A review by kirchenberth
Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

3.0

2.5 stars really. I enjoyed some aspects and loathed others so I feel that an in-between rating is suitable. First of all historical fiction is iffy with me because if the setting isn't captured correctly then the whole thing is just off. As is this one. This one just felt like a giant list of name and place dropping without actually letting the reader feel as if they were in Munich during the beginning of WW2. Secondly, I have to become immediately attached to the character to finish the book. This one - still didn't really care about Gretchen by the end. She was just to personality-less and bland. There is such a thing as too much perfection. And Uncle Dolf? Seriously? On top of this Blankman throws in a Romeo/Juliet style forbidden love plot. Meh. I really wanted more action and intrigue. I mean Gretchen is trying to find out who murdered her father for Pete's sake.

I was intrigued by the psychology that was included in this tale though. The comparison between psychopath behavior in her brother Reinhard and Hitler was interesting.

The one thing that this book does well is inform about events leading up to WW2 that an average teen romance or mystery reader would know little, if anything at all, about. Blankman did her research and presents it well for young readers, but I am unsure if the spotty plot and awkward pacing is enough to keep readers engaged until the end.

I did not like the end. It felt like a cop out. I understand there are supposed to be more books, but... it was just very blah.