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Daughters of the Resistance
A heart-wrenching novel of love, resilience and courage in World War II, from the author of Sisters of War – perfect for readers who loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The German Midwife.
USA Today bestseller!
Ukraine, 1943
On a train from Ukraine to Germany, Lisa Smirnova is terrified for her life. The train is under Nazi command, heading for one of Hitler’s rumoured labour camps. As she is taken away from everything she holds dear, Lisa wonders if she will ever see her family again.
In Nazi-occupied Kiev, Irina Antonova knows she could be arrested at any moment. Trapped in a job registering the endless deaths of the people of Kiev, she risks her life every day by secretly helping her neighbours, while her husband has joined the Soviet partisans, who are carrying out life-threatening work to frustrate the German efforts.
When Lisa’s train is intercepted by the partisans, Irina’s husband among them, these women’s lives will take an unimaginable turn. As Irina fights to protect her family and Lisa is forced to confront the horrors of war, together they must make an impossible decision: what would they be willing to lose to save the people they love?
****
Readers loved Sisters of War:
‘Captivating from the first page’
‘A gorgeous love story that keeps you hooked till the end’
‘Powerful and heart wrenching’
‘A touching story, beautifully written’
‘Well-researched and fascinating’
‘Pulled at my heartstrings and brought tears to my eyes’
USA Today bestseller!
Ukraine, 1943
On a train from Ukraine to Germany, Lisa Smirnova is terrified for her life. The train is under Nazi command, heading for one of Hitler’s rumoured labour camps. As she is taken away from everything she holds dear, Lisa wonders if she will ever see her family again.
In Nazi-occupied Kiev, Irina Antonova knows she could be arrested at any moment. Trapped in a job registering the endless deaths of the people of Kiev, she risks her life every day by secretly helping her neighbours, while her husband has joined the Soviet partisans, who are carrying out life-threatening work to frustrate the German efforts.
When Lisa’s train is intercepted by the partisans, Irina’s husband among them, these women’s lives will take an unimaginable turn. As Irina fights to protect her family and Lisa is forced to confront the horrors of war, together they must make an impossible decision: what would they be willing to lose to save the people they love?
****
Readers loved Sisters of War:
‘Captivating from the first page’
‘A gorgeous love story that keeps you hooked till the end’
‘Powerful and heart wrenching’
‘A touching story, beautifully written’
‘Well-researched and fascinating’
‘Pulled at my heartstrings and brought tears to my eyes’
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2021
1156 people are currently reading
5924 people want to read
About the author
Lana Kortchik
9 books450 followersLana Kortchik grew up in two opposite corners of the Soviet Union – the snow-white Siberian town of Tomsk and the golden-domed Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Australia with her mother. Lana and her family live on the Central Coast of NSW, where it never snows and is always summer-warm.
Lana studied IT at university and, as a student, wrote poetry in Russian that she hid from everyone. For over a decade after graduating, she worked as a computer programmer. When she returned to university to complete her history degree, her favourite lecturer encouraged her to write fiction. She hasn’t looked back, and never goes anywhere without her favourite pen because you never know when the inspiration might strike.
Lana’s short stories appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and she was the winner of the Historical Novel Society Autumn 2012 Short Fiction competition. She is the author of USA Today bestsellers Sisters of War and Daughters of the Resistance, published by HQ Stories, an imprint of Harper Collins UK.
Lana also writes psychological thrillers under the pen name of Lana Newton.
To find out more, please visit http://www.lanakortchik.com.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lanakortchik
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lanakortchik
Lana studied IT at university and, as a student, wrote poetry in Russian that she hid from everyone. For over a decade after graduating, she worked as a computer programmer. When she returned to university to complete her history degree, her favourite lecturer encouraged her to write fiction. She hasn’t looked back, and never goes anywhere without her favourite pen because you never know when the inspiration might strike.
Lana’s short stories appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and she was the winner of the Historical Novel Society Autumn 2012 Short Fiction competition. She is the author of USA Today bestsellers Sisters of War and Daughters of the Resistance, published by HQ Stories, an imprint of Harper Collins UK.
Lana also writes psychological thrillers under the pen name of Lana Newton.
