The Puppet Maker's Daughter

by Karla M. Jay

2024 FAPA Gold medal winner for Historical Fiction
2023 Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards
2022 New York City Big Book WINNER
2022 Independent Author Network) IAN FINALIST
2022 Shortlist for the Selfie Award by Publisher's Weekly
2021 FINALIST Self-Published Review Contest

Hungary 1944. The war comes late to Budapest. Nineteen-year-old Marika, forced out of nursing school, believes she and her Jewish family will remain safe, even as Nazi soldiers fill their cobbled streets. With Russians to their east and the Allies to their west, everyone assumes the war is nearly over. Her father, once a prominent engineer, returns to his passion for puppet making. Soon, she is pulled into the resistance to rescue orphans and displaced Jews while keeping her family one step ahead of Eichmann’s extermination plans.

As the world turns dark around Marika, the fanatical Arrow Cross Party, a ruthless group that listens to no one, including the Germans, unleashes a killing spree on the remaining Jews of Europe. One day, as peril intensifies, she must make a decision that puts her in extreme danger to save herself, her family, and the orphans she’s sheltered. Will she regret that moment for the rest of her life?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Hungary, World War II, Holocaust, Travel

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2022

About the author

Karla M. Jay is an award-winning historical fiction author. She loves to travel, garden, and to discover a story that has never been told. Follow her on BookBub! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karla...

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Karla M. Jay takes us to Budapest, Hungary in March 1944 to help us examine what transpired there in the closing days of WWII. War had come late to Budapest, but nineteen-year-old Marika Tausig believed she and her Jewish family were safe. She was pulled into the resistance to rescue orphans while she kept her family one step ahead of Nazi extermination plans. Did she regret the hard decision she had to make to save her family and the orphans she’d sheltered?

I’m always amazed at the new things I learn despite being an avid WW2 historical fiction reader. Jay’s research into the situation in Budapest is eye-opening. She highlights how divisions occurred - ‘us’ and ‘not us’ - which led to (1) collective violence as some Hungarian citizens turned on their Jewish neighbours and some were even eager actors in the deportations and (2) turning a blind eye to the Arrow Cross killings. One has to wonder how far away we are today from something such as this happening again. The world at the moment has been divided into two camps and violence and hatred are growing. I was unaware of the death marches in Hungary, the cave and tunnel systems used by the Resistance, nor the high percentage of Hungarian Jew deaths under the hands of the Arrow Cross fascists and the death camps. I appreciated a well-researched book to add to my understanding of this horrific time in history. I’d previously read/watched ‘A Hero’s Story,’ about the Hungarian Jews and Wallenberg’s rescue attempts during the Arrow Cross coup.

Jay’s account reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of family, even if its members are patched together with remnants of other shattered lives. Her characters have depth and the facts and fiction mesh seamlessly.

Published in time for the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remebrance Day, The Puppet Maker’s Daughter is an essential book in the journey to understanding such a dark period in history.

I was gifted this book by Karla M. Jay, Book Circle Press, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Jeffrey Lowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The Puppet Maker's Daughter, Karla M. Jay proves there are surprising stories about WWII and the Holocaust still to be told.

I was fortunate enough to read a prepublication copy of Ms. Jay's new book. It is a masterpiece, the new "best of" her historical fiction novels. The characters felt like living, breathing members of my own family, and the vivid descriptions transported me to the grand city of Budapest to experience firsthand its descent into madness.

Thank you, Karla, for an immersive experience well beyond just "a good read!"

[Tony Riches · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me sit up and think about the power of historical fiction. As well as giving a voice to those who can no longer tell their stories, we can travel back in time to hear the sounds and smells - and even experience harrowing events, and the horrors of times and places which should never be forgotten.

This is rarely more important than in the city of Budapest of 1944. Karla M Jay pointes out in her author’s note that the Jews of Hungary almost made it. In only nine months they went from living under what were known as ‘restrictive regulations’ to wholesale mass deportations and the murder of 565,000 men women and children.

The opening line is ‘The Germans have arrived’ and our knowledge of the inevitable lurks in the background as we follow the lives of an apparently unremarkable family. The narrator, nineteen-year-old trainee nurse, Marika, sums up their situation in her chilling realisation, ‘The war may be living at our lives eating away at our freedoms, but now it’s found us. If we don’t leave this city, it will surely devour us all.’

Like most people, my knowledge of what actually happened in Budapest was limited to a few stark facts, which is why this book needs to be read by everyone.

Tony Riches

[Tom Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compelling, suspenseful story of a family’s struggle to survive a nightmare scenario. Toward the end of World War II, the Germans turn their attention to Hungary. Adolf Eichmann, one of the major Nazi organizers of the holocaust, believes Hungary could be his crowning achievement. Marika and her family are subject to the growing number of restrictions imposed upon the Jews. As the Germans tighten their grip, neighbor turns against neighbor, and Marika and her family must scramble daily to survive. Despite the threat, Marika works as a nurse and finds places for children orphaned in the war. Her boundless courage is an inspiration that drives the novel to breathtaking heights.

[Susan P · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Puppet Maker's Daughter is a well-researched and well-written book set in Hungary during the last year of World War II. Like much of Europe, Hungary had a long and ugly tradition of antisemitism, which was amplified and exacerbated by the “permissions” of Hungary’s anti-Jewish laws and decrees.

[Maison Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly told shocking tale of real life terror

Karla Jay's work gets better and better as she tells the untold stories of love and loss during one of the most intensely awful period of world history, the Holocaust. Thank you Karla for bravely venturing into the darkness to bring to light the truth of humanity's most depraved period, in hopes it will never happen again.

[Allie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely blown away with how immersive, terrifying, and heartbreaking this book was. And to know that it’s based on fact is both impressive and horrifying.

I don’t know what to do with the knowledge of how the neighbors treated each other in Hungary during that year. I guess it could happen anywhere, to anyone. And that is scary.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone, but be aware that it’s not a lighthearted read.

[Richard Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karla Jay offers her readers the gift of Historical Fiction at its absolute finest.

Set in the seldom-talked-about realities of Hungary’s struggle to survive World War Two, "The Puppet Maker’s Daughter" tells one girl’s heart-rending story as she endeavors to maintain her identity while the city and country she loves slowly turn upside down all around her. This story is richly layered. The characters Marika, Gellert and Peter are conflicted, flawed and undeniably real, as they struggle to do what’s right, in spite of of living in a time that conspires to turn good to evil and evil to good.

Karla Jay’s style is both lyrical and informative. She weaves her research into her stories so seamlessly that the reader forgets that each paragraph does more than set a scene, provide context, explore character motivations, and develop a marvelously complex plot. Ms. Jay is in fact revisiting and retelling the realities of many of those refugees, victims, and forever-optimistic Eastern-Europeans who lived through the challenges, ravages, and atrocities of this era.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karla Jay has done it again! Written another well researched, compelling novel, this one set in Hungary at the end of World War II. The center of this story is 19-year-old Marika, and her family, struggling to survive, just as the Germans enter Hungary. Hungary had been relatively safe until then, but no longer. Soon, it is not only the Nazis they have to fear, but the Arrow Cross Party. Karla Jay made me feel the terror, deprivation and fear felt by all, as their lives crumbled around them. The unspeakable acts committed by both the Nazis and the Arrow Cross party are beyond belief, and yet, they are all too true. The characters that Karla has created are wonderfully complex, and while her story makes you feel all their sorrow and fear, you also feel their resilience and hope for the future. I learned much about that time period that I did not know, including the existence of the Arrow Cross Party. This is an important book that sheds light on a terrible period in history that should never be forgotten. Karla's book brings that time vividly to life through the lives of the characters and stories she has created. I just loved this book! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Be prepared to experience an extreme range of emotions and to see the absolute best and the absolute worst that can exist inside of a person. Steeped in historical accuracy, it is a heart- wrenching story to read, but it needs to be read and the story needed to be told. The writing is superb. The characters, even those you only meet for a couple of pages, are so well-developed, you’ll find yourself thinking about them long after you’ve finished reading. I will be adding Karla M. Jay to my list of must-read authors. My only negative comment is that I wish I had a signed copy instead of a Kindle edition, because I want this book to be part of my library!

[Lavelle Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best historical fictions

The author, obviously, did her research. The fictional characters fit perfectly into the historical account of a horrific period. From the beginning I was inside the main character, Marita. I felt the sheer hopelessness of all the persons hiding in fear for their loved ones as well as themselves. This book is highly recommended as a teaching book to ensure that people will not follow governments that perpetuate hate and cruelty toward other humans.

[Julia Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about Karla M. Jay books is how she manages to find stories I've never heard of! Who knew more Hungarian Jews were killed at Auschwitz over any other ethnicity?

And the Arrow Cross Party? An uncontrollable mob of right-wing fascists that did more killing than the Nazis in Budapest the final months of the war. Tens of thousands shot along the banks of the Danube, tens of thousands more forced on a Death March, the rest left walled in a ghetto with no food or water during one of the coldest winters in Hungarian history.

Atrocious behavior kept secret until the 1990's, after Communism was driven out of Hungary.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So tragically realistic! Like Ms. Jay's other award-winning historical fiction, you can count on the accuracy of her research and her amazing ability to present it in a compelling way. Her images are made even more beautiful set against the horrifying circumstances that played out in Budapest and the countryside after the German's arrived. I highly recommend this book!

[Robin Willson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story of a girl and her family in Budapest just before the end of WW2. In only nine months they went from living under restrictive regulations to wholesale mass deportations and the murder of 565,000. The war was almost over, so the Germans wanted to quickly liberate the city of all the Jews, wiping out all generations. This is an important story, and timely with the recent attack on the Ukraine by Russia, and the socialist leaning current government in the US. It shows the steps that lead to such evil and power growth, as well as what happens, the torture and hatred. These are lessons that should never be forgotten. Stories like these personify the horror and persecution that occurred. You can nearly feel every bit of the pain. What's even more incredible is that the Germans themselves are rarely involved in clearing Jews from the villages and steering them into ghettos outside the towns. It’s the local gendarmes who drive the villagers from their homes and allow looting of their properties. The Arrow Cross organizations were really vicious in their treatment of Jews and those who helped them. They were ruthless in hunting them down and executing large groups. Leaves an impression!
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#ThePuppetMakersDaughter #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

[Valerie]

I am a huge fan of WWII historical fiction. Karla Jay did not disappoint with this book. I definitely recommend everyone read The Puppet Maker's Daughter.

[Bob Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book that I have enjoyed from this author. Her third book, When We Were Brave, did an exceptional job to provide different perspectives in the tragedies felt by diverse people during World War II. The Puppet Maker's daughter gives yet another excellent perspective from a young lady in Hungary. You see her life on the periphery of the war as it is drawing to a close, that quickly takes a turn for the worse for those in her country as Germany feels the pressure of losing the war. One cannot help but worry for her life as well as those around her and Ms. Jay does not sugarcoat how it plays out as there will be losses along the way. It is an excellent insight into the drama of that period of history in that part of the world.

As with Ms. Jay's other recent books, there are lessons to be learned that apply to the world we live in today. Having read this book at a time when Ukraine is being invaded by Russia, it is hard to ignore the similarities of two different countries at two different times, which were living in safe environments that suddenly turns hostile. Sadly, there are even takeaways that correlate to issues within our own country.

This a great fictional story depicting the real terrors from a time that brings to mind the adage of learning from the past or risk repeating it.

[Andy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how many stars Goodreads had available for choosing, I'd pick the one farthest to the right, even if it was a hundred. Karla managed to absorb me so deeply in this story that I smelled the hospitals, the food, and even the fear. She enlightened me with more information than I remember ever gleaning from a history book. She did the research and I got the profit. Read this compelling page turner and be prepared to fall deeply into a story of horror, grief, and terror while being lifted by heroics and heartwarming deeds of common, and not so common people. Extraordinary storytelling! Maybe we need a new category of book that informs the story is nearly non-fiction with only a smattering of fable. Karla M Jay would likely be the Blue Ribbon recipient in the new genre.

[D.K. Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This war isn't about bullets and fixing wounds.” I cup his face in my hands. “It's about demoralization and disorder and extreme brutality. And complete indifference on the part of whoever has the upper hand at the time. No one wins when that's the battle.”

