Like a River From Its Course

by Kelli Stuart, Romy Nordlinger (Narrator)

Winner of the 2017 American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Award --Best Christian Fiction of the Year

An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope.  The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little—known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.
Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the "killing ditch." He survives, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda is sixteen when German soldiers rape her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Führer's plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River from Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical, Christian Fiction, War, Ukraine

Audio CD

First published June 27, 2016

About the author

Kelli Stuart is a writer and a storyteller at heart. A graduate of Baylor University with a degree in English Professional Writing, and a minor in the Russian language, Kelli has honed her skills in the written word through editing, ghostwriting, blogging, and traveling the world.

Kelli is the bestselling author of the novels Like a River From Its Course (2017 Carol Award winner for Best Historical Fiction), A Silver Willow by the Shore (2020 recipient of the IPPY Award for Literary Fiction and an NIEA winner), and The Fabulous Freaks of Monsieur Beaumont. Kelli co-authored It's a Wonderful Christmas, a collection of holiday novellas inspired by favorite Christmas films. In 2022, Kelli's fourth novel, The Master Craftsman releases.

Kelli is also co-author of the nonfiction book Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom with Wendy Speake.

Kelli currently lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband and five children.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well written and powerful debut novel of historical fiction is set in Ukraine during the Nazi occupation. It covers the years from 1941 to 1947. At that time, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. You see and experience those years through the eyes of four main characters. The sense of place is strong and the characters are believable. It is hard to put down as the events unfold.

The story is unique in that we see the good and bad from both the Germans and the Ukrainians. There is violence, brutality, and murder, yet there are moments of grace and beauty.

One of the main characters, Ivan, reflects on his life and I thought this was quite moving, “I think of our life before the bombs, the river of our days flowing so calmly in a direction that I thought would last forever. In a flash, the river was turned, unexpected and quick, dragging us along this unforeseen path. Like a river from its course, life has swirled away from all I expected or planned……”

In the acknowledgement section, Author Kelli Stuart states “The characters in this book are composites of the hundreds of men and women I met while touring Ukraine. They don’t tell one single person's story, but rather hundreds of stories combined. While the characters are fictional, the circumstances and horrors they faced were very real. I pray that I did them justice in the retelling of it all”. I would say that she did do them justice!

Like a River From Its Course is a heartbreaking and sad story that concludes with hope. Well worth reading.

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chilling and lyrical look at a snatch of history not often told in inspirational fiction.

Stuart's resplendent research seeps into every page and into the experience of three main characters who haunt you while winnowing their way into your heart.

Deftly written, beautifully provocative, this is not just a piece of historical fiction: this is a work of art.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelli Stuart’s historical fiction debut, Like a River From Its Course, is simultaneously heartbreaking and inspiring; it is also much more than a story. It honors the men and women from the Ukraine who fought to keep living amid the ravages of a war they didn’t ask for. It honors the memory of those whose lives were brutally snuffed out long before they’d dreamed all their dreams. It honors those Germans and those Red Army soldiers who didn’t let evil do their thinking for them but instead offered kindness and compassion and respect. And it reminds us living in our world today, where evil seems to dominate every news report, that “for all the evil, there is an awful lot of good.”

Told in three parts (The Beginning, The Darkness, Home) from the perspectives of several different characters, Like a River From Its Course immediately captivates and invests the reader in the lives of its main players. Ivan Kyrilovich and his family – Tanya, Sergei, Anna, and Maria. We meet them first, experiencing with them the terror that descended on Kiev, Ukraine on June 22, 1941 when Hitler violated the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact and invaded the Soviet Union. As Maria states at the end of her first vignette, “We’re at war. Nothing will be the same again.” Frederick Herrmann – the Nazi soldier who lives to make his father – a friend of Hitler’s – proud. He wants to be a part of history, though by the time it’s over he might advise comrades with similar goals to be careful what they wish for. Ludmilla Michaelevna – her story may be the most tragic of all the characters we meet on these pages and at the same time perhaps the one filled with the most hope.

These are the main narrators in this novel that is rich with history and imagery. Ivan. Maria (“Masha”). Frederick. Ludmilla (“Luda”). But no man is an island and no character here is either. Embroidered into the fabric of each of these beautifully haunting lives is a network of family and friends and associates who leap just as vividly off the page and into your heart. Some will warm your heart. Others will break it. But they will all etch themselves there to stay.

Like a River From Its Course shows us the very worst of humanity as well as the very best. And for a large chunk of the novel, hope seems a very distant thing. But in the middle of the darkness, light breaks through. Quietly. Gently. Persistently. In the resiliency of a people. In the power of love. In the words of a babushka. In the faith of a priest. To be honest, at first I wasn’t sure faith would factor much into this book at all. But oh my heart. When it arrived, it did so with triumph and in such a way that I may never be the same.

I know that several quotes from the book will be rolling around in my heart for a long time, my spirit pondering them and reflecting on their truth and wisdom. They are just as timely for today as they are for the dark days of WW2. It is the kind of book that continues to breathe deep inside you long after you’ve closed the last page. In Like A River From Its Course, Kelli Stuart gives us a glimpse into a part of WW2 we don’t often see – the beautiful people of the Ukraine, their courage, their hope, and their faith. It’s not a book I’ll recover from easily.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

Read my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Jocelyn Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two days, which should not surprise anyone who begins reading it. Kelli Stuart draws you in from the first moment. There is a lot of World War 2 fiction out there, so it's impressive and refreshing to find in this novel a lesser-known slice of that history. The Ukrainian experience is compelling and heart-rending, and explored with such rich detail. The characters are deftly drawn and shaded, and achingly believable. Like a River From Its Course is a powerful read that I didn't want to end. I give this novel five stars and at least four kleenex. I can't wait to see what else Kelli Stuart has in store for us.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut is told from the perspective of four different people. Maria is a teenager living in Kiev, Ivan is Maria's father, Frederick is a fervent Nazi Soldier and Luda is a teenager living with her drunk and unstable father in Ukraine. The author does a beautiful job of speaking in each of their voices and sharing their perspective of events that happened during WWII.

While painful scenes are expected in a book like this, it doesn't make the cruelty any easier to read. Fortunately, there are also many instances of loving people caring for others.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of story that seeps into your bones and makes your heart hurt and rejoice all that the same time. Gripping. Evocative. Raw. This isn't a novel for the faint of heart, but it is one that deserves to be read and celebrated in memory of the many victims and survivors of the atrocities inflicted on the Ukrainian people by a brutal Nazi regime.

Heartbreaking tales told from the perspective of four main characters. The first person, present tense narrative isn't my favourite point of view to read, but it worked really well in this instance. Rushed me right into scenes that felt so urgent I was left holding my breath and gritting my teeth for most of the read.

The author has done extensive research and these four lives are inspired by true stories of real survivors. That's what makes this book so startling, I think -- the fact that events like these actually happened. That real people survived and lived to bear witness to what happened to them and those they loved.

Yes, Like a River from its Course is a sombre read. My heart was heavy when I finally closed the book. I couldn't help but make parallels to the modern world we live in and am still wondering if we have actually learned anything from that horrid war and the actions of the maniac who started it all. That's why books like this one -- the kind that reach into a reader's heart to testify of both pain and hope -- are so important.

At the time of the German occupation, Ukraine had already born the ravages of a revolution that destroyed their churches. Priests were killed or sent to work camps in Siberia, churches turned into public buildings so the spiritual landscape is bleak at the start of this novel. But the author still manages to incorporate a soul-stirring faith thread in the midst of turbulence and heartache.

"We are openly discussing God in a place that not so long ago killed many of my friends for similar conversations. God cannot be suppressed under the evil of man. The world is harsh and cruel and full of pain. But God is real. The Holy Spirit and Mary and the saints -- they're real. To believe is to trust, and when you trust, your life has meaning and purpose outside of the mere endurance of hardship."
(p. 263)

And perhaps my most favourite quote from a longsuffering, all-believing priest: "You would be surprised, my friend, at the power in believing in something outside of yourself. When you acknowledge that the pain of this world is unbearable, you're able to finally surrender to the One who alone is worthy of carrying the weight." (p. 263)

Startling truths and riveting fiction. A definite must read.

My thanks to Kregel Publications and Litfuse Publicity Group for providing me with a copy of this book.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on true stories gathered from years of research and interviews taken from survivors this epic journey told through the eyes of four unforgettable characters takes us to Ukraine at the height of the WW11. The characters are composites of hundreds of men and women that have been interviewed and their combined stories brought a heartbreaking and inspiring novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope.

June 22, 1941 Hitler violated the Nonaggression Pact with the Soviet Union by launching Operation Barbarossa. By July, Ukraine became an occupied territory and Kiev under siege.

The story has three parts: The Beginning, The Darkness and Home and is told in the first person narrative of each character. In alternate chapters Ivan, Maria, Luda and Frederick (a German soldier) tells their perspective as they see it. Their stories show us the worst of humanity as well as the very best but most of all their life highlights the resiliency of a people, their courage, their hope, their faith and the power of love for family, friends and strangers.

Although this is fiction, the circumstances and horrors the people faced were very real. The population was scared, starving and dying. A well- known horror happened in September 1941, when 34,000 Jews were massacred at Babi Yar by the German forces and local collaborators. The characters wonderfully depict what they faced and the battle that raged with each one. The well-researched plot line, the intriguing characters and their distinctive voices is what makes “Like a River from its Course “an outstanding read.

I received an ARC from Kregel Publications through the Early Reviewer Program in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the saddest and most heartbreaking books I've ever read. I didn't know much about about Babi Yar before I read this book, and the event (where thousands were lined up and shot in Ukraine) was nothing short of an atrocity. The things that happened to these people after are also too horrible to comprehend.

Most of the book is grim for those reasons. But there are moments of strong compassion, love, bravery and hope. These moments are moving and are amazing to read, because these people never gave up.

The author made their stories come alive. I thought that the writing was very smooth and while each chapter alternates between several different stories, it never got confusing. It's a hard read because of the topic, and so get ready to feel a lot of emotions. 5 stars!

* I received this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway and was not required to write a review

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving, beautiful story of Ukrainians under Nazi occupation in World War II. After signing a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union, the Nazis broke their agreement after only two years. We see the story from the viewpoints of two families; a girl with an abusive father; and several Germans, including one young soldier who proves a disappointment to his highly-placed Nazi father. The Babi Yar massacre and its aftermath hang over the whole novel. These characters were so lifelike; their emotions and feelings were so true. The story speaks of faith in God and the resilience of the human spirit despite adversity and devastating loss. The story is filled with love, forgiveness, compassion and triumph over evil. The writing was exquisite. The author interviewed Ukrainians who lived through that horrendous period; many of her characters are composites of the people whose stories she was told.

I thank LibraryThing for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at The Power of Words: http://bit.ly/29QLDb5

When it comes to Like a River from Its Course, there’s no way any words of mine can do it justice, so I’ll let Kelli Stuart and her characters do some of the talking. But if I had to express my thoughts in only one sentence, it would be this: If ever a book cried out to be read, it’s this one.

What’s most amazing is that through extensive research, debut author Kelli Stuart has drawn from personal stories of survival to write this moving work of fiction, based on historical events that weren’t that familiar to me – the Nazi occupation of the Ukraine. The story is told from the first-person perspective of four main characters – and rather than me trying to describe them, I encourage you to read about them in the book’s overview above if you haven’t already. Here are some expressions of their thoughts . . .

Frederick: “Ending one life to preserve another is not killing. It is saving.”

Ivan: “Sometimes horrors are too great to be put into words.”

Luda: “When you grow up without love, accepting it becomes almost burdensome.”

Masha: “I’m scarred and emotionally beaten. The girl who left was swept away in the flood of war, but I think that girl is still somewhere inside. If only I could get back to find her.”

Like a River from Its Course is riveting, dark, raw, yet hopeful and redeeming. It reflects the essence of humanity, from total depravity to selfless, tender kindness. It’s not a light read, nor is it an easy one – but it is compelling, relevant for today, and hard to put down. Truly unforgettable.

I’m amazed at the literary quality of Kelli’s writing, for it sparkles in its beauty. She has a gift for pulling you right into the story, compelling you to experience the people, setting, and all the horrors of war in a way that is palpable. I marked several quotes that really spoke to me; here are just a few . . .

