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Child of the Ruins
People are disappearing. I spoke to my neighbour yesterday, we laughed at some nonsense, and today he is gone. We only discovered he was missing because the dog wouldn't stop howling and we all knew he would never leave his beloved pet. So I am careful, extremely careful.
Two families divided by war.
An entire city on the edge of disaster.
1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted.
Anna and Ingrid are both searching for answers - and revenge - in the messy aftermath of war. They understand that survival comes only by knowing what to food; medicine; heirlooms; secrets. Both are living in the shadows of a city where the line between right and wrong has become dangerously blurred. But they cannot give up in the search for a lost child ...
Praise for Kate Furnivall's
'Kate Furnivall has a talent for creating places and characters who stay with you long after you have read the final word' JANE CORRY
'Hugely ambitious and atmospheric' KATE MOSSE
'Perfect escapist reading' MARIE CLAIRE
'Fast-paced with a sinister edge' THE TIMES
'Thrilling, compelling, wonderful!' LESLEY PEARSE
Two families divided by war.
An entire city on the edge of disaster.
1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted.
Anna and Ingrid are both searching for answers - and revenge - in the messy aftermath of war. They understand that survival comes only by knowing what to food; medicine; heirlooms; secrets. Both are living in the shadows of a city where the line between right and wrong has become dangerously blurred. But they cannot give up in the search for a lost child ...
Praise for Kate Furnivall's
'Kate Furnivall has a talent for creating places and characters who stay with you long after you have read the final word' JANE CORRY
'Hugely ambitious and atmospheric' KATE MOSSE
'Perfect escapist reading' MARIE CLAIRE
'Fast-paced with a sinister edge' THE TIMES
'Thrilling, compelling, wonderful!' LESLEY PEARSE
Paperback
First published October 31, 2023
309 people are currently reading
1094 people want to read
About the author
Kate Furnivall
22 books999 followersKate Furnivall was raised in Penarth, a small seaside town in Wales. Her mother, whose own childhood was spent in Russia, China and India, discovered at an early age that the world around us is so volatile, that the only things of true value are those inside your head and your heart. These values Kate explores in The Russian Concubine.
Kate went to London University where she studied English and from there she went into publishing, writing material for a series of books on the canals of Britain. Then into advertising where she met her future husband, Norman. She travelled widely, giving her an insight into how different cultures function which was to prove invaluable when writing The Russian Concubine.
It was when her mother died in 2000 that Kate decided to write a book inspired by her mother's story. The Russian Concubine contains fictional characters and events, but Kate made use of the extraordinary situation that was her mother's childhood experience - that of two White Russian refugees, a mother and daughter, stuck without money or papers in an International Settlement in China.
Kate went to London University where she studied English and from there she went into publishing, writing material for a series of books on the canals of Britain. Then into advertising where she met her future husband, Norman. She travelled widely, giving her an insight into how different cultures function which was to prove invaluable when writing The Russian Concubine.
It was when her mother died in 2000 that Kate decided to write a book inspired by her mother's story. The Russian Concubine contains fictional characters and events, but Kate made use of the extraordinary situation that was her mother's childhood experience - that of two White Russian refugees, a mother and daughter, stuck without money or papers in an International Settlement in China.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 27, 2023
Berlin in 1948 was heartbreaking. The city was divided - East and West Berlin, where one side was ruled by the Russians; brutal, cruel and unforgiving; the other the Americans and British. Anna lived with her mother in East Berlin, able to pass into West Berlin with a pass for work, and Ingrid lived in West Berlin. Both worked at the airport the Americans controlled, and were destined to become friends. But were they both on the same side?
Anna was desperate to locate a child, a specific child. There were hundred of them; orphans surviving on their wits in the ruins of the city. She wouldn't leave the East until she succeeded. Her mother wouldn't leave their apartment - hadn't in three long years - and their situation was dire. But strange things were happening to Anna and she was a person who didn't believe in coincidences. Why was she being targeted? As she rode her trusty bicycle to and from her home and place of work, she kept a wary eye out for strangers - people in great coats and strong boots; people who would kill without batting an eyelid. Would Anna and Ingrid get the results they so desperately wanted?
Child of the Ruins is an exceptional historical novel by Kate Furnivall - but I never expect anything less from this author. Strong characters both Anna and Ingrid; the street kids kept their wits about them, and Yvo was a tough little leader. Timur was a special character who played his (reluctant) role well. All in all, Child of the Ruins is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Anna was desperate to locate a child, a specific child. There were hundred of them; orphans surviving on their wits in the ruins of the city. She wouldn't leave the East until she succeeded. Her mother wouldn't leave their apartment - hadn't in three long years - and their situation was dire. But strange things were happening to Anna and she was a person who didn't believe in coincidences. Why was she being targeted? As she rode her trusty bicycle to and from her home and place of work, she kept a wary eye out for strangers - people in great coats and strong boots; people who would kill without batting an eyelid. Would Anna and Ingrid get the results they so desperately wanted?
Child of the Ruins is an exceptional historical novel by Kate Furnivall - but I never expect anything less from this author. Strong characters both Anna and Ingrid; the street kids kept their wits about them, and Yvo was a tough little leader. Timur was a special character who played his (reluctant) role well. All in all, Child of the Ruins is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2023
1948, Berlin. The Second World War has ended, Germany has been divided up into zones and due to the Russian blockade over two millions people rely on the American air drops of food, clean water and medicine to survive and a plane lands every thirty seconds in West Berlin.
Anna Wolff and her mother Luisa live in their apartment in East Berlin, her father was killed in the war and the two women survived the allied bombing, the Russians taking the city and the mass rapes. A few months later she meets Major Timur Voronin a Russian officer, Timur is different to the others and he promises to write to Anna when he was transferred to Warsaw, she never heard from him and now he’s back.
Anna has a three year old son Felix, the last time she saw him he was a three month old baby and she has been looking for him ever since. For some reason trouble seems to follow Anna, she’s not sure if she’s being paranoid but a few dangerous events have happened when she has been out and about and she wonders if someone is trying to kill her?
Ingrid Keller is married to Otto, her father owned a circus before the war, and she and her knife throwing accomplice Fridolf busk on the streets of West Berlin to make money. Both women start working at the Tempelfot Airport, Anna unloading planes and Ingrid in a mobile food van. Anna is looking for any information about Felix, earn money and they receive a hot meal. Ingrid is keeping track of what’s happening on the base and she's associating with both American and Russian spies
In post-World War Two Berlin, the Soviet forces want the allies out of Germany, to have complete control, spies are everywhere, widespread corruption and people are snatched of the streets. An evil man has Anna in his sights, he will do anything to get what he wants and an unlikely hero steps in to help Anna, her mother and her band of waifs.
I received a digital copy of Child of the Ruins by Kate Furnivall from Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review. A sweeping historical saga, that has you sitting on the edge of your set, it’s intense, gripping, full of action and acts of espionage. You feel like your living in Berlin at the time, a beautiful city reduced to rubble, packs of orphaned children prowl the streets, looking for food and somewhere to sleep for the night, everyone is desperate, still traumatized by the war, uncertain and nervous.
I have been a big fan of Ms. Furnivall's since I read, The Far Side of The Sun ten years ago, once again she has blown me away with a story full of twists and turns, an ending that wasn't predictable and five stars from me.
Anna Wolff and her mother Luisa live in their apartment in East Berlin, her father was killed in the war and the two women survived the allied bombing, the Russians taking the city and the mass rapes. A few months later she meets Major Timur Voronin a Russian officer, Timur is different to the others and he promises to write to Anna when he was transferred to Warsaw, she never heard from him and now he’s back.
Anna has a three year old son Felix, the last time she saw him he was a three month old baby and she has been looking for him ever since. For some reason trouble seems to follow Anna, she’s not sure if she’s being paranoid but a few dangerous events have happened when she has been out and about and she wonders if someone is trying to kill her?
