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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Historical fiction about two real, remarkable women, both members of the French Resistance. May we all aspire to be so brave.
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
A WWII historical fiction novel based on the real lives of two remarkable women. This book follows Virginia d’Albert-Lake and Violette Szabo - two young women who get involved in the French Resistance, risking everything to help save lives. This book highlights just two of the many women who worked behind the scenes in the most brave and courageous ways. Highly recommended for fans of Kristin Hannah, Kristin Harmel or Kate Quinn. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Great on audio too narrated by Caroline Hewitt.
Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck
It's 1940 and American Virginia d’Albert-Lake is being urged by her husband and family to return to the United States so she can be safe from danger in war ravaged France. But Virginia has no desire to leave her husband Philippe or his family and their friends. She knows she belongs in her adopted country of France and she is not going to run away. At first Virginia and Philippe mostly watch what is happening around them, once soldier Philippe is sent home after the French army surrenders to Germany, their hearts sinking at how their country is being destroyed. But once they decide to join the Resistance and help those fighting for their freedom, they know they have done the right thing and won't be turning back.
Nineteen year old Brit Violette is fluent in French, having spent half her life in France. She meets and marries Étienne Szabo, a non-commissioned officer in the French Foreign Legion, and after a very short courtship he's back to the front line in South Africa. Violette had already wanted to be an active part of resisting the enemy and once tragedy strikes she is determined to fight for her freedom and for what was taken from her.
The story is told in alternating chapters following these two very different women. Different but dedicated and brave, once they are involved in fighting for what is right and keeping others safe, there is no holding either woman back. This time period is heartbreaking and the oppression is never ending. We follow Virginia, her husband, and others as they work to save Allied pilots and thwart the enemy, at great risk to themselves. We follow Violette as she is recruited for the SOE, and during her training and her two missions. Eventually both women are captured and suffer greatly at Ravensbrück concentration camp and other facilities.
It was an excellent choice to feature both women in this way. As France is suffering, being crushed under the German occupation, there is no escape for most of the people. But we get to see what can be done, sacrificing all to help one another, fighting from moment to moment in any way possible. These two women aren't the only heroes and I spent a lot of time after reading this story, researching many of the real people we meet. Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes, all ages, and this story introduces us to heroes and some traitors, too. Virginia and Violette were real women, real heroes and their stories are amazing.
Pub March 1st 2022
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.
It's 1940 and American Virginia d’Albert-Lake is being urged by her husband and family to return to the United States so she can be safe from danger in war ravaged France. But Virginia has no desire to leave her husband Philippe or his family and their friends. She knows she belongs in her adopted country of France and she is not going to run away. At first Virginia and Philippe mostly watch what is happening around them, once soldier Philippe is sent home after the French army surrenders to Germany, their hearts sinking at how their country is being destroyed. But once they decide to join the Resistance and help those fighting for their freedom, they know they have done the right thing and won't be turning back.
Nineteen year old Brit Violette is fluent in French, having spent half her life in France. She meets and marries Étienne Szabo, a non-commissioned officer in the French Foreign Legion, and after a very short courtship he's back to the front line in South Africa. Violette had already wanted to be an active part of resisting the enemy and once tragedy strikes she is determined to fight for her freedom and for what was taken from her.
The story is told in alternating chapters following these two very different women. Different but dedicated and brave, once they are involved in fighting for what is right and keeping others safe, there is no holding either woman back. This time period is heartbreaking and the oppression is never ending. We follow Virginia, her husband, and others as they work to save Allied pilots and thwart the enemy, at great risk to themselves. We follow Violette as she is recruited for the SOE, and during her training and her two missions. Eventually both women are captured and suffer greatly at Ravensbrück concentration camp and other facilities.
It was an excellent choice to feature both women in this way. As France is suffering, being crushed under the German occupation, there is no escape for most of the people. But we get to see what can be done, sacrificing all to help one another, fighting from moment to moment in any way possible. These two women aren't the only heroes and I spent a lot of time after reading this story, researching many of the real people we meet. Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes, all ages, and this story introduces us to heroes and some traitors, too. Virginia and Violette were real women, real heroes and their stories are amazing.
Pub March 1st 2022
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.
Powerful & Inspiring. Erika Robuck recounts the lives of real life WWII heroines in a novel that is hard to put down. Review sites would use words like "propulsive" or "riveting" to describe the entertainment value of this book. But what I appreciated the most was that the author made Violette & Virginia real to me. Their stories made me rejoice at the courage & kindnesses of ordinary folks, who step up to risk their lives for others, and broke my heart at the cost those people pay to make the world a better place. All these years later, these two women still have an inspiring impact. What a legacy! Top Pick! Highly recommend.
Wow!!! This was a profoundly touching and moving book! It was absolutely gut wrenching and my tender heart ached for all the characters but the accomplishments of these brave women (and men) were astounding! I loved the writing style and the attention to real life events that were reported in journals, interviews and film while being told in a more fictional way. I would highly recommend this book and would rate it more than 5 stars if possible!!
Riveting historical novel, I didn't realize until the end that this story is based on two real WWII heros! Thrilling and heartbreaking, I had to stop periodically to look around and take stock.
For fans of the Alice Network and fans of real stories of female strength.
For fans of the Alice Network and fans of real stories of female strength.
Good, but confusing. I thought the Virginia in this book was the same Virginia from her first book. Not the same Virginia. It took me a third.of the book to realize this. I liked listening to this book for the French names and terms but hated listening to it for the POV of two characters AND time period jumps. I liked The Invisible Woman, her first novel better but I liked this one. Reccomended to people who like historical fiction which takes place in WWII.