“If love gives flight to the soul, hate kills it completely.” (Ivan)

“You would be surprised, my friend, at the power in believing in something outside of yourself. When you acknowledge that the pain of this world is unbearable, you’re able to finally surrender to the One who alone is worthy of carrying the weight.” (Father Konstantin)

“To believe is to trust, and when you trust, your life has meaning and purpose outside of the mere endurance of hardship.” (Father Konstantin)

And finally, one that is true yesterday, today, and tomorrow . . .

“God cannot be suppressed under the evil of man.” (Father Konstantin)

For me, Like a River from Its Course is a story not to be missed.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Kregel for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[The Loopy Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a River from its Course begins intensely with a bombing raid, so the book is immediately arresting. The tragedies and horrors that unfold as the Germans invade the Ukraine are reflected through four characters experiencing a myriad of emotions and reactions. Three of the narrators are Russian citizens and one is a young German Nazi. The author personalizes the stories in such a way as to cause the reader to experience events as the characters do. I felt the horror. I felt the fear. And later, I also felt the hope. The book is well-written and obviously well-researched. Though the characters were fictional, their experiences were compiled from those of real people. The reader feels this in the way the stories are told. My only complaint is that I was left hungry for more information. Stuart obviously knew the history of the Babi Yar event quite well, but it was also clear that she knew other historical truths about the war in the Ukraine that she only shared a bit of in the book. The Ukrainian nationalists or rebels were mentioned only once when a character expresses the opinion that they were worse than the Nazis. The author also mentions, almost as an aside, that some in the Red Army could be trusted and others could not. No other details were given about this, and I was disappointed that the author didn’t share more. While each character is fully fleshed out and their experiences detailed and well-told, the overall war raging around them was not always as clear. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating, emotional read that kept me turning the pages well into the night. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in WWII historical fiction. In fact, I already have a friend in the wings waiting to borrow it. In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that I was given a free copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Olivia Talbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the uniqueness of its perspective. I had never heard of the impact that WW11 had on Ukraine. I love books that all well researched and follow real events and this book did this well!

Positives: it’s beautiful language and storytelling style.

Negatives: the multiple POV made it harder to connect with each individual character.

Definitely recommend this book for an insightful read!

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelli Stuart in her new book, “Like a River From Its Course” published by Kregel Publications gives us A Novel of World War II.

From the back cover: An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope

The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler’s blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little–known history of Ukraine’s tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the “killing ditch.” He survives, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda is sixteen when German soldiers rape her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Führer’s plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River from Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

In reality Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 signed the German-Soviet Aggression Pact in which the two countries agreed to take no military action against each other for ten years. In 1941 Hitler violated that pact launching Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the Soviet Union. In September 1941 the decision to kill all the Jews in Kiev was made and almost 34,000 were killed at the Babi Yar. Let me start out by stating that this is a terrific story. It is everything that it could be all rolled up into one terrific package. It is a World War II thriller. It is a story that shows us the depths that a human soul can sink to but it also shows us the heights that the human soul can rise to. Ms. Stuart has given us a historical fiction which means that the events actually happened it is just that she has fictionalized them. Ms. Stuart has given us marvelous, well-written characters that you will get involved with Maria, Ivan, Luda and Frederick. This story will have you flipping pages as fast as you can read them. I believe you are going to enjoy this book and our heroine and that you are not going to want to put it down until you have finished it! It is just that good. I highly recommend this book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening story told in the first person of several different people, people from different countries, trying to survive the evil sent to persecute in the persona of Adolph Hitler.
These are individuals on both sides, Germans and Ukrainians, and we put names to these people and look into their everyday lives. The main German in this story is Frederick Herrmann, son of an Evil man who is trying to become the man his father wants by becoming even more evil. He is killing men, woman and children, and no regard for human life, all to win his father’s approval?
We all know of the atrocities, or at least heard of some, that were committed during WWII in Europe. This story puts faces and we get to know some of them personally, and your heart will break as we journey with them. This is a story of survival, and love, both parental and personal, and strength from God, but who will be alive in the end.
I loved that there was an epilogue in this book, but was surprised, guess I should have known, about how these slaves were treated by their own country when they survived.
A poignant story that will linger with you for a long time, and it should be remembered so that history will not repeat, but we do no seem to learn our lessons, and turn blind eyes to atrocities.
I received this book through Kregel’s Book Blogger Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel let down.

This book is haunting. And I also hoped it would be hopeful, that it would prove my favorite line: "Without evil, how would we know good?"

But, while my heart broke reading of the horrors of war, the hunger, and the heartache (vivid, albeit handled discreetly), the characters and storylines (especially the fairy tale endings) both seemed too contrived to be very truly deeply moving. I was skeptical of the two young female main characters who seemed too accepting of difficulty and tragedy and almost too strong for their youth; I was confused by the random German main character who didn't seem to fit in the story; I was disappointed in the pitiful, unprotective father figures, including the fourth main character; I was more disappointed in the priest, a very minor character in just a few pages toward the end, whose discussions with a couple seeking to learn more about God are cliched and shallow; and, on a writing note, I was distracted by dialogue that often sounded unnatural.

Though I admit I was drawn into this story and finished it quickly, and also applaud Stuart for bringing to light a lesser-known angle of WWII (though there is less specific historical content than I expected), in my opinion there were things in Like A River From Its Course that unfortunately detracted from its (powerful) potential.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I must applaud Kelli Stuart for doing her homework and writing a very well-written, detail oriented and true story based on extensive research. This historical fiction is one not to miss this summer and in fact is one I intend to read again because the story does not leave you. Oh, the rawness, faith and redemption in this book are beautiful. If you like historical books, especially books that have to deal with World War II, I highly recommend this novel. You will be moved with great emotion. I give this book 5/5 stars. Thank you to publishers for providing me a complimentary copy for review purposes. I was not compensated for a positive review.

[Jaime Jo Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping tale, I was riveted to its pages. So much of this era on the European side is unknown to me. Even though I've spent hours and hours reading World War II volumes and biographies. I was totally unaware of how it affected the Ukraine. The author takes you into the dark, gritty shadows of the War, the Nazis, the struggle, and the quest for love and redemption amid ashes. This novel is worthy of shelf-space for any WWII history buff or fiction-reader.

[Sloane Mayberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book which I highly recommend for those who like learning different perspectives of WW2. Though the cruelty in it is tough to get through in places, the vibrancy of the human spirit on all sides of this war really shines though. This one is similar in flow and character depth to Salt of the Sea - both are excellent!! The female characters are especially vibrant.

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less than two years after Hitler signed the non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, Germany broke it and invaded in Operation Barbarossa, affecting millions of Soviet lives. This story focuses on Kiev, Ukraine.

The story is told in 4 voices.

Ivan Kyrilovich: The father of one son and two daughters. Watching his best Jewish friends being marched out of town, Ivan was accidentally caught up in a march to Babi Yar, a ravine in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev where the invading soldiers marched thousands to their deaths. Somehow he survived.

Frederick Herrmann: A German soldier tried desperately to win his father’s approval and be a great man in the Nazi party as his father was. If that meant killing anyone he was ordered to kill, he did.

Maria Ivanovna: Ivan’s daughter is another voice, and her story was heartbreaking as well as inspiring.

Luda Michaelevna: A sixteen year old suffered at the hands of her unloving father for years, then at the hands of three German soldiers. Her life was forever altered. But the love of a family who took her in and others who were kind and caring was what kept her going.

This is a haunting story I will not soon forget. I don’t think I’ve ever used the word haunting in my reviews before. But it’s apt. Like a River From Its Course is stunningly moving. There is such tragedy, but there is also deep love and will to live. It was hard to read at times, but the hope that it would have a better ending kept me reading. “Happily ever after” was never an expectation, but at least survival and restoration was a hope.

Whether or not it’s Christian Fiction is unclear. Only one character expresses faith, and I’m assuming he’s a Russian Orthodox priest. He shares the Orthodox creed almost word for word to an agnostic in the book, and tries to encourage this couple by saying his belief helps him to release the doubts and fears, the captivity that wars inside his heart. Life is a series of trials, all strung together by moments of beauty. But when the string of joy and beauty breaks, what is left to hold life together if there is no God?

Kelli Stuart is a realistic writer with a serious grasp on history. I will read her books again… when I’m ready to handle another very serious read.

