What do you think?
Rate this book
Project 613
Aliza in Nazi-Land: A Heartbreaking Tale of Revenge, Power, and the Afterlife
The Holocaust may be over, but for sixteen-year-old Aliza Auman, the death of Adolf Hitler brings no peace. Adopted by a fellow survivor and given a new life in America, Aliza cannot escape the ghosts of her the parents she lost, the memories stolen from her, and the future that was taken from her in Europe. A life of comfort is no solace—she wants revenge.
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, the line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Aliza in Nazi-Land by Elyse Hoffman is a beautifully written blend of fantasy and history. It follows Aliza, a young Holocaust survivor, who is given the chance to punish those responsible for taking her family’s lives. The mix of dark allegory and historical reality makes this story both powerful and unforgettable.”– Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“Elyse Hoffman writes with a sharp sense of anger and sorrow, showing what happens when justice turns into obsession. Aliza’s journey through Hell feels raw and strange—part punishment, part search for herself. It’s not about good or evil anymore, but what’s left after both have burned away.”– Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“If you’re willing to walk with a wounded, brave young woman as she wrestles with revenge, faith, and who she wants to be, this book is powerful and worth your time.”– Goodreads reviewer
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, the line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Aliza in Nazi-Land by Elyse Hoffman is a beautifully written blend of fantasy and history. It follows Aliza, a young Holocaust survivor, who is given the chance to punish those responsible for taking her family’s lives. The mix of dark allegory and historical reality makes this story both powerful and unforgettable.”– Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“Elyse Hoffman writes with a sharp sense of anger and sorrow, showing what happens when justice turns into obsession. Aliza’s journey through Hell feels raw and strange—part punishment, part search for herself. It’s not about good or evil anymore, but what’s left after both have burned away.”– Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“If you’re willing to walk with a wounded, brave young woman as she wrestles with revenge, faith, and who she wants to be, this book is powerful and worth your time.”– Goodreads reviewer
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2025
About the author
Elyse Hoffman
27 books402 followersElyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. Having studied WWII since the age of thirteen and with interests in fantasy and Jewish folklore, she loves to combine them in her writing. Elyse started writing novels at fourteen and finished her first historical fiction work at fifteen. She has published eight books: five in a series called The Barracks of the Holocaust, and three novels, including The Book of Uriel, Where David Threw Stones, and Fracture. In her spare time, she loves to read, work on pretty keyboards, and hang out with her co-authors - her Goldendoodle Ari and her ex-feral cat, Echo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 25, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land by Elyse Hoffman
4/5 stars
This is the second book I read by Elyse Hoffman and goodness gracious she is talented. I love her writing style. I love how she combines historical facts with paranormal elements. The two just work perfectly together in her books.
Aliza is Nazi-Land starts with Hitler dying and waking up in the afterlife without his precious Eva. And the second the angel realizes who he is he gets damned.
Aliza Auman is the adopted daughter of Amos Auman. Amos adopted her and her three sisters. They aren't blood related but he adopted those four little girls after the holocaust and gave them a home. Aliza is in pain that she cannot remember her mother's face anymore. She remembers that she was part of the Fox Farm. A pet project of Gestapo Chief Reinhard Heydrich. It was a concentration camp for members of the Black Foxes, an anti nazi group. Her mother and sister were a part of that group and were murdered. She only remembers the faces of those who hurt her. Hitler, Himmler and Heydrich. She has Heydrich's blade in her possession which she wanted to use to kill him.
One day Aliza finds a book that contains a contract for Zone N-1. If she signs it she will become the God that will rule over a part of hell that contains Hitler, Heydrich, Goebbels, Himmler and Goering. The second she signs is power courses through her veins. Ha-Satan appears in front of her and explains that humans are better at torture then angels. And that those souls need to suffer until they truly repent and are allowed to go back to heaven.
She finds out that her father Amos is another ruler in Hell and he teaches her the basics. She finds out her classmate Yonah rules over a part as well. And suddenly they are close and bonded. When Nicholas Jackson announces he is gonna march through their town with the message that the Holocaust killed 60 million Germans instead of Jews the two friends decide to torture their souls in order to gain information.
And that is what this powerful book is about. It's about people, humans, who gain Godly powers and get the chance to torture all those Nazi souls in hell. But Aliza doesn't realize that that power comes with a great price, a great responsibility, and she must balance it all out. The anger, the power, is creeping up to her and it's getting dangerous.
I really like how in part Elsye made me hate Hittler, Heydrich, Goebbels, Himmler and Goering even more. But she also almost humanizes them. And in a very subtle way lets us how torturous it is when she breaks their souls again and again. Don't get me wrong. I didn't and don't like them. But she did give them a sliver of a soul.
Amos' backstory is so painful. And I love how fiercely Aliza reacts to it. But it is also the most heartbreaking thing in the entire book.
I really want to read the other books in this series. Elyse really has the ability to bring the characters to life and in a way that I like them instantly.
It's really a tale of pain and responsibility. And how much revenge taints your soul.
4 huge stars for Aliza in Nazi-Land.
4/5 stars
This is the second book I read by Elyse Hoffman and goodness gracious she is talented. I love her writing style. I love how she combines historical facts with paranormal elements. The two just work perfectly together in her books.
Aliza is Nazi-Land starts with Hitler dying and waking up in the afterlife without his precious Eva. And the second the angel realizes who he is he gets damned.
Aliza Auman is the adopted daughter of Amos Auman. Amos adopted her and her three sisters. They aren't blood related but he adopted those four little girls after the holocaust and gave them a home. Aliza is in pain that she cannot remember her mother's face anymore. She remembers that she was part of the Fox Farm. A pet project of Gestapo Chief Reinhard Heydrich. It was a concentration camp for members of the Black Foxes, an anti nazi group. Her mother and sister were a part of that group and were murdered. She only remembers the faces of those who hurt her. Hitler, Himmler and Heydrich. She has Heydrich's blade in her possession which she wanted to use to kill him.
One day Aliza finds a book that contains a contract for Zone N-1. If she signs it she will become the God that will rule over a part of hell that contains Hitler, Heydrich, Goebbels, Himmler and Goering. The second she signs is power courses through her veins. Ha-Satan appears in front of her and explains that humans are better at torture then angels. And that those souls need to suffer until they truly repent and are allowed to go back to heaven.
She finds out that her father Amos is another ruler in Hell and he teaches her the basics. She finds out her classmate Yonah rules over a part as well. And suddenly they are close and bonded. When Nicholas Jackson announces he is gonna march through their town with the message that the Holocaust killed 60 million Germans instead of Jews the two friends decide to torture their souls in order to gain information.
And that is what this powerful book is about. It's about people, humans, who gain Godly powers and get the chance to torture all those Nazi souls in hell. But Aliza doesn't realize that that power comes with a great price, a great responsibility, and she must balance it all out. The anger, the power, is creeping up to her and it's getting dangerous.
I really like how in part Elsye made me hate Hittler, Heydrich, Goebbels, Himmler and Goering even more. But she also almost humanizes them. And in a very subtle way lets us how torturous it is when she breaks their souls again and again. Don't get me wrong. I didn't and don't like them. But she did give them a sliver of a soul.
Amos' backstory is so painful. And I love how fiercely Aliza reacts to it. But it is also the most heartbreaking thing in the entire book.
I really want to read the other books in this series. Elyse really has the ability to bring the characters to life and in a way that I like them instantly.
It's really a tale of pain and responsibility. And how much revenge taints your soul.
4 huge stars for Aliza in Nazi-Land.
November 22, 2025
Blurb
The Holocaust may be over, but for sixteen-year-old Aliza Aumen, the death of Adolf Hitler brings no peace. Adopted by a fellow survivor and given a new life in America, Aliza cannot escape the ghosts of her past: the parents she lost, the memories stolen from her, and the future that was taken from her in Europe. A life of comfort is no solace—she wants revenge.
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, she begins to feel the seductive pull of power. The line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
Review
I was very happy to be given access to this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, having loved the previous book in the series, The Hangman’s Master.
This book felt very different to the previous book having been set after the war, and in the US where Aliza is now living with fellow survivors of the war. Whilst she may be many miles away from the horrors she saw at first hand she is still consumed by what happened during the war, and this is not helped when a march by Neo-Nazis is planned in her Jewish neighbourhood, re-opening old wounds for the whole community.
Although Aliza is 16 it is important to remember in this book what she has been through and that she is still developing as an individual. When Aliza is offered the chance for revenge over the key architects of the War and the Holocaust she takes this on with great relish, and as a reader there are parts of the book that are not always easy to read and it does create some ethical thoughts and dilemmas for the reader. There were many times I had to put the book down to reflect on what I had read. It is a total thought provoking read!
I loved how the book blended both real history and fantasy / supernatural elements, following on from the themes of the earlier books in the series. It is clear through the book the massive impact that having such powers has on her, and this affects her in the here and now as well as when she is acting the role of God and avenger. The lines do very much blur for her and this all builds to a real crescendo in the book - do be prepared for shocks and surprises. It also impacts on her relationships, which are another key theme of the book.
This was another excellent book by this author and I do need to go back and read some of the original books in the series. I thoroughly recommend this book and the previous book in the series, and I’m sure like me when you get to the end of the book you will be wanting some more chapters to find out what happens next; it was a case of no, you can’t end it there! I just hope it is not too long before the next book in the series is published as I am waiting with baited breath for it.
Book Details
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Number of Pages: 172 Pages
Publication Date: November 7, 2025
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Amazon: https://a.co/d/dUBmedk (USA) https://a.co/d/a3wrW1I (Canada) https://amzn.eu/d/arDaXxY (UK)
About the Author
Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. She loves to meld WWII and Jewish history with fantasy, folklore, and the paranormal. She has written six works of Holocaust historical fiction: The Barracks of the Holocaust five-book series and The Book of Uriel. Elyse’s books are the way to go if you love history and want to read some unique stories.
The Holocaust may be over, but for sixteen-year-old Aliza Aumen, the death of Adolf Hitler brings no peace. Adopted by a fellow survivor and given a new life in America, Aliza cannot escape the ghosts of her past: the parents she lost, the memories stolen from her, and the future that was taken from her in Europe. A life of comfort is no solace—she wants revenge.
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, she begins to feel the seductive pull of power. The line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
Review
I was very happy to be given access to this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, having loved the previous book in the series, The Hangman’s Master.
This book felt very different to the previous book having been set after the war, and in the US where Aliza is now living with fellow survivors of the war. Whilst she may be many miles away from the horrors she saw at first hand she is still consumed by what happened during the war, and this is not helped when a march by Neo-Nazis is planned in her Jewish neighbourhood, re-opening old wounds for the whole community.
Although Aliza is 16 it is important to remember in this book what she has been through and that she is still developing as an individual. When Aliza is offered the chance for revenge over the key architects of the War and the Holocaust she takes this on with great relish, and as a reader there are parts of the book that are not always easy to read and it does create some ethical thoughts and dilemmas for the reader. There were many times I had to put the book down to reflect on what I had read. It is a total thought provoking read!
I loved how the book blended both real history and fantasy / supernatural elements, following on from the themes of the earlier books in the series. It is clear through the book the massive impact that having such powers has on her, and this affects her in the here and now as well as when she is acting the role of God and avenger. The lines do very much blur for her and this all builds to a real crescendo in the book - do be prepared for shocks and surprises. It also impacts on her relationships, which are another key theme of the book.
This was another excellent book by this author and I do need to go back and read some of the original books in the series. I thoroughly recommend this book and the previous book in the series, and I’m sure like me when you get to the end of the book you will be wanting some more chapters to find out what happens next; it was a case of no, you can’t end it there! I just hope it is not too long before the next book in the series is published as I am waiting with baited breath for it.
Book Details
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Number of Pages: 172 Pages
Publication Date: November 7, 2025
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Amazon: https://a.co/d/dUBmedk (USA) https://a.co/d/a3wrW1I (Canada) https://amzn.eu/d/arDaXxY (UK)
About the Author
Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. She loves to meld WWII and Jewish history with fantasy, folklore, and the paranormal. She has written six works of Holocaust historical fiction: The Barracks of the Holocaust five-book series and The Book of Uriel. Elyse’s books are the way to go if you love history and want to read some unique stories.
November 16, 2025
3 1/2 stars, rounded up.
This is possibly one of the strangest books I've read this year, as it's about a teenaged survivor of the Holocaust who is given a supernatural opportunity to punish Hitler and his SS friends in a section of Hell dubbed "Nazi-Land." Initially the title and cover caught my attention on Netgalley, but I wasn't expecting for the book to have as much of an impact on me. Beyond a mere revenge fantasy, the story has much to say about the corrupting nature of power. The story ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, and so I will be eagerly watching to see what else the author produces.
This is possibly one of the strangest books I've read this year, as it's about a teenaged survivor of the Holocaust who is given a supernatural opportunity to punish Hitler and his SS friends in a section of Hell dubbed "Nazi-Land." Initially the title and cover caught my attention on Netgalley, but I wasn't expecting for the book to have as much of an impact on me. Beyond a mere revenge fantasy, the story has much to say about the corrupting nature of power. The story ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, and so I will be eagerly watching to see what else the author produces.
November 17, 2025
Over the last couple of years, Elyse Hoffman has become one of my favourite authors. With her brilliant writing style, her unique stories, and her unflinching approach to controversial topics, what’s not to love? Having read all of the previous books in Elyse’s Project 613 series, I couldn’t wait to read Aliza In Nazi-Land, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
There is a real mix of characters in this book, including some familiar faces as well as some new ones. I was happy to dive back in to the stories of those familiar faces, especially Amos, and to see how their lives had changed since their last involvement in the series. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Yonah and Aliza, and watching the twists and turns, and ups and downs it took throughout the book. Every character has their own backstory, and their own personal struggles, which seem to show through in their personalities.
I love the contracts concept, which we were introduced to in a previous book in the series and we continue with in this one, I find it super intriguing. However, I do think it brings a moral dilemma. Does punishing those who have hurt you or who you believe deserve it make you as bad as them? Or is it justice being served? This is where Elyse’s writing will have you asking yourself so many questions, and assessing your own moral compass, which is one of my favourite aspects of her books.
Aliza’s development throughout the story was a difficult one. On one hand you can understand her feelings and her need for revenge, but on the other, I didn’t agree with her actions as a warden, and those actions were at times hard to read. It also then began to seep into her real life, and she became someone completely different, even going as far as hurting those she loved the most. The main message I took away from this situation is that power can be dangerous, it can consume you so easily without you even realising it’s happening, and this was the case with Aliza. However, the contrast between Aliza and Amos’ handling of power was super interesting. It shows that everyone handles things differently, and have their own ways of coping.
When everything in Aliza’s life seems to blow up in her face, her downward spiral happens fast, and her inability to handle the power she has been given leads her into the most dangerous of situations, which is where this book concludes. The fact it ended on a cliffhanger had me screaming! I need answers, and I need them NOW!! The wait for the next book in the series is going to feel like a lifetime, but I am so excited to get my hands on it as soon as possible.
There is a real mix of characters in this book, including some familiar faces as well as some new ones. I was happy to dive back in to the stories of those familiar faces, especially Amos, and to see how their lives had changed since their last involvement in the series. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Yonah and Aliza, and watching the twists and turns, and ups and downs it took throughout the book. Every character has their own backstory, and their own personal struggles, which seem to show through in their personalities.
I love the contracts concept, which we were introduced to in a previous book in the series and we continue with in this one, I find it super intriguing. However, I do think it brings a moral dilemma. Does punishing those who have hurt you or who you believe deserve it make you as bad as them? Or is it justice being served? This is where Elyse’s writing will have you asking yourself so many questions, and assessing your own moral compass, which is one of my favourite aspects of her books.
Aliza’s development throughout the story was a difficult one. On one hand you can understand her feelings and her need for revenge, but on the other, I didn’t agree with her actions as a warden, and those actions were at times hard to read. It also then began to seep into her real life, and she became someone completely different, even going as far as hurting those she loved the most. The main message I took away from this situation is that power can be dangerous, it can consume you so easily without you even realising it’s happening, and this was the case with Aliza. However, the contrast between Aliza and Amos’ handling of power was super interesting. It shows that everyone handles things differently, and have their own ways of coping.
When everything in Aliza’s life seems to blow up in her face, her downward spiral happens fast, and her inability to handle the power she has been given leads her into the most dangerous of situations, which is where this book concludes. The fact it ended on a cliffhanger had me screaming! I need answers, and I need them NOW!! The wait for the next book in the series is going to feel like a lifetime, but I am so excited to get my hands on it as soon as possible.
November 28, 2025
I've become a fan of this series thanks to TheWriteReads book tours, and this latest installment did not disappoint. What it did, however, was SHOCK me. I usually keep my reviews spoiler-free but I can't in this case. Because what was that??? Why did the Nazis score a win???? 😭
I did like the theme of this book. Lots of food for thought there! We've heard "with great power comes great responsibility" many times by now but it was presented in a whole new light by Elyse. I felt conflicted by and had to ponder on the contrasting views of Aliza and Amos vs Samuel, and the situation involving Franz, a person who loved but also did bad things.
I was also very happy to see familiar faces and know their fates, particularly Ava (and Jonas 🤭)!
Definitely looking forward to the next book.
I did like the theme of this book. Lots of food for thought there! We've heard "with great power comes great responsibility" many times by now but it was presented in a whole new light by Elyse. I felt conflicted by and had to ponder on the contrasting views of Aliza and Amos vs Samuel, and the situation involving Franz, a person who loved but also did bad things.
I was also very happy to see familiar faces and know their fates, particularly Ava (and Jonas 🤭)!
Definitely looking forward to the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
Book source ~ TWR Tour
Holy crap. How do I review this without giving anything away?
I love the writing. As I have for all of the books in this series. The characters though? Well, they make me mad. No, furious. Not all the characters, just two of the main ones. Ok, let’s just say this book drew out many emotions in me and I end up, at the last page, just… gah! How dare the author do this to me?! *grabs hair with both hands but does not tear out because ow* Now I’m standing here with my arms folded and a scowl on my face waiting for the next book to come out so I can see what the hell just happened. If you like Historical Fiction then this entire series is one you can really sink your teeth into.
Holy crap. How do I review this without giving anything away?
I love the writing. As I have for all of the books in this series. The characters though? Well, they make me mad. No, furious. Not all the characters, just two of the main ones. Ok, let’s just say this book drew out many emotions in me and I end up, at the last page, just… gah! How dare the author do this to me?! *grabs hair with both hands but does not tear out because ow* Now I’m standing here with my arms folded and a scowl on my face waiting for the next book to come out so I can see what the hell just happened. If you like Historical Fiction then this entire series is one you can really sink your teeth into.
November 14, 2025
Thank you @booktoktours for the eARC. This is the latest novel in the Project 613 series.
A big part of this novel is self-contained so can be read as a standalone but there are events that are referenced from the previous book, The Hangman's Master, and having read that I was more quickly able to get to grips with the plot.
Aliza Auman is sixteen and living in America as part of a found family after she was orphaned during the Holocaust.
The end of the war and the death of Hitler doesn't bring her peace and when she's offered to become the warden of a section of Hell by the angel Ha-Satan, she quickly agrees, especially as she will be in charge of tormenting the souls of the orchestraters of the Holocaust, including Hitler himself.
But becoming a Master and wielding unimaginable power in Hell can't help but have ramifications in the real world.
This latest book in the series is a short quick read at 178 pages and firmly in the historical fantasy genre.
There are real historical facts and events referenced along with the almost horrific fantasy elements.
Aliza is a strong character who loves her sisters and her dad and it's heartbreaking seeing how the power starts to put a wedge between them.
The ending is an absolute shocker. A real gut punch. And it's to be continued in the next book.
The price of power is high. If ultimate power is wielded are we at risk of becoming what we detest?
It's this philosophical thought mixed in with real history and a compelling fantasy story that makes the pages fly by.
A big part of this novel is self-contained so can be read as a standalone but there are events that are referenced from the previous book, The Hangman's Master, and having read that I was more quickly able to get to grips with the plot.
Aliza Auman is sixteen and living in America as part of a found family after she was orphaned during the Holocaust.
The end of the war and the death of Hitler doesn't bring her peace and when she's offered to become the warden of a section of Hell by the angel Ha-Satan, she quickly agrees, especially as she will be in charge of tormenting the souls of the orchestraters of the Holocaust, including Hitler himself.
But becoming a Master and wielding unimaginable power in Hell can't help but have ramifications in the real world.
This latest book in the series is a short quick read at 178 pages and firmly in the historical fantasy genre.
There are real historical facts and events referenced along with the almost horrific fantasy elements.
Aliza is a strong character who loves her sisters and her dad and it's heartbreaking seeing how the power starts to put a wedge between them.
The ending is an absolute shocker. A real gut punch. And it's to be continued in the next book.
The price of power is high. If ultimate power is wielded are we at risk of becoming what we detest?
It's this philosophical thought mixed in with real history and a compelling fantasy story that makes the pages fly by.
December 10, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land is one of those books that doesn’t let you keep it at arm’s length. Elyse Hoffman takes an almost impossible question—what happens when a survivor is given the power to torment the architects of her own suffering—and puts it in the hands of a sixteen-year-old girl who feels painfully real. Aliza is prickly, hurting, sometimes unkind, sometimes heartbreakingly soft, and I loved that the book never tidies her up to make her easier to watch. Her life in postwar America has all the ingredients of safety, but emotionally she is still standing in the camps, and you feel that in every interaction with her family and friends.
The Hell sections are brutal, creative, and often uncomfortable, but what stayed with me most was not the punishment itself—it was the way that work follows Aliza home. Her anger, which feels justified at first, slowly starts to color how she sees everyone around her. Hoffman handles this shift with a lot of nuance, showing how grief and rage can start as armor and turn into a weapon you can’t control. The contrast between Aliza’s ordinary world—school, chores, small arguments—and her godlike power underground is sharp and effective; you are always aware of how thin that membrane is and how easily it could tear.
This is not an easy read, but it is a powerful one: thoughtful, emotionally honest, and unafraid to sit in discomfort instead of rushing toward simple answers about justice or forgiveness. 5 stars.
The Hell sections are brutal, creative, and often uncomfortable, but what stayed with me most was not the punishment itself—it was the way that work follows Aliza home. Her anger, which feels justified at first, slowly starts to color how she sees everyone around her. Hoffman handles this shift with a lot of nuance, showing how grief and rage can start as armor and turn into a weapon you can’t control. The contrast between Aliza’s ordinary world—school, chores, small arguments—and her godlike power underground is sharp and effective; you are always aware of how thin that membrane is and how easily it could tear.
