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Children of the Catastrophe: A Novel
Set amid the backdrop of the massacre of Greeks and Armenians after World War I, a deeply affecting family story of love and survival infused with the rich historical detail and emotional power of Sisters of the Resistance and The Women in the Castle.
It is 1908 and Smyrna is the most cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea. Though long a part of the Ottoman Empire, Smyrna has always been Greek, and its citizens honor the traditions of previous generations. The Demirigis and Melopoulos families are no different, and now Liana Demirigis will wed the only Melopoulos son, Vassili--a marriage arranged by her parents.
After the wedding, Liana and Vassili build an idyllic life for themselves and their children outside of the city, safe from rising political tensions roiling the region and the world. But less than a decade later, the growing divisions between the Greeks and Turks threaten to boil over. When each country chooses a different side with the outbreak of the Great War, a hunger to reclaim Izmir consumes Greece. Suddenly Liana and her family, like thousands of others like them, are thrust into danger . . . and many will not survive.
Children of the Catastrophe is a beautifully told story that unfolds through the experiences of the Melopoulos family--their loves and quarrels, their hopes and disappointments, played out against a world on fire. Sarah Shoemaker artfully draws us into her characters' rich lives and evocatively captures all that was lost as hostilities mount and innocent men, women, and children find themselves caught up in forces beyond their control.
It is 1908 and Smyrna is the most cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea. Though long a part of the Ottoman Empire, Smyrna has always been Greek, and its citizens honor the traditions of previous generations. The Demirigis and Melopoulos families are no different, and now Liana Demirigis will wed the only Melopoulos son, Vassili--a marriage arranged by her parents.
After the wedding, Liana and Vassili build an idyllic life for themselves and their children outside of the city, safe from rising political tensions roiling the region and the world. But less than a decade later, the growing divisions between the Greeks and Turks threaten to boil over. When each country chooses a different side with the outbreak of the Great War, a hunger to reclaim Izmir consumes Greece. Suddenly Liana and her family, like thousands of others like them, are thrust into danger . . . and many will not survive.
Children of the Catastrophe is a beautifