Reviews tagging 'War'

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

17 reviews

booklvrkat's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

“In the times of greatest darkness, the light always shines through, because there are people who stand up to do brave, decent things.” 

 

Wilderness, 1941. She was kidnapped, raised by an unknown woman, grew up in the forest, learning how to live and survive alone if needed. When her kidnapper, now mentor dies, Yona must use all her refined skills to endure and hide from the Nazi’s, currently destroying the land looking for Jewish people fleeing unknown terror. 

 

Kristin Harmel authors a story that will at once keep you immersed and rip your heart out in the next chapter. Yona survives terrifying odds, even when she ventures into a small village in search of help. I appreciated the compassion the author gives us throughout the story, and the passion that she’s imbued into her MC. This is a story you’ll need to have a tissue, or cuddle with a blanket or pet when you finish. The depth, the depictions of the people Yona meets, the atrocities that you will read will hold you captive long after the story is over. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Racism, Sexual content, and War

daralexandria's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Murder, Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

emcbuckett's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Racism, Death, Violence, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Blood, and Alcohol

ashlynnreadsbooks's review against another edition

emotional sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Murder

Minor: Genocide

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This isn't my usual cup of tea, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. It has a different focus than other WWII novels, with much of the story happening in the forests of Poland and focused on survival. There's a sort of magical realism quality to the beginning of the story, and that kind of permeates through Yona's perspective.

The overall story didn't really go where I was expecting it to, which is always a nice surprise. It felt more like a character driven story than anything else. There are also a lot of discussions about identity and home, which is why a lot of people connect with the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Antisemitism, and Child death

Moderate: Sexual content, War, and Pregnancy

katesbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Antisemitism

maddiet425's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Murder, Violence, Antisemitism, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and War

Moderate: Pregnancy

jmdeal's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Violence, and Murder

mheiling's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Animal death, Grief, Genocide, Death, Blood, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Stalking

Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, Excrement, and Sexual violence

courtscruggs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Infidelity, Genocide, Kidnapping, War, Child death, Death, Racism, Murder, and Hate crime