This is not an easy read, but it is a powerful one: thoughtful, emotionally honest, and unafraid to sit in discomfort instead of rushing toward simple answers about justice or forgiveness. 5 stars.
November 22, 2025
3.5/3.75 - rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
So this isn’t my usual genre - I’m usually a Romantasy/fantasy girlie. HOWEVER, my history degree had me very intrigued.
Aliza shows her age in this where she’s quick to anger before thinking things through which was her ultimate demise. Despite her age this kind of power cannot just be passed to anyone - there are people who deserve these actions based on their despicable actions. But not every person is equipped to deal with this power over other beings.
I loved Amos as a character and Sam too. The family dynamics with all the girls is so cute. I immediately hated Yonah - up until the last chapter still thought he was going to f**k her over. But he actually had better understanding of the contracts/actions within the zones than Aliza.
I loved the tidbits of historical accuracies and information here - reminded me of studying for my degree but in a good way I promise 😂. If the history books where written in stories like this I’d have learnt more and faster 😂
Aliza ended up showing her age and being basically a brat with too much power.
This leads on to the next book I believe is The God of Nazi-land- I would actually continue reading yes.
So this isn’t my usual genre - I’m usually a Romantasy/fantasy girlie. HOWEVER, my history degree had me very intrigued.
Aliza shows her age in this where she’s quick to anger before thinking things through which was her ultimate demise. Despite her age this kind of power cannot just be passed to anyone - there are people who deserve these actions based on their despicable actions. But not every person is equipped to deal with this power over other beings.
I loved Amos as a character and Sam too. The family dynamics with all the girls is so cute. I immediately hated Yonah - up until the last chapter still thought he was going to f**k her over. But he actually had better understanding of the contracts/actions within the zones than Aliza.
I loved the tidbits of historical accuracies and information here - reminded me of studying for my degree but in a good way I promise 😂. If the history books where written in stories like this I’d have learnt more and faster 😂
Aliza ended up showing her age and being basically a brat with too much power.
This leads on to the next book I believe is The God of Nazi-land- I would actually continue reading yes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2026
Historical fiction, as wild as it can be...
This is an interesting book. It takes either a certain amount of balls OR a huge amount of callousness (read: stupidity) to write something like this. I personally think it sits comfortably in the former.
1953, 16yo Holocaust survivor. She doesn't remember her family, they were taken away from her at a very young age. She wakes up every day sad and angry at the Nazis for taking everything from her. Looking for fights constantly. Either physically; getting into fights standing up for her sister, or verbally; arguing with her teachers and her family. She's blinded by hatred and consumed by the thought of revenge on the Nazis for taking the memory of her mother's face away from her.
One day she stumbles across a contract that appears to be a bit of a gag. Turns out, Aliza signed a contract that she didn't fully understand and is suddenly the boss of Zone N-1. The department of Hell that all the big name Nazis go to when they die.
This contract has rules. Like, she also still has to live her live up on earth.
Naturally, living life as a God in Hell and a teenager IRL, worlds collide and chaos ensues.
This is a short story worthy of your time, if you're into that sort of thing. Author has clearly taken the time to do her research (this is standalone, yet part of a historical fiction series called Project 613), but damn. This author is shocking, heartfelt, and awesome.
And I can't wait to read more!
This is an interesting book. It takes either a certain amount of balls OR a huge amount of callousness (read: stupidity) to write something like this. I personally think it sits comfortably in the former.
1953, 16yo Holocaust survivor. She doesn't remember her family, they were taken away from her at a very young age. She wakes up every day sad and angry at the Nazis for taking everything from her. Looking for fights constantly. Either physically; getting into fights standing up for her sister, or verbally; arguing with her teachers and her family. She's blinded by hatred and consumed by the thought of revenge on the Nazis for taking the memory of her mother's face away from her.
One day she stumbles across a contract that appears to be a bit of a gag. Turns out, Aliza signed a contract that she didn't fully understand and is suddenly the boss of Zone N-1. The department of Hell that all the big name Nazis go to when they die.
This contract has rules. Like, she also still has to live her live up on earth.
Naturally, living life as a God in Hell and a teenager IRL, worlds collide and chaos ensues.
This is a short story worthy of your time, if you're into that sort of thing. Author has clearly taken the time to do her research (this is standalone, yet part of a historical fiction series called Project 613), but damn. This author is shocking, heartfelt, and awesome.
And I can't wait to read more!
November 8, 2025
This dark historical fantasy was a deep dive into morality, power, revenge, and redemption. It was fast paced and full of the tension that comes from the grey space between justice and revenge.
It’s a literal trip to hell, historic characters that might make you want to vomit, and a young girl who finds her way through it all. Family secrets, a supernatural/fantasy element, and a revenge plot make for a dynamic, immersive, and thought provoking twist on the psychological trauma of the Holocaust. The moral ambiguity and depiction of corruptive power forced me to stop and take a breath as I intermittently wanted to stop the action, or sometimes cheer it on.
The author begs the question: how much is revenge worth, and where’s the line between revenge and justice.
It took me a while to sit with this before I could review it. It’s a fast paced page turner that’s easy to read, but psychologically impactful and takes time to consider and digest.
It’s a literal trip to hell, historic characters that might make you want to vomit, and a young girl who finds her way through it all. Family secrets, a supernatural/fantasy element, and a revenge plot make for a dynamic, immersive, and thought provoking twist on the psychological trauma of the Holocaust. The moral ambiguity and depiction of corruptive power forced me to stop and take a breath as I intermittently wanted to stop the action, or sometimes cheer it on.
The author begs the question: how much is revenge worth, and where’s the line between revenge and justice.
It took me a while to sit with this before I could review it. It’s a fast paced page turner that’s easy to read, but psychologically impactful and takes time to consider and digest.
December 4, 2025
Opportunity to read this book from netgallery for an honest review.
Here we go the books plot was really good based on naxi and jew timeline, however I do feel it was a bit to short for my liking and I felt it could of been longer.
The characters you meet throughout the book were all good, could feel the main characters pain throughout for some reason, along with the other side characters as well.
Will be reading more from this author in the future.
Here we go the books plot was really good based on naxi and jew timeline, however I do feel it was a bit to short for my liking and I felt it could of been longer.
The characters you meet throughout the book were all good, could feel the main characters pain throughout for some reason, along with the other side characters as well.
Will be reading more from this author in the future.
November 28, 2025
This is a moral dilemma of a book. And that's probably what makes it so good. It is an uncomfortable read. What is the difference between vengeance and justice. How much is too much? Do you become as bad as those who hurt you? Does power corrupt?
I found sections of this hard to read, which is the main reason it doesn't get 5 stars. It's just a bit much at times. I didn't really like or agree with the main character. Perhaps that is the whole point, but even so it wasn't so much an enjoyable read as a powerful one.
Read it if you have a strong stomach.
Big thanks to the write reads for getting me another great read.
I found sections of this hard to read, which is the main reason it doesn't get 5 stars. It's just a bit much at times. I didn't really like or agree with the main character. Perhaps that is the whole point, but even so it wasn't so much an enjoyable read as a powerful one.
Read it if you have a strong stomach.
Big thanks to the write reads for getting me another great read.
September 5, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land by Elyse Hoffman is a beautifully written blend of fantasy and history. It follows Aliza, a young Holocaust survivor, who is given the chance to punish those responsible for taking her family’s lives. The mix of dark allegory and historical reality makes this story both powerful and unforgettable.
