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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, War
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia
Thank you Net Galley and Sourcebooks for an ARC of Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn. What an interesting perspective on WW2 historical fiction. I have read many WW2 books, but rarely do they have a character perspective as a German citizen. This book tells the story of three women that begins just before the war broke out. One was a nurse, Irma, who served in WW1 and thought all was fine with the way things were going, until they weren't. Another woman, Hilde, is a devout follower of the Reich who did whatever she could to rise up in the ranks. The third character, Gundi, is a German and has a baby with a Jewish resistance fighter, but recognizes the hatred for the Jews is not right, . The story tells of the Lebensborn program that was started to promote and encourage the procreation of the ideal German offspring. This is a lesser known event during WW2 but a story that needs to be told of finding the women to produce the ideal German, giving the women all the comforts regardless of what what going on, and providing the male subjects to help in the procreation. I struggled with the Hilde character and her devotion to Hitler and the Reich, but kudos to the author for staying true to the character she created. The author's notes were powerful that explained where the author found the story to tell. If you like WW2 HF with a different perspective, I would recommend this book.
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This historical novel focuses on the Lebensborn homes established by Heinrich Himmler. The program’s purpose was to increase the number of Aryan children based on eugenics. Unmarried mothers meeting the criteria were encouraged to have their children adopted by families, particularly SS member families. The program also provided women for soldiers in the hopes the “model” women would become pregnant, and went so far as to kidnap children based on their desirability in order to “Germanize” them.
There are three main characters who all meet at Heim Hochland, a Lebensborn home. Gundi is part of the resistance and while she is a master specimen of Aryan eugenics, unbeknownst to authorities her unborn child is half Jewish. Hilde is a true believer and is proud to be having the child of a married SS officer. Irma is a middle-aged nurse who was widowed during the Great War and is questioning the direction the SS is taking her country.
The story was well-researched, and I would recommend reading the author’s endnote at the beginning. This is a dark and depraved part of history, but was handled delicately. The story was paced well, even if it was formulaic. Each of the women were fairly predictable. While all three have different attitudes, they were written without any distinction. I would have perhaps enjoyed the book more if each of the three women had a noticeably different voice. If you have no knowledge of this subject, it is a great introduction to set you on the path to learning more.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
This historical novel focuses on the Lebensborn homes established by Heinrich Himmler. The program’s purpose was to increase the number of Aryan children based on eugenics. Unmarried mothers meeting the criteria were encouraged to have their children adopted by families, particularly SS member families. The program also provided women for soldiers in the hopes the “model” women would become pregnant, and went so far as to kidnap children based on their desirability in order to “Germanize” them.
There are three main characters who all meet at Heim Hochland, a Lebensborn home. Gundi is part of the resistance and while she is a master specimen of Aryan eugenics, unbeknownst to authorities her unborn child is half Jewish. Hilde is a true believer and is proud to be having the child of a married SS officer. Irma is a middle-aged nurse who was widowed during the Great War and is questioning the direction the SS is taking her country.
The story was well-researched, and I would recommend reading the author’s endnote at the beginning. This is a dark and depraved part of history, but was handled delicately. The story was paced well, even if it was formulaic. Each of the women were fairly predictable. While all three have different attitudes, they were written without any distinction. I would have perhaps enjoyed the book more if each of the three women had a noticeably different voice. If you have no knowledge of this subject, it is a great introduction to set you on the path to learning more.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Antisemitism
World War II
Nazis
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Set in pre WWII Germany, this novel follows three women who are eventually tied together by the Lebensborn Society. The Lebensborn Society was born from the Natzi initiative to promote a breeding program for racially desirable children representing German ideals.
Gundi is a blonde haired, blue eyed German girl, the picture of “good” Aryan genes, but she is pregnant with a Jewish man’s baby who is also part of the Resistance. Irma is a nurse at Heim Hochland (one of the Lebensborn Society’s homes) seeing to the needs of the mothers. She was also a nurse during the First World War and she carry’s her own burdens from her time as a nurse then. Lastly, Hilde is a true believer in the Natzi ideals and wants to make contributions.
Hilda’s story line is very unpleasant to read, yet adds an interesting perspective to this novel. I really liked Gundi’s character and the strength she showed in the situation she was in.
@jennifercoburn writing shows how much research she put into this novel. This is not your typical WWII historical fiction, she tackles this lesser known time in history and not only illustrates the victims, but also those who embraced the Lebensborn Society program.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cradles of the Reich, by Jennifer Coburn
Cradles of Reich is a shocking and dark look back at history. In honor of Hitler, the Nazis' Lebensborn Society featured maternity homes where women were bred like cattle to create a "model German society".
I found Jennifer Coburn's book, told from the perspectives of three women, to be enthralling and a subject I was unaware of till I read the book. Although the novel is fiction, it is based on true events. Those interested in history will find this topic unusual and intriguing. This is a testament to the strength and endurance of women during the second World War.
Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn is available on October 11th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for sharing this book with me. I appreciate your kindness.
Cradles of Reich is a shocking and dark look back at history. In honor of Hitler, the Nazis' Lebensborn Society featured maternity homes where women were bred like cattle to create a "model German society".
I found Jennifer Coburn's book, told from the perspectives of three women, to be enthralling and a subject I was unaware of till I read the book. Although the novel is fiction, it is based on true events. Those interested in history will find this topic unusual and intriguing. This is a testament to the strength and endurance of women during the second World War.
Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn is available on October 11th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for sharing this book with me. I appreciate your kindness.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
Netgalley
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set in Nazi Germany, Cradles of the Reich explores a neglected part of German history, the Lebensborn programme- where young women were encouraged to increase the number of racially pure children based on Nazi eugenics. I came across the Lebensborn programme while studying history at university and when I saw the premise of Cradles of the Reich, I knew that this was be an intriguing and equally disturbing story.
Told from the perspective of three women, their stories are woven together beautifully by the author. Irma, a former nurse, who has suffered great losses in the past and who is trying to persuade her lover Eduard to marry her; Hilde, a fanatical young woman determined to forge a path for herself amongst the key players in the Nazi political world and Gundi, a young woman who is pregnant by her Jewish boyfriend and terrified that the Nazis will find out about her unborn child’s father.
Beautifully written and expertly researched, Coburn brings this aspect of Nazi Germany to life on the page. The focus on three women and their individual experiences of the home is riveting and I couldn’t put the book down. I feel that this story could be continued in a second book as I became really invested in each of the characters’ stories. A truly terrifying aspect of Hitler’s warped ideology, Coburn has shed new light onto this aspect of World War Two history and brought the human aspect of it to the fore with her focus on three ordinary women caught up in the storm of propaganda, lies and manipulation broadcast by the Nazis at this time.
Fans of Kate Quinn’s historical fiction set in World War Two will thoroughly enjoy Cradles of the Reich.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the arc.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Nazi breeding program seems to be one of those things that people have inklings about but sounds too dystopian to entertain the thought too much. Kudos to Jennifer Coburn for tackling this lesser-spoken time in history. Not only does she illustrate victims, but also those who embraced the program.
The book follows Gundi, Irma, and Hilde, three women with vastly different stories that all intertwine in Heim Hochland. The three have different roles and backgrounds: Hilde is there to produce Aryan children, specifically the child of a Nazi officer, Gundi is carrying a Jewish man's baby and can only pray the child will inherit her Aryan features rather than his Jewish looks, and Irma is a nurse at Heim Hochland seeing to the needs of the mothers to be.
Of the three, I liked Gundi's story the best and found it to be the most fleshed out with her being both part of the Resistance as well as a resident of the maternity home. Her and Irma's relationship was so sweet. That being said, I enjoyed Irma's POV immensely as well and her journey as she comes to learn more about the true reason for her work at the maternity home. As for Hilde, her story is both difficult and interesting to read. Difficult because it's uncomfortable being placed in the mindset of someone who wants to contribute to the Nazi party, especially in such a way as being a breeder. Interesting because it's not a perspective you'll often see visited nowadays. I can't imagine how difficult it would be as a writer to take on a character like this.
Hilde's storyline sort of drops off toward the end, making Gundi and Irma the ultimate protagonists of the book. Their stories were solid enough that Hilde was a bit of a third wheel, but it did add something having that not-so-pleasant POV. It added a layer of harsh reality to the situation. There were women willing to compromise themselves for the sake of producing the 'perfect' child and people willing to bring harm to those who didn't fit the bill.
There's a lot going on in the book, but there's a lot to cover and a lot of intricacies that make up the bigger picture. I don't know a whole lot about this program, but it appears to be thoroughly researched which I always appreciate. I'm curious to look more into the subject now.
A huge thanks to the author for inviting me to read the ARC through NetGalley! I plan on buying a physical copy once the book is released.
The book follows Gundi, Irma, and Hilde, three women with vastly different stories that all intertwine in Heim Hochland. The three have different roles and backgrounds: Hilde is there to produce Aryan children, specifically the child of a Nazi officer, Gundi is carrying a Jewish man's baby and can only pray the child will inherit her Aryan features rather than his Jewish looks, and Irma is a nurse at Heim Hochland seeing to the needs of the mothers to be.
Of the three, I liked Gundi's story the best and found it to be the most fleshed out with her being both part of the Resistance as well as a resident of the maternity home. Her and Irma's relationship was so sweet. That being said, I enjoyed Irma's POV immensely as well and her journey as she comes to learn more about the true reason for her work at the maternity home. As for Hilde, her story is both difficult and interesting to read. Difficult because it's uncomfortable being placed in the mindset of someone who wants to contribute to the Nazi party, especially in such a way as being a breeder. Interesting because it's not a perspective you'll often see visited nowadays. I can't imagine how difficult it would be as a writer to take on a character like this.
Hilde's storyline sort of drops off toward the end, making Gundi and Irma the ultimate protagonists of the book. Their stories were solid enough that Hilde was a bit of a third wheel, but it did add something having that not-so-pleasant POV. It added a layer of harsh reality to the situation. There were women willing to compromise themselves for the sake of producing the 'perfect' child and people willing to bring harm to those who didn't fit the bill.
There's a lot going on in the book, but there's a lot to cover and a lot of intricacies that make up the bigger picture. I don't know a whole lot about this program, but it appears to be thoroughly researched which I always appreciate. I'm curious to look more into the subject now.
A huge thanks to the author for inviting me to read the ARC through NetGalley! I plan on buying a physical copy once the book is released.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Antisemitism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, War
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So good! I love how the author wrote this novel from there very different point of view characters. Based on the true story of women who were used to expand the Aryan race and often these babies were given to families of high ranking loyalty to Germany to be raised. Told from three different women, we see the struggles and beliefs that was happening at the maternity homes. Irma is giving an opportunity from an old friend and decides to start a new and put her nursing skills back to use again, but not long after she arrives at this home does she start hearing and seeing things that make her start to question the real reason for this house. Hilde cannot be more proud, as she is carrying a high ranking Nazi officers baby and this will give her all she has wanted and to prove herself to the Germany but things do not go as planned and Hilde is not one to be trusted. Gundi is a pregnant university student who is keeping a secret and it won't be long before all is revealed. All three of these women find themselves at the maternity home and each one has a different choice to make. I really loved this novel, I learned so much! Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite and the author for the free novel.