In the massive amount of historical fiction with the setting of WWII, every once in a while one stands out in the crowd. This book, “The Puppetmaker's Daughter” is one of those stand-out novels with all the heart-wrenching and heartwarming moments scattered throughout the narrative with a perfect amount of seasoning, like sprinkling an evenly measured scoop of paprika over Hungarian paprikash.

In 1944, just months away from the end of the war, most Jewish families in Budapest Hungary believed their safety was assured. At nineteen years old, Marika, watches in horror as the Wehrmacht marches into the city, and yet, her family hangs on to the last threads of hope as the Russians approach from the east, and the Allies approach from the west. And so, they attempt to lead as normal a life as possible, even as Marika struggles with an injured fiance and her own secretive work with the underground resistance, rescuing orphans and displaced Jews, while fearing Eichmann's extermination agenda is just on the horizon.

But now more than ever, when night drops her curtain of darkness over the city, it seems my family prefers sorting through our memories rather than pondering the future. A laugh here, a head shake there, as familiar stories are retold. There's even room ot accept the embellishment we add because the exaggerated details remind us of what was real. That we are real. Memories hold us in place and will surely outlast our daily fears. What else could we cherish more than these as we all move toward uncertainty?

While most books about the war hinge on the concentration camps, this one skillfully weaves the emotional trek this young girl has as she fights to stay alive, even in the grimmest of moments. Her father, the backbone of the family, takes his passion for puppet making and telling riddles to a level which may mean the survival of his family; and Marika gathers the strength and resilience shown by her own parents and uses these well-taught skills to not only help care for the orphans, but to keep breathing day to day amid the incredible inhumanity.

Ms Jay's storytelling technique and how she takes the massive amounts of research and develops it into this story is breathtaking, especially showing the effect the war has on others of different religions who are also persecuted by the Nazis, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Catholic nuns who worked in conjunction with the resistance.

Sometimes, bravery is nothing more than gritting your teeth through emotional pain by putting one foot in front of the other on a slow walk toward the next day, the next week. That's what I tell myself many times a day.

While this is an incredible study in history, it also delves deep into the raw, brutal, and real imagery of the horrors of war – especially with the death marches imposed on those Eichmann wanted eliminated as he littered the streets and the Danube with bodies. But while the necessary depiction of these moments are told, you also see a young woman with love, compassion and strength, and whose family bonds pump through her veins, warming her, at times, and keeping her alive. Will there be tears? Yes. And for the most part, you will recognize the stark reminder of how war, in any shape or form, rips to shred the fabric of any normalcy of life... and how time and again, history repeats itself when those in power refuse to learn anything from the past. For anyone concerned about the issues in Ukraine and Russia, this is a profound book to read.

By all means, do not rush through this book... take the time to truly appreciate Ms Jay's astounding narrative, woven with such intricate skill that you are reminded of a work of embroidery art where each stitch is necessary to the complete whole. You can feel the care the author took with each and every word, sentence, paragraph, and chapter. This is, without a doubt, a must read... and one you will read again and again and again.

I used to imagine eternity must be like a set of bound photographs, where we flip through snapshots of all we've lived through. Now I pray that's not how it is. Never again do I want a glimpse of the horrors of this last year, and I sure don't want to carry them into eternity with me.

*****

“The Puppetmaker's Daughter” by Karla Jay receives five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award.

[Laramie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Puppet Maker's Daughter is one of those novels that leaves you feeling immersed in the story. It feels like the characters are your parents, your brother, nephew, and your life. You are taken back to a world that you can only imagine, where you can smell the food, see the hospitals, and truly feel like you are there in the story. You feel the deep need to help others while also being utterly horrified at the atrocities happening day in and day out.



Karla Jay has created a beautiful, historical masterpiece. One that has left me researching more about WWII in Budapest. This wasn't an area you deeply cover in school when learning about the war. With this narrative through the eyes of 19 year old Marika, you are brought in to what it was like to live so close to the end of the war being a Jew in Hungary, and then the Germans invade. The line that captivated me from the beginning was, "Since the war started, our lives have been controlled as if we are the marionettes with mad puppeteers holding our strings." This line perfectly sums up the war itself and the story of the Hungarians in WWII.



Take a dive into a story that will captivate you from the beginning. It will take you through the horrors of the Arrow Cross Party, while also showing you the heroics of a family amidst the chaos. While you will feel the terror, horror and ultimate sadness of what was brought on to the Jewish people in Hungary in the final months of WWII, you will also see the utmost bravery, faith and strength. Follow Marika's story on having your world torn apart when you can see light at the end of the tunnel and how people you know might turn on you.



If you can read any historical fiction novel, read The Puppet Maker's Daughter. This is by far one of the best I have read. Thanks to the author Karla Jay for opening my eyes to the atrocities of what happened in Hungary and for providing such a factual fictional story that has me thinking and feeling long after reading it.

[Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad but necessary

This book was so so sad. It's nothing I haven't technically heard before, but yet it was different. I've never read a WW2 book set in Hungary, apparently one of the last countries where Jews were hunted down. And even with that shortened time frame, they suffered such atrocities and horros and it just.....broke my heart. Especially when they aimed for the kids or pregnant women.
This book was really showed the slow progression of hate from mild to open hostility. It showed how they're neighbors turned on them and later even participated gladly in murders and genocides. How they took what they wanted for themselves in the name of politics and turned a blind eye....
BUT it also showed the courage of the few who refused to give the Jews up. I loved that it mentioned not only resistance fighters but the nuns, the Christians, the friends, the Red Cross volunteers, the Swiss government reps that fought and fought hard to save as many people as possible. Most people love to point out the evils of Catholics and Christians and they forget the good they have done as well. These people were willing to die and stay behind to defend the innocent and it made my heart swell and reminded me that there is still hope for humanity when people like this exist and it made me proud that I too believe. No one who hasn't been in those situations could understand or know how they would react or act but.....I would hope I'd be one of the brave that helped.
In short yes, this is such a sad story, but it was also beautiful and a must read.

[David Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best read in years!
I lack language adequate to write the emotions this novel elicited - Ms. Jay's elegant and intricate descriptions had me emotionally and intellectually engaged from the beginning; I felt it all and was never allowed to forget that this story was real once. I experienced the disappointments, hopes and horrors right along with Marika, the main character. Even today, WWII history continues to be revealed - and who knew about the horrors happening in Budapest? Hungarian Jews – that’s who! This is the story of the wide-awake nightmare of a country that almost made it to the end of the war, bleeding to death and self-destructing in the shadow of Hitler’s last year. Sad, yet beautiful, hopeful, and brutally honest. Ms Jay’s novels are characterised by accurate research, visual and visceral elements, and extraordinarily relatable characters – this time, told in real-time 1st person … just stunning. In The Puppet Maker’s Daughter, a reader 'sees' every detail of Budapest and Hungary, elegantly squeezed from Ms Jay's pen. Again, she has written a “MovieBook.”

[Lane Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should be contradictory to read a story of a struggle to maintain a family and survive amid the Nazi horrors of 1944 when the story is written in language so beautiful, certain phases of the narative might have been written by Tennyson. "A warm breeze pushes through our open living room windows, gently lifting the ivory laced curtains, the ghostly rhythm invested with the scents of lilac and lilly-of-the-valley." Gorgeous. The contradiction of the beautifyl language and the cold-hearted campaign of the Nazis is startling, and makes the horrors of the story even more heartbreaking. And the fact that the story is based upon fact makes the narrative all the more unforgettable. It took days before the eventual fate of these unfortunate characters faded somewhate from my everyday thoughts. Kudos on a masterwork of survival and the ability to harness the courage to overcome fear, and keep going, no matter what.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-researched, totally absorbing book! The story revolves around 19-year-old Marika, during World War II, when the Nazis came into Hungary in 1944. Until this time, Hungary and the Jewish people had been relatively safe. They endured hardships and shortages, but not the horrors of other parts of Europe. This safety had now ended, as Eichmann and Hitler's army march into Hungary and together with the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party, bring terror and death to the Jewish people of Hungary. Karla Jay has created realistic, wonderful (and sometimes terrible) characters that made me feel all the fear and desperation of Hungary at that time, as well as the resilience of those faced with the double threat of the Nazis and the Arrow Cross Party. I learned much about that time period that I had not known before. I feel this is a very important book that highlights a little-known story that should not be forgotten. This is the second book by Karla Jay that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My wife obtained an ARC of this from the publisher and Netgalley and I am very glad she did!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Goodreads and Karla M. Jay for giving me the opportunity to read The Puppet Maker's Daughter via the Kindle through their giveaways.