To find out more, please visit http://www.lanakortchik.com.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lanakortchik
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lanakortchik
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
September 21, 2021
An easy 4 stars for a fast paced historical fiction book set in Ukraine, during WWII. I previously read Sisters of War by the same author, so I decided to read this one also and I am glad that I did. I read it in 2 days. It was hard to put down. This book focuses on Lisa Smirnova. She is being sent to Germany by the invaders to work as slave labor. But the train is derailed by Partisans. All the German soldiers are killed and she is set free. But she decides to join the Partisans, rather than return to Kiev.
This a story of hardship, betrayals, endurance, courage, and so much more. While it is fiction, the author comments that many of these incidents are based on real life stories found in partisan diaries and diaries kept by people in occupied Ukraine.
My thanks to HQ Digital and Lana Kortchik for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss+.
This a story of hardship, betrayals, endurance, courage, and so much more. While it is fiction, the author comments that many of these incidents are based on real life stories found in partisan diaries and diaries kept by people in occupied Ukraine.
My thanks to HQ Digital and Lana Kortchik for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss+.
July 7, 2021
Daughters of the Resistance is the story of Lisa Smirnova and Irina Antonova two different lives that eventually will come together in the most terrible circumstances.
The Nazis are everywhere there is no place to hide, Lisa found herself saved by group who offer her a place to stay and hide, she doesn't really know what to do, just to help in any way she could.
Irina is living in hell, she feels very alone and judges under the constant criticism of her mother-in-law, she doesn't have any other option than to hold herself and resist as things are pretty bad on the street there is no place to really feel safe so she has to stay behind waiting for the love of her life who is putting his life on the line to be able to secure his family and country all at once.
For me Daughters of the Resistance was more of a novel than a WWll book, the story is more focused on the love life of the two main characters of this book, it is not as heavy as other WWll stories, as I said is more on the dramatic side of relationships, family, and team problems.
I didn't know there was a previous book before this one, where we get to meet Lisa's story for the first time but this book can be read as a standalone.
I kind of miss the WWll element, the drama in the family and the childish behavior of Lisa kind of turned me off a lot.
Overall it was a good book. it was not entirely my taste as I was looking for more on the WWll side rather than a novel but I suggest you read it and make your own conclusion.
The Nazis are everywhere there is no place to hide, Lisa found herself saved by group who offer her a place to stay and hide, she doesn't really know what to do, just to help in any way she could.
Irina is living in hell, she feels very alone and judges under the constant criticism of her mother-in-law, she doesn't have any other option than to hold herself and resist as things are pretty bad on the street there is no place to really feel safe so she has to stay behind waiting for the love of her life who is putting his life on the line to be able to secure his family and country all at once.
For me Daughters of the Resistance was more of a novel than a WWll book, the story is more focused on the love life of the two main characters of this book, it is not as heavy as other WWll stories, as I said is more on the dramatic side of relationships, family, and team problems.
I didn't know there was a previous book before this one, where we get to meet Lisa's story for the first time but this book can be read as a standalone.
I kind of miss the WWll element, the drama in the family and the childish behavior of Lisa kind of turned me off a lot.
Overall it was a good book. it was not entirely my taste as I was looking for more on the WWll side rather than a novel but I suggest you read it and make your own conclusion.
October 19, 2022
Irina’s mother-in-law, Zina, was so rude. She’s allowed to have her own opinions about how to raise her own children, but you shouldn’t tell another mother that they are doing things wrong. Personally, I do agree that continuing to breastfeed a two year old under normal circumstances would be a bit much, but Irina was right. With the war going on, it would be hard to find other milk, and there is nothing wrong with cutting up food for a child. You don’t want them to choke. But the one that really got under my skin was when Zina told Irina that she should abort her new pregnancy. Sure, things will be harder with a baby as well as a toddler during war times, but she was out of line to act happy for them while Maxim was there, and then turn around and tell Irina to get rid of it as soon as he left.
I can’t believe it took so long for Lisa to find out that Maxim was married. Not only was Maxim interrupted when he tried to mention it to her once, but clearly other people in the camp noticed that she had feelings for him. Then by the time someone did inform Lisa of Maxim’s marriage, she was too deep with her feelings and she had a hard time pulling back. Someone should have told her sooner. I don’t know why Maxim didn’t say anything.
I can’t believe it took so long for Lisa to find out that Maxim was married. Not only was Maxim interrupted when he tried to mention it to her once, but clearly other people in the camp noticed that she had feelings for him. Then by the time someone did inform Lisa of Maxim’s marriage, she was too deep with her feelings and she had a hard time pulling back. Someone should have told her sooner. I don’t know why Maxim didn’t say anything.
October 8, 2021
This was selected for our book club read.
Those of us who have had the privilege of growing up and living in a peaceful country, and not knowing war even though it rages around us in other parts of the world can only imagine the pain and suffering and sacrifice made by those living it.
This is a story of friendship and loyalty, commitment and betrayal, survival and sacrifice amidst the back drop of WWII.
The author alternates chapters between the resistance fighters and their loved ones left behind who too are fighting occupation by the Nazis. In this way she effectively tells the story of life and relationships in a country at war. In particular one chapter focuses on Lisa’s perspective. Lisa, an unlikey partisan member, as a woman, who is freed from the Nazis death train with no where to go. The alternate chapter is from Irina’s perspective, the wife of a partisan leader who lives with her in-laws and infant child near Kiev. These two “daughters of resistance” unknowingly share similar stories, feelings and perspectives on the same war.
It is a quick read and although parts seem repetitive scenarios of warfare, they build the plot of evolving relationships and ever-changing attitudes that become necessary to ensure survival. Plenty of raw emotions are generated as friends and unlikely comrades must work together.
An interesting angle on a tragic topic that has provided many lessons that following generations can only imagine.
Will certainly lol for more by this author.
Those of us who have had the privilege of growing up and living in a peaceful country, and not knowing war even though it rages around us in other parts of the world can only imagine the pain and suffering and sacrifice made by those living it.
This is a story of friendship and loyalty, commitment and betrayal, survival and sacrifice amidst the back drop of WWII.
The author alternates chapters between the resistance fighters and their loved ones left behind who too are fighting occupation by the Nazis. In this way she effectively tells the story of life and relationships in a country at war. In particular one chapter focuses on Lisa’s perspective. Lisa, an unlikey partisan member, as a woman, who is freed from the Nazis death train with no where to go. The alternate chapter is from Irina’s perspective, the wife of a partisan leader who lives with her in-laws and infant child near Kiev. These two “daughters of resistance” unknowingly share similar stories, feelings and perspectives on the same war.
It is a quick read and although parts seem repetitive scenarios of warfare, they build the plot of evolving relationships and ever-changing attitudes that become necessary to ensure survival. Plenty of raw emotions are generated as friends and unlikely comrades must work together.
An interesting angle on a tragic topic that has provided many lessons that following generations can only imagine.
Will certainly lol for more by this author.
March 22, 2021
Daughters of the Resistance by Lana Kortchik is an excellent WWII-era historical fiction novel that takes place in Ukraine. This book has it all: history, suspense, love, loss, and a wonderful narrative that kept me turning page after page in hopes of finding out more.
I really loved Ms. Kortchik’s previous book, Sisters of War, so I knew I had to read this book that also takes place in Ukraine. The author clearly knows her history in regards to what the people of this area were subjected to during its horrific occupation from the Nazis, and it clearly shows in this stunning book.
This particular novel delves more into what the citizens in Keiv experienced. How many families were torn apart. How many lives were lost...futures destroyed...a country forever changed. It was fascinating (and devastating) to see all of the turmoil that took place. This book focusses on 1943-1945. We see not only how the everyday citizen was affected, but also some of the groups, resistance fighters, partisans, and individuals that did what they could individually and as a group to help fight for their survival and for their country.
I truly loved Lisa and Irina. I found both women incredibly brave, passionate, strong, and was in their corner throughout. They were able to represent and give a voice to all of the women that were present during these atrocities to help keep the memory of the people of Keiv that perished (and also survived ) this horrific time so that they will never be forgotten.
A stunning novel that I truly love and heartedly recommend. I think I have found a new, favorite author.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and HQ Digital for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
I really loved Ms. Kortchik’s previous book, Sisters of War, so I knew I had to read this book that also takes place in Ukraine. The author clearly knows her history in regards to what the people of this area were subjected to during its horrific occupation from the Nazis, and it clearly shows in this stunning book.
This particular novel delves more into what the citizens in Keiv experienced. How many families were torn apart. How many lives were lost...futures destroyed...a country forever changed. It was fascinating (and devastating) to see all of the turmoil that took place. This book focusses on 1943-1945. We see not only how the everyday citizen was affected, but also some of the groups, resistance fighters, partisans, and individuals that did what they could individually and as a group to help fight for their survival and for their country.
