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Michal's Destiny #1
Michal's Destiny
It is 1919 in Siberia. Michal—a young, sheltered girl—has eyes for a man other than her betrothed. For a young girl growing up in a traditional Jewish settlement, an arranged marriage is a fact of life. However, destiny, it seems, has other plans for Michal. When a Cossack pogrom invades her small village, the protected life Michal has grown accustomed to and loves will crumble before her eyes. Everything she knows is gone and she is forced to leave her home and embark on a journey to Berlin with the man she thought she wanted. Michal faces love, loss, and heartache because she is harboring a secret that threatens to destroy her every attempt at happiness. But over the next fourteen tumultuous years, during the peak of the Weimar Republic, she learns she is willing to do anything to have the love she longs for and to protect her family. However, it is now 1933. Life in Berlin is changing, especially for the Jews. Dark storm clouds are looming on the horizon. Adolf Hitler is about to become the chancellor of Germany, and that will change everything for Michal forever.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2016
1768 people are currently reading
987 people want to read
About the author
Roberta Kagan
72 books644 followersI’m an American writer of Jewish and Romany decent. I write Historical Fiction and Historical Romance, most of which is set during the holocaust. Although I never discount the horrors of the time period, the main focus of my work is on ordinary people who prove to be strong heroic characters in unfathomable circumstances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
February 20, 2017
I've been reading many historical fiction novels that take place during the Holocaust, but this one actually begins in Siberia in 1919. I didn't realize the Jews faced those horrible pogroms first in Russia.
This tale, the beginning of Michal's "adult journey," is one that brings to light the horrible choice the Russian Jews had back then: remaining in their village waiting for another pogrom that would probably end their lives, or migrate somewhere else. Michal and Taavi chose Berlin; they thought it was too civilized and sophisticated to have to endure what they did in Russia. And, perhaps that was true at first....
Well written and engaging.
This tale, the beginning of Michal's "adult journey," is one that brings to light the horrible choice the Russian Jews had back then: remaining in their village waiting for another pogrom that would probably end their lives, or migrate somewhere else. Michal and Taavi chose Berlin; they thought it was too civilized and sophisticated to have to endure what they did in Russia. And, perhaps that was true at first....
Well written and engaging.
October 4, 2016
A disappointment
This was an excellent book and I read it in one sitting.
However, it's only half a story so if you like to know how a novel ends, don't be fooled. I find it very annoying that I have to wait for another book to be published to find out the outcome. We are not even told when the sequel will be available. Seems like a big con to get us to buy another book.
I feel I have totally wasted my time and, as a matter of principle, I would never read anything by this author again.
This was an excellent book and I read it in one sitting.
However, it's only half a story so if you like to know how a novel ends, don't be fooled. I find it very annoying that I have to wait for another book to be published to find out the outcome. We are not even told when the sequel will be available. Seems like a big con to get us to buy another book.
I feel I have totally wasted my time and, as a matter of principle, I would never read anything by this author again.
January 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this book; having read the author before I didn’t hesitate to begin this series. Her writing is easy to digest, not overly descriptive yet page turning all the same. Although I’m not Jewish (nor know anyone who is) I find the culture rather fascinating all the same. The author does well to ensure the reader understands some of the complexities of historical Jewish lives, which were interesting.
I liked the story of Michal and how her early life began. Some of the story is heartbreaking. The author is good at creating vivid pictures in her readers mind. I look forward to continuing this series.
On a more personal level, this book provided a welcome distraction the last few days while my two year old son is in Intensive Care. Books are always there through our darkest times.
I liked the story of Michal and how her early life began. Some of the story is heartbreaking. The author is good at creating vivid pictures in her readers mind. I look forward to continuing this series.
On a more personal level, this book provided a welcome distraction the last few days while my two year old son is in Intensive Care. Books are always there through our darkest times.
November 19, 2017
I had to force myself to finish this book, only to find it had a cliffhanger ending. I won’t be reading the rest of the series. I realized that I don’t like the main character and don’t really care what happens next.
The writing style is stilted and tells the reader instead of showing. This makes for stiff, unnatural dialogue.
Interesting subject matter, accurately presented.
The writing style is stilted and tells the reader instead of showing. This makes for stiff, unnatural dialogue.
Interesting subject matter, accurately presented.
August 3, 2016
Amazing, Thought-provoking....
Roberta Kagan has a way of writing books that are like taking a ride back in time. You will feel the character fear and pain, it's like you're a person back in her time. She writes in a form that is very easy but amazing. She my favorite author about the Holocaust. She tells things through her character that are like a history lesson through someone who lived it. Her characters seems so real, it's like you're Papa telling a story. Alike her all my love detrick series I can't wait for this series to unfold, I'm waiting for the next book.
Roberta Kagan has a way of writing books that are like taking a ride back in time. You will feel the character fear and pain, it's like you're a person back in her time. She writes in a form that is very easy but amazing. She my favorite author about the Holocaust. She tells things through her character that are like a history lesson through someone who lived it. Her characters seems so real, it's like you're Papa telling a story. Alike her all my love detrick series I can't wait for this series to unfold, I'm waiting for the next book.
August 4, 2017
Michal’s Destiny, Book 1 is by Roberta Kagan. This is a work of fiction but it does a good job of depicting the life of the Jews prior to World War II in Russia and in Berlin. It shows the good and bad sides of Jews who are strictly religious and those who are not religious at all. Both sides can have both good and bad people among them.
Michal Habelowsky lived with her family in a Jewish settlement in Eastern Siberia. On June 12, 1919, she was to marry Avram Lippman, an apprentice shoemaker. She had never met Avram and knew only that he was seventeen. Her Father, who was violent and abusive had told her nothing else and did not consult her in any way about her marriage. Michel knew only that she wanted more in her marriage than her parents had. She just had to hope that Avram was not like her Father.
Avram Lippman knew only that his bride-to-be was from a religious family. He had no idea if she was attractive or not or what her disposition was. Avram knew that he wanted more than a marriage, he wanted a happy marriage. He knew that this was most likely not what he was going to get; but he, also, had no choice. He would see his bride after the ceremony when he was allowed to raise her veil. Would he be happy with what he saw?
Michal and Avram’s marriage was destined to be short. It was shortened when the Cossacks overran their village in a pogrom. As they were fleeing, Avram was killed before Michal’s eyes and she was raped. Before she could be killed though, Taavi Margolis, the carpenter she had admired long ago, caught her by the hand and pulled her to the woods towards, hopefully, safety. Michal knew it was wrong for him to even touch her, much less to run away with him, but circumstances were different. As far as Michal knew, the entire village and her entire family had been wiped out by the Cossacks. Her life was changing swiftly.
Taavi Margolis believed the best thing for them to do was to go to Berlin where he could get a job in the furniture business. Although Anti-semitism was in Germany he felt it was much worse off here under Stalin. With the promise of marriage, Michal went with Taavi to Berlin. Would this be the best move for them? Would they be happy?
The rise of the Nazi party and Hitler provides the backdrop for their story. Being able to trust each other when they really didn’t know each other became something they needed to work on. What paths would they each take to try to fulfill their hopes and dreams?
Michal Habelowsky lived with her family in a Jewish settlement in Eastern Siberia. On June 12, 1919, she was to marry Avram Lippman, an apprentice shoemaker. She had never met Avram and knew only that he was seventeen. Her Father, who was violent and abusive had told her nothing else and did not consult her in any way about her marriage. Michel knew only that she wanted more in her marriage than her parents had. She just had to hope that Avram was not like her Father.
Avram Lippman knew only that his bride-to-be was from a religious family. He had no idea if she was attractive or not or what her disposition was. Avram knew that he wanted more than a marriage, he wanted a happy marriage. He knew that this was most likely not what he was going to get; but he, also, had no choice. He would see his bride after the ceremony when he was allowed to raise her veil. Would he be happy with what he saw?
Michal and Avram’s marriage was destined to be short. It was shortened when the Cossacks overran their village in a pogrom. As they were fleeing, Avram was killed before Michal’s eyes and she was raped. Before she could be killed though, Taavi Margolis, the carpenter she had admired long ago, caught her by the hand and pulled her to the woods towards, hopefully, safety. Michal knew it was wrong for him to even touch her, much less to run away with him, but circumstances were different. As far as Michal knew, the entire village and her entire family had been wiped out by the Cossacks. Her life was changing swiftly.
Taavi Margolis believed the best thing for them to do was to go to Berlin where he could get a job in the furniture business. Although Anti-semitism was in Germany he felt it was much worse off here under Stalin. With the promise of marriage, Michal went with Taavi to Berlin. Would this be the best move for them? Would they be happy?
The rise of the Nazi party and Hitler provides the backdrop for their story. Being able to trust each other when they really didn’t know each other became something they needed to work on. What paths would they each take to try to fulfill their hopes and dreams?
September 5, 2016
I received a free copy of Michal's Destiny by Roberta Kagan in exchange for an honest review. As soon as I began reading this book I was hooked. It was so hard to put it down. I was drawn to Michal, her life, her choices and fate. Although I suspected Michal's and Taavi's lives would inevitably become intertwined, I did not expect the ways that they did. I am not sure how Roberta Kagan keeps writing the most heart wrenching, wonderful novels that she does. I didn't think that anything could come close to her All My Love, Detrick series but she has accomplished this with Michal's Destiny. I can't wait to read the second book in this new series by Roberta Kagan. I only hope that I do not have to wait too long. This is a book that highly recommend.
October 8, 2017
History worth remembering.
My mother was born in 1932. She was born in Mannheim Germany. She was not Jewish but she told me horrible stories about growing up in Germany and how difficult it was living in a big city that was often bombed. She told me that no one talked about the neighbors that disappeared in the night. The grown ups told her they went to their homeland. I read so many books about the war simply because it must never happen again! My aunt's and uncles that live in Germany now agree.
My mother was born in 1932. She was born in Mannheim Germany. She was not Jewish but she told me horrible stories about growing up in Germany and how difficult it was living in a big city that was often bombed. She told me that no one talked about the neighbors that disappeared in the night. The grown ups told her they went to their homeland. I read so many books about the war simply because it must never happen again! My aunt's and uncles that live in Germany now agree.
August 11, 2025
A very moving story surrounding our fmc a Jewish woman before the start of WW2. I really loved how this book set the tone and the characters for the rest of this series. I know it's only going to get more heartbreaking as the storyline progresses.
June 12, 2017
It’s important to know that this is the first in a series. I didn’t know that and the book ends with a family shattered apart by the events of the time. Michal is born into an Orthodox Jewish family residing in Siberia. Her first marriage is an arranged one and while not in love with Avram, she finds marriage comforting but then the Cossacks arrive. A childhood crush Taavi arrives none to soon and makes arrangements for the couple to emigrate to Berlin. Once there they marry but the demons of the pogrom make life difficult so that both end of going their separate ways. The National Socialist Party begins its influence and when Michal and Taavi make their way back to each other they find that they are now in the midst of another, much more deadly pogrom.
This is a not a book for reflective insights but rather a plot driven story meant to capture the Jewish experience of severe anti-Semitism.
This is a not a book for reflective insights but rather a plot driven story meant to capture the Jewish experience of severe anti-Semitism.
May 22, 2018
I could not put the book down & since I read mostly when I go to bed, have to admit my nights were very short! The story is simply unbelievable, the strength, courage and integrity of Michal is an inspiration & I was fascinated by her strength. What an unbelievable young woman. I realize this is fiction but the author made her so real & the story is not so far-fetched that it could have happened. I'm not very good at editing a book so, in my opinion, it was pretty well written, a few sentences made me wonder what exactly the author meant but all in all, it was fine for me. Midway through the book, I was so enthralled with the story, I bought the other 3 books! I finished the first book last night & started book 2. I can't wait to find out what happens next, for sure, I will be missing a lot of sleep but it's so worth it!
October 1, 2017
Free book on Bookbub, so thought I'd give it a try. The storyline kept me engaged, but I found the writing pretty mediocre. It felt like we were speeding from one plot point to the next, without getting to really know or care about the characters. And then it left me hanging at the end, so I would read the next book in the series, which I probably won't....
May 26, 2018
Wonderful way to learn history
Engrossing story of how the Jews in Russia and Germany felt and were treated pre WWII. Learning about this horrible period is important and Roberta Kagan does her usual great job of weaving her story through the lives of those who were so changed in the most dreadful way. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Engrossing story of how the Jews in Russia and Germany felt and were treated pre WWII. Learning about this horrible period is important and Roberta Kagan does her usual great job of weaving her story through the lives of those who were so changed in the most dreadful way. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
September 5, 2024
I am a huge Roberta Kagan fan but honestly this one isn't one of my favorites. The brilliance of the authors stories is that although they are similar in theme she always finds a way to make them unique in the development of the characters and that is where the issue with this book lies for me. I usually connect right away with the main character but I am struggling with doing so with Michal. I also found the story dragging just a tiny bit and felt there were some unnecessary fillers. Overall I would rate the book 3.5 stars rounded up. I will continue on with series - that is a no brainer for me! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 26, 2022
Darnit RK, your books are too addictive. One leads into the next and the next and the next. Michal's Destiny again grabbed me body and soul, such great reading. Very sad to read the vivid accounts of the pogrom in Siberia, Michal's ordeals, her escape to Germany with her admirer,... living in Berlin as inflation sky rockets, the hatred for Jews culminates into Crystalnacht... and how Hitler created the first concentration camps...
Beautifully written, compelling reading, another great read!
Beautifully written, compelling reading, another great read!
September 30, 2019
Michals Destiny is one of many Holocaust stories that tell of a families struggle to stay together & alive during this time. The characters are well described & each has their own story, all interesting. I read this & had to immediately get the rest of the series to find out what happened to this family.
September 27, 2024
Another great story about Jewish people and their traditions, a romance fated to be marred by hardship and heartbreak, the horrors of WWII and the Jewish persecution by Hitler and his hateful nazis. A very good start of a new series delivered by Ms. Kagan.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
January 16, 2021
Great Historical Fiction
This historical fiction took you through love, loss, and redemption. It is beautifully written and keeps you engaged throughout the whole book.
This historical fiction took you through love, loss, and redemption. It is beautifully written and keeps you engaged throughout the whole book.
September 16, 2024
Original review at Gabic Reads. eARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has the potential to be this beautiful, powerful story about a young woman surviving the unthinkable in two different countries. However, this book feels like it has been written by a high schooler. The writing is very simplistic. The characters are flat. There are very little dialogue scenes, mostly just overarching narrative. It was confusing to try and keep track of how much time had passed. And then, when we reach 1933-35 as Hitler is taking over, all we get is a factual explanation of his rise to power and don't get to view it from our characters POVs. The dialogue itself was so stilted and did not feel natural at all.
I can't recommend this book, because despite the heavy material, I couldn't take it seriously. I was unable to get drawn into the story. Holocaust stories are some of my favorite stories, and this one disappointed.
This book has the potential to be this beautiful, powerful story about a young woman surviving the unthinkable in two different countries. However, this book feels like it has been written by a high schooler. The writing is very simplistic. The characters are flat. There are very little dialogue scenes, mostly just overarching narrative. It was confusing to try and keep track of how much time had passed. And then, when we reach 1933-35 as Hitler is taking over, all we get is a factual explanation of his rise to power and don't get to view it from our characters POVs. The dialogue itself was so stilted and did not feel natural at all.
I can't recommend this book, because despite the heavy material, I couldn't take it seriously. I was unable to get drawn into the story. Holocaust stories are some of my favorite stories, and this one disappointed.
December 7, 2017
I started this book with high expectations having read some glowing reviews it had received, but I found it disappointing. Events happened so quickly it was as though the author was trying to cram in as much as she possibly could and, because of it, I never connected with the characters, even Michal.
Too many things happened to her that I found her life unbelievable and by mid-point I had lost interest in her story.
The ending was very abrupt and it left the reader hanging. It felt as if Ms Kagan was almost forcing the reader to read the next book. Unfortunately, by the end, this reader was frustrated and annoyed, so I won't be looking for any sequels.
Too many things happened to her that I found her life unbelievable and by mid-point I had lost interest in her story.
The ending was very abrupt and it left the reader hanging. It felt as if Ms Kagan was almost forcing the reader to read the next book. Unfortunately, by the end, this reader was frustrated and annoyed, so I won't be looking for any sequels.
July 23, 2017
This is an interesting historical novel of the life of a young Jewish girl which starts with her marriage in Siberia to a young man she has never met. After he is killed in a pogrom, she escapes to Berlin with another young man from her village and marries him almost immediately. Once there she ends up taking up with yet another man, before returning to her husband with a daughter he didn't know he had. The pace of the novel is almost too fast as it goes from the period of the Russian revolution to just before World War II with all the concomitant changes for the Jewish community, and it seems a bit hard to believe that a sheltered young woman would change so quickly and dramatically. The ending is abrupt leading up to the second book in the series. Still, the historical background is interesting enough to keep me reading the series.
February 2, 2018
This is the story of Michal who was forced to leave Russia following a program and found herself in Berlin with her soon to be husband. The story follows their two lives.
The book gallops along with masses of incidents but not much plot. There is so little connection between the incidents and little tension is built with the possible exception of the Kristallnacht episode.
However my main complaint is that the book is so poorly written - the point of view changes all the time and it is all telling and no showing. Dialogue is laboured. Events over explained. This is such a shame. The author obviously has a story to tell but not the tools to do it.
The cliff hanger ending is bad - forcing you to either buy the next book or just give up.
The book gallops along with masses of incidents but not much plot. There is so little connection between the incidents and little tension is built with the possible exception of the Kristallnacht episode.
However my main complaint is that the book is so poorly written - the point of view changes all the time and it is all telling and no showing. Dialogue is laboured. Events over explained. This is such a shame. The author obviously has a story to tell but not the tools to do it.
The cliff hanger ending is bad - forcing you to either buy the next book or just give up.
April 27, 2019
Fell for it again.
This was a page Turner of a book. Well written. I hated to put it down ubtil...once the protagonists found each other, the story seemed to have been written by another writer, one less experienced. It's always been Show, don't tell, when writing, but at that point, the point where the story should have ended, that the author chose to Tell, making time fly by, bringing in another family with their angst. Sure enough, it was written to be a cliffhanger, so we would but the next book. I would like to say there are so many good authors who can tell a completed story that leaves me satisfied that I don't have to look for your next book, because I fear the same deceptive trick will be played. Not again for me.
This was a page Turner of a book. Well written. I hated to put it down ubtil...once the protagonists found each other, the story seemed to have been written by another writer, one less experienced. It's always been Show, don't tell, when writing, but at that point, the point where the story should have ended, that the author chose to Tell, making time fly by, bringing in another family with their angst. Sure enough, it was written to be a cliffhanger, so we would but the next book. I would like to say there are so many good authors who can tell a completed story that leaves me satisfied that I don't have to look for your next book, because I fear the same deceptive trick will be played. Not again for me.
May 16, 2018
A NEW UNDERSTANDING
Easy reading with a way of to clarify an event in history that has been surrounded by political explanation when the question is asked "Who is Hitler and what did he do?". More importantly it answers that question in the everyday lives of the books characters. It has also brought an understanding to the question I've always had "How in the world did a country elect someone like Hitler? What did they believe he was gonna do?" Definitely one author I'll be following. Too bad I didn't discover her in high school.....I'm sure I would have been more interested.....
Easy reading with a way of to clarify an event in history that has been surrounded by political explanation when the question is asked "Who is Hitler and what did he do?". More importantly it answers that question in the everyday lives of the books characters. It has also brought an understanding to the question I've always had "How in the world did a country elect someone like Hitler? What did they believe he was gonna do?" Definitely one author I'll be following. Too bad I didn't discover her in high school.....I'm sure I would have been more interested.....
