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sauvegypsy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
guylou's review against another edition
4.0
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 (@𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴) pulled me into the morally complex world of post-WWII Germany, where nothing is as clear-cut as it seems. Clara Falkenberg, once the "Iron Fräulein" of her family's ironworks empire, is now a fugitive with a false identity. As she returns to her ruined hometown in search of her missing friend Elisa, I found myself torn between rooting for her and questioning her past. The tension builds as Clara teams up with Jakob, a black-market operator, and the two form an unlikely alliance. This novel kept me on edge, constantly challenging my perceptions of justice and redemption. Clara's story isn't just a thriller—it's a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to survive in a world turned upside down. By the end, I was left questioning whether justice or a second chance was more deserved. A truly gripping read that lingers long after the final page.
serinde4books's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. It will be published April 7, 2020.
Net Galley's description was that this book was "for readers of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany." BOOM I was sold!
The book takes place after 2 years after WWII had ended in Germany. Clara Falkenberg has false documents saying she is Margarete Müller, but in reality she is an heiress to a pre-war iron working empire. She is in hiding because she is wanted for war crimes for her and her families support of the Nazi’s. Clara is trying to return to Essen to find her best friend Elisa and Elisa’s son Willy. The path she ends up following is full of twists and intrigue, and an ending that hits all the feels and surprises you too.
The opening of the book paints such a bleak picture of post WWII Germany. That is something we rarely think about. We think about the Yay Nazi’s defeated, but what about the other Germans. The ones that weren’t in the military and weren’t necessarily Nazi’s but had to find a way to survive when the Nazi’s were in power. Did they get saved by Adolf’s defeat or were they punished for crimes they had no choice in? Wow this was just a wow book! I’m not sure I even have words, it was so well written and the story was so compelling. None of the characters turned out to be who you thought they were. The depth and breadth of the character development was fantastic, and as any good book should, made me feel all the feels.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
Net Galley's description was that this book was "for readers of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany." BOOM I was sold!
The book takes place after 2 years after WWII had ended in Germany. Clara Falkenberg has false documents saying she is Margarete Müller, but in reality she is an heiress to a pre-war iron working empire. She is in hiding because she is wanted for war crimes for her and her families support of the Nazi’s. Clara is trying to return to Essen to find her best friend Elisa and Elisa’s son Willy. The path she ends up following is full of twists and intrigue, and an ending that hits all the feels and surprises you too.
The opening of the book paints such a bleak picture of post WWII Germany. That is something we rarely think about. We think about the Yay Nazi’s defeated, but what about the other Germans. The ones that weren’t in the military and weren’t necessarily Nazi’s but had to find a way to survive when the Nazi’s were in power. Did they get saved by Adolf’s defeat or were they punished for crimes they had no choice in? Wow this was just a wow book! I’m not sure I even have words, it was so well written and the story was so compelling. None of the characters turned out to be who you thought they were. The depth and breadth of the character development was fantastic, and as any good book should, made me feel all the feels.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
rek216's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cricca's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.5
vichow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Great historical fiction
hannahkatt's review against another edition
4.0
Took me a while to get through this book, it kind of felt like a slow start to me. I'm very glad I stuck it out though because the GASP that I let out on the last page. Oh my god.
I was a bit confused at times, but that could just be because I had trouble getting into it at first and missed some context. I would love to reread it again now that I have the full picture and dig deeper into the story. About half way through is when things really picked up and had my heart racing. I couldn't put it down. Clara is a brave young woman and she continuously had me on the edge of my seat.
I have already loaned this book to someone after recommending it so highly to them, and have another person waiting to get it after them. I'm so excited about this story that I would recommend anyone to read it.
I was a bit confused at times, but that could just be because I had trouble getting into it at first and missed some context. I would love to reread it again now that I have the full picture and dig deeper into the story. About half way through is when things really picked up and had my heart racing. I couldn't put it down. Clara is a brave young woman and she continuously had me on the edge of my seat.
I have already loaned this book to someone after recommending it so highly to them, and have another person waiting to get it after them. I'm so excited about this story that I would recommend anyone to read it.
katiegilley's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This novel looks at German civilians during WWII - how did they justify their actions during the war? Were they complacent and followed orders? Did they resist, however fruitless? And, most importantly, how did they live with themselves after the war?
This is Clara's story. Her family ran a lucrative mining company in Essen, which she took over towards the end of the war. The government sent slave labor to her mine to ensure steady production, which was necessary for their troops. Clara advocated for more food rations and better living conditions for her workers, but continued using their labor anyway. As Germany fell, Clara knew she'd be labeled a war criminal, so she fled her home. Two years later, she returned to a city that she no longer recognized.
Living in the shadows, she meets a whole cast of shady characters who help her pick up the pieces of her life. She uncovers family secrets that change her view of her family before the war, which deepens the shame she feels about her own actions during the war.
I didn't find Clara to be a sympathetic character and didn't always enjoy the sections of the book told from her perspective. But along the way, she met an ex-soldier caring for his sisters named Jakob - he was the real star of the novel for me. From Jakob, we learn how truly stuck many Germans were when the war began. And we're reminded how important family is, especially through such a chaotic time.
The German Heiress will be published on April 7, 2020.
This novel looks at German civilians during WWII - how did they justify their actions during the war? Were they complacent and followed orders? Did they resist, however fruitless? And, most importantly, how did they live with themselves after the war?
This is Clara's story. Her family ran a lucrative mining company in Essen, which she took over towards the end of the war. The government sent slave labor to her mine to ensure steady production, which was necessary for their troops. Clara advocated for more food rations and better living conditions for her workers, but continued using their labor anyway. As Germany fell, Clara knew she'd be labeled a war criminal, so she fled her home. Two years later, she returned to a city that she no longer recognized.
Living in the shadows, she meets a whole cast of shady characters who help her pick up the pieces of her life. She uncovers family secrets that change her view of her family before the war, which deepens the shame she feels about her own actions during the war.
I didn't find Clara to be a sympathetic character and didn't always enjoy the sections of the book told from her perspective. But along the way, she met an ex-soldier caring for his sisters named Jakob - he was the real star of the novel for me. From Jakob, we learn how truly stuck many Germans were when the war began. And we're reminded how important family is, especially through such a chaotic time.
The German Heiress will be published on April 7, 2020.