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kleonard's review
4.0
A solid historical thriller with the added bonus of all things Houdini, escapology, gadgetry, and the small but crucial details of espionage--and magic shows. The characters are interesting and have depth, and the story is well woven into its settings. I appreciate the complication of Fenna's and Arie's trauma as children and its continuing role in their lives as adults, Ways We Hide is a nice change from less well developed and more predictable historical fiction set in this period.
cari1268's review
4.0
It's been too long since I've been glued to a book. The Ways We Hide kept me reading and I finished it very quickly. I was surprised to learn that the author was the same as Sold on a Monday. I found this to be a more gripping and suspenseful read.
All that being said, the second half was weaker and lost me a little. The events that happened stretched my disbelief and one character made some troubling decisions.
4.25 Stars
All that being said, the second half was weaker and lost me a little. The events that happened stretched my disbelief and one character
Spoiler
Arie4.25 Stars
judithdcollins's review
5.0
From the author of [b:Sold on a Monday|40216800|Sold on a Monday|Kristina McMorris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527369768l/40216800._SX50_.jpg|58755186], author Kristina McMorris delivers a gripping tale of love, loss, sacrifice, and family.
Inspired by actual events, THE WAYS WE HIDE is a story of an unforgettable heroine, beautifully written and meticulously researched, a mix of WWII spy story, mystery, magic, illusion, a little romance, and historical fiction rolled into one intriguing novel.
A perfect title with many meanings. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions.
Included in the Book:
Author's Note (behind the book/inspiration)
Recipes from Fenna
Reading Group Guide
Images from Fenna's Journey
Further Reading
Her website includes a very extensive fun Book Club Kit.
From the Italian Hall Disaster and its parallel tragedy at Bethnal Green Station to the efforts of M19, Houdini, and the Dutch Resistance, plus those of the Engelandvaarders, The Ways We Hide highlights myriad stunning pieces of history.
Initially from Michigan's copper mining region, told from Fenna Vos' POV from 1928 (Michigan), 1942 (Brooklyn, NY), 1943 (London, England), Epilogue 1945 (Chicago)— Fenna is a successful illusionist and assistant in a magical show. She is the person in charge. The one teaching, envisioning, solving. Both the composer and the conductor are virtually unseen at center stage.
From past to present the narrative shifts from the many traumatic events of Fenna and Arie's youth to the present day. As the story begins to unfold, we get some backstory of her childhood tragedies and her happier moments with her father and childhood best friend, Arie.
Major Christopher Clayton Hutton recruits her to M19 with the creation of hidden gadgets to help aid in the war efforts for British allies. He believes her unique and innovative skills should be utilized for a grander purpose than amusement on a stage.
Excellent storytelling, the characters come alive on the page. Strong themes of family, love, loss, and sacrifice are apparent throughout and are the driving force behind Fenna's and Arie's actions.
Highly relatable characters, and a strong protagonist, I enjoyed Fenna's story and all the historical events and learning more about M19, Monopoly, the game boards, cards, and others that helped aid war efforts, and the fun facts of Houdini's history.
While I do not read a lot of historical fiction (preferring suspense, mystery, thrillers, domestic, psychological, legal, and literary fiction); however, since I read Sold On A Monday and enjoyed it, there are select authors I read in this genre. For fans of the author and historical fiction lovers.
I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Cassandra Campbell (one of my favorite narrators), and the reason for requesting it, with superb and engaging performance!
A special thank you to #RecordedBook #RBMedia and #Negalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased the e-book, which I switched back and forth with audio.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Sept 6, 2022
Sep 2022 Must-Read Books
Inspired by actual events, THE WAYS WE HIDE is a story of an unforgettable heroine, beautifully written and meticulously researched, a mix of WWII spy story, mystery, magic, illusion, a little romance, and historical fiction rolled into one intriguing novel.
A perfect title with many meanings. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions.
Included in the Book:
Author's Note (behind the book/inspiration)
Recipes from Fenna
Reading Group Guide
Images from Fenna's Journey
Further Reading
Her website includes a very extensive fun Book Club Kit.
From the Italian Hall Disaster and its parallel tragedy at Bethnal Green Station to the efforts of M19, Houdini, and the Dutch Resistance, plus those of the Engelandvaarders, The Ways We Hide highlights myriad stunning pieces of history.
Initially from Michigan's copper mining region, told from Fenna Vos' POV from 1928 (Michigan), 1942 (Brooklyn, NY), 1943 (London, England), Epilogue 1945 (Chicago)— Fenna is a successful illusionist and assistant in a magical show. She is the person in charge. The one teaching, envisioning, solving. Both the composer and the conductor are virtually unseen at center stage.
From past to present the narrative shifts from the many traumatic events of Fenna and Arie's youth to the present day. As the story begins to unfold, we get some backstory of her childhood tragedies and her happier moments with her father and childhood best friend, Arie.
Major Christopher Clayton Hutton recruits her to M19 with the creation of hidden gadgets to help aid in the war efforts for British allies. He believes her unique and innovative skills should be utilized for a grander purpose than amusement on a stage.
Excellent storytelling, the characters come alive on the page. Strong themes of family, love, loss, and sacrifice are apparent throughout and are the driving force behind Fenna's and Arie's actions.
Highly relatable characters, and a strong protagonist, I enjoyed Fenna's story and all the historical events and learning more about M19, Monopoly, the game boards, cards, and others that helped aid war efforts, and the fun facts of Houdini's history.
While I do not read a lot of historical fiction (preferring suspense, mystery, thrillers, domestic, psychological, legal, and literary fiction); however, since I read Sold On A Monday and enjoyed it, there are select authors I read in this genre. For fans of the author and historical fiction lovers.
I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Cassandra Campbell (one of my favorite narrators), and the reason for requesting it, with superb and engaging performance!
A special thank you to #RecordedBook #RBMedia and #Negalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased the e-book, which I switched back and forth with audio.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Sept 6, 2022
Sep 2022 Must-Read Books
scottonreads's review
3.0
I was incredibly intrigued by the premise of Ways We Hide - a female magician in WW2 translating her skills to intelligence in the war effort.
While there was a lot in this book that I enjoyed, I wanted more. I got rather invested in Fenna and Arie, but I would have liked more about her time working in intelligence and on gadgets before she reunited with Arie. I felt like there were often references to her interest and expertise in magic, it wasn't a consistent thread.
There were parts that were slow and that I struggled to get through. But the last third of the book, where she reunites with Arie, captured my attention.
Overall, a great historical fiction novel, with solid bones but once that I wish had gone a bit deeper and leaned into what made it unique.
While there was a lot in this book that I enjoyed, I wanted more. I got rather invested in Fenna and Arie, but I would have liked more about her time working in intelligence and on gadgets before she reunited with Arie. I felt like there were often references to her interest and expertise in magic, it wasn't a consistent thread.
There were parts that were slow and that I struggled to get through. But the last third of the book, where she reunites with Arie, captured my attention.
Overall, a great historical fiction novel, with solid bones but once that I wish had gone a bit deeper and leaned into what made it unique.
frogqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
- an american magician's assistant is recruited by MI9 for her talents in gadgetry, but she gets diverted when her first love goes missing in action in nazi-occupied utrecht
- wwii fiction is always hit or miss for me, i appreciate that this one is a bit different in terms of plot elements
- however (and i had this problem with the other kristina mcmorris novel i read) the author has a very heavy hand
- by which i mean the turns of the plot don't really make a lot of sense and don't seem to follow naturally from each other
- for example: british intelligence simply shows up at fenna's show and offers her a job? and oh, by the way, they already vetted her and everything so no need to dwell on that.
arie shows up in london to check in on her because oh, by the way, he got into intelligence via being in the army corps of engineers and just figured out how to find her based on one phone call and then was able to actually get in contact with her????? - the pacing is also a bit weird- 40 pages in, fenna accepts a job working for british intelligence in london! wow! very exciting! can't wait to see what that's like! but then we get a hundred-page interlude about her childhood.
- still, i found the mystery around arie very engaging and was on the edge of my seat for the whole last half waiting to see what would happen next
** review of a copy i received via the storygraph giveaways**
greenmachine31's review
4.0
This book was a little long, but I connected easily with the characters and enjoyed the story. Well researched.
susanp's review
4.0
The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris, a WWII book about an illusionist recruited by British intelligence, was interesting; but very few of her illusionist skills were actually used, and parts of the book were slow and repetitive. Would have been much better as a 300-page book, rather than a 500-page.
dennasus's review
4.0
This was my first Kristina McMorris book and probably not my last one. I loved it. The story is told over a span of about 15 years, not always linear but that was fine and was necessary for the plot and backstories of the characters. I cared about Fenn and Arie from the start and was hooked to see where life and more important here the war might take them. At some point - in the Netherlands - the whole business of who betrayed whom and when and how got a bit muddled for me, which is the only reason I'm docking a star from this otherwise stellar narration. Mind you, it's a story about WWII and thus expect some harrowing tales and heartbreak and all that. But of course there also is resilience and courage and love and friendship and all the uplifting aspects.
hmbb99's review
5.0
Kristina McMorris has written another spectacular book with The Ways We Hide. The story centers around Fenna, a young woman who has gone through numerous traumatic situations. Fenna trains herself to become an illusionist like Houdini, which gets her recruited to help the British with the war against Germany.
This story evokes emotions of love, fear, friendship, and grief. It has complex characters and you grow to love them. Kristina McMorris does her research and shows you the history while enveloping you in the story. I look forward to reading many more books by her.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
This story evokes emotions of love, fear, friendship, and grief. It has complex characters and you grow to love them. Kristina McMorris does her research and shows you the history while enveloping you in the story. I look forward to reading many more books by her.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.