January 8, 2019
I knew that this was the start of a series, but didn't realize how frustrated I would be with the ending. You have to continue to the next book to find out what happens to the main characters, and I haven't done that yet. It is a moving story of Russian Jews who escape to Germany post WWI in hopes of avoiding anti-Semitic. prejudice. We know how that turned out! However, I think this book helps to explain how so many were trapped in Germany-and didn't believe it could happen-until it did. I thought the author did a good job with character development and with explaining practices of observant Jewish families.
August 28, 2021
2.75 stars Sigh. I really wanted to love this historical fiction title but the writing style (she did this, she thought this...) was a far too simplistic for my taste. That said, I could see how this might have a place for newer adult readers who are at lower reading levels (maybe I’d quantify the reading level at about 1st grade, although the content is NOT for that age). Knowing what has occurred in the 20th century and now with the significant increase of anti-semitism in the United States since 2016, as well as nationalism and anti-semitism around the world, the history told in this story should not be discounted.
Takeaways:
Good for newer adult readers
Historical context is important
Takeaways:
Good for newer adult readers
Historical context is important
January 24, 2018
Bittersweet
A story about young love that survives the horror of racism, propaganda and impending genocide. Pride tries to interfere only to have the harsh realities of pre-Nazi rule and social degradation bring them back together. It is a story of faith, forgiveness and family; and shows how dangerous thinking one knows another’s thoughts and motivations are and basing life choices on supposition. Communication, forgiveness, love and faith create a bond only we ourselves can break.
A story about young love that survives the horror of racism, propaganda and impending genocide. Pride tries to interfere only to have the harsh realities of pre-Nazi rule and social degradation bring them back together. It is a story of faith, forgiveness and family; and shows how dangerous thinking one knows another’s thoughts and motivations are and basing life choices on supposition. Communication, forgiveness, love and faith create a bond only we ourselves can break.
February 2, 2018
Couple, Michal and Traavi run from Russia after losing families in pogrom. They go to Berlin to start a new live but she finds she is pregnant from a Russian Cossack rape. She leaves Taavi thinking he won't want the baby. After a couple of years and misadventures they end back together and have another baby. As the years continue the war is closer and They suffer because they are Jewish. Michal and Taavi are arrested and their close friends take the girls. It ends with a plan to send youngest girl to England .1st in a series of five.
June 5, 2018
Thought provoking account of history with the face of personal, not just factual.
Thought provoking account of European persecution of the Jewish race during the Hitler era. The author engages us in the life and emotions of a young woman and her struggles to survive during this very sad period in history. The depravity of humanity is a frightful thing and a warning to us to be mindful of the possibility of a repeated event if personal safety takes precedence over the recognition of the brotherhood of mankind. Be aware that the ending is not conclusive.
Thought provoking account of European persecution of the Jewish race during the Hitler era. The author engages us in the life and emotions of a young woman and her struggles to survive during this very sad period in history. The depravity of humanity is a frightful thing and a warning to us to be mindful of the possibility of a repeated event if personal safety takes precedence over the recognition of the brotherhood of mankind. Be aware that the ending is not conclusive.
June 21, 2018
Great book
The story is beautiful and a different read for me - normally this time period I have read about characters and plots in concentration camps and in war, so reading something that builds to this moment in history was novel. I felt it was taking its time to fully develop the story but towards the end, for a few chapters, it felt so rushed - and if there’s a sequel then the rushing and glossing over felt unnecessary and an injustice to this truly wonderful story. I hope the sequel fills in some!
The story is beautiful and a different read for me - normally this time period I have read about characters and plots in concentration camps and in war, so reading something that builds to this moment in history was novel. I felt it was taking its time to fully develop the story but towards the end, for a few chapters, it felt so rushed - and if there’s a sequel then the rushing and glossing over felt unnecessary and an injustice to this truly wonderful story. I hope the sequel fills in some!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews