Wolfsangel

The Bone Angel #2

by Liza Perrat

Seven decades after German troops march into her village, Céleste Roussel is still unable to assuage her guilt.
1943. German soldiers occupy provincial Lucie-sur-Vionne, and as the villagers pursue treacherous schemes to deceive and swindle the enemy, Céleste embarks on her own perilous mission as her passion for a Reich officer flourishes.
When her loved ones are deported to concentration camps, Céleste is drawn into the vortex of this monumental conflict, and the adventure and danger of French Resistance collaboration.
As she confronts the harrowing truths of the Second World War’s darkest years, Céleste is forced to choose: pursue her love for the German officer, or answer General de Gaulle’s call to fight for France.
Her fate suspended on the fraying thread of her will, Celeste gains strength from the angel talisman bequeathed to her through her lineage of healer kinswomen. But the decision she makes will shadow the remainder of her days.
A woman’s unforgettable journey to help liberate Occupied France, Wolfsangel is a stirring portrayal of the courage and resilience of the human mind, body and spirit.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, France, Holocaust, Historical, War, Drama

395 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Liza grew up in Australia, where she worked as a general nurse and midwife for fifteen years.
When she met her French husband on a Bangkok bus, she moved to France, where she has been living with her family for twenty years. She works part-time as a French-English medical translator, and as a novelist.
Since completing a creative writing course ten years ago, several of her short stories have won awards, notably the Writers Bureau annual competition of 2004 and her stories have been published widely in anthologies and small press magazines. Her articles on French culture and tradition have been published in international magazines such as France Magazine, France Today and The Good Life France.

Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in the French historical "The Bone Angel" series set against a backdrop of rural France during the French Revolution. The second in the series, Wolfsangel, set during the WWII Nazi Occupation of France, was published in October, 2013. The third, Blood Rose Angel, set during the 14th century Black Plague years was published in November, 2015.
The Silent Kookaburra, a 1970s Australian psychological suspense novel, was published in November, 2016.
The second in this 70s Aussie Family Drama, The Swooping Magpie, was published in October, 2018.
Friends, Family and Other Strangers is a collection of humorous, horrific and entertaining short stories set in Australia.
Liza is a founding member of the Author Collective, Triskele Books and regularly reviews books for Bookmuse.
Sign up for new book releases and receive a FREE copy of Friends & Other Strangers, Liza's award-winning collection of Australian short stories.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The happiness that Céleste Roussel had taken for granted with her family on their farm had disappeared with the occupation of their small village of Lucie-sur-Vionne by German soldiers. Her father had been taken to a labour camp early in the occupation, so running the farm was left to Céleste, her mother and brother Patrick. He and his best friend Olivier quickly became part of the French Resistance, doing all they could to drive the Boche from their lives.

Céleste soon took the eye of a certain German officer, and found her feelings reciprocated. She knew it was wrong – the hatred felt toward the Boche was in them all. Her determination to assist the Resistance saw her embark on dangerous missions; all the while keeping her secret life hidden from all but a few. But the arrest and deportation of family members was the beginning of the end. Would the angel talisman which had been with generations of her family’s women, and now belonged to Céleste keep her safe? Would she ever see her family again?

Wolfsangel by Aussie author Liza Perrat is absolutely outstanding! The second in the Bone Angel series, nevertheless it can be read as a standalone. The Author’s Note at the end of the book was extremely interesting and shows, though it is complete fiction, Wolfsangel is based on a factual event which occurred on 10th June 1944. I didn’t think I could hear of more shocking atrocities committed by the Germans in WWII, but it seems I now have! Brilliantly written, and highly recommended.

[Ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story told through the eyes of a young 20 year old french village girl, Celeste, during the second world war. Times are tough in the village and across France and Europe, including in Germany, but the Germans have occupied France and in this village the resistance movement is well underway recruiting Celeste into their ranks.

This story highlights a horrendous massacre in French history and stands as a reminder that we should learn from our history and avoid war at all costs.

[Michael Schmicker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brown-nosing the Nazis (Book Review)

Before I swiped the first page of Liza Perrat’s captivating novel of Occupied France, I already knew I would enjoy it.

“Wolfsangel” is in my wheelhouse.

I’m fascinated with World War II, familiar with the sordid story of French Marshal Petain and his puppet Vichy government’s collaboration with the Nazis, and lived two months in the Rhone-Alpes region of France where Perrat sets her colorful roman-a-clef.

In 1967, I was an American college student determined to push my schoolbook French beyond “bon jour,” and spent that summer in a tiny village in the Loire, working as a personal chauffeur/companion for Madame A_____, an imperious, 70-year old, aristocratic widow whose ancient and noble family owned most of the commune. Each June, she departed her elegant city apartment in Lyon and traveled 75 kilometers back to her 30-room ancestral chateau to pass the summer. She didn’t drive of course – that was my job, along with picking up her croissants at the patisserie, and formally dining with her each evening. We sat there three hours nightly, just the two of us, working our way through the soup to nuts repast, me dutifully filling my notebook with French expressions while Madame discoursed on Jacques Maritain and excoriated Danny the Red, the Marxist-anarchist student leader whose antics that summer filled the pages of the Paris newspapers. Madame was staunchly Catholic, socially conservative, and her late husband – a Supreme Court lawyer and Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur – had worked for the government. Her natural sympathies lay with law and order, and though she declined to talk about the recent war, I suspect they supported Petain and the Vichy government during the Occupation.

Who did exactly what during the Occupation remains a touchy subject in France.

French citizens faced three choices following the spectacular, sudden, and humiliating collapse in June 1940 of the French army: They could join the Resistance; collaborate with the Germans; or simply keep their heads down, shut up, stay out of the way, and survive. The list of heroes is short, and many prefer to forget, but French historians like Henry Rousso, author of “The Vichy Syndrome: History and Memory in France Since 1944,” have forced the country to look itself in the mirror.

Celeste Roussel, the plucky, impatient narrator of “Wolfsangel “ knows what she wants to do – join the Resistance. Her brother Patrick and his male friends are blowing up Bouche trains; her saintly, older sister, a nun, is hiding Jews and guns in the local convent.

Celeste’s sour maman, hiding a secret of her own, is determined to wait it out on the sidelines until the Allied army, pushing up through Italy, can arrive and liberate the village. The Vichy government has dragooned her husband to work in Germany, leaving her to support Celeste and the family. She’s an herbalist (legal) dispensing omelets of oats and sawdust to cure snake bites; but also an abortionist (illegal), a “maker of angels,” as the unique French expression goes, using soapy water and a brew of mugwort and rue to terminate pregnancies. If she’s caught, she’s done for. Performing an abortion was a capital crime under the harsh natal laws enacted by the Vichy government – in 1943, convicted abortionist Marie-Louise Giraud famously lost her head to the guillotine. Petain and Hitler shared the belief that the primary duty of patriotic women was to produce cannon fodder for their country. Some of maman’s clients are getting pregnant by village boys; others by the occupying German soldiers. Human nature. They’re lonely perhaps – plus, fraternizing with the enemy earns you chocolate, lipstick and nylons.

When the local Resistance assigns Celeste to chat up German officer Martin Diehl to collect intelligence, she also finds herself falling for the handsome, seemingly honorable soldier who only wants to get back home to Germany, and the novel takes off.

Celeste and Martin surreptitiously hide notes for each other behind the cistern in the toilet of the Au Cochon Tue bar, and secretly rendezvous in the woods. They have sex, but she’s troubled. Is he simply using her? Will she slip and betray information that will compromise lives? Can she ever truly love a man who serves, even reluctantly and indirectly, a Nazi evil which imprisons and tortures her brother? And what if she’s seen by someone in the village who mistakes her for a collaborator? Perrat lets Celeste explore her increasingly confused feelings with the reader as she deepens her involvement in the Resistance, Martin turns jealous and suspicious, and General Eisenhower successfully executes his monumental gamble at Normandy. Everyone in the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne now knows that the Germans will pull out.

At this critical moment, with victory in sight, Celeste Roussel commits the mistake of her life. Perrat’s final chapters sing – taut, tense writing, clocked down by the minute, until the story reaches its horrific conclusion.

Oddly enough, the author of this novel of Occupied France is Australian.

Perrat, a nurse and midwife, met her husband on a bus in Bangkok, Thailand, but she’s lived in France for twenty years now. Her assimilation is complete. She tosses singularly French cuisine references into her tale – “tripe gratin, lamb’s foot salad and clafoutis moist with cherries.” She evokes south France in a simple phrase, describing “the scent of lavender, peppermint and thyme” that clings perpetually to maman’s apron. She uses all five senses in her writing. Early in the novel, Celestine goes skinny-dipping in the river, then dries herself on the bank in the summer sunshine. “It was so quiet I could hear the flutter of feathers in nests, the sound of pecking on bark, the fidgeting of insects in the grass.” For the lover of history, there’s ersatz café Petain; brushes with the Milice, the infamous French SS equivalent; and French Jews filling railroad cars bound for concentration camp.

For the student of the French language there’s some choice slang. Madame A_____ taught me a lot of French that summer, but she didn’t deign to share vulgarisms. Perrat taught me a winner. Celeste’s brother Patrick confronts a village girl, cozy with a German soldier, who defends grandpa Petain and the Vichy collaborationists.

“You’re nothing but a Nazi leche-cul,” he spits back.

Love it! Just don’t tell Madame I’ve added it to my vocabulary.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of this book from the author herself, which I have to admit put a bit of pressure on me as I was worried I wouldn't like it enough or do the book and Liza justice in my review. I needn't have worried. Liza Perrat has written an incredible novel about a small village in France occupied by the Germans during WWII. According to the author this book was inspired by true events. Ms. Perrat holds nothing back in this moving and heartbreaking story. She doesn't try to gloss over the atrocities of war and her description of the period is realistic and accurate. You feel like you are right in the middle of the town square, right in the midst of these people's lives.

I enjoyed seeing the heroine, Celeste Roussel, develop and mature as the the novel progressed. There were some devastating moments and there were moments where I openly sobbed and my heart went out to these people. I was totally immersed and invested in the story. I definitely recommend this book and although it's my first by this author it won't be my last.
Thank you Liza for a beautifully written and well told story.

[Zoe Saadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Wolfsangel" in only a few sittings, as this novel was very difficult to put down. Besides the wonderful writing, depicting lifelike, very likable, characters that I came to sympathize with from the first pages, I found its theme extremely refreshing. I love unusual historical settings and France of the WW2 period is not a setting one meets too frequently (not to my knowledge). It may serve as the background for the other WW2 stories (the Germans washing over Europe in the beginning of the war or the Allies landing in Normandy, changing this war's course) but one not often runs into historical novel set in the occupied France as the heart of the story.
Moreover, like many people around me, I used to dismiss French people's plight, probably because so many other horrible things happened during this time period. The occupation of France seemed like a minor thing compared to what happened to the others.
Until I read "Wolfsangel", that is! This novel made me look at the horrors of this "relatively peaceful" occupation with fresh eyes, unclouded by prejudice. The hardships, the dilemmas, the tragedies of all sort of people around the countryside, their struggle to survive, their attempts to resist, are presented brilliantly through Celeste Roussel, a young 19 years old farm girl, and her brother and friends in the local resistance group, or her sister and others in the monastery. They want to fight, they do everything they can to resist the local authorities, to help refugees, to save those whose plight is even worse than theirs. They endanger their very lives and they pay the price, everyone in a different manner. This story is uplifting and a heart-breaking at the same time. It shows a different WW2 France than the one I knew of. It opened my eyes.

Beside the main problem of the foreign occupation, "Wolfsangel" shows another interesting development of the beginning of the modern-day history. The struggle of women for independence. Initially Celeste is not allowed to join the local resistance group, because she is told that "it's too dangerous for a young girl". But her brother, Patrick, a year or so younger than herself is a part of this group. And so is their best friend, Olivier. Why? She found herself asking that, knowing that it was her gender that made the fighters see her as "too young". Celeste's sister is fighting but in a lady-like manner, by actively hiding refugees, and not by putting home-made explosives under the passing German trains. She is risking her life hideously, just like the boys do, but Celeste is not like her. She wants to fight actively, she wants to help the boys, and as the story progresses, we see other young women like her, those who think that they can do no worse than the men. I loved this additional aspect of the story. It's so very true to the history as it developed later on and this aspect is often overlooked too, while concentrating on the pure heroism of the outright acts of bravery. Women fought in this war no less than the men, sacrificing their lives as bravely. I love that this story shows that angle as well.

Bottom line, this story is as highly entertaining as it is revealing a less known side of the very well known historical period, and this is what I love about historical fiction the best. It made me learn while enjoying myself immensely - the best combination!

[Mirella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admidst the death and destruction of World War II, the tiny village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, finds itself occupied by the German army. They have pillaged, seized, or requisitioned homes, farms, animals, and food. Celeste's family is adversely affected when her father is sent to a work camp. When she stumbles upon a Jewish family, she hides them in her home. Bit by bit, she is drawn in by the secretive French Resistance, and handsome young German officer who falls in love with her. But in a world where no one can be trusted, does he truly love her or is he merely using her as a means to gather intelligence on the resistance. Celeste begins to walk a fine line - where one mistake can mean someone's death.

This is book two in the Bone Angel trilogy, and what a fabulous book. Like the first book in the series, I was deeply engrossed in the story, gripped by it, and unable to put it down. I can't rave enough about this novel. And that's saying a lot because I tend to avoid World War II stories as it is not my favourite genre. This book is a must read! Lush prose, beautiful descriptions, tension filled life and death situations, and overwhelming loss color each page of this compelling book.

This is the third Liza Perrat novel I have read and she is fast becoming a favourite, an author who I can depend on to write a terrific story.

Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for visiting my blog, http://greathistoricals.blogspot.ca, where the greatest historical fiction is reviewed!

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolfsangel is the second book in the L’Auberge des Anges series although I read it without having read book one, Spirit of Lost Angels set during the French Revolution. Liza is currently working on the third book.

This is a page turning, passionate historical novel set amidst the hardship and secrecy of a village in German occupied France.

Céleste Roussel has to grow up fast. Her father has left to work in the German camps on the promise of wages to be sent home – money the family never receive. Her brother is arrested for resistance crimes and then the Germans mysteriously release her mother, despite evidence of illegal ‘healer’ activity. Céleste has a strained relationship with her mother but is desperate to help her brother and persuades those in charge to allow her to assist the resistance. Although they are reluctant she becomes a Red Cross volunteer working in the hospitals in Lyon as her cover and assumes a secret identity.

Céleste Roussel has to grow up fast. Martin, a German officer billeted in the village falls for her. She confesses this to her sister, a nun at a local convent where there are many hidden secrets, and she is encouraged to befriend Martin and use their relationship for information. However, can she cope with the depth of their feelings? Can she trust herself with the enemy? Can she ever fully trust him? Living a life with two secret parts proves to be a lonely challenge for Céleste but a carved bone angel talisman that has been passed down the generations to her offers her comfort and reassurance.

This was a time when people were living with secrecy, deception and daily hardships, as a village against the occupying enemy but at times against each other too. Liza’s writing brought these difficult times to life.

In this novel, Liza shows the resourcefulness that was demanded during the occupation and the inner strength and deceit that was necessary for survival. She highlights the fact that no one knew who to trust and that the need for secrecy become normal for so many during these years when village life changed so dramatically. As we meet the elderly Céleste at the beginning of the book, riddled with guilt following her actions during the occupation, I was always expecting the consequences to be disastrous but there were still unexpected plot twists right up to the end of the book. If reading about France during The Occupation fascinates you, this book is for you.

[Terry Tyler]

This is the second of the Liza Perrat's Bone Angel trilogy to be written, but the latest in historical period; it takes place during the Nazi occupation of the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne in World War Two. I think it's the best of the three.

The trilogy's theme of medicine woman and herbalist continues in the form of the mother of twenty-year-old Celeste, the main character. At the outset of the book, Celeste is dealing with the occupation of Lucie with the same quiet fear and anger as the other villagers and her friends. As time goes on, the demands of the Germans increase in their severity, and no one is sure who is collaborating. Celeste goes to work with the Resistance in Lyons, but she has has her own dark secrets with which to contend, as she falls in love with someone she shouldn't.

The book is a real page-turner, and the sense of growing fear is so well done. I was pleased that it was realistic; Celeste loses people she loves, and there are some truly gripping scenes, such as when she and other Resistance workers rescue two prisoners from a hospital. The last twenty pages, when a truly shocking event takes place, took me by complete surprise; I was engrossed. The 'afterwards' bit is written with great sensitivity, too, with a couple of surprising reuinions, but it avoids becoming schmaltzy; it's too respectful of those who really suffered such tragedy for any such cheap shot.

I found the hot-headed Celeste irritating at times, but that was fine, because she was meant to be like that; she worked. The book is so well researched, and there is a section after the novel has finished that tells of the real life events that inspired some of this fascinating story. Well done, Liza Perrat!

[Patricia Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

We first meet Celeste at the age of 89, still tormented by memories of the unspeakable horrors of the German occupation almost seven decades earlier. In the second chapter, we are transported to 1943 and, with her powerful story-telling skills, Liza Perrat takes us on the young Celeste’s journey as we experience life in her village and the fateful choices she makes as her young life is ripped apart by war.

Deftly crafted, with twists and turns leading to an unexpected ending that cannot fail to impact, this is a story I could not stop reading. Rich characterizations stir a range of deep emotions as the narrative unfolds. I am a lover of historical fiction and partial to stories set in France. However, this story is written with a combination of beautiful and compelling prose that will engage and appeal to readers of all genres. The depth of research is obvious and the reader feels the anguish, fear, suspicion and hatred inflicted by war. At the same time, there are moments of beauty and love delivered through the author’s lyrical descriptions.

I am thrilled to have been introduced to Ms. Perrat’s work and quickly downloaded the other two novels in this series. Without hesitation, I recommend this book to all readers. It is just that good!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loving these Liza Perrat books that I decided to start my 2018 year off with. Wolfsangel is the second book in the L’Auberge des Anges series but in saying that you do not have to have read the first book as it does not follow on. It is just set in the same village as The Spirit of Lost Angel’s with a few reminders of past events. The first historical novel was set in the French Revolution – this one set in WWII when Germany occupied France. Celeste Roussel is a fabulous character as are all the characters in the book – and some of the heartbreaking events that happen are based on real events that just shock you to the core and makes you wonder how people did actually survive at all. Another easy 5 star read for me and I’m going to dive straight into the third one! 5++

[Chris Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Occupied France in WW2 has understandably proved fertile ground for novelists and film makers. We’ve come to expect tales of SOE agents parachuting in with fake identities to mastermind dramatic acts of sabotage, while radio operators dash from hideout to safe house on the run from the Nazis.

Wolfsangel is something rather different: yes it is exciting and there is drama aplenty. Characters face enormous dangers and are forced to come to terms with tragedy and to witness and experience terrible things. Above all, however, the book is an intimate and atmospheric portrait of life in one village deep in rural France, for one family and for one peasant girl.

Celestine is an ordinary young woman facing the kind of dilemmas that arise in extraordinary times. She hates the occupation, but she also longs for adventure and romance. She is very much part of the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne and a great deal of the tension in the book exists because she, and we, know that any act of resistance against the Boche, any misstep, may spell disaster for someone she loves.

Her brother, Patrick, and his friend, Olivier, are involved in the Resistance and even her sister, Felicite, a nun at the local convent, is risking all by hiding fugitives, so Celestine is frustrated that she is considered too immature to help. When she gets the chance to do so, however, she learns some bitter lessons.

If it seems slightly predictable, at first, that she should fall for a handsome German officer, I’m sure this is something that must have happened quite frequently. Celestine is a complex and credible character and Lisa Perrat keeps everything believable by ensuring that neither the reader nor Celestine is convinced about Martin Diehl’s true intentions. Are his protestations of love and commitment real, or manufactured in order to seduce her or to get her to betray her family and friends? And of course she is also prepared to pass on any information she can glean from him that might help the Resistance.

Add to this an absent father sent to work in Germany, a mother embittered by her own experiences in the First War and working as an abortionist, or angel maker, which could lead her to the guillotine, and you have a complex and emotionally charged situation. Things become even more nail-biting when Celestine finds a family of Jews hiding near her home and offers them shelter.

What makes the book such a rich and rewarding read is the wonderfully atmospheric writing that brings the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne and its inhabitants to vivid life. Liza Perrat’s knowledge of the time and place is impressive and she must have done a great deal of research, but this is never intrusive. However the book becomes even more moving when you learn that some of the most heart-rending incidents are based on real events.

The novel is set in the same village as Perrat’s first book, The Spirit of Lost Angels, and Celestine’s home is also L’Auberge des Anges. Celestine’s occasional musings about previous inhabitants of her home add an enjoyable frisson for readers, like me, who loved the previous book, but it certainly isn’t necessary to have read that to enjoy Wolfsangel, which works wonderfully well as a standalone novel

The Spirit of Lost Angels is a saga spanning many years and many miles too, whereas the action of Wolfsangel remains rooted in a very particular time and place and for me this is an added strength. A superb read that I can heartily recommend.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

WOW! Now this is what I call a powerful book! And not only that, it's probably one of the best historical books I've ever read (right next to Pope Joan and Mistress of Rome).

This book is BEAUTIFUL! It's the sequel to Spirit of Lost Angels and gosh, I loved that book so much( read my review here). To be completely frank, though my expectations were high (since I was already familiar with Liza's writing style) I totally didn't expect THIS! Now of course I mean THIS the best possible way, seriously, this book exceeded all my expectations and I don't think I'll be able to find another historical book that will top it..at least not any time soon.

Now those of you who have read 'Spirit of Lost Angels' know that Liza is a wonderful story teller and is so thorough in her research. She's also very (VERY) good in creating kick ass heroines who are devoted to their country (France), who are willing to make a sacrifice for their loved ones and have BIG hearts.

While 'Spirit of Lost Angels' is placed in France during the French Revolution, in 'Wolfsangel' Liza takes us to France during World War II. In the little Lucie-sur-Vionne we get to witness not only the cruelty of the German Officers but also see the lives of the villagers, their sacrifices and struggle. We're transported in one of the toughest times the human history has seen, being lead by Celeste and the events in her life. Once again, Liza created a lovable character, a heroine we can all look upto, brave yet human, with one of the biggest challenges ahead of her. Two paths, one leading to the German officer she develops strong feelings for, the other towards the call to fight for her country.

Of course, once again we see the angel talisman she inherited from her mother's side, and which is the source of her strength and the symbol of all the sacrifices the women in her family made.

I can only applaud to Liza for writing such powerful stories. I think even those who don't enjoy historical fiction will fall in love with this series. The characters are well developed and the descriptions are so vivid, you'll be immediately transported to France in those turbulent times. Amazing and deep, this is definitely a must read for everyone looking for a great book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of many stories that I have read that explore WWII and the occupation from the perspective of those who were there. Liza Perrat has written from the perspective of Celeste, a young French woman who lives with her family in a small village. Her brother, a truism for many families of the time, worked with the Resistance, although he won’t share information with her or tell her how she can be involved as he is trying to protect her. Also, not an uncommon hurdle for women of that day to overcome, the refusal of those in the Resistance to use women, particularly innocent women; part chivalry and part logical belief that their women were often untutored in the deceptions required for a woman operating against the Germans. While Celeste doesn’t understand the reluctance, and often can’t see the forest for trees, she also emulates one of the feared problems.

See, Celeste finds herself falling in love with a German officer. I will admit that I could see her reasons and the attraction, even though I saw her immaturity at 19 to process forward the issues that this relationship could cause for her family and herself. While she wishes to participate, her faith in Martin create several conflicts that she is unprepared to process.

Forward and present in this novel are the hopes, dreams, hardships and struggles presented by the Nazi Occupation: and written in such a way that readers can instantly bond with Celeste, understand her questions, and see her quandaries. What we hear of often is the ‘peaceful’ occupation and the less savory side of the overwhelming environment of fear, deception, and treachery from friends, neighbors and even family isn’t always defined or displayed. Perrat manages to present all of these elements into a form that places a reader in the center of the action, and gives them a reason to read on.

This book holds all: fear, love, selfish and selflessness, and the omnipresent sense that hope will conquer all. Presented in lovely prose with characters that leap off the pages, you will be transported for the time it takes to read this story, and be thinking of it long after.

I received an eBook copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review for France Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolfsangel is the second book in the L’Auberge des Anges trilogy and opens as elderly Céleste Roussel commemorates a tragedy which happened in the French village of Lucie-sur-Vionne some 68 years earlier. This emotional opening chapter sets the scene for a powerful and dramatic story, which takes the reader back to 1943, and to a dark time in France’s history, when the German occupation of this tiny French village had a profound effect on those who lived and worked under the shadow of cruelty and repression.

Céleste Roussel, and the women of her family, have been connected to the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, and their home at L’Auberge des Anges for centuries. Strengthened by their ancestry, and running like a silken thread throughout the narrative is the continuing connection the women of L’Auberge des Anges have with an angel talisman, which exudes strength and positivity to those who wear it. In 1943, Céleste Roussel is the latest keeper of the talisman, she is a spirited young woman, quick witted, courageous and as brave as a lion, but she is also impetuous, capricious and entirely unpredictable. However, it is her burgeoning relationship with a Reich officer which threatens not just her sanity, but also the safety of those who are precious to her.

With superb skill, the author has manipulated the narrative into a powerful depiction of a dark and dangerous time. Lucie-sur-Vionne is so vividly described that I stood in the market square, and felt that first frisson of excitement as Céleste met the violet eyes of the German officer, Martin Diehl. I rode with her, on the same rickety bicycle, through dank, dark woodland, and cheered with relief when the stealthy movements of the local résistance succeeded in one dangerous mission after another. The squalor, the danger, and the sheer unpredictability of living life constantly looking over your shoulder is so realistic, that you feel as if you are seeing the story unfold in real time.

Beautifully researched, and based on historical factual evidence, the story has an emotional depth which pervades and which reveals a story of courage, bravery and unforgettable heroism.

I loved it and can't wait for the third and final novel in the L'Auberge des Anges series.

[Vanessa Couchman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should mention upfront that the author sent me a copy of the ebook version of this novel. In that case, one is always afraid of not liking the book. However, I’m very pleased to say that my reaction was quite the opposite and I very much enjoyed Wolfsangel.

World War II is a happy hunting ground for authors and I have to declare an interest, since I am working on a WWII novel of my own. I was, therefore, particularly interested to see how Liza Perrat approached the subject of living under foreign occupation.

This book is part of a trilogy, of which the first part is already published. The story of Wolfsangel is sufficiently free-standing that I didn’t feel it was a disadvantage not to have read the first part, which is set in a much earlier period. However, from the backstory clues, I would certainly like to.

Wolfsangel is set in a small village not far from Lyon. The village is a microcosm of what was happening throughout France at the time: divided loyalties, collaboration at all points on the spectrum from passive to active, a similar spectrum of Resistance activity, black market profiteering, and the misery of ever-tightening requisitioning demands and hunger. Above all, people lived in a climate of suspicion and fear. The author portrays all of this very well.

The main character, Céleste, is well-drawn and sympathetic and her own divided emotions make a satisfying framework for the story. My one quibble is that some of the minor characters, notably the two German bullies, are perhaps a little stereotyped. But this did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel.

Part of the novel is based on the true story of a massacre that occurred in 1944, just after the Allied landings. It still touches many a raw nerve in France today. Liza Perrat handles this vividly but sensitively.

This is a gripping and well-written story, which I can heartily recommend.

[Maryline M's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expectations were high for "Wolfsangel" after reading the brilliant "Spirit of Lost Angels", but Liza Perrat met all of them and more. Her wonderful storytelling catapults you back in time. The Second World War is still very present in our collective memories: monuments, memorials, tributes,... but "Wolfsangel" takes you to the people and the villages beyond the front, away from the trenches and into the lives of people living in occupied France.
Because of the synopsis and the prologue, I couldn't help but dreading what it was that would make Céleste feel so guilty. At first it annoyed me a bit cause it seemed to stop me from really connecting with Céleste, but I soon realized that it was because of that "dread" that it was so easy to feel the anxiety, stress and hopelessness the characters feel throughout this horrible period in our recent history.
[As a heroine though, I did feel more for Victoire (Spirit of Lost Angels) than I did for Céleste.]
Once again a brilliant novel, I cannot stress enough how amazing the "L'Auberge des Anges" series is!

http://mssbookshelf.blogspot.be

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat is the second in the L'Auberge Des Anges historical series but can be read as a stand alone novel. The novel starts off with nineteen year old Céleste Roussel living in Lucie-sur-Vionne during the German occupation in the 1940's. Céleste lives with her mother and her brother. Her sister is a nun who lives in a convent and her father has been taken to work for the Germans.

The writing is rich and descriptive and I felt transported as I read. Liza Perrat does a fantastic job at giving these characters a story. The plot kept taking twist and turns that I did not expect and I found myself not wanting to put this one down.

Overall, this was a great read and one I'd recommend to fans of reading about this time period as well as to those looking to get swept up in a good historical.

Many thanks to author Liza Perrat for providing me with a copy of her great novel. This will be making my favorite reads for 2014.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blog review in progress.

+ I didn't think Ms. Perrat could out do herself after Spirit of Lost Angelsyet she has.

+Wolfsangel is a dynamic stunner that moves FAST. The characters are incredibly developed with a storyline that is beyond engrossing. She does a fantastic job of making the reader feel that they watching the story from a window. I love when an author is able to accomplish this.

+I had to force myself to put it down due to other reviews needing to be done.

+ I can't wait for the next in the series.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have no hesitation in recommending this novel set in WW2 in occupied France. The author has well researched the time and place and worked her novel around some historical events. She well describes the life in the village and the tensions created by the German occupation. The relationships between the characters evolved throughout the course of the book, with the underlying tragic events, and this book provided me with a window into this time in history. Thank you Liza for the opportunity to experience this time in France.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a small village in France during WWII, Wolfsangel captures beautifully the tenor of the times. The frustrated townspeople watch helplessly as their homes, food and livestock are requisitioned by the occupying Germans. Neighbors and loved ones are seized and sent off to work camps or worse. The protagonist Celeste looks on enviously as her brother and friends carry out missions of sabotage in their work for the Resistance. Plans that go awry result in imprisonment, followed by heroic measures to secure release of the captives. Eventually allowed to become part of this dangerous undertaking, Celeste soon learns that her life will never be the same! I usually resist the temptation to reiterate bits of the plot, but felt compelled to share this outline as the package is so complete! All the components of that genre are humming along: the danger, the unease, the insecurity of not knowing who to trust, the clandestine activity, the quiet heroism, even an illicit love affair. Character development is handled effectively, as here realization dawns with a sober reality:
"I saw Ghislaine’s blue eyes glazed with excitement, and venom. I understood that look……….. I saw how the occupation had changed us: how the Resistance had brought together people from every level of society and turned us all – from aristocrat to the simple farm girl – into counterfeiters, thieves and murderers.”
As the story begins, only the brief opening chapter takes place in the present. Part way through I found myself rereading it to see how it meshed with the unfolding plot, and decided that dual time periods as used here add an important perspective. The author writes well, depicting vividly scenes as well as the feel of rural life so changed by unfortunate circumstances.
“The weather had changed over the week. The pink snow clouds had slunk away to the west, the first rays of spring sun piercing the cool air, and the last snow had merged with the first flowers – an uncertain sort of inter-season. In grim, war-ravaged Lyon however, everything was still one drab, brownish mass. The ground was grey and hard as iron, and there was none of the brightness of new growth. Even the birds seemed to have abandoned the occupied city."
I discovered Wolfsangel because I’d read and enjoyed The Silent Kookaburra, by Liza Perrat. While that was a very different plot, I was motivated to investigate other books by this author. WWII is a favorite genre, and so I pounced! Following the conclusion, the author shares that the climax is based on an actual horrific event carried out by the Germans after the Allied landing. Also, a character in the book was inspired by a Roman Catholic nun who hid refugees in the convent and stored weapons for the Resistance. Her fate is woven into the plot, which made me like it even more! Four plus stars.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A story about a woman’s journey to self discovery during a time of war, Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat, is a gripping tale based on real events. Showcasing both the highs and lows of human character, Ms. Perrat’s book is filled with well developed characters, plenty of action and heartfelt emotions. Set mostly in a small town in the French countryside, Wolfsangel is a book I won’t soon forget.

Twenty years old during the summer of 1943, Céleste Roussel lives on her family’s farm in the outskirts of Lucie-sur-Vionne as the Germans begin their occupation of her city. While no one wants the Germans there, tolerating their presence, and occasionally getting the better of them in a financial transaction, is their only choice. When Céleste’s brother, and his childhood friends, become members of the resistance, Céleste realizes no one will be able to avoid choosing sides in the war. She just never planned on getting torn between her love for her friends and family and a young German officer.


Ms. Perrat does an excellent job developing Céleste’s character throughout her story. Naïve and only trained to be a farmer’s wife, the war both gives, and at times forces, Céleste to learn a different way of life. Becoming involved in the resistance, due to the rest of her family’s involvement, Céleste also develops an attraction to a young German officer stationed in their town. While her head knows it’s wrong to be attracted to one of the invaders, this is the first adult relationship in her life and she also hopes to use it to gain information from the enemy.

As the war continues around them, and Céleste becomes more deeply involved in the resistance, she’s exposed to the modern thoughts of a women being educated, treated as an equal to men, and is exposed to their willingness to put themselves in the line of danger to free their country from an enemy destroying everything they believe in. The secondary characters, of which there are quite a few, all play a part in Céleste’s education about both the war and about what it means to be a part of a changing society.

As the Allied army begins its invasion and liberation of France, Céleste is exposed to even more of the war’s ugliness as the German’s are suddenly facing a new and determined enemy. Her escalating anger and actions, along with those of the other members of the local resistance, will have some lasting effects on her town. She’ll also have to make a final choice in regards to her forbidden love.

Will Céleste and her family survive the war? Will Lucie-sur-Vionne manage to survive the German occupation? You’ll have to read Wolfsangel to find out, I really enjoyed it and consider this one of the best books I’ve read this year. In fact, I can quite easily see this book turned into a movie.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I glance across at my granddaughter, who wears the bone angel necklace these days. She's gripping the pendant between her thumb and forefinger as I used to; as countless kinswomen of L'Auberge des Anges did before us. I touch the spot where it once lay against my own breast, feeling its warmth as if I were still wearing the little sculpture.
I wonder again if my daughter and granddaughter truly understand what that heirloom endured with me through those years of the occupation...'


I really enjoyed reading Liza Perrat's first novel, Spirit of Lost Angels, which forms the beginning of her trilogy, 'L'Auberge des Anges', and I was quickly drawn into this second novel too, soon becoming caught up in the story and reluctant to stop reading. In the opening part of the narrative set in 2012, Celeste Roussel is looking back at the decisions she made in her past which still cause her pain. Then we are taken back to 1943, to the little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne in a France then occupied by German forces. Celeste is one of the local villagers, a brave, clever and determined young woman, yet also at times naive, who wants to assist the Resistance like her brothers, but when she finds herself falling for Martin Diehl, a German officer, she feels conflicted. The bone angel necklace that has been passed down through the women in her family to Celeste is a talisman and gives her strength just has it has done to generations past.

The novel depicts the bravery of resistance that many ordinary people displayed in those terrible times. The author has evidently researched this period well and has created a vivid, believable backdrop against which her engaging, honest tale is told. I read in an interview with the author that the region of France in which this novel is set was indeed occupied by German forces during WWII. I could imagine in my mind the little village and its inhabitants, I could feel something of the immense bravery required of those in the French Resistance, and I could sense the danger and around them; the storytelling takes you there, into the hearts and minds of the characters. I felt admiration, shock and sadness as I read this story; the awful truth of some events during wartime is not avoided here. This is an absorbing, well-researched and well-written novel ideal for anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction and like Liza Perrat's previous novel Spirit of Lost Angels there are courageous female characters at the heart of the storyline.

Wolfsangel boasts an evocative, attractive cover design too. Incidentally, I'd certainly recommend reading Spirit of Lost Angels because it's a very good read, and because you'll appreciate the connections of the family and the necklace, but you by no means have to read it in order to read and follow the story in Wolfsangel. Exciting to now anticipate the arrival of the third book in the trilogy!

[LindyLouMac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to obtain a copy of Liza Perrat's second novel as I thoroughly enjoyed her début novel Spirit of Lost Angels and as soon as I finished it, was already looking forward to the next in the series. Although written as part of a planned series entitled 'L'Auberge des Anges' featuring the 'Angel Talisman' this can still be read as a stand alone novel. However I highly recommend you read both as this second novel met my expectations and once again I am left looking forward to the next one, entitled 'Midwife Heloise - Blood Rose Angel', which she is currently working on.

A tragic and moving story 'Wolfsangel' is based on real life events that happened in German occupied France during World War II and opens as Celeste Roussel the heroine is attending a commemorative service for an event that seven decades later the pain of remembering has still not eased. Having set the scene we are transported back to the days of Celeste's youth in 1943 and the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne. 'L'Auberge des Anges' in the village has been home to the women of Celeste's family for centuries. It is this connection and the angel talisman, that emanates strength to the women that wear it, that links the novels in the series together. Feeling somewhat protected by her status as the latest keeper of the talisman Celeste hating the occupation of the village and looking for adventure becomes dangerously involved in the resistance movement. Her involvement is bitter-sweet as the course she takes not only threatens her own life but the safety of those around her.

There are many novels written about this era but this is an exceptional one. The story of one young girls extraordinary efforts to help liberate her country from the enemy, that will remind you of the courage that people who lived through this period in history must have had. It will not fail to move you, harrowing but recommended.

If you missed my review for the first novel in the series, 'Spirit of Lost Angels' you can read it here.

http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The disruption of normal life and the sheer presence of tight control, almost imprisonment in your own life, is shocking to us in Western countries today. Liza Perrat’s story of the German occupation of a small French village in1943 gives us an uncomfortable taste of this.

Perrat draws the village characters deftly and highlights the high level of resourcefulness, inner strength, and sometimes lies, that were essential if you were to survive.

It was a tension-loaded read. We know from education and reading other work that it was dangerous, often fatal, speaking and acting against the occupying forces; you had to be exceptional to attempt these. We have read stories of deportation and execution, so we know the worst that could have happen. Yet I was still on the edge of my seat reading Wolfsangel.

I’ve walked through the ruins of Oradur-sur-Glane where probably the worst atrocity outside the Vél d’Hiver took place. Perrat has obviously been there. Nothing else could have inspired her writing.

From naive, demanding teenager to stoic toughie, Celeste the heroine of the story grows as a character, scarred and hardened by atrocious events. Always passionate, sometimes hot-headed, she is seized by events, anger and a thirst for revenge at the crisis moment.

A couple of points: occasionally, there were hints of telling us the story, rather than showing scenes of things happening. For instance, I would like to have seen Allied/French troops entering the village of Lucie and the inhabitants’ reactions.

As a historian, my specialist period was the Third Reich. Given the thorough and quasi-scientific indoctrination of children and young people from 1933 onwards, and the heavy politicisation of the Wehrmacht, Martin was just a little unrealistic. However intrinsically decent he was, I think he could have been more confused about how different the people outside Germany were and taken a little longer to want to run away with Céleste.

This is an emotional, touching read with well-written action scenes and complex family relationships under extreme stress explored with insight. You certainly won’t be wasting those precious reading hours. Recommended.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised to find this was a semi-novelization of the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre in France. It's such an important historical event that I've never seen before in fiction. The author does a fantastic job in capturing the horror of that event, giving us an array of possible reasons for it, and just creating this world of oppression in Nazi-occupied France. My knuckles went white more than once while holding my Kindle and devouring this novel.

I really enjoyed the main character's journey to maturity. Celeste grew from this whiny teenager only wanting to get out of dodge to a dedicated Resistance fighter, devoted to kicking the Nazis out of her home turf. She goes through some serious trauma as well and shows some real humanity in trying to process that trauma and overcome it. Her character felt very real to me, making mistakes like anyone in her situation would yet facing it all with a grit that I found very admirable.

The romantic elements of this novel, however, I could take or leave. I didn't feel Martin's presence throughout most of the story. I think he only appears for, like, a third of the novel. The rest seems to be mostly about Celeste's growth as a character and her experiences in Nazi-occupied Lyon and her local village (not a bad thing, really, as this was a great story!). But when Martin was there, it felt like the author was really trying to push and elevate this romance in the narrative, and I just didn't feel it.

The book was a pleasant surprise for me. It took awhile for me to get into it. Yet, once I did, I really enjoyed the fantastic world-building and Celeste's journey as a maturing character. While the romantic elements were pretty pale when compared to the rest of the story, it definitely wasn't a book-killer for me. Check out this book if you're looking for a incredible novel set during WWII that details the struggle for freedom and against tyranny.

[T.B. Markinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Céleste is a young French woman living in a small village in France during World War II. German soldiers are living in the village and most of the French residents are not happy with the occupation. Céleste’s brother is a member of the French resistance. Céleste wants to join the cause, however, her brother won’t let her in an effort to keep her safe. However, when her brother is arrested, she feels that she has to join the resistance to help him escape.

You would think this is enough stress for one character to endure. You’d be wrong. Not only is Céleste a member of the resistance, she’s also a young woman in love. With a German officer. Yep, you read that right. While she’s fighting against the Germans, she is also in a secret relationship with one. That’s not all for the twists and turns, but I don’t want to ruin the novel.

I have to admit that I wasn’t too familiar with this part of the war before reading this. I had heard that the German occupation of France was peaceful for the most part. This novel shows how devastating the occupation was to the individuals and families who had to endure it. I found myself cheering on Céleste and her compatriots.

The plot kept me engaged and I found myself rushing through to the end to find out what would happen. Every time I thought poor Céleste wouldn’t be able to handle any more, there was yet another hurdle for her to overcome. She didn’t always make the right choice, but she was brave throughout. I admired her determination, overlooked her impetuosity (she’s only 19 at the start of the story), and wanted her to succeed even though the odds were against her. You’ll have to read for yourself to find out if she did. This story shows the true brutality of war, even on the “peaceful” fronts, and it highlights how brave people can be during such a horrific time in history.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wolfsangel" is a historical fiction tale set in France during World War II in a small town called Lucie-sur-Vionne. This book is the second in a series about one family filled with incredibly strong females who have passed a bone angel talisman through many generations. Although "Wolfsangel" is the second book in this series, you can most definitely read this book without reading the first book, which takes place during the French Revolution.

Now I absolutely loved the first book in this series, "Spirit of Lost Angels." As with that book, "Wolfsangel" was filled with really fascinating characters that I really loved. The main character, Celeste, is wonderful. Perrat really has a way with creating characters that you either feel like you know or you feel that you want to know. Celeste is incredibly fascinating and brave in this book and I really liked following her story.

The historical detail in this book was really great! France had such a difficult time during World War II with the occupation by the Nazis as we see with Celeste's experience. France also played the setting to some really horrible occurrences during the war. Perrat gives a ton of great detail so that readers are able to experience what the characters are going through.

The writing in this book was really good and kept me reading. There were a couple parts that got a little bogged down but overall, this book has a ton of action that kept me turning the pages. The ending was especially exciting. I will be looking forward to Ms. Perrat's next release!

[Gwenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and loved Liza Perrat's novel, The Spirit of Lost Angels, and have waited impatiently for the second of the trilogy. I did not think she could better the first book, but this is simply brilliant. It is so beautifully written and full of tension that one cannot put it down. And when finished reading you feel at a loss because you want more! We now have to wait for the third in the series!
Set in German occupied France in WWII, Liza Perrat's historical fiction gives the real sense of how difficult it was for the French citizens. Not only did they have their possessions and hence livelihood taken from them but they did not know whom they could trust in their small village. This tension is broken by Perrat's beautiful descriptions of the natural surroundings of the rural village where the reader feels part of the scene. One can almost smell the flowers and hear the bees buzzing. As the climax of the story builds up to the pending tragedy, the tension is enormous as one anticipates the horrendous event. I had to stop reading as I was so tense myself.
Having visited the remains of the village of Oradur- sur - Glane, that the booked is based on, Perrat has brought the village alive by personalising the residents in their daily lives.
I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying this book. If it is not a hit in the English version, when it is translated into French for the French public to read, it will have to be a sensation!

[Felicity Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having had the honour of reading and reviewing Spirit of Lost Angels last year it was a privilege to receive a copy of Wolfangel, the second book in the L'Auberge des Anges series.

A series revolving around an angel talisman passed down through the generations by the women of the Inn of Angels. Though this has all of the qualities that made Spirit of Lost Angels such a good read it is a quite different novel in that it sees the now occupied village of Lucie-sur-Vionne a hotbed of resistance during World War II. Our heroine (Céleste) a feisty young woman determined to do her bit even if she is in love with a man who could compromise all she is fighting for and indeed the very lives of those she holds dear.

Another confident and obviously well researched novel from this talented author. A heart wrenching, moving and yet essentially life affirming story based around actual events with a myriad of strong women at its heart. Wolfsangel is a novel of such epic proportions, Liza Perrat's writing so powerful, her descriptions so vivid that it will stay with me for a long, long time. I only hope we don't have to wait another year for the next instalment.

Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually the second book read about Lucie-sur-Vionne in a year. And again it makes me wonder, why did they do it? Why? That whole village, everyone...

This is the story of Celeste. Her family has lived in the village for ages, and there are books about well at least 2 ancestors that I can think of. The women in her family are healers, but Celeste does not care for that.

And we get to see daily life, the daily life if an occupied village where Germans threaten and bully. And where the resistance grows strong. And where life can be so dangerous. You do not want to be seen as angry with the Germans, they will punish you. You do not want to fraternize with the Germans, the French will punish you.

There is romance too, the forbidden kind. But this is not a romance novel.

And there is sadness, especially since I do know from that other book what took place in this village, and since the whole book starts 70 years after that which happened.

I kind of wish though, for this one thing that I can't say....