Ingrid Keller is married to Otto, her father owned a circus before the war, and she and her knife throwing accomplice Fridolf busk on the streets of West Berlin to make money. Both women start working at the Tempelfot Airport, Anna unloading planes and Ingrid in a mobile food van. Anna is looking for any information about Felix, earn money and they receive a hot meal. Ingrid is keeping track of what’s happening on the base and she's associating with both American and Russian spies
In post-World War Two Berlin, the Soviet forces want the allies out of Germany, to have complete control, spies are everywhere, widespread corruption and people are snatched of the streets. An evil man has Anna in his sights, he will do anything to get what he wants and an unlikely hero steps in to help Anna, her mother and her band of waifs.
I received a digital copy of Child of the Ruins by Kate Furnivall from Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review. A sweeping historical saga, that has you sitting on the edge of your set, it’s intense, gripping, full of action and acts of espionage. You feel like your living in Berlin at the time, a beautiful city reduced to rubble, packs of orphaned children prowl the streets, looking for food and somewhere to sleep for the night, everyone is desperate, still traumatized by the war, uncertain and nervous.
I have been a big fan of Ms. Furnivall's since I read, The Far Side of The Sun ten years ago, once again she has blown me away with a story full of twists and turns, an ending that wasn't predictable and five stars from me.
November 13, 2023
Set in 1948, the story focuses on two women, Anna Wolff and Ingrid Keller. The Second World War is over but the people of Berlin are not living in peace. Berlin has been divided into East and West, with the Allies (including the US) controlling the West and the Soviets governing the East. The Soviets have cut off all provisions to the West and its citizens are reliant upon non stop air supplies from the Allies. Life in the East is no better with buildings reduced to rubble and the people starving under the Soviets brutal regime.
To my shame I knew little about the after effects of the split, but Kate Furnivall has produced an intricately researched and detailed story of espionage and betrayal – and its consequences.
Anna and Ingrid are both very different. Anna lives in the east, her business was repairing bicycles. She is caring and compassionate whilst Ingrid (living in the west), with her circus background has a much harder character with both eyes always on the main chance. Their paths collide unexpectedly and survival depends on trust.
This is superb historical fiction with some parts of the story being hard hitting and uncomfortable to read – the author didn’t hold back when it came to portraying the suffering and desperation that East Berliners were subjected to, possessions having to be exchanged for a tiny amount of food and children having to fend for themselves. The root of evil goes right to the top of authority but there are good ones too who don’t wholly buy into the party line. Anna has already endured so much but needs to survive if she is ever to find a missing child – an immense challenge as she has no idea where he could be.
The revelations in this story come thick and fast and I was kept wondering whether certain people could be trusted. There is a lot of detail but it still has a good pace and I worried for one character as she seemed to be the focus of much attention – not in a good way, and I couldn’t understand why.
Excellent historical fiction with vividly drawn characterisation and a gripping and powerful storyline which will surprise and shock. Definitely recommended.
To my shame I knew little about the after effects of the split, but Kate Furnivall has produced an intricately researched and detailed story of espionage and betrayal – and its consequences.
Anna and Ingrid are both very different. Anna lives in the east, her business was repairing bicycles. She is caring and compassionate whilst Ingrid (living in the west), with her circus background has a much harder character with both eyes always on the main chance. Their paths collide unexpectedly and survival depends on trust.
This is superb historical fiction with some parts of the story being hard hitting and uncomfortable to read – the author didn’t hold back when it came to portraying the suffering and desperation that East Berliners were subjected to, possessions having to be exchanged for a tiny amount of food and children having to fend for themselves. The root of evil goes right to the top of authority but there are good ones too who don’t wholly buy into the party line. Anna has already endured so much but needs to survive if she is ever to find a missing child – an immense challenge as she has no idea where he could be.
The revelations in this story come thick and fast and I was kept wondering whether certain people could be trusted. There is a lot of detail but it still has a good pace and I worried for one character as she seemed to be the focus of much attention – not in a good way, and I couldn’t understand why.
Excellent historical fiction with vividly drawn characterisation and a gripping and powerful storyline which will surprise and shock. Definitely recommended.
November 13, 2023
1948 Berlin and the war is over…
Having long been a fan of Kate Furnivall’s writing, I anticipated an excellent read in Child of the Ruins, but I had rather forgotten what an evocative, vivid and spell-binding writer she is. Child of the Ruins thrums with authentic detail that gives the narrative such a filmic quality that it is like watching the events live, rather than merely reading about them. There’s a stark beauty to descriptions and every sense is catered for so that Child of the Ruins is immersive and affecting.
The assiduous research that must have gone into the era and setting means that the narrative is sophisticated in its execution and brutal in its telling. At times I found the story almost overwhelming as Kate Furnivall gave me clear insight into the horrors of East Berlin. It took me some time to read this completely mesmerising and absorbing tale because, for all its horrors and authenticity, it felt painfully raw, emotional and realistic and I need to give myself a break to recover from the impact. Indeed, recent world events feel like a chilling reminder of man’s inhumanity to man that can be found in this brilliant book.
Anna is a triumph. I have no idea if it was intended, but the fact her name is a palindrome made the plot all the more resonant, as if such events occur and recur time after time. Anna is rash and resilient, brave and foolhardy, compassionate and stubborn in a heady mix of compelling personality. Kate Furnivall made me cheer for her and weep for her, so powerful was the writing. Anna’s relationship with her mother is so sensitively portrayed and the psychological elements of the novel are written with humanity and understanding. I desperately wanted Anna to be reunited with Felix and Timur as I cared completely for Anna.
The plot is exciting and fast paced, but the real triumph of the story for me is the way in which the characters face moral dilemmas and the presentation of the concept that right and wrong are not clearly defined. Murder, theft and betrayal might actually be morally essential as well as reprehensible so that Child of the Ruins is thought-provoking, educational and multi-layered as well as thoroughly entertaining. Indeed, there are mature and philosophical themes about nature and nurture, national culture and identity, love and relationships and the underlying determination of humanity to survive that make Child of the Ruins a perfect read.
It’s difficult to express how much I loved this book. I found Child of the Ruins disturbing, absorbing, horrific, uplifting and totally wonderful. It really is historical fiction of the most perfect kind with love at its heart. Don’t miss it.
Having long been a fan of Kate Furnivall’s writing, I anticipated an excellent read in Child of the Ruins, but I had rather forgotten what an evocative, vivid and spell-binding writer she is. Child of the Ruins thrums with authentic detail that gives the narrative such a filmic quality that it is like watching the events live, rather than merely reading about them. There’s a stark beauty to descriptions and every sense is catered for so that Child of the Ruins is immersive and affecting.
The assiduous research that must have gone into the era and setting means that the narrative is sophisticated in its execution and brutal in its telling. At times I found the story almost overwhelming as Kate Furnivall gave me clear insight into the horrors of East Berlin. It took me some time to read this completely mesmerising and absorbing tale because, for all its horrors and authenticity, it felt painfully raw, emotional and realistic and I need to give myself a break to recover from the impact. Indeed, recent world events feel like a chilling reminder of man’s inhumanity to man that can be found in this brilliant book.
Anna is a triumph. I have no idea if it was intended, but the fact her name is a palindrome made the plot all the more resonant, as if such events occur and recur time after time. Anna is rash and resilient, brave and foolhardy, compassionate and stubborn in a heady mix of compelling personality. Kate Furnivall made me cheer for her and weep for her, so powerful was the writing. Anna’s relationship with her mother is so sensitively portrayed and the psychological elements of the novel are written with humanity and understanding. I desperately wanted Anna to be reunited with Felix and Timur as I cared completely for Anna.
The plot is exciting and fast paced, but the real triumph of the story for me is the way in which the characters face moral dilemmas and the presentation of the concept that right and wrong are not clearly defined. Murder, theft and betrayal might actually be morally essential as well as reprehensible so that Child of the Ruins is thought-provoking, educational and multi-layered as well as thoroughly entertaining. Indeed, there are mature and philosophical themes about nature and nurture, national culture and identity, love and relationships and the underlying determination of humanity to survive that make Child of the Ruins a perfect read.
It’s difficult to express how much I loved this book. I found Child of the Ruins disturbing, absorbing, horrific, uplifting and totally wonderful. It really is historical fiction of the most perfect kind with love at its heart. Don’t miss it.
September 19, 2025
erlin immediately following World War II is always a brutal and interesting setting, filled, of course with the conflict and espionage between the Russian vs the American/British/French occupiers. This novel hit all the aspects of that setting. The main character is a young East German woman, whose family was previously well-to-do. She had a relationship with a Russian officer who left her, and she lives with her mother amidst the brutality that is East Berlin. To say the least they are very bitter. The other important character is a German woman whose family had a circus, the remains of which still exist. The story takes place during the Russian blockade of the Western sectors of Berlin, during which food and supplies were airlifted into Western occupied Berlin by the US and other western allies. The two women and other characters interact at Templehof airport, where the Americans conducted non-stop deliveries by air. I
n addition to trying to stay alive and fed, each of the characters has her own agenda and goals. There is a great deal of intrigue and danger, and the ever present black market plays into the narrative. This was a nicely done story in a very interesting setting. Although a lot of the ending was predictable, I was still surprised as some plot issues unfolded. I recommend this if you are interested in the time period and want something fast paced and not too heavy.
n addition to trying to stay alive and fed, each of the characters has her own agenda and goals. There is a great deal of intrigue and danger, and the ever present black market plays into the narrative. This was a nicely done story in a very interesting setting. Although a lot of the ending was predictable, I was still surprised as some plot issues unfolded. I recommend this if you are interested in the time period and want something fast paced and not too heavy.
November 11, 2023
What a wonderful but also heart-wrenching read.
The aftermath of the Second World War left so much devastation.
Families were torn apart and thousands of children were left to wander the streets.
This is a story that focuses a lot on the wolf children (wolfskinder) of Germany. They were called this because they were mostly orphans who lived on the streets. They lived in packs like hungry wolves scrounging around for bits to eat. Interestingly enough, the main character is also called Anna Wolff.
The story starts in 1945 in Berlin and then jumps to 1948 at the time of The Berlin Blockade. (During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control).
Anna and her mother live on the Russian side. Anna has vowed not to leave before she finds her son Felix who was only 3 months old when her mother took him away while she was sick. But this is not her only reason. If she leaves how will Major Timur Voronin find her if he ever comes back? Timur is Russian and not someone Anna should be fraternizing with but she still fell in love with him.
We also meet Ingrid who used to be a circus performer but who must now perform a different role to ensure a living for her and her husband.
We endure the hardship of the people of Berlin through the eyes of these two women. One good; one not always so good.
Will Anna's dogged determination to find her son pay off and who is following her and leaving sinister messages for her?
Highly recommended
for any fan of historical fiction!
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
The aftermath of the Second World War left so much devastation.
Families were torn apart and thousands of children were left to wander the streets.
This is a story that focuses a lot on the wolf children (wolfskinder) of Germany. They were called this because they were mostly orphans who lived on the streets. They lived in packs like hungry wolves scrounging around for bits to eat. Interestingly enough, the main character is also called Anna Wolff.
The story starts in 1945 in Berlin and then jumps to 1948 at the time of The Berlin Blockade. (During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control).
Anna and her mother live on the Russian side. Anna has vowed not to leave before she finds her son Felix who was only 3 months old when her mother took him away while she was sick. But this is not her only reason. If she leaves how will Major Timur Voronin find her if he ever comes back? Timur is Russian and not someone Anna should be fraternizing with but she still fell in love with him.
We also meet Ingrid who used to be a circus performer but who must now perform a different role to ensure a living for her and her husband.
We endure the hardship of the people of Berlin through the eyes of these two women. One good; one not always so good.
Will Anna's dogged determination to find her son pay off and who is following her and leaving sinister messages for her?
Highly recommended
for any fan of historical fiction!
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
January 20, 2025
An epic story about the resilience of the people of Berlin post WW2- I was hooked, and loved the interlacing of fact with fiction. Also can’t believe it’s the first I’m hearing of the candy bomber🥲❤️
August 1, 2023
This is a great novel about three women, each fighting their own demons in post war East and West Berlin . Whether because of trauma, loss, what these women had in common was their fight to survive: for food, money or a child lost....
I really enjoyed both storyline and plot: captivating and impossible to put down! What I also particularly found interesting was the well evoked atmosphere of Berlin after the war. I could see the destruction, hear the orphans living in the streets, feel the hunger and coldness as well as the loss of so much more. The characters were well drawn, with their strengths and weaknesses. I did find them relatable even if I did not necessarily agree with them all. But who am I to judge? Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
I really enjoyed both storyline and plot: captivating and impossible to put down! What I also particularly found interesting was the well evoked atmosphere of Berlin after the war. I could see the destruction, hear the orphans living in the streets, feel the hunger and coldness as well as the loss of so much more. The characters were well drawn, with their strengths and weaknesses. I did find them relatable even if I did not necessarily agree with them all. But who am I to judge? Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
October 9, 2023
Net Galley kindly allowed me to read and review this novel in advance of its publication, I’m so glad that I did. Having read many of Kate’s novels, I had high expectations for this story, and it didn’t disappoint.
This a period of history I know little about, many times we hear about life in Germany after WW1 but I haven’t read anything that covers the period after WW2. I was shocked about the suffering in Berlin during this period and how so many lives relied on flights into West Berlin for survival. I knew that life had been difficult in East Berlin but was under the misconception that once the wall went up all communications between the two sides of the city were cut off. This novel opened my eyes to reality of living and working in different sides of the wall, the suspicion that was everywhere in the city, along with the physical devastation that took place at the time.
I felt like I was reading an ongoing story of war and to most parts that is what this is. The writing weaves together Ingrid and Anna’s stories of survival. At the same time that you are rooting for their lives to work out, there are some really harrowing parts where you just have to stop reading and absorb what you’ve learnt before you can carry on, the nature of the writing however means that you definitely are going to pick the novel straight back up once you’ve done this.
You are painted a picture of a city starving and divided on many levels, the children growing up like unloved, feral animals. How can a city come back from this? As a reader, you are egging Anna on to claim as many as she can as her own whilst searching for the ‘child of the ruins’. The final reality of that child another blow to the humiliation that her family have encountered and a true indicator of the strength of character that Anna possesses.
I learnt so much from reading this novel and if you a history buff, this is a must. I do want to learn more however, the novel stops at a point in time but it leaves me wanting more, how did the city get to the vibrant place that it is today?
This a period of history I know little about, many times we hear about life in Germany after WW1 but I haven’t read anything that covers the period after WW2. I was shocked about the suffering in Berlin during this period and how so many lives relied on flights into West Berlin for survival. I knew that life had been difficult in East Berlin but was under the misconception that once the wall went up all communications between the two sides of the city were cut off. This novel opened my eyes to reality of living and working in different sides of the wall, the suspicion that was everywhere in the city, along with the physical devastation that took place at the time.
I felt like I was reading an ongoing story of war and to most parts that is what this is. The writing weaves together Ingrid and Anna’s stories of survival. At the same time that you are rooting for their lives to work out, there are some really harrowing parts where you just have to stop reading and absorb what you’ve learnt before you can carry on, the nature of the writing however means that you definitely are going to pick the novel straight back up once you’ve done this.
You are painted a picture of a city starving and divided on many levels, the children growing up like unloved, feral animals. How can a city come back from this? As a reader, you are egging Anna on to claim as many as she can as her own whilst searching for the ‘child of the ruins’. The final reality of that child another blow to the humiliation that her family have encountered and a true indicator of the strength of character that Anna possesses.
I learnt so much from reading this novel and if you a history buff, this is a must. I do want to learn more however, the novel stops at a point in time but it leaves me wanting more, how did the city get to the vibrant place that it is today?
March 5, 2024
2.5 🌟
A gifted book and a genre I love but I couldn’t immerse myself in the story. Whilst descriptive, I found it boring.
A gifted book and a genre I love but I couldn’t immerse myself in the story. Whilst descriptive, I found it boring.
October 20, 2024
Excellent book set on post WWII Berlin. Very touching with intrigue, drama, and a love story.
Highly recommend
Highly recommend
January 8, 2024
Loved it Greste story
November 11, 2023
It’s been a long wait for a new book from Kate Furnivall as The Guardian of Lies was published way back in 2019. I’m a huge fan of her writing ever since I read her stunning debut, The Russian Concubine, which was published in 2007 and I love the fact that she sets her books across many different countries and time periods. The question is was Child of the Ruins worth the wait? The answer being yes. Although, I will readily admit I found the first half of the book very slow going and I was anxious that I wasn’t going to enjoy it and be able to say how much I loved it as I have been able to do with all of Kate’s previous books.
This was a slow burner that I felt needed something to ignite and fan the flame to turn the story into one packed full of twists and turns, suspicion, tension and intrigue. Finally, I got that moment at I’d say around the 55% mark (I was reading this on my Kindle) and from that point on I found myself reading much more quickly and I didn’t feel as if things were being dragged out with little to nothing happening. It’s remarkable how a book can just transform within a few chapters and your opinion of it can completely change but I am glad to say that this was the case here and despite the dragged out start this turned into an excellent read with a superb ending that left me open mouthed and thinking well played Kate Furnivall. Well played.
Child of the Ruins is set in the aftermath of World War Two in Berlin, which is a city now divided between the east controlled by the Russians and the west controlled by the Allies. I’ve read so many historical fiction books set during the war years that I found it really refreshing to read something different. As I am not as familiar with the details of this time I felt like I was learning a lot of new information and there was a lot to absorb and take in. I did find myself confused with some of the characters and where they stood but over time I understand that this was the nature of the plot and the power game at play. Initially, I found it disconcerting that Berliners could go back and forth between checkpoints between the east and west as I have this picture of the Berlin Wall stopping that from happening but of course that happened much later on.
Life wasn’t easy at the time and of course going back and forth provided many challenges and there were strict rules and regulations which made life even more complicated. The Russians were imposing a blockade on the western side, hoping to starve the population which they hoped would leave the Allies with no choice but to forgo the city and therefore the Russians could swoop in and take full control of the capital. But they did not bet on the might and strength of the Americans who ran flights into their zone distributing tonnes of goods, food and fuel which went on through the day and into the night. It was fascinating to read of all the details especially of one American pilot who dropped sweets and chocolate from the sky which young children swamped the streets to try and get.
The story moves back and forth between two young women Anna and Ingrid. Anna lives on the east with her mother Luisa who never leaves their apartment. Ingrid is living in the west and married to Otto. Both women are struggling to exist on a day to day basis and it really is a case of survival of the fittest and the ones who have the strength, tenacity, resources and the power to outwit those trying to quash them well they are the ones who will survive. Anna and Luisa have never been the same since an attack in an alleyway by the Russians as they returned home from work. Luisa still mourns her husband who was lost during the war. She comes across as cold hearted and that Anna is the one who props her up and keeps some food coming into the house. Anna is haunted by her actions in the alleyway and also by one decision by her mother which led to her beloved three month old son Felix vanishing from her life when she was at her lowest and most vulnerable.
Anna has a fire in her belly that one day she will get her son back but three years have passed and there has been no sign of him even though she has searched extensively and used many methods to do so. The city lays in ruins with heat, electricity and food all in very short supply. Danger, destruction, threats and the evilness of the Russians lurk around every corner and soon Anna finds herself involved in a precarious situation which only grows tenser by the minute. But she will not rest until she finds her son. That’s if he is still out there existing amongst the hundreds of displaced children who roam the streets and bombed out buildings. Anna has a gaping space inside her that aches relentlessly day and night due to the absence of her son but there is also a longing for a certain Russian who did so much for herself and her mother when they were at their lowest ebb.
Timur is a Russian officer who holds a special place in her heart but she can’t forgive the fact he left and never made contact again. But now he is back in the city and despite all her instincts telling her to keep away from him, there is that magnetism that is drawing her to him and perhaps she needs him now more than ever as a series of unsettling and quite frankly terrifying events start to occur which means the noose is tightening around Anna. The strings are being pulled taught and she needs to find a way to break free but the strands of fear, suspicion, anger and danger only increase with every turn of the page and slowly bit by bit the story starts to come together. This is the point where I realised the author had planned out everything so very well and that every detail no matter how small or insignificant should be paid heed to.
Ingrid was a very divisive character for me and even by the end I wasn’t sure if I liked her or not. She swayed back and forth from side to side and some of her thoughts and actions I thought well this doesn’t seem like a woman out to do her part for the greater good. She came from a circus background which had been disbanded during the war and she was trying to keep a small bit of it going in the hopes that one day it would rise from the ashes. She was married to Otto and you could feel the intensity of their love and compassion for one another. But Otto was a ducker and diver and involved in many shady dealings as were so many people at the time. They had to as it was their only means of survival. Ingrid herself was clever, resourceful, quick witted and ready to take advantage of whatever and whoever crossed her path. For this I did admire her but still there were a few things that nagged away at me that made me think is she all that she seems? Nice, friendly and sweet on the outside but inside perhaps could be an entirely different matter. She did surprise me in more ways than one towards the end and that’s what made this a thrilling and exciting read.
The paths of Ana and Ingrid intertwine and do so in a touching way. The last quarter or so the pace of the plot intensified and I just wanted all the answers in one go as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. Anna comes to understand that she is a pawn in a very dangerous game and that absolutely no one can be trusted. As she enters the lions den you fear it is too late for her. Are all her efforts in vain or will she find what has eluded her for so long? Or are their higher powers at play who will do nothing to stop themselves achieving their goals even if it means death, terror and destruction? Will the answers and revenge both Anna and Ingrid seek be achieved? To find out, do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of Child of the Ruins. It's an incredible story with that jaw dropping finale and revelation that leaves you reeling and thinking ahhh why didn’t I guess that but in fact it’s a sign that Kate Furnivall is a gifted writer who showed the trauma and divisions at the time for so many people. In fact it left me wanting more which is what a really good book should do. Please Kate don’t leave it so long to write your next book.
This was a slow burner that I felt needed something to ignite and fan the flame to turn the story into one packed full of twists and turns, suspicion, tension and intrigue. Finally, I got that moment at I’d say around the 55% mark (I was reading this on my Kindle) and from that point on I found myself reading much more quickly and I didn’t feel as if things were being dragged out with little to nothing happening. It’s remarkable how a book can just transform within a few chapters and your opinion of it can completely change but I am glad to say that this was the case here and despite the dragged out start this turned into an excellent read with a superb ending that left me open mouthed and thinking well played Kate Furnivall. Well played.
Child of the Ruins is set in the aftermath of World War Two in Berlin, which is a city now divided between the east controlled by the Russians and the west controlled by the Allies. I’ve read so many historical fiction books set during the war years that I found it really refreshing to read something different. As I am not as familiar with the details of this time I felt like I was learning a lot of new information and there was a lot to absorb and take in. I did find myself confused with some of the characters and where they stood but over time I understand that this was the nature of the plot and the power game at play. Initially, I found it disconcerting that Berliners could go back and forth between checkpoints between the east and west as I have this picture of the Berlin Wall stopping that from happening but of course that happened much later on.
Life wasn’t easy at the time and of course going back and forth provided many challenges and there were strict rules and regulations which made life even more complicated. The Russians were imposing a blockade on the western side, hoping to starve the population which they hoped would leave the Allies with no choice but to forgo the city and therefore the Russians could swoop in and take full control of the capital. But they did not bet on the might and strength of the Americans who ran flights into their zone distributing tonnes of goods, food and fuel which went on through the day and into the night. It was fascinating to read of all the details especially of one American pilot who dropped sweets and chocolate from the sky which young children swamped the streets to try and get.
The story moves back and forth between two young women Anna and Ingrid. Anna lives on the east with her mother Luisa who never leaves their apartment. Ingrid is living in the west and married to Otto. Both women are struggling to exist on a day to day basis and it really is a case of survival of the fittest and the ones who have the strength, tenacity, resources and the power to outwit those trying to quash them well they are the ones who will survive. Anna and Luisa have never been the same since an attack in an alleyway by the Russians as they returned home from work. Luisa still mourns her husband who was lost during the war. She comes across as cold hearted and that Anna is the one who props her up and keeps some food coming into the house. Anna is haunted by her actions in the alleyway and also by one decision by her mother which led to her beloved three month old son Felix vanishing from her life when she was at her lowest and most vulnerable.
Anna has a fire in her belly that one day she will get her son back but three years have passed and there has been no sign of him even though she has searched extensively and used many methods to do so. The city lays in ruins with heat, electricity and food all in very short supply. Danger, destruction, threats and the evilness of the Russians lurk around every corner and soon Anna finds herself involved in a precarious situation which only grows tenser by the minute. But she will not rest until she finds her son. That’s if he is still out there existing amongst the hundreds of displaced children who roam the streets and bombed out buildings. Anna has a gaping space inside her that aches relentlessly day and night due to the absence of her son but there is also a longing for a certain Russian who did so much for herself and her mother when they were at their lowest ebb.
Timur is a Russian officer who holds a special place in her heart but she can’t forgive the fact he left and never made contact again. But now he is back in the city and despite all her instincts telling her to keep away from him, there is that magnetism that is drawing her to him and perhaps she needs him now more than ever as a series of unsettling and quite frankly terrifying events start to occur which means the noose is tightening around Anna. The strings are being pulled taught and she needs to find a way to break free but the strands of fear, suspicion, anger and danger only increase with every turn of the page and slowly bit by bit the story starts to come together. This is the point where I realised the author had planned out everything so very well and that every detail no matter how small or insignificant should be paid heed to.
Ingrid was a very divisive character for me and even by the end I wasn’t sure if I liked her or not. She swayed back and forth from side to side and some of her thoughts and actions I thought well this doesn’t seem like a woman out to do her part for the greater good. She came from a circus background which had been disbanded during the war and she was trying to keep a small bit of it going in the hopes that one day it would rise from the ashes. She was married to Otto and you could feel the intensity of their love and compassion for one another. But Otto was a ducker and diver and involved in many shady dealings as were so many people at the time. They had to as it was their only means of survival. Ingrid herself was clever, resourceful, quick witted and ready to take advantage of whatever and whoever crossed her path. For this I did admire her but still there were a few things that nagged away at me that made me think is she all that she seems? Nice, friendly and sweet on the outside but inside perhaps could be an entirely different matter. She did surprise me in more ways than one towards the end and that’s what made this a thrilling and exciting read.
The paths of Ana and Ingrid intertwine and do so in a touching way. The last quarter or so the pace of the plot intensified and I just wanted all the answers in one go as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. Anna comes to understand that she is a pawn in a very dangerous game and that absolutely no one can be trusted. As she enters the lions den you fear it is too late for her. Are all her efforts in vain or will she find what has eluded her for so long? Or are their higher powers at play who will do nothing to stop themselves achieving their goals even if it means death, terror and destruction? Will the answers and revenge both Anna and Ingrid seek be achieved? To find out, do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of Child of the Ruins. It's an incredible story with that jaw dropping finale and revelation that leaves you reeling and thinking ahhh why didn’t I guess that but in fact it’s a sign that Kate Furnivall is a gifted writer who showed the trauma and divisions at the time for so many people. In fact it left me wanting more which is what a really good book should do. Please Kate don’t leave it so long to write your next book.
October 15, 2023
I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous historical novels and was excited to receive this review copy.
It is the story of two women, Anna and Ingrid, trying to survive in Berlin straight after the end of World War 2. Anna lives with her mother in reduced circumstances, desperately trying to find a young child, lost in the ruins of the city. The reasons for this quest become clear as the book progresses.
Ingrid is a circus performer trying to earn money however she is able. Married to Otto, she gets involved with a mysterious and deadly Russian who has his own agenda and who is prepared to use her to achieve his aim.
I don’t know what it was but this book didn’t grip me in the same way as the author’s earlier books. I didn’t really warm to the characters, I’m not sure why and it took me quite a while to complete the novel. Maybe it was too much of a slow read for me. Not a lot really happened and even the denouement towards the end did not particularly surprise or enthral.
I thought that the research that had gone into the book was excellent. I really got the feel of Cold War Berlin and the lives of ordinary people who lived there at the time.
I also must add that I did complete the book so I am giving it 3 stars- it would probably have been 3 1/2 had that been possible as the author’s detailed research was so good.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
It is the story of two women, Anna and Ingrid, trying to survive in Berlin straight after the end of World War 2. Anna lives with her mother in reduced circumstances, desperately trying to find a young child, lost in the ruins of the city. The reasons for this quest become clear as the book progresses.
Ingrid is a circus performer trying to earn money however she is able. Married to Otto, she gets involved with a mysterious and deadly Russian who has his own agenda and who is prepared to use her to achieve his aim.
I don’t know what it was but this book didn’t grip me in the same way as the author’s earlier books. I didn’t really warm to the characters, I’m not sure why and it took me quite a while to complete the novel. Maybe it was too much of a slow read for me. Not a lot really happened and even the denouement towards the end did not particularly surprise or enthral.
I thought that the research that had gone into the book was excellent. I really got the feel of Cold War Berlin and the lives of ordinary people who lived there at the time.
I also must add that I did complete the book so I am giving it 3 stars- it would probably have been 3 1/2 had that been possible as the author’s detailed research was so good.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
February 28, 2024
The aftermath of war is a terrible thing. For the vanquished even more so. For Berlin in 1948 peace was an uneasy bedfellow - a city divided, where the Russians were taking their spoils and humanity from every citizen. Their blockades had forced the Allies in the West to mount the Berlin Airlift bringing supplies to the starving inhabitants. Berlin spelt darkness, danger and violence where murder, rape and looting were rife.
“The war was over but the unspoken war of whispers, of midnight arrests and tortured body parts rages on unseen’
Kate Furnivall in ‘Child of the Ruins’ has written a heart stopping novel, a mix of historical fiction, mystery and thriller. It is a story that is taut and disturbing. From the first page it will entangle you, wrapping you tight until the very last page. Shocking revelations will shake you as Furnivall’s powers of description bring you into the half-life of East and West Berlin in the upheaval after WWll. Russian cruelty, greed and undisguised hatred for a defeated people, and loss of innocence is interspersed with the powers of survival, bravery, love and betrayal. Against this shattered background we meet two strong women.
Anna and Ingrid, as different as they could be, but both searching. But Anna has a secret – she has killed a Russian and knows that retribution could be following her. As she scours the city on her beloved bicycle, looking for her lost child and a job that can keep her and her mother from starvation, revenge is getting closer and closer. Her movements are being monitored with devastating results. Moving from her home in the Eastern sector is harrowing and humiliating.
Ingrid lives in West Berlin and is as taut as the tightrope she walked in the circus - she too is looking for a better life and easier money. But as attractive as Anna is, Ingrid is mousy and invisible, overlooked and able to move unnoticed. A trait she can use to her advantage. They both understand the currency of this city and work it to their advantage. When their lives intersect they become uncomfortable allies. And into the mix comes one good Russian, risking his life for the woman he loves.
This is a tense story - grabbing your emotions, taking you back to an unimaginable time, to a city on its knees, through espionage and murder, when systems were worked in dark alleyways. Secrets hide behind kind smiles and trust is given sparingly. Absorbing, all – encompassing, and unputdownable, there is however a ray of light in the form of unexpected kindnesses, camaraderie - and an unlikely love affair.
There are books that vibrate with colour in my mind when I am reading. This one didn’t. It was mostly shades of grey and black with the occasional burst of brightness. That is not to say that this is not a good story – it is a great story, and Furnivall has used her magnificent writing skills to place us in the heart of a devastatingly difficult time.
Furnivall says she loves Berlin, the vibrancy, culture and setting but she acknowledges the trauma and division that it has suffered. She remarks that this book took her longer to write than her other novels. As a reader I felt her personal hurt, as she records so vividly the life that wasn’t in those early postwar years. That Berlin has risen is testament to the people, the passion and the love for the city but have we, as humans, learnt anything in the intervening years?
“The war was over but the unspoken war of whispers, of midnight arrests and tortured body parts rages on unseen’
Kate Furnivall in ‘Child of the Ruins’ has written a heart stopping novel, a mix of historical fiction, mystery and thriller. It is a story that is taut and disturbing. From the first page it will entangle you, wrapping you tight until the very last page. Shocking revelations will shake you as Furnivall’s powers of description bring you into the half-life of East and West Berlin in the upheaval after WWll. Russian cruelty, greed and undisguised hatred for a defeated people, and loss of innocence is interspersed with the powers of survival, bravery, love and betrayal. Against this shattered background we meet two strong women.
Anna and Ingrid, as different as they could be, but both searching. But Anna has a secret – she has killed a Russian and knows that retribution could be following her. As she scours the city on her beloved bicycle, looking for her lost child and a job that can keep her and her mother from starvation, revenge is getting closer and closer. Her movements are being monitored with devastating results. Moving from her home in the Eastern sector is harrowing and humiliating.
Ingrid lives in West Berlin and is as taut as the tightrope she walked in the circus - she too is looking for a better life and easier money. But as attractive as Anna is, Ingrid is mousy and invisible, overlooked and able to move unnoticed. A trait she can use to her advantage. They both understand the currency of this city and work it to their advantage. When their lives intersect they become uncomfortable allies. And into the mix comes one good Russian, risking his life for the woman he loves.
This is a tense story - grabbing your emotions, taking you back to an unimaginable time, to a city on its knees, through espionage and murder, when systems were worked in dark alleyways. Secrets hide behind kind smiles and trust is given sparingly. Absorbing, all – encompassing, and unputdownable, there is however a ray of light in the form of unexpected kindnesses, camaraderie - and an unlikely love affair.
There are books that vibrate with colour in my mind when I am reading. This one didn’t. It was mostly shades of grey and black with the occasional burst of brightness. That is not to say that this is not a good story – it is a great story, and Furnivall has used her magnificent writing skills to place us in the heart of a devastatingly difficult time.
Furnivall says she loves Berlin, the vibrancy, culture and setting but she acknowledges the trauma and division that it has suffered. She remarks that this book took her longer to write than her other novels. As a reader I felt her personal hurt, as she records so vividly the life that wasn’t in those early postwar years. That Berlin has risen is testament to the people, the passion and the love for the city but have we, as humans, learnt anything in the intervening years?
December 7, 2023
Child of the Ruins by Kate Furnivall illustrates the tales of tenacious women desperate to survive after the horror and destruction of WWII.
It’s 1948 and post-war Berlin has been divided into zones, the West controlled by the Allies and the East by the Russians.
The Russian blockade means over two million people rely on American air drops to survive. A plane lands every thirty seconds in West Berlin.
Anna Wolff lives in a confined East Berlin apartment with her mother, Luisa. The area has been devastated by Russians, fearfully commanding with restrictions, raids and rapes.
Anna’s three-year-old son, Felix, is missing and her old Russian flame has returned. Strange things keep happening and as she deepens the search for Felix, the more dangerous her life seems to become.
Ingrid Keller lives within the rubble of her father’s old circus with her husband, Otto. The former group wheel and deal to better their lives, doing anything for money and security. Ingrid risks it all working as a spy between the almighty powers.
The two women’s worlds collide while working at Tempelhof Airport. Both searching for answers, the airport is the ideal place to learn more about the intricacies and secrets of Berlin.
In post-war Berlin, the Soviets were desperate to get the Allies out of Germany altogether. Spies, corruption and kidnap are commonplace and nowhere feels truly safe.
It’s simple, survival relies on cunning and knowledge. In this desperation, the line between right and wrong has become blurred.
Inspired by the aftermath of the war during the Berlin Airlift, this historical fiction novel explores the lengths people will go to survive.
Told in multiple narratives, this novel brings the trauma and streets of post-war Berlin to life. The families within have been divided by the war, each individual with their own goals and trauma.
The novel is meticulously researched, drawing inspiration from real and extraordinary history. The world is atmospheric, transporting you to the harrowing scenes of the broken city. With shortages of coal, food, medicine and money, people are desperate and bereft of hope.
Orphaned children run riot in the ruins, Soviet soldiers cruelly keep control and everyday folk will do anything to survive the chaos.
Anna and Ingrid lead with their stories. Full of struggle, mystery and espionage, the novel keeps you on your feet at a growing pace with twists and turns. Each must battle their own demons and seek resolution as they navigate ruined Berlin.
Ultimately, this novel draws you in with its incredibly well-researched historical fiction and tenacious female leads.
It’s a spectacular tale of the lengths a woman will go to survive. Love is a powerful force and human will can be at its strongest in desperate times.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book, all views are my own*
It’s 1948 and post-war Berlin has been divided into zones, the West controlled by the Allies and the East by the Russians.
The Russian blockade means over two million people rely on American air drops to survive. A plane lands every thirty seconds in West Berlin.
Anna Wolff lives in a confined East Berlin apartment with her mother, Luisa. The area has been devastated by Russians, fearfully commanding with restrictions, raids and rapes.
Anna’s three-year-old son, Felix, is missing and her old Russian flame has returned. Strange things keep happening and as she deepens the search for Felix, the more dangerous her life seems to become.
Ingrid Keller lives within the rubble of her father’s old circus with her husband, Otto. The former group wheel and deal to better their lives, doing anything for money and security. Ingrid risks it all working as a spy between the almighty powers.
The two women’s worlds collide while working at Tempelhof Airport. Both searching for answers, the airport is the ideal place to learn more about the intricacies and secrets of Berlin.
In post-war Berlin, the Soviets were desperate to get the Allies out of Germany altogether. Spies, corruption and kidnap are commonplace and nowhere feels truly safe.
It’s simple, survival relies on cunning and knowledge. In this desperation, the line between right and wrong has become blurred.
Inspired by the aftermath of the war during the Berlin Airlift, this historical fiction novel explores the lengths people will go to survive.
Told in multiple narratives, this novel brings the trauma and streets of post-war Berlin to life. The families within have been divided by the war, each individual with their own goals and trauma.
The novel is meticulously researched, drawing inspiration from real and extraordinary history. The world is atmospheric, transporting you to the harrowing scenes of the broken city. With shortages of coal, food, medicine and money, people are desperate and bereft of hope.
Orphaned children run riot in the ruins, Soviet soldiers cruelly keep control and everyday folk will do anything to survive the chaos.
Anna and Ingrid lead with their stories. Full of struggle, mystery and espionage, the novel keeps you on your feet at a growing pace with twists and turns. Each must battle their own demons and seek resolution as they navigate ruined Berlin.
Ultimately, this novel draws you in with its incredibly well-researched historical fiction and tenacious female leads.
It’s a spectacular tale of the lengths a woman will go to survive. Love is a powerful force and human will can be at its strongest in desperate times.
Read the original Child of the Ruins by Kate Furnivall book review on The LDN Gal
*Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book, all views are my own*
July 24, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and author Kate Furnivall for providing me with this eARC
I had so much hope for this book as I love WW II & post-WW II historical fiction.
Sadly it was a bit of a letdown for me.
The pacing of this felt really off to me. For the first 60% barely anything happens and what does happen plot wise feels very disconnected. It’s mostly set up and could’ve been condensed so, so much!
There are lots of things that seem like they could become important & interesting but end up forgotten. And loads of internal monologues from both our protagonists about how Berlin used to be great and now it’s destroyed. I realise it’s important for the reader to understand just how devastating the war and then the Soviet occupation was, but for one it gets repetitive because it’s always the same thoughts and two it was all tell, no showing!
Which leads me to another problem I had with this book. We are told so many things but shown barely any of them. We are told our characters are angry, sad, worried etc. but their actions don’t really reflect their strong emotions. Also for Ingrid I was really missing some motivation & character insight!
The mystery sadly wasn’t much of a mystery either as you could basically guess the broad answer from the first scene between Ingrid & the villain. Non of the big reveals were big because they were so heavily hinted at multiple times during the book.
Going back to pacing for a moment, after 60% of build up the book rushed through the plot for the next 30% or so.
It was by no means a bad book - a bit lengthy
& predictable but I was just expecting/wanting more…
2.75 stars
I had so much hope for this book as I love WW II & post-WW II historical fiction.
Sadly it was a bit of a letdown for me.
The pacing of this felt really off to me. For the first 60% barely anything happens and what does happen plot wise feels very disconnected. It’s mostly set up and could’ve been condensed so, so much!
There are lots of things that seem like they could become important & interesting but end up forgotten. And loads of internal monologues from both our protagonists about how Berlin used to be great and now it’s destroyed. I realise it’s important for the reader to understand just how devastating the war and then the Soviet occupation was, but for one it gets repetitive because it’s always the same thoughts and two it was all tell, no showing!
Which leads me to another problem I had with this book. We are told so many things but shown barely any of them. We are told our characters are angry, sad, worried etc. but their actions don’t really reflect their strong emotions. Also for Ingrid I was really missing some motivation & character insight!
The mystery sadly wasn’t much of a mystery either as you could basically guess the broad answer from the first scene between Ingrid & the villain. Non of the big reveals were big because they were so heavily hinted at multiple times during the book.
Going back to pacing for a moment, after 60% of build up the book rushed through the plot for the next 30% or so.
It was by no means a bad book - a bit lengthy
& predictable but I was just expecting/wanting more…
2.75 stars
October 2, 2023
I read and loved The Russian Concubine series over ten years ago so I was really looking forward to the latest book by Kate Furnivall.
This was such an emotive and immersive read that certainly stayed with me long after finishing the pages.
The story is set in 1948 in Berlin.
Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive.
In the midst of this we meet Anna, living in East Berlin. Struggling to find food and survive in such an oppressive regime where the Russian police watch every move Anna uses any currency she can trade to try to track down her missing child and feed herself and her mother.
In West Berlin we meet Ingrid who is trying to improve her circumstances by working for a Russian by collecting information.
How do these two women's lives interlink? Who is following Anna and why are people she loves being threatened?
The absolute devastation of Berlin, the shocking violence and the desperation of the people living there is captured perfectly in this story. I could picture the rubble on the streets and the torn down buildings. Worst of all were the starving, dirty orphans struggling to survive in the freezing streets on small crusts of bread.
This book was clearly meticulously researched and the characters were all so well written. I literally couldn’t put this book down and had to know what would happen to each of them. There were some real shocks and some horrific occurrences along the way and I was willing the main characters to survive. A brilliant story that I highly recommend to historical fiction fans.
This was such an emotive and immersive read that certainly stayed with me long after finishing the pages.
The story is set in 1948 in Berlin.
Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive.
In the midst of this we meet Anna, living in East Berlin. Struggling to find food and survive in such an oppressive regime where the Russian police watch every move Anna uses any currency she can trade to try to track down her missing child and feed herself and her mother.
In West Berlin we meet Ingrid who is trying to improve her circumstances by working for a Russian by collecting information.
How do these two women's lives interlink? Who is following Anna and why are people she loves being threatened?
The absolute devastation of Berlin, the shocking violence and the desperation of the people living there is captured perfectly in this story. I could picture the rubble on the streets and the torn down buildings. Worst of all were the starving, dirty orphans struggling to survive in the freezing streets on small crusts of bread.
This book was clearly meticulously researched and the characters were all so well written. I literally couldn’t put this book down and had to know what would happen to each of them. There were some real shocks and some horrific occurrences along the way and I was willing the main characters to survive. A brilliant story that I highly recommend to historical fiction fans.
January 12, 2024
An epic in every sense of the word.
In reading this book once, I probably read it three times, that was how gripping, how spelling binding it was. So gripping, in fact, I resisted the temptation to peek ahead and see if Anna ever does find her son, because I never wanted it to end. The suspense, the characters, the horror, the vivid and at times, poetic descriptions, had me in every room, on every street corner and shadow, while, not just the story, but history played out, having its little games with the people of Berlin, games that history hasn’t told us much of because, let’s face it, Hitler lost the war. And so, having your ruined city, your home, your family, cut in half, while you starved and did everything you could to survive, in what was left, as the allies played cat and mouse as to who was having what and why, has perhaps been perceived as something you deserved, given the carnage visited for years on other nations. But war diminishes everyone and what this book does is bring this time in Germany to life, in a way we can all relate to in the story of a young woman who doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘defeat’ despite all she has lost. It’s towering in every sense of the word, possibly Kate Furnivall’s best and that is certainly saying something because I have always loved every word she’s written.
In reading this book once, I probably read it three times, that was how gripping, how spelling binding it was. So gripping, in fact, I resisted the temptation to peek ahead and see if Anna ever does find her son, because I never wanted it to end. The suspense, the characters, the horror, the vivid and at times, poetic descriptions, had me in every room, on every street corner and shadow, while, not just the story, but history played out, having its little games with the people of Berlin, games that history hasn’t told us much of because, let’s face it, Hitler lost the war. And so, having your ruined city, your home, your family, cut in half, while you starved and did everything you could to survive, in what was left, as the allies played cat and mouse as to who was having what and why, has perhaps been perceived as something you deserved, given the carnage visited for years on other nations. But war diminishes everyone and what this book does is bring this time in Germany to life, in a way we can all relate to in the story of a young woman who doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘defeat’ despite all she has lost. It’s towering in every sense of the word, possibly Kate Furnivall’s best and that is certainly saying something because I have always loved every word she’s written.
February 3, 2024
I found this novel captivating. It covers a part of history which I did not know, the post-war situation in Berlin. The Russian blockade of Berlin forced the allied into implementing the drop of supplies by air in an amazing operation, Operation Vittles, in 1948/49. The success of this operation played a major role in shaping the future of Berlin, Germany and Europe. This book brings us into the Berlin, East and West, of the time and vividly describes the life of its inhabitants. People were hungry, afraid and they learned not to trust anyone. People disappeared and many children lived on the streets, fending for themselves and searching for food anywhere they could and at any cost.
This novel brings this time to life through the story of two strong female characters, Anna and Ingrid, whose paths cross, through their search for a child. The characters around them are all complex and have their own struggles and hopes, and they learn to find their way through ambivalence, hidden agendas, old hatreds, politics as well as support and love. The beautiful writing is very evocative, giving the reader an immersive experience of the story.
This book will definitely leave a strong impression on me.
This novel brings this time to life through the story of two strong female characters, Anna and Ingrid, whose paths cross, through their search for a child. The characters around them are all complex and have their own struggles and hopes, and they learn to find their way through ambivalence, hidden agendas, old hatreds, politics as well as support and love. The beautiful writing is very evocative, giving the reader an immersive experience of the story.
This book will definitely leave a strong impression on me.
March 12, 2024
Okay 3.5/5. This book, to me, was a very good description of post-World War 2 Berlin, but the characters were somewhat off. I felt at times in awe of the author’s knowledge of the city and its horrors, especially if you lived in the Soviet zone.
Anna and Ingrid, the main characters, were passionate and inspired, but their actions at times were unfathomable, maybe to show the illogic of driven women? Anna is looking for her lost child, conceived through a rape by Russian occupiers at the end of the war. Her mother gave the child away when Anna was sick, despising its Soviet origins. Thus, Anna’s search ensues. She is demented at times and rails against her city’s occupiers. Just as well she has an old (Russian) lover to help her. It also helps that he has a high military ranking to force answers out of underlings.
There are too many coincidences and easy answers for me in this story. It almost seemed like a (violent) rom-com at times. So, excellent descriptions of a battered city and the American airlift. Not so good plotting of a story with fantastical elements worthy of a sci-fi novel.
Anna and Ingrid, the main characters, were passionate and inspired, but their actions at times were unfathomable, maybe to show the illogic of driven women? Anna is looking for her lost child, conceived through a rape by Russian occupiers at the end of the war. Her mother gave the child away when Anna was sick, despising its Soviet origins. Thus, Anna’s search ensues. She is demented at times and rails against her city’s occupiers. Just as well she has an old (Russian) lover to help her. It also helps that he has a high military ranking to force answers out of underlings.
There are too many coincidences and easy answers for me in this story. It almost seemed like a (violent) rom-com at times. So, excellent descriptions of a battered city and the American airlift. Not so good plotting of a story with fantastical elements worthy of a sci-fi novel.
August 24, 2025
It is 1948. The war in Europe is over but Berlin, in the wake of Germany's defeat has been divided by the allies. For the civilians left behind, with their personal losses, life continues but depending on the sector of the city in which one lives it can be a very different life for any family.
American supplies are being flown into the west while Russian troops are still dismantling the factories in the east and the soldiers are looting. Everyone, wherever they live in Berlin is hungry and orphaned children are living feral lives in the ruins.
Anna is searching for a three-year-old boy who was taken from her shortly after his birth. Will she be able to find him from among the hundreds of orphaned children? Will she be able to tell friend from enemy? Will she find the Russian soldier to whom she lost her heart in 1945?
This is a gripping story where the protagonists search for answers and for revenge.
American supplies are being flown into the west while Russian troops are still dismantling the factories in the east and the soldiers are looting. Everyone, wherever they live in Berlin is hungry and orphaned children are living feral lives in the ruins.
Anna is searching for a three-year-old boy who was taken from her shortly after his birth. Will she be able to find him from among the hundreds of orphaned children? Will she be able to tell friend from enemy? Will she find the Russian soldier to whom she lost her heart in 1945?
This is a gripping story where the protagonists search for answers and for revenge.
August 16, 2023
Child of the Ruins by Kate Furnivall
Well-researched, slow-burnt and emotional post-WW2 historical fiction.
This was a story between two story lines of Anna and Ingrid lived in East and West Germany post-war time. The horror, trauma and anger were vividly shown in the story plot.
“I had learned to obey. Berlin had learned to obey.”
The shortage of food, medicine and money during that time drove people crazy. Losing hope. The trauma in Anna was strong, especially while she was looking for her lost child in the ruins.
The most enjoyable part in the story was the research part. Full coverage and meticulous. Informative read, yet easy to follow.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Kate Furnivall for this captivating historical fiction.
Kindle: 472 pages
Pub date: Oct 31, 2023
September 17, 2023
I have read nearly all of Kate Furnivall's books but have to admit this one took quite a while to grasp my interest!
Set in Berlin after WWII when the city was cut in half, with the Russians controlling the area where Anna the main character lives with her mother. Anna and her mother were raped by Russian soldiers at the end of the war, and a child Felix was born. While Anna was unwell, her mother left the three month baby on the doorstep in the hope someone would take it way away and look after it.
The other main character was Ingrid, living in the Western area of Berlin with her husband Otto and the remains of her fathers circus. Ingrid gets involved with the Russians and act as a go between for an American spy and a Russian spymaster.
The. Polk follows both ladies and how their lives interact.
Set in Berlin after WWII when the city was cut in half, with the Russians controlling the area where Anna the main character lives with her mother. Anna and her mother were raped by Russian soldiers at the end of the war, and a child Felix was born. While Anna was unwell, her mother left the three month baby on the doorstep in the hope someone would take it way away and look after it.
The other main character was Ingrid, living in the Western area of Berlin with her husband Otto and the remains of her fathers circus. Ingrid gets involved with the Russians and act as a go between for an American spy and a Russian spymaster.
The. Polk follows both ladies and how their lives interact.
November 13, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a proof copy of this book, in exchange for providing an honest opinion/review.
I enjoyed some aspects of this book. I found the depictions of how the split affected people to be uncomfortable, but well written. Anna’s search for her child in the ruins of war was heartbreaking, and all too familiar with stories we still hear in war torn regions today. I also appreciated the different perspectives and struggles Anna and Ingrid experienced, as it provided a more rounded story.
However, unfortunately it did fall a little flat for me. The first 60-65% of the book felt like it was paced far too slowly, with the most ‘action’ as such occurring so quickly that it felt incredibly rushed in the final part of the book.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a proof copy of this book, in exchange for providing an honest opinion/review.
I enjoyed some aspects of this book. I found the depictions of how the split affected people to be uncomfortable, but well written. Anna’s search for her child in the ruins of war was heartbreaking, and all too familiar with stories we still hear in war torn regions today. I also appreciated the different perspectives and struggles Anna and Ingrid experienced, as it provided a more rounded story.
However, unfortunately it did fall a little flat for me. The first 60-65% of the book felt like it was paced far too slowly, with the most ‘action’ as such occurring so quickly that it felt incredibly rushed in the final part of the book.
May 8, 2024
Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I’m particularly interested in World War II history. I love stumbling across a book that opens my eyes to a facet of this period in history that I have not explored before, and Child of the Ruins did that for me. The story follows multiple characters during the period of the Soviet occupation of Germany after World War II had ended and offers varying points of view - from East Berliners to West Berliners, Soviet sympathizers and even defectors. It was eye-opening to read of the plight of children who were orphaned or abandoned and barely surviving in the streets. This novel was well-written and thoroughly researched, full of intrigue and surprises. Content warning: rape, violence/torture.
October 8, 2023
A long awaited book by Kate Furnivall. I love the way that Kate writes her books. How she incorporates fact in with fiction. I've not actual read a story that discusses what life was like after WW2, when the Eastern Block countries were forming. Life sounded horrendous. The two main female characters who the story revolves around lead completely different lives. Both are driven by love and strong beliefs. They become intertwined in the latter part of the story.
It really is a case of good over evil.
It really is a case of good over evil.
November 13, 2023
Child of the Ruins is a totally delightful work of historical fiction. Furnivall masterfully captures the history of a divided Berlin in the aftermath of WW2 and weaves an engaging tale of a mother determined to find the child she'd lost during the conflict. Through her memorable and most believable characters, we see the decimated city, the Russian occupation, blockades and border-crossings as well as the the Berlin Airlift, the Candy Bomber, and the introduction of the Marshall Plan. And through their experiences we see the best and the worst of humanity.
March 21, 2025
A very long book that goes into a lot of detail, but that is interesting, it’s weird I feel like it’s took me ages to read this one but then the ending I read so quick and was so obsessed with finishing! So much happens at the end whereas it’s like the rest of the book is constantly setting the scene and slowly unravelling a story.
I’ve felt like I learnt a lot about the war and Berlin and a picture of the scene was always drawn from what I was reading which I liked.
I’ve never read a book like this one it was a gift from my partner for my birthday and I have enjoyed it
I’ve felt like I learnt a lot about the war and Berlin and a picture of the scene was always drawn from what I was reading which I liked.
I’ve never read a book like this one it was a gift from my partner for my birthday and I have enjoyed it
July 20, 2023
An absolutely stunning book from the Queen of Historical Fiction. Emotional, powerful, meticulously researched, sharp writing, just wonderful. I was thoroughly lost in this 1948 world of a post-war, divided Berlin, and the characters picking up the pieces after so much horror, particularly Anna who has suffered immense trauma and is looking for her lost child in the ruins. Sure to be an Autumn blockbuster - it certainly deserves to be.
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