November 13, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land is one of those books that lingers long after you close it. On the surface, it sounds like a high-concept story: a teenage Holocaust survivor becomes a warden in the afterlife, put in charge of Hitler, Himmler, and other Nazi leaders. But what impressed me is how much heart sits underneath that set-up. This isn’t just about punishment; it’s about what happens to a young girl whose entire life has been burned down, and how anger can be both a shield and a poison.
Aliza herself is a powerful center for the story. She’s not written as a saintly victim, and that’s what makes her so believable. She’s furious, hurt, numb, needy, and sometimes downright frightening in how far she’s willing to go once she realizes how much power she holds in Hell. Watching her shift between the fragile girl trying to rebuild a life in America and the ruthless warden in the afterlife is uncomfortable in the best way. You feel protective of her and, at the same time, deeply uneasy about what she’s becoming.
The afterlife sections are intense but also strangely structured like a moral laboratory. Through the punishments she designs and the “conversations” she has with the men who ruined her world, the book keeps circling uncomfortable questions: What is justice? When does it turn into cruelty? Is there any way to balance the scales after something as vast and horrifying as the Holocaust? The author doesn’t hand out easy answers, and that refusal to simplify is what gives the story its weight.
I also appreciated how the quieter, earthly moments are not forgotten. Aliza’s life in America, the foster/adoptive relationship, and her attempts to be a normal teenager while carrying this impossible past add a grounded counterpoint to the infernal scenes. Those domestic, everyday details keep the book from turning into pure spectacle. They remind you that real survivors had to figure out how to attend school, eat dinner, and exist in ordinary rooms while carrying extraordinary trauma.
The writing handles the brutality of the subject with a lot of care. There are dark, graphic elements, but they’re not used for shock alone. They’re tied to Aliza’s emotional state and to the ethical questions the book keeps pushing forward. Still, I’d definitely include content warnings: Holocaust atrocities, violence, torture in the afterlife, and the psychological strain of vengeance. It’s a heavy read, but it feels honest about that heaviness rather than dressing it up.
What stood out most to me is that the story never lets Aliza’s humanity vanish behind the concept. Even when she’s at her most vengeful, you can see the broken girl underneath the flames. Her journey isn’t about “getting over” what happened—because some things are not things you just get over—but about what kind of person she’ll choose to be while living with scars that will never fully fade.
For readers who gravitate toward historical fiction with a speculative twist, and who are willing to sit with uncomfortable questions about justice, rage, and forgiveness, this book is absolutely worth the time. It is intense, thoughtful, emotional, and very hard to forget. Five stars.
Aliza herself is a powerful center for the story. She’s not written as a saintly victim, and that’s what makes her so believable. She’s furious, hurt, numb, needy, and sometimes downright frightening in how far she’s willing to go once she realizes how much power she holds in Hell. Watching her shift between the fragile girl trying to rebuild a life in America and the ruthless warden in the afterlife is uncomfortable in the best way. You feel protective of her and, at the same time, deeply uneasy about what she’s becoming.
The afterlife sections are intense but also strangely structured like a moral laboratory. Through the punishments she designs and the “conversations” she has with the men who ruined her world, the book keeps circling uncomfortable questions: What is justice? When does it turn into cruelty? Is there any way to balance the scales after something as vast and horrifying as the Holocaust? The author doesn’t hand out easy answers, and that refusal to simplify is what gives the story its weight.
I also appreciated how the quieter, earthly moments are not forgotten. Aliza’s life in America, the foster/adoptive relationship, and her attempts to be a normal teenager while carrying this impossible past add a grounded counterpoint to the infernal scenes. Those domestic, everyday details keep the book from turning into pure spectacle. They remind you that real survivors had to figure out how to attend school, eat dinner, and exist in ordinary rooms while carrying extraordinary trauma.
The writing handles the brutality of the subject with a lot of care. There are dark, graphic elements, but they’re not used for shock alone. They’re tied to Aliza’s emotional state and to the ethical questions the book keeps pushing forward. Still, I’d definitely include content warnings: Holocaust atrocities, violence, torture in the afterlife, and the psychological strain of vengeance. It’s a heavy read, but it feels honest about that heaviness rather than dressing it up.
What stood out most to me is that the story never lets Aliza’s humanity vanish behind the concept. Even when she’s at her most vengeful, you can see the broken girl underneath the flames. Her journey isn’t about “getting over” what happened—because some things are not things you just get over—but about what kind of person she’ll choose to be while living with scars that will never fully fade.
For readers who gravitate toward historical fiction with a speculative twist, and who are willing to sit with uncomfortable questions about justice, rage, and forgiveness, this book is absolutely worth the time. It is intense, thoughtful, emotional, and very hard to forget. Five stars.
November 16, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land was such a wonderfully unique story that had readers feeling so deeply, leaving them with such conflicting emotions.
This story follows Aliza and her new found family, post nazi Germany as they try to heal and move on with their lives. However, Aliza cannot fully put the past completely behind her, as she has been chosen to enact revenge on nazi leaders, becoming the Master of Nazi-Land in hell.
This novel is part of a bigger series, Project 613, but can also be read as a standalone, which was my experience. I had no issues or questions while reading this as a standalone and if anything, it has left me NEEDING to read the rest because I am so invested.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I was hooked. The concept of masters of hell, the rules and realms was so intriguing! The world building was written incredibly well and allowed readers to fully immerse themselves into this story.
Hoffman's writing throughout Aliza in Nazi-Land had an immense impact on the reader. I felt so many emotions throughout this story as several heavy topics were discussed. I was left conflicted in my emotions many times throughout as you were really left questioning everyone's actions, not just the cruel behaviours of the nazi's. At times, sympathy was felt for characters you should not feel it for, which is a true product of Hoffman's wonderful writing.
As well as serious, emotional and thought provoking moments, there were also extremely violent and gory scenes that were often a stark contrast to previous paragraphs. These were also extremely enjoyable moments, allowing readers to understand the horrific and traumatising situations that our protagonist had experienced, to want to enact this behaviour towards the souls trapped in hell.
Final note, that ending!!? I'm sorry but cliff-hanger of the century that had me on EDGE OF MY SEAT SCREAMING! HOFFMAN WHY!!?? Not only was it cruel, but it was a wonderful ending. I had to pick my jaw off the floor and I am itching for the next installment.
Aliza in Nazi-Land was a wonderful and emotional journey that I highly recommend. I cannot wait to read more from Hoffman and to continue with this series.
This was an ARC read that I am really grateful to have received and all opinions are mine and have been left voluntarily.
This story follows Aliza and her new found family, post nazi Germany as they try to heal and move on with their lives. However, Aliza cannot fully put the past completely behind her, as she has been chosen to enact revenge on nazi leaders, becoming the Master of Nazi-Land in hell.
This novel is part of a bigger series, Project 613, but can also be read as a standalone, which was my experience. I had no issues or questions while reading this as a standalone and if anything, it has left me NEEDING to read the rest because I am so invested.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I was hooked. The concept of masters of hell, the rules and realms was so intriguing! The world building was written incredibly well and allowed readers to fully immerse themselves into this story.
Hoffman's writing throughout Aliza in Nazi-Land had an immense impact on the reader. I felt so many emotions throughout this story as several heavy topics were discussed. I was left conflicted in my emotions many times throughout as you were really left questioning everyone's actions, not just the cruel behaviours of the nazi's. At times, sympathy was felt for characters you should not feel it for, which is a true product of Hoffman's wonderful writing.
As well as serious, emotional and thought provoking moments, there were also extremely violent and gory scenes that were often a stark contrast to previous paragraphs. These were also extremely enjoyable moments, allowing readers to understand the horrific and traumatising situations that our protagonist had experienced, to want to enact this behaviour towards the souls trapped in hell.
Final note, that ending!!? I'm sorry but cliff-hanger of the century that had me on EDGE OF MY SEAT SCREAMING! HOFFMAN WHY!!?? Not only was it cruel, but it was a wonderful ending. I had to pick my jaw off the floor and I am itching for the next installment.
Aliza in Nazi-Land was a wonderful and emotional journey that I highly recommend. I cannot wait to read more from Hoffman and to continue with this series.
This was an ARC read that I am really grateful to have received and all opinions are mine and have been left voluntarily.
November 17, 2025
5+ Stars
Elyse Hoffman writes an intense tale of with Aliza in Nazi-Land
In Aliza in Nazi-Land, the reader is brought into the life of Aliza, who is a survivor of WWII Germany. However, unlike any other story I've read on this subject, this is new territory for those getting what they deserve. Aliza is now the God of a realm in Hell, where all the evil and infamous German loyalist go when they pass away. I've read work from this author before, and I see I have more to read within this series of Project 613. This author has a powerful imagination, and talent for showing the story. Leaders of the Third Reich, have a place to go, of their own, and now, with Aliza in power of that realm, really show the meaning of revenge, power, inhumanity, evil, and humanity. This author has definitely done her homework and creates a trail of words that bring in the historical facts, with her notion of an afterlife, and it's worse than it anyone, even the men of evil, can imagine. And this time, its forever. The inclusion of real events, such as the Skokie march and the legend of Heydrich and the Czech crown, adds depth and authenticity to the tale, and even Aliza, who, after reading her story, you know, you feel that she deserves to do whatever she wants with these men, thinks about her own values, which some have been stripped away. I love the chemistry between Aliza and Yonah, which makes this heartfelt, and heartbreaking at times, and shines a light inside all of the darkness. This book is a five-plus star for me. Unpredictable, with twists all the way to the end. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that readers of this book, be kind, and also write a review.
Elyse Hoffman writes an intense tale of with Aliza in Nazi-Land
In Aliza in Nazi-Land, the reader is brought into the life of Aliza, who is a survivor of WWII Germany. However, unlike any other story I've read on this subject, this is new territory for those getting what they deserve. Aliza is now the God of a realm in Hell, where all the evil and infamous German loyalist go when they pass away. I've read work from this author before, and I see I have more to read within this series of Project 613. This author has a powerful imagination, and talent for showing the story. Leaders of the Third Reich, have a place to go, of their own, and now, with Aliza in power of that realm, really show the meaning of revenge, power, inhumanity, evil, and humanity. This author has definitely done her homework and creates a trail of words that bring in the historical facts, with her notion of an afterlife, and it's worse than it anyone, even the men of evil, can imagine. And this time, its forever. The inclusion of real events, such as the Skokie march and the legend of Heydrich and the Czech crown, adds depth and authenticity to the tale, and even Aliza, who, after reading her story, you know, you feel that she deserves to do whatever she wants with these men, thinks about her own values, which some have been stripped away. I love the chemistry between Aliza and Yonah, which makes this heartfelt, and heartbreaking at times, and shines a light inside all of the darkness. This book is a five-plus star for me. Unpredictable, with twists all the way to the end. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that readers of this book, be kind, and also write a review.
November 12, 2025
Well, honey, this is one of those books that made me set it down a few times just to take a breath and then pick it right back up because I had to know how Aliza was holding up.
Aliza in Nazi-Land follows a sixteen-year-old Holocaust survivor who’s been brought to the United States, but her heart is still stuck in the camps and in the life that was stolen from her. When she’s given the chance to punish Hitler and the men who carried out his orders, you understand exactly why she says yes. Any mama, auntie, or grandma reading this is going to feel that burn of anger right alongside her.
What really stayed with me is how the story shows the cost of living inside that anger. Watching Aliza move between her “normal” life in America and her fierce, terrible power in Hell is unsettling in the best way, because it keeps asking you: How far is too far? At what point does justice start to look a little too much like the cruelty you’re fighting against? The book doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it doesn’t feel like misery for misery’s sake either. It cares about this girl’s soul.
The spiritual side and the underworld setting could have turned strange or cartoonish, but here they fit the story. They give shape to what trauma can do inside a young person—how it can twist what’s good in them while they’re just trying to survive their own memories. By the end, I didn’t just feel sorry for Aliza; I respected her, and I ached for the girl she might have been if history had been kinder.
This is not a light read for a lazy afternoon, but if you’re willing to walk with a wounded, brave young woman as she wrestles with revenge, faith, and who she wants to be, this book is powerful and worth your time. This Southern lady won’t forget Aliza anytime soon.
Aliza in Nazi-Land follows a sixteen-year-old Holocaust survivor who’s been brought to the United States, but her heart is still stuck in the camps and in the life that was stolen from her. When she’s given the chance to punish Hitler and the men who carried out his orders, you understand exactly why she says yes. Any mama, auntie, or grandma reading this is going to feel that burn of anger right alongside her.
What really stayed with me is how the story shows the cost of living inside that anger. Watching Aliza move between her “normal” life in America and her fierce, terrible power in Hell is unsettling in the best way, because it keeps asking you: How far is too far? At what point does justice start to look a little too much like the cruelty you’re fighting against? The book doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it doesn’t feel like misery for misery’s sake either. It cares about this girl’s soul.
The spiritual side and the underworld setting could have turned strange or cartoonish, but here they fit the story. They give shape to what trauma can do inside a young person—how it can twist what’s good in them while they’re just trying to survive their own memories. By the end, I didn’t just feel sorry for Aliza; I respected her, and I ached for the girl she might have been if history had been kinder.
This is not a light read for a lazy afternoon, but if you’re willing to walk with a wounded, brave young woman as she wrestles with revenge, faith, and who she wants to be, this book is powerful and worth your time. This Southern lady won’t forget Aliza anytime soon.
November 24, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land does something tricky and important at the same time: it tells the truth about a brutal period in history while still staying anchored to a young girl’s point of view. From the first chapters, you feel how small and vulnerable Aliza is compared with the storm building around her, but you also feel her stubborn streak of courage. Elyse Hoffman doesn’t soften the danger, yet she writes in a way that keeps the story readable for younger and sensitive readers, which is a hard balance to strike.
What stood out most to me is how personal the history feels. This isn’t a distant backdrop of dates and battles; it’s Aliza worrying about her family, noticing how neighbors change, feeling the rules and freedoms around her tighten one by one. Those little moments—who looks away, who steps up, who stays silent—are where the book hits hardest. You see how ordinary choices can either protect or endanger, and it lingers in your mind long after the last page.
The plot moves along with a steady, clear rhythm, and there’s an emotional throughline that never gets lost, even when events turn darker. Aliza is the kind of character young readers can connect with quickly: she’s brave, but not impossibly so; she’s scared, she makes mistakes, and she keeps going anyway. For adults, there’s plenty here too—nuance in the side characters, moral questions that don’t have simple answers, and a strong sense of place and time.
By the end, the book leaves you with both sadness and a quiet sense of hope. It reminds you why stories like this matter, especially now: they turn history into faces, names, and choices we can actually feel.
For me, Aliza in Nazi-Land is a powerful, heartfelt read, and I’d give it a full 5 stars.
What stood out most to me is how personal the history feels. This isn’t a distant backdrop of dates and battles; it’s Aliza worrying about her family, noticing how neighbors change, feeling the rules and freedoms around her tighten one by one. Those little moments—who looks away, who steps up, who stays silent—are where the book hits hardest. You see how ordinary choices can either protect or endanger, and it lingers in your mind long after the last page.
The plot moves along with a steady, clear rhythm, and there’s an emotional throughline that never gets lost, even when events turn darker. Aliza is the kind of character young readers can connect with quickly: she’s brave, but not impossibly so; she’s scared, she makes mistakes, and she keeps going anyway. For adults, there’s plenty here too—nuance in the side characters, moral questions that don’t have simple answers, and a strong sense of place and time.
By the end, the book leaves you with both sadness and a quiet sense of hope. It reminds you why stories like this matter, especially now: they turn history into faces, names, and choices we can actually feel.
For me, Aliza in Nazi-Land is a powerful, heartfelt read, and I’d give it a full 5 stars.
November 29, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land
Blurb:
The Holocaust may be over, but for sixteen-year-old Aliza Aumen, the death of Adolf Hitler brings no peace. Adopted by a fellow survivor and given a new life in America, Aliza cannot escape the ghosts of her past: the parents she lost, the memories stolen from her, and the future that was taken from her in Europe. A life of comfort is no solace—she wants revenge.
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, she begins to feel the seductive pull of power. The line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
Elyse Hoffman, is an author that I am not familiar with and my interest was piqued by the title. Her engaging authorial voice quickly drew me into the book along with the mix of historical facts and fiction and it is an easy read. The whole premise of the story is that Aliza becomes the Master of Zone N-1 and rules over the part of hell where Hitler, Heydrich, Goebbels, Himmler and Goering have been sent and that she has the 'power' to torture them, until they truly repent. Aliza wields her power, and what follows is an interesting and engaging story. It does make the reader consider whether, if, like Aliza, you were given the chance to torment the souls of those you hated…would you take it and if you did, would you be able to stop that power from 'corrupting' your humanity.
Blurb:
The Holocaust may be over, but for sixteen-year-old Aliza Aumen, the death of Adolf Hitler brings no peace. Adopted by a fellow survivor and given a new life in America, Aliza cannot escape the ghosts of her past: the parents she lost, the memories stolen from her, and the future that was taken from her in Europe. A life of comfort is no solace—she wants revenge.
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, she begins to feel the seductive pull of power. The line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
Elyse Hoffman, is an author that I am not familiar with and my interest was piqued by the title. Her engaging authorial voice quickly drew me into the book along with the mix of historical facts and fiction and it is an easy read. The whole premise of the story is that Aliza becomes the Master of Zone N-1 and rules over the part of hell where Hitler, Heydrich, Goebbels, Himmler and Goering have been sent and that she has the 'power' to torture them, until they truly repent. Aliza wields her power, and what follows is an interesting and engaging story. It does make the reader consider whether, if, like Aliza, you were given the chance to torment the souls of those you hated…would you take it and if you did, would you be able to stop that power from 'corrupting' your humanity.
November 14, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land is one of those books that sounds like it should be a mess on paper and ends up being razor-sharp instead.
You’ve got a Holocaust survivor thrown into a bizarre afterlife zone where Nazis and their victims are stuck together, pain is basically the currency, and Aliza is handed the job of deciding what “justice” looks like. That setup could easily turn into shock value, but Hoffman treats it with more care than I expected. The world-building in the N1-zone is strange and brutal, but it always ties back to Aliza’s trauma instead of drifting off into gimmick territory.
What really sold it for me is that Aliza isn’t some saintly symbol of forgiveness, and she’s not a cartoon of rage either. She’s a teenager who has seen the worst of humanity and is now being asked to judge it. Watching her wrestle with that responsibility, knowing there’s no sentence that will ever balance the scales, is where the book hits hardest. There are no clean wins here, just choices that leave marks.
Fair warning: this is heavy stuff. There are scenes that made me put the book down for a minute, not because they’re graphic for the sake of it, but because they’re emotionally loaded. If you’re looking for a comforting read, this isn’t it. If you’re up for something dark, strange, and morally thorny that actually respects the weight of its subject, it’s absolutely worth it.
Five stars from me.
You’ve got a Holocaust survivor thrown into a bizarre afterlife zone where Nazis and their victims are stuck together, pain is basically the currency, and Aliza is handed the job of deciding what “justice” looks like. That setup could easily turn into shock value, but Hoffman treats it with more care than I expected. The world-building in the N1-zone is strange and brutal, but it always ties back to Aliza’s trauma instead of drifting off into gimmick territory.
What really sold it for me is that Aliza isn’t some saintly symbol of forgiveness, and she’s not a cartoon of rage either. She’s a teenager who has seen the worst of humanity and is now being asked to judge it. Watching her wrestle with that responsibility, knowing there’s no sentence that will ever balance the scales, is where the book hits hardest. There are no clean wins here, just choices that leave marks.
Fair warning: this is heavy stuff. There are scenes that made me put the book down for a minute, not because they’re graphic for the sake of it, but because they’re emotionally loaded. If you’re looking for a comforting read, this isn’t it. If you’re up for something dark, strange, and morally thorny that actually respects the weight of its subject, it’s absolutely worth it.
Five stars from me.
September 24, 2026
Such an interesting and completely different take on the aftermath of the Holocaust.
In this story, Nazis end up in Hell, where living people—typically Jewish people—can be given contracts that allow them to punish them until they’re willing to repent for what they did. Sixteen-year-old Aliza is given dominion over Hitler and several of his higher-ups, essentially giving her the power to torment them for eternity.
I really liked the idea of survivors and their descendants being given the opportunity to take back some of the power that was stolen from them and get their vengeance. But at the same time…giving THAT much power to a 16-year-old?! 😬
Because when Aliza is in her domain, she is basically a god. She has complete control, and watching what that kind of power does to someone so young was probably the most interesting part of the book for me.
We start to see her struggle to separate Hell from the real world. She loves being powerful there, but in the living world she’s still a teenage girl who can’t control everything around her. That frustration starts bleeding into her relationships, and she ends up taking it out on people she actually cares about.
There was definitely growth, but there is still SO much left unresolved.
And then it ends on a cliffhanger. 😭
So obviously I’m reading the next one because now I need to know where Aliza’s story goes.
In this story, Nazis end up in Hell, where living people—typically Jewish people—can be given contracts that allow them to punish them until they’re willing to repent for what they did. Sixteen-year-old Aliza is given dominion over Hitler and several of his higher-ups, essentially giving her the power to torment them for eternity.
I really liked the idea of survivors and their descendants being given the opportunity to take back some of the power that was stolen from them and get their vengeance. But at the same time…giving THAT much power to a 16-year-old?! 😬
Because when Aliza is in her domain, she is basically a god. She has complete control, and watching what that kind of power does to someone so young was probably the most interesting part of the book for me.
We start to see her struggle to separate Hell from the real world. She loves being powerful there, but in the living world she’s still a teenage girl who can’t control everything around her. That frustration starts bleeding into her relationships, and she ends up taking it out on people she actually cares about.
There was definitely growth, but there is still SO much left unresolved.
And then it ends on a cliffhanger. 😭
So obviously I’m reading the next one because now I need to know where Aliza’s story goes.
November 14, 2025
I wasn’t prepared for how weird and powerful this book would be.
Aliza in Nazi-Land starts off feeling almost like a classic “after the war” story and then yanks the floor out from under you. The N1-zone is such a bizarre, nightmarish concept: Nazis, victims, and something in between all trapped together, looping through pain and punishment under the watch of beings who treat suffering like entertainment. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it really does.
What kept me turning pages was Aliza herself. She’s tired, furious, exhausted by grief, and that makes her choices feel painfully believable. This isn’t a neat revenge fantasy where the bad guys get what they deserve and everyone moves on. Hoffman keeps asking: if you could judge the people who destroyed your life, what would you actually do? Would it fix anything? Or just break you in a different way?
