Today, I’m back again with my review for The Children Of Berlin by Sharon Maas. Thanks to Sarah Hardy of Bookouture for letting me tag along and the copy of the book.
‘I will never forgive you! You had a choice. You could have listened to your mother, your brother, your father, but you chose to listen to those monsters. And that choice remains with you. Forever.’
Berlin, 1933. Leah and Magda have been inseparable for as long as they can remember, and one beautiful summer’s day in their courtyard, they vow nothing will ever come between their friendship. But Leah could never have predicted the darkness looming just around the corner…
As Hitler comes to power and the Nazi Party gain even more influence, Magda proudly tells Leah she has decided to join the Hitler Youth. Leah’s blood runs cold before she begs Magda to change her mind – because Leah is Jewish. Magda refuses, and heartbroken Leah knows this will not only destroy their friendship, but put her life in mortal danger. Suddenly, the only light in her life is Magda’s brother Markus, who is furious at his sister and vows to do everything he can to keep Leah safe.
As Magda becomes more entrenched in the Nazi Party, Leah’s life starts to shatter as the Gestapo raid her home, sending her beloved brother Aaron to a concentration camp. Devastated, Leah and her parents are forced to flee and hide. Desperate to save Leah, Markus decides the only way he can help stop the Nazis and his sister is to infiltrate the party as an undercover resistance fighter. But will Magda see through his lie, and how far will she go to prove her loyalty to her Führer?
A powerful and heartbreaking novel about love, family, betrayal and sacrifice perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The White Rose Network, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Nightingale.
Sharon Maas is a master at weaving historical fiction tales that take your heart and smash it to pieces. Every single book I have read from this author has not only touched me emotionally but also educated me. It’s my favourite kind of read.
The Children Of Berlin was exactly that. Set before and as the Second World breaks out in Berlin. Told from both Leah and Magda’s perspectives. Two friends who are inseparable until Hitler comes to power. Magda joins the Hitler Youth and becomes entrenched in the party. On the other hand, Leah is Jewish and sees everything falling apart. The only light is Magda’s brother Markus. He decides to do all he can to stop the Nazis. This means being a double agent for the resistance and infiltrating the party undercover. How far will Magda go to prove herself to her Fuhrer? That remains to be seen.
As always, it was such an emotional storyline. Just reading how much Magda is indoctrinated and the things the Nazi Party do tugged at my heartstrings. Never mind the fact that Leah is Jewish. Sharon Maas brings the past back to life in a way that transports you straight back in time so vividly. I felt like I could have been right at the heart of the story.
Her characters are so well fleshed out that they feel like real people. I was gutted myself, for Leah and found it hard not to hate Magda. This is the power of Sharon Maas’s writing. I was so immersed that I totally forgot about everything around me. I couldn’t see further than what was happening to these characters.
The Children Of Berlin is a book set during a time nobody should forget. Sharon Maas excels at reminding us just how horrific and heartless these events were for the people who lived through it. I totally recommend any reader who loves authentic and well researched historical fiction to read this book.
Buy Links
Amazon: https://ow.ly/PyTO50OOoqA Apple: https://ow.ly/YmtT50OOoqB Kobo: https://ow.ly/zflL50OOoqC Google: https://ow.ly/8IgB50OOoqE
Author Bio
Sharon Maas was born to politically active parents in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951. She was educated in England, Guyana, and, later, Germany. After leaving school, she worked as a reporter with the Guyana Graphic in Georgetown and later wrote feature articles for the Sunday Chronicle as a staff journalist. Sharon has always had a great sense of adventure and curiosity about the world we live in, and Guyana could not hold her for long. In 1971 she set off on a year-long backpacking trip around South America, followed by an overland trek to South India, where she spent two years in an ashram. She lived in Germany for forty-three years and now lives in Ireland. She is the author of The Violin Maker’s Daughter, The Soldier’s Girl, Her Darkest Hour and many other novels.
Social Media Links
https://www.sharonmaas.com/
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https://twitter.com/sharon_maas
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