I truly loved Lisa and Irina. I found both women incredibly brave, passionate, strong, and was in their corner throughout. They were able to represent and give a voice to all of the women that were present during these atrocities to help keep the memory of the people of Keiv that perished (and also survived ) this horrific time so that they will never be forgotten.
A stunning novel that I truly love and heartedly recommend. I think I have found a new, favorite author.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and HQ Digital for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
September 19, 2021
I was excited to read a World War II historical fiction that was centered on another region, specifically Ukraine. I always want to learn more history through the journey of the fictional characters. Unfortunately, this book mostly missed the mark for me. I did not get the flavor of Ukraine and there is very little about the history of the occupation or of the Red Army or the battles during World War II. Ukraine was devastated by World War II and the Soviet retreat ahead of the Nazi occupation and very little of that is explored beyond the destruction in Kiev (Kyiv), which was substantial. Absent that, I would expect more about the people, if not the battles. In that way, too, the book falls flat. Lacking either a sense of place or a better exploration of the history, the story could be any location during any war.
The set ups of the character arcs for the two main female characters, only somewhat touch on the experiences of the people in Ukraine. Lisa is rescued by the Partisans while being transported from Ukraine to work for the Nazi war machine in Germany. So we see a little bit of fear experienced by the residents and the way their world was ripped apart. Irina is living with her husband, Maxim's, parents while he is fighting with the Partisans. Through her we see a resident struggling for food, struggling against Nazi occupation, and living in fear for her husband's life. There are also side characters who are portrayed as those who would betray others for their own survival, but again, they are thinly portrayed and are placeholders. None of it is explored as fully as I would hope.
Overall I think Irina's story is better developed, but not by much. Irina is subjected to some poor treatment by her mother in law as the not being "good enough" for her precious son. It did not feel original, it felt stereotypical. We have snapshots of the challenges she faces both trying to help others in her community, being a parent of a small child while living with in-laws, fears for her husband. Those fears felt real, but often Irina feels very young, all of her emotions are in her head instead of her actions or her storyline.
Lisa, who is a main character of Kortchik's book Sisters of War (which I have not read it is not clear in the blurb that it is an attached story), is incredibly young and immature and undeveloped, in my opinion. She has a hero worshipping-like obsession with Maxim, who was one of the Partisans who rescued her. She becomes one of the Partisans, as she has nowhere else to go. Her obsession with Maxim felt like a high school crush, immature and based on absolutely nothing, and completely not shared by Maxim, who loves his wife Irina. The only points of what felt like true emotional growth were with her thinking of the family she was no longer in contact with, and her reactions after the battles she was involved in. Especially at that point, when she has to kill someone, that was the one point where I thought the character had some emotional depth and growth. That's not enough to carry the rest of the story.
Maxim exists as the point of contact between Lisa and Irina. His own struggles with how to fight for Ukraine, how to protect his young family and his parents, all could have been explored more. He has real challenges to face, and his decisions are handled in a very expected manner without any discussion of how he came to heartbreaking decisions. His character is not developed at all, his actions simply happen to move the plot or connect the female characters.
When I read the author's note on some source material, I can see she had fantastic research and inspiration. However, those individuals simply don't come through in this book. I was left still wanting to know more about the real people and the real difficulties during the war, and I still want to know about Ukraine. This was my feeling while I was reading, I kept wanting more, more, more, and I simply never got it. An opportunity lost.
I read an e-ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The set ups of the character arcs for the two main female characters, only somewhat touch on the experiences of the people in Ukraine. Lisa is rescued by the Partisans while being transported from Ukraine to work for the Nazi war machine in Germany. So we see a little bit of fear experienced by the residents and the way their world was ripped apart. Irina is living with her husband, Maxim's, parents while he is fighting with the Partisans. Through her we see a resident struggling for food, struggling against Nazi occupation, and living in fear for her husband's life. There are also side characters who are portrayed as those who would betray others for their own survival, but again, they are thinly portrayed and are placeholders. None of it is explored as fully as I would hope.
Overall I think Irina's story is better developed, but not by much. Irina is subjected to some poor treatment by her mother in law as the not being "good enough" for her precious son. It did not feel original, it felt stereotypical. We have snapshots of the challenges she faces both trying to help others in her community, being a parent of a small child while living with in-laws, fears for her husband. Those fears felt real, but often Irina feels very young, all of her emotions are in her head instead of her actions or her storyline.
Lisa, who is a main character of Kortchik's book Sisters of War (which I have not read it is not clear in the blurb that it is an attached story), is incredibly young and immature and undeveloped, in my opinion. She has a hero worshipping-like obsession with Maxim, who was one of the Partisans who rescued her. She becomes one of the Partisans, as she has nowhere else to go. Her obsession with Maxim felt like a high school crush, immature and based on absolutely nothing, and completely not shared by Maxim, who loves his wife Irina. The only points of what felt like true emotional growth were with her thinking of the family she was no longer in contact with, and her reactions after the battles she was involved in. Especially at that point, when she has to kill someone, that was the one point where I thought the character had some emotional depth and growth. That's not enough to carry the rest of the story.
Maxim exists as the point of contact between Lisa and Irina. His own struggles with how to fight for Ukraine, how to protect his young family and his parents, all could have been explored more. He has real challenges to face, and his decisions are handled in a very expected manner without any discussion of how he came to heartbreaking decisions. His character is not developed at all, his actions simply happen to move the plot or connect the female characters.
When I read the author's note on some source material, I can see she had fantastic research and inspiration. However, those individuals simply don't come through in this book. I was left still wanting to know more about the real people and the real difficulties during the war, and I still want to know about Ukraine. This was my feeling while I was reading, I kept wanting more, more, more, and I simply never got it. An opportunity lost.
I read an e-ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 27, 2022
An incredible and a very captivating story book called “Daughters of the resistance” written by Lana Kortchik. This book is fictional but history is full of true stories like this one. The author has written brilliant story. She describes the hunger, the despair, sacrifice, love and hope. This story is similar to what is happening in Ukraine today, especially people, children, pets fleeing their own country and some people who wants to stay behind and fight for their lives as a partisan. Kiev, Ukraine has been going on fighting, from September 19th 1941 until November 1943, for 778 days. Today you can see a bit similarities between Russia VS. Ukraine is fighting since February 2022. The story unfolds about two women. Their lives changed forever. Lisa Smirnova was terrified for her life and was on the train to labour camp, however the train was interrupted by the resistance. Irena Antonova could be arrested at any time. She risked her life helping her neighbors while her husband joined the resistance fighting the Germans because everyone knows he is the best sniper as result, I couldn’t put it down because she writes an easy, flowing read where you have to keep reading to see how it all ends.
September 21, 2022
I couldn't finish this. I was bored to death.
September 6, 2021
I could have written this book…
I kept waiting for this to get better but was halfway through before I knew for sure it wasn’t going to happen. It is hard to believe I read the same book described in the other reviews. It honestly reads like something written in one night by someone who was bored. Glad I only paid 99 cents for it.
I kept waiting for this to get better but was halfway through before I knew for sure it wasn’t going to happen. It is hard to believe I read the same book described in the other reviews. It honestly reads like something written in one night by someone who was bored. Glad I only paid 99 cents for it.
January 9, 2022
This was a good story and heart wrenching at times. A little repetitive in others. Strong characters and interesting relationships. I give it a 3.75. Thank you HQ for the advanced copy.
June 16, 2023
This was a good book that I enjoyed a lot, the writing wasn’t my favorite and at times it read more like a romance than a war book but I guess that’s the style if you’re into that. Pretty much was a war chick flick but it had good research behind it and a storyline that kept you guessing so overall I would recommend.
January 1, 2025
While I had lots of emotions about the subject matter of this book, the storyline grabbed me about halfway through. Can't say much without spoiling it, but I loved the way true love was depicted.
February 28, 2023
Loved this! Most WWII historical fiction books I've read are people/families being sent to or escaping a concentration camp. This one is about family members who are part of the Partisan Batalion outside of Kiev. I enjoyed reading a different perspective and location of the war.
October 5, 2021
The Daughters of Resistance focused on the Russian Partisans who operated in the forests surrounding Kiev after the Nazis invaded that city.
Lisa Smirnova is in a packed railcar on her way to Germany when a group of partisans ambush the train, killing the German soldiers and freeing the prisoners that were taken from Kiev. Missing the trucks back to Kiev she and her friend decide to stay with the partisans.
It was good to read a book telling the story from the Russian experience. I will look for more. The Russians suffered greatly as well at the hands of the Nazis.
Lisa Smirnova is in a packed railcar on her way to Germany when a group of partisans ambush the train, killing the German soldiers and freeing the prisoners that were taken from Kiev. Missing the trucks back to Kiev she and her friend decide to stay with the partisans.
It was good to read a book telling the story from the Russian experience. I will look for more. The Russians suffered greatly as well at the hands of the Nazis.
December 31, 2021
I’m a huge historical fiction fan, so I was excited to dive into this one. There’s a definite lack of historical fiction set in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union during WWII. Unfortunately for me, Daughters of the Resistance skews a bit more “romance in a historical setting” than historical fiction. Many people will enjoy this book, but the historical inaccuracies and the nods to current day sensibilities took me out of the story.
That said, the characters are pleasant enough, and if you can suspend your disbelief about the realism of the story you may enjoy this one more than I did.
That said, the characters are pleasant enough, and if you can suspend your disbelief about the realism of the story you may enjoy this one more than I did.
May 11, 2022
Since the story is about World War II in Kiev and its surroundings, I found it helpful to understand the actual war happening in Ukrain. The horrors, the heartbreaks, the fear and above all the pride of this nation are painted in this novel portraying the braveness of the population in time of war. Altought the form of 2 characters evolving in parallel was interesting and that I like how it gave a different portrait of how WW II affected the world, I find that their stories were more focus on a love triangle than the subject that drew me to this book in the first place.
January 12, 2022
I read a lot of historical fiction and WWII in particular. This book is not a book I would recommend in that genre. There are many books set during WWII that are much better at exploring the circumstances and emotions of people during that time. The main character of this book is Lisa and she is whiny and immature- not exactly how you would think to characterize a resistance fighter.
March 1, 2022
This book had so much potential but the immaturity and puppy-like devotion of one of the main characters, Lisa, to Maxim in the middle of immense horrors was silly and put this on a harlequin romance level and basically ruined the story… there were so many side stories hardly touched upon which could have been explored and would have given this story more authenticity.
May 12, 2021
I've read a lot of WW2 HF and this one was my least favorite. It was mostly a book about a young woman pining for one of the resistance fighters. It just went on and on. Would I recommend? No.
September 27, 2021
I found this book to be very soap opera-ish; it’s very much like a harlequin light romance book with soppy characters and predictable outcomes.
October 6, 2021
Seems like more of a love story than historical fiction which was disappointing to me.
January 16, 2024
Lisa is delulu and annoying.
Otherwise enjoyed, love me a historical fiction but every chapter from her POV ground my gears
Otherwise enjoyed, love me a historical fiction but every chapter from her POV ground my gears
July 7, 2021
Written for fans of Historical Fiction especially during World War II. I read the Sisters of War and the author has written from a different perspective. The war in Kiev and how the people fought and survived the Germans and were rescued by the Russians. (This of course is not my perspective). The Sisters of War continue with the Daughters of the Resistance when Lisa leaves her family. She is looking for purpose and she finds it when she is rescued from a German train. Her hero turns out to be working with resistance in Kiev. She does not know the Maxim is married but not knowing may have been detrimental to the passion she found. She become part of the resistance as well learning from Maxim. Maxim's wife Irina and daughter Sophie are the love of his life. He is working to destroy what Germany is doing so his family be free to love and grow their family.
Their story is a story of courage and how two women loved the same man. How love brought hope in despair and ultimately sacrifice brought the better good. How each of these characters clung to hope in different ways. A great reminder that hope takes courage and sacrifice.
A special thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Their story is a story of courage and how two women loved the same man. How love brought hope in despair and ultimately sacrifice brought the better good. How each of these characters clung to hope in different ways. A great reminder that hope takes courage and sacrifice.
A special thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
December 14, 2021
Thank you Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The tangled and tenacious grip of fear and upheaval was so wide spread in WW2.
In Kiev the populace lived under Nazi rule and the fear of transports to Germany.
The hunger and threat always present.
Not everyone played the game the Nazis wanted and these Partisans caused mayhem wherever they could.
Two women, Lisa and Irina have their lives upturned during this period and do what they can to survive.
Lisa was on her way to Germany on a crowded train transport until it was stopped by the Partisans.
She develops an affection toward the man who saved her and decides to fight with them.
Irina lives in fear as her husband is part of the outlawed group and is wanted by the Nazis.
Living with her in laws adds to her daily torment.
Betrayal, abduction and rumours of infidelity plague her.
Maxim is loyal to the rebel group and to his wife but when his parents are taken by the Nazis he is put in a situation that will have dire consequences.
Piecing together the fragments of WW2 through fiction is great way to immortalise heroics and sacrifices people and nations made during this time.
I absorb these type of books greedily and in this I learnt of the Ukrainian experiences. An easy to read, very enjoyable and well plotted storyline had me engaged.
The tangled and tenacious grip of fear and upheaval was so wide spread in WW2.
In Kiev the populace lived under Nazi rule and the fear of transports to Germany.
The hunger and threat always present.
Not everyone played the game the Nazis wanted and these Partisans caused mayhem wherever they could.
Two women, Lisa and Irina have their lives upturned during this period and do what they can to survive.
Lisa was on her way to Germany on a crowded train transport until it was stopped by the Partisans.
She develops an affection toward the man who saved her and decides to fight with them.
Irina lives in fear as her husband is part of the outlawed group and is wanted by the Nazis.
Living with her in laws adds to her daily torment.
Betrayal, abduction and rumours of infidelity plague her.
Maxim is loyal to the rebel group and to his wife but when his parents are taken by the Nazis he is put in a situation that will have dire consequences.
Piecing together the fragments of WW2 through fiction is great way to immortalise heroics and sacrifices people and nations made during this time.
I absorb these type of books greedily and in this I learnt of the Ukrainian experiences. An easy to read, very enjoyable and well plotted storyline had me engaged.
July 31, 2022
Inspired by wartime diaries, memoirs, and Kortchik's research, Daughters of the Resistance accurately captures daily life in Nazi-occupied Kyiv and in the Third Front during WW2. "It was a time of terror, hunger and persecution for the local population." We follow Irina, Sonya, and Maxim, who bravely risk their lives to aid the Soviet partisans and their neighbors who are in need. We also follow Lisa, a vulnerable teenager who is rescued on a train that is headed for Hitler's labor camps. Irina and Lisa are inevitably brought together by their love for one man and their duty to protect him.
While I didn't always like Irina and Lisa, who frequently came across as lovesick, selfish, and whiny, I sympathized with their struggles. I was glued to the overall story, even more so after my mom shared examples in the book that her family also experienced in Nazi-occupied France. I'd recommend this book if you like character-driven books and if you want to better understand what hundreds of thousands of oppressed people endured during this time period.
While I didn't always like Irina and Lisa, who frequently came across as lovesick, selfish, and whiny, I sympathized with their struggles. I was glued to the overall story, even more so after my mom shared examples in the book that her family also experienced in Nazi-occupied France. I'd recommend this book if you like character-driven books and if you want to better understand what hundreds of thousands of oppressed people endured during this time period.
April 7, 2021
What a beautiful, harrowing and stunning story following two women in war torn Kiev in 1943.
I never read novels like this and I absolutely loved it.
It’s phenomenally written with vivid and honest descriptions that make you feel the pain from the hunger and cold that the protagonists experience and also the love, loss and friendship.
100% recommend 5/5 in my top 5 reads this year
Thank you NetGalley
I never read novels like this and I absolutely loved it.
It’s phenomenally written with vivid and honest descriptions that make you feel the pain from the hunger and cold that the protagonists experience and also the love, loss and friendship.
100% recommend 5/5 in my top 5 reads this year
Thank you NetGalley
January 22, 2025
A young woman is taken from her home from the Ukraine and placed on a train to Hitler's labor camp in Germany. The train is intercepted by some unlikely heros. However just because her life was saved doesn't mean the War is over just yet. Lisa Smirnova will face her biggest challenge of staying alive in a war that has spared no one. Excellent read!
January 4, 2023
I wanted to like this. And there were parts that were good (like the ending) but Lisa was a brat through most of the book and that really made me dislike her and really not see her growth.
November 29, 2023
I whipped through this book. I left the WWII genre for awhile and this was an amazing one to come back to. It was well written and a great story that wove together nicely.
July 31, 2024
started off slow and felt they squeezed to much at the end - pacing was off. however character were interesting and complex !!
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