The Puppet Maker's Daughter follows Marika's family and friends in Budapest, Hungary in 1944. I read these types of books and they make so grateful that I am not living in similar circumstances. The strength of the people and their willingness to help each other and to fight for survival just amazes me. I hope historical fiction books like these exposes people to the horrors that have happened in our history and makes them feel something for the people that actually lived through these events. Unfortunately, these types of events are still occurring in our world. I can only hope that more people will be willing to help and not turn blind eyes to situations any more. No one deserves to live in fear.

I really enjoyed this book. This was the first book I have ever read depicting the Jews plight in Budapest, Hungary.

[goldie kacinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Jay has done it again? She has brought to our attention the impact of WWII but his time on Budapest, Hungary. This is a griping story that is brought to life in only a way that Ms. Jay can. Her writing allows us to personally relate with the characters by adding uncommon, important details that would otherwise go unnoticed but create relatable touching ah-ha moments. The pace is fast, and the shock of how quickly people can turn on one another is heartbreaking. Aside from the tragedies you would expect from war, the Puppet Makers Daughter has twists and turns that surprise, enchant, and stir raw emotion that bond you to the characters and make you want to learn and understand more, long after you finish the book.

[Maya Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction is not one of my preferred genres but when I make the decision to bury my nose in one, this novel by Karla M. Jay is what I hope to find - one that not only entertains and enlightens/educates but also holds my attention. The Puppet Maker's Daughter is a page-turner for those reasons and more. Karla has the ability to insert mystery, unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your cushy chair.

And while I learned much more about the full reach of the holocaust, I'm a nerd and love fact-checking when digging into historical fiction. Glad to say this old lady was not disappointed, although the human propensity to inflict pain and suffering never ceases to horrify, upset me. And it persists.

But in spite of it all, thank you, Karla, for another great read.

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

We follow Marika and her Jewish family through WWII in Budapest, Hungary. The war arrives late to Hungary in the spring of 1944 but the brutalities are horrifying. It is unfathomable how people could be so full of hatred and do such terrible acts against humanity and yet people still found the strength to survive. I never knew anything about the war in Hungary as most WWII stories focus on the concentration camps and I was completely engrossed in The Puppet Maker's Daughter. This one is totally heartbreaking and something everyone should read. This is a must read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most amazing mixture of fact and imagination. I was riveted by the descriptions of the places, the people, the smells, the joys and the heartbreaks. Man's inhumanity to man knows few bounds, and most people have no knowledge of the holocaust in Hungary. This is a beautifully-written description of the horrors inflicted by the Hungarian people on other citizens. The Arrow Cross Party is little known, and this book describes some of its most horrible crimes. Especially with the current genocides being propagated, this book is totally relevant, and I hope more people will read it and learn from it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best WWII book I have ever read. This book shows a very different story about WWII. I read this on the beach in Hawaii. Usually on the beach you read a light beach book. I go so caught up in the book that I chose not to read a lighthearted book. I lost track of time many times while reading it. I felt very connected to the main character. I had emotions that she had, I was afraid when she was afraid, I was happy with the small victories she had. I have read some of the authors previous books. I have enjoyed them all, but this one truly shows how much she has grown as an author.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I find myself lately gravitating towards historical fiction surrounding WWII. This book was the first I have read focusing on the atrocities endured by the Jewish people of Hungary. It is written in such a way as to compel you to keep reading while at the same time conveying a level of depravity that will leave you feeling a sense of horror and disgust. I think it is important, that while fiction, the reader is thrown into the depths of gut wrenching emotion that any human should feel when envisioning the atrocities of human extermination. We should never forget what people are capable of when one group asserts superiority over another lest we prevent future genocide. This is a book worth reading.