read about. The stark contrast between Gundi and Hilde was a great balance. While the ending, in my opinion, left a bit to be desired, the majority of the book was well-written and engaging.
A Write to Review: https://lrjohnson13.blogspot.com/2022/10/review-cradles-of-reich.html
Set in Heim Hochland, a Nazi breeding home in Bavaria, this novel explores the intertwined fates of three women during World War II. Gundi, a pregnant university student and secret member of the resistance; Hilde, an enthusiastic supporter of the Nazi cause, thrilled to bear an official's child; and Irma, a nurse seeking to rebuild her life after a personal tragedy. As members of the Lebensborn Society, these women face tremendous risks and sacrifices. Inspired by real historical events, the story delves into the clandestine operations of these maternity homes, where babies deemed "racially fit" were taken from their mothers to be raised in the new Germany. Amidst the darkness, the novel highlights the power of connections and the resilience of women, showcasing their capacity for heroism in the most challenging of times.
This is a must read for fans of Kate Quinn and little-known World War II stories. The different perspectives of the women at the Lebensborn Society was fascinating to read about. The stark contrast between Gundi and Hilde was a great balance. While the ending, in my opinion, left a bit to be desired, the majority of the book was well-written and engaging.
A Write to Review: https://lrjohnson13.blogspot.com/2022/10/review-cradles-of-reich.html
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As most historical novels about the WW2 area do, this book is emotionally hard to read at some times, since it does have a lot of real life background. Not as common but this book focuses on 3 German woman who in each own way see something wrong happening around them but chose to act differently about it - and I honestly can’t say I didn’t like any of them in some or other way. Also what I feel is another uncommon point is that this timeline mostly is focused on before the start of the war and Poland invasion which for me, at least gave a slight another view into that period.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This book is particularly interesting from the perspective of an American in 2025.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Written beautifully and showcasing a side of Nazi Germany that is rarely talked about. She interconnects the lives of three women, all with various views on the Reich, highlighting how vastly different opinions could be. She backed up her story with tons of research and made the story plausible and a great read!
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
adventurous
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No