There are definitely scenes that are hard to read, and I had to pause a few times because of how raw it felt. But I appreciated that the book doesn’t look away from the horror or pretend there’s a clean answer. It shows how heavy “justice” can be when there’s been this much harm.
Not a light read, but a unique and gutsy one. I’ll be thinking about this book, and about Aliza, for a long time.
Aliza in Nazi-Land starts off feeling almost like a classic “after the war” story and then yanks the floor out from under you. The N1-zone is such a bizarre, nightmarish concept: Nazis, victims, and something in between all trapped together, looping through pain and punishment under the watch of beings who treat suffering like entertainment. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it really does.
What kept me turning pages was Aliza herself. She’s tired, furious, exhausted by grief, and that makes her choices feel painfully believable. This isn’t a neat revenge fantasy where the bad guys get what they deserve and everyone moves on. Hoffman keeps asking: if you could judge the people who destroyed your life, what would you actually do? Would it fix anything? Or just break you in a different way?
There are definitely scenes that are hard to read, and I had to pause a few times because of how raw it felt. But I appreciated that the book doesn’t look away from the horror or pretend there’s a clean answer. It shows how heavy “justice” can be when there’s been this much harm.
Not a light read, but a unique and gutsy one. I’ll be thinking about this book, and about Aliza, for a long time.
December 10, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land shook me in a way I wasn’t expecting. This isn’t “just” a Holocaust story or “just” a fantasy revenge book; it balances both and then aims straight for the question of what pain does to a person when there’s no real way to make things right. Watching Aliza navigate her new life in America while still being emotionally trapped in the camps was heartbreaking, and the scenes where she’s given power in Hell are brutal, uncomfortable, and strangely satisfying all at once. I really liked how Elyse Hoffman doesn’t hand us ready answers: yes, we want these monsters to suffer, but seeing that suffering through the eyes of a damaged teenage girl makes everything feel messy and human. The contrast between Aliza’s ordinary moments with her family and her “job” in the underworld is where the book really shines; you can feel how thin the wall is between the two worlds and how close she is to losing herself completely. It’s dark, original, and emotionally honest, and it left me thinking about forgiveness, justice, and what it actually means to move forward after horror.
Read
November 12, 2025The Holocaust may be over, but for sixteen-year-old Aliza Auman, the death of Adolf Hitler brings no peace. Adopted by a fellow survivor and given a new life in America, Aliza cannot escape the ghosts of her parents, the memories stolen from her, and the future that was taken from her in Europe. A life of comfort is no solace she wants revenge.
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, she begins to feel the seductive pull of power. The line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
When an angel offers her a chance for vengeance, Aliza is thrust into a terrifying role as a warden in Hell. Given dominion over the souls of Hitler, Himmler, and other architects of the Holocaust, she now possesses the power to torment them for eternity.
In Hell, Aliza is a god. But as she unleashes her wrath upon the Nazis, she begins to feel the seductive pull of power. The line between her rage-fueled retribution in Hell and her actions in the real world starts to blur.
Is Aliza, a young girl consumed by vengeance, ready to wield such godlike power? And what will it cost her to wield it?
November 17, 2025
Aliza in Nazi-Land is one of those books that sits with you long after you’ve closed it. The author takes something almost impossible to look at straight on—the horror of the Holocaust—and filters it through Aliza’s very personal anger and hurt. Giving her the role of a warden in Hell sounds like pure fantasy on the surface, but it ends up feeling like a sharp way to talk about trauma, justice, and what happens when punishment becomes the only thing holding you together.
What really stands out is how layered Aliza is. She isn’t a tidy “strong heroine”; she’s furious, exhausted, sometimes cruel, and still painfully human. The scenes in Hell have a dark, almost surreal energy, and they contrast strongly with her fragile new life in America, where everyone expects her to simply be grateful and move on. The book keeps circling around hard questions—what does justice even mean after a genocide, and what does it cost the person who demands it?
What really stands out is how layered Aliza is. She isn’t a tidy “strong heroine”; she’s furious, exhausted, sometimes cruel, and still painfully human. The scenes in Hell have a dark, almost surreal energy, and they contrast strongly with her fragile new life in America, where everyone expects her to simply be grateful and move on. The book keeps circling around hard questions—what does justice even mean after a genocide, and what does it cost the person who demands it?
![Profile Image for Kuu [semi-ia for china reasons].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1725785181i/108391134._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
January 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
This was a very interesting book, and while it apparently was part of a series, it didn't feel like it, and I wouldn't say you HAVE to read the other parts to be able to understand the plot of this one. However, reading the next part is definitely going to be necessary with the plot twist at the end..
I really liked the themes it explored of guilt, revenge, and the irredeemability of people (or if anyone is ever truly irredeemable), but I felt that his novel was quite short for a novel dealing with such heavy and difficult themes. A longer novel, with a more thorough exploration, would have been more appropriate in my opinion, but it definitely provided food for thought.
I feel like my rating right now is pretty dependent on what happens in the next part, and how the issues are resolved, as it could either be amazing or very disappointing.
This was a very interesting book, and while it apparently was part of a series, it didn't feel like it, and I wouldn't say you HAVE to read the other parts to be able to understand the plot of this one. However, reading the next part is definitely going to be necessary with the plot twist at the end..
I really liked the themes it explored of guilt, revenge, and the irredeemability of people (or if anyone is ever truly irredeemable), but I felt that his novel was quite short for a novel dealing with such heavy and difficult themes. A longer novel, with a more thorough exploration, would have been more appropriate in my opinion, but it definitely provided food for thought.
I feel like my rating right now is pretty dependent on what happens in the next part, and how the issues are resolved, as it could either be amazing or very disappointing.
November 17, 2025
This book was an exceptional read. The ensemble of characters draws you in immediately and refuses to let go. The story compels you to confront difficult questions about the pain strangers can inflict and the profound, lasting impact of hatred. It challenges the reader to consider: Is forgiveness the path forward, or is there a temptation to return harm in equal measure? When faced with true monsters, what does it mean to remain human—and what is the cost of sinking to their level?
At the center of the story is Aliza, a young Holocaust survivor forced to make an impossible choice: preserve her humanity in a world that tried to erase it, or surrender to her grief and become a vengeful force towards the very men who sought to destroy her and other like her. The moral tension is gripping, thought-provoking, and unforgettable.
At the center of the story is Aliza, a young Holocaust survivor forced to make an impossible choice: preserve her humanity in a world that tried to erase it, or surrender to her grief and become a vengeful force towards the very men who sought to destroy her and other like her. The moral tension is gripping, thought-provoking, and unforgettable.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to thewritereads for providing with me a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The story follows Aliza who is a holocaust survivor. It is part of a larger series of books but it is not necessary to have read them for this one as it is basically a stand alone. Aliza is offered a chance to seek revenge on some of history's worst monsters. It makes for a thought provoking and somewhat uncomfortable read.
I have to give a quick nod to Hoffman's prose. I don't think the book would be readable, given the subject matter were it not for the excellent and powerful way it is written. The story blends supernatural elements with real historical facts and horror and presents you with uncomfortable questions.
I give it 4 stars as its not a book I would want to read again, but I am glad that I did read it.
The story follows Aliza who is a holocaust survivor. It is part of a larger series of books but it is not necessary to have read them for this one as it is basically a stand alone. Aliza is offered a chance to seek revenge on some of history's worst monsters. It makes for a thought provoking and somewhat uncomfortable read.
I have to give a quick nod to Hoffman's prose. I don't think the book would be readable, given the subject matter were it not for the excellent and powerful way it is written. The story blends supernatural elements with real historical facts and horror and presents you with uncomfortable questions.
I give it 4 stars as its not a book I would want to read again, but I am glad that I did read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews