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A review by rickijill
Sisters of War by Lana Kortchik
5.0
The sisters Natasha and Lisa are teenagers when the novel begins in 1941, and are around 22 when it the story ends in 1945. I would consider this a "new adult" novel, or maybe even YA (young adult). Not that I minded at all because since I have two daughters, I've read my fair share of YA novels. This one, though, is extremely well-researched, and the history shared in the book is interesting albeit tragic.
I loved Natasha's character: she is so kind, giving, and loyal. The war and occupation of the Nazis brings out the worst in sister Lisa: she becomes bitter and petty. Lisa suffers from a tragedy, and she places the blame on Natasha. Their feud threatens to tear what is left of their family apart, and I feel sympathy for their mother who is also a strong, well-drawn character.
This is a great book to get cozy with because the cold winters in Kiev are primary characters imposing even more hardship on the conquered citizenry. Lana Kortchik does a great job with her descriptions of not only the history and circumstances during the Nazi occupation of Kiev, but also the tidbits of the culture. There is a mixture of cultures represented because the Smirnova family is actually Russian living in Kiev, and another main character is a Hungarian soldier conscripted by the Nazis when the German army first occupy Hungary.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, a fast-paced, suspenseful plot, and family intrigue, then you should enjoy Sisters of War. Don't let the fact that many of the characters are teenagers. There are characters from multiple generations in the novel.
Disclosure: I received a paperback copy of Sisters of War from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I loved Natasha's character: she is so kind, giving, and loyal. The war and occupation of the Nazis brings out the worst in sister Lisa: she becomes bitter and petty. Lisa suffers from a tragedy, and she places the blame on Natasha. Their feud threatens to tear what is left of their family apart, and I feel sympathy for their mother who is also a strong, well-drawn character.
This is a great book to get cozy with because the cold winters in Kiev are primary characters imposing even more hardship on the conquered citizenry. Lana Kortchik does a great job with her descriptions of not only the history and circumstances during the Nazi occupation of Kiev, but also the tidbits of the culture. There is a mixture of cultures represented because the Smirnova family is actually Russian living in Kiev, and another main character is a Hungarian soldier conscripted by the Nazis when the German army first occupy Hungary.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, a fast-paced, suspenseful plot, and family intrigue, then you should enjoy Sisters of War. Don't let the fact that many of the characters are teenagers. There are characters from multiple generations in the novel.
Disclosure: I received a paperback copy of Sisters of War from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.