[Dee Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audible sale (#33 of 40) 14 hours 32 min. Narrated by Romy Nordinger (D)

All four characters sound alike. The author's use of first-person present tense throughout the years covered in the book is confusing for those who are listening with no other reference points. Maybe 2.5 stars This book was a disappointment for this listener.

This book won a prize for best Christian historical fiction in 2017. The bar must be very low for this book to have won first place. Not one character displays any evidence of Christian faith. Toward the end of the book, Ivan and his wife do question the existence of God and the point of icons in churches. They attend a house church for few months and a priest explains the meanings of the picture of Mary with the Christ child. Father Constantine leaves Ivan with two or three sentences regarding basics tenets of faith. Ms. Stuart leaves us with the quote, How would we know good without evil?"

There are more "miracles" in the story than there is faith. And this includes the "They lived happily ever after" ending.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to and expected to love this book. And most people who have read it, do love it. But, there was just something about it that didn't grab my attention like I thought it would. I will say though that it had a plot twist, that while was completely believable, left my speechless. It was a good book, and the story itself was beautiful. I think perhaps it was the writing style that I didn't really like that much. It still gives insight to a part of history I didn't know that much about. I still give a solid 3.5 out of 5.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely gripped by this novel. As soon as I started reading it, the characters brought me to a time that made the horrors of the war very real to me. That being said, the hope they carry with them as we follow the four characters through the story, make it so the reader wants to push on. Well, all except one character who, although you want to hate him for the Nazi he is, you learn so much about him you end up having a sense of pity for him. The author did an excellent job of making these peoples lives real. If you love history, especially during this time period, you will be captivated by this novel.

*I received this book for review, but this is my opinion on it.

UPDATE:

I actually listened to this book on audio because somehow the book ended back on my TBR list. I have no idea why. The story was just as hard as the first time... and I don't remember reading it. I think it had a different impact on me with listening to the audio version. I think the characters came to life through the narrator which had me in a mental and emotion mess.

Now, I say "hard" because the author has captured the essence of the war time. This book isn't something you just gloss over or read lightly. You make an investment when you start reading this novel. Be prepared to "live through" the cold realities of war when you read it!

We're introduced to 4 main characters in 1941. The book actually starts on my oldest son's birthday. We then follow Maria, Ivan, Frederick, and Luda over the next several years. I was surprised at how much the characters became real to me. You know, reading this book, that this is how many people lived their lives, either in fear or with twisted determination. What also surprised me is paralleling this book with things that are happening in our world today. It even scares me more than a little.

Kelli writes each character with a realness that you might expect in a documentary. Maria, a young girl whose family's world is turned upside down. Ivan, her father, and the horrors he sees and lives through. Frederick, the Nazi who has searched for his father's acceptance, all of his life. Luda, the one who tugs at my heart the most, the girl who's been broken from the start.

[Pegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many single words that can describe this book. Deep. Gripping. Raw. Powerful. It's all of those things.

This is the type of story that brings history to life in a way we comprehend it at its most basic level. We live it. We see it, feel it, taste it, hear it, and touch it. It's not pretty. It's not romantic - although there is a thread of romance weaving its way between the tragedies - and it's not sugar-coated.

This is real. And maybe that's the best single word to describe it.

The story is told from four different points of view. One is Ukrainian father who is trying to keep his family together and help his neighbors. One is his daughter, the youngest and most head-strong of his brood. One is a Ukrainian teenage girl whose alcoholic father abandons her to the Nazis. And the last is the son of a high-ranking German Nazi officer who only wants to earn his father's approval.

I'm not going to leave any typical summary of this book. It's too complicated, too rich, to condense into a 15-second commercial review.

This book should be a must-read for every high school World History course. Instead of teaching the atrocities of WWII as geography, dates, and the names of the generals, we should be teaching what the war did at the level of basic human existence. Maybe if we did. Maybe if more people understood what the Greatest Generation fought - and why - they wouldn't be so quick to condemn those who would step in quickly to prevent another such atrocity.

This book is fiction, but it's based on real-life stories. On real people. On real heartache. On real sacrifice. Read it.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching, emotional title!

Told through the perspective of four people, Ms. Stuart takes us to Ukraine during World War II. The stories that unravel are enticing. Before I knew it, I had a significant portion of the book finished and it seemed like time had stood still for me while I visited Kiev. Of course, it hadn't, but it felt like it.

World War II novels are very dear to my heart, as you may have seen, and that's why I simply couldn't pass this gem up. Like a River From its Course is challenging to read at times, due to the realistic horrors Ms. Stuart writes about. She does however keep everything to kind of a PG-13 level and doesn't go further. I appreciated the new perspective on the war from the Ukrainians, it was a different look. They faced horrible things like many other countries.

Ms. Stuart's characters are resilient, but beautifully human too. Each character has their own problem or heartache to overcome. Sadly, some make it and some do not. But the ones that do make it, find themselves happier and more at peace. The story as a whole was very inspirational and I would recommend it to any one who enjoys WWII stories like myself. Through the gloom and despair of the times, there was hope. There was light. I think Ms. Stuart did a fantastic job. I look forward to reading more by her!

I received this book from Litfuse in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!!

[Sarah Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is much more than a glimpse into the horrors of WWII Ukraine. It feels like a heartfelt love letter to those who suffered. It opens our eyes to the far reaching tentacles of the Nazi regime during that time, and champions the bravery of everyday people (both Ukrainian and German) who fought back against hate.

There is nothing I love more than a story told from the perspective of multiple individuals, and I was completely captivated by these characters in their first chapters. I cared about their stories, connected with their pain, and celebrated their victories, because they were transparent on those pages. Their hearts were exposed. It's natural to doubt, rebel, and anger in the midst of life's tragedies that take us off course. That's something we all understand. But the joy; how can we find the joy?

"Life is a series of trials, all strung together by moments of beauty. But when the string of joy and beauty breaks, what is left to hold life together if there is no God? That's the question you need to be asking." -Father Konstantin, pg. 300

[Jenni Keiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by total surprise. I read it because Kelli is my friend but since I am not typically a fan of historical fiction I did not expect to like it. ON the contrary, I LOVED it. I was hooked from the first chapter. By the end of the third chapter I had completely forgotten that I even know the author. I was just sucked it completely. I think it is the characters. They are easy to identify with and their choices throughout the book are relatable. Not everyone takes the high road for the sake of a great moral story - it's more about the reality of war and love and difficult decisions and the desire to be loved. I appreciated the Ukrainian perspective. This is not another Jewish Holocaust story, these are people whose story is not usually told.

If you read this, expect to lose some sleep. But it's totally worth it.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This World War II fiction story was off to a great start and well on its way to a five-star rating but inexplicably disintegrated into a stereotypical tale with an extremely predictable plot and flat and emotionally immature characters. Was there some sort of deadline hanging over the author's head that caused her to rush the last half of the book? The fizzle end was dissatisfying - I was left wondering what exactly that was all about. Although billed as religious fiction, there was very little spiritual element and what was there was weak as a wilted piece of lettuce. The author has some potential and can write beautifully, so I hope she continues to write and hone her skills. Will look for her future works.

Content notes: There is a rape that is handled for the most part discretely and some extremely violent war images portrayed.

[Larry Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not typically the genre of book I read. My wife pointed it out and suggested I read it since we know the author. (We attend the same church.) I listened to "Like a River from Its Course" as well as purchasing a bound copy. I was not disappointed.

This book takes on many themes while telling of a relatively unknown event at the beginning of WW2. You come face to face with the tragedy of war. You are faced with the depths of evil that humans are capable of. You are faced with the depth of love and kindness that humans are capable of. There is death and life. There is redemption and joy. This story will keep you engrossed. It is beautifully written and well worth your time to read.

[Cheryl Baranski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart is an emotionally gripping story. This is the first book that I have read by Kelli Stuart it sure won't be my last. This story will move you to tears with its heartbreaking telling. This story was so real intense for me. If you are someone that loves a story with history in it than this book is for you. Be sure to have your tissues and your sweet tea when you sit down to read this book. You won't want to put this book down. 5 stars! I received a copy of this book for my honest review.

[Kelly Catlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like A River From Its Course is a wonderful read! Even though this historical fiction is set in a time of horrific evil, you will find yourself taking each step and breath with the four main characters, rooting for them as they journey through! This novel gives such insight into the human condition of the time, set in 1941 Kiev. Amazing story of how the human spirit can remain in tact against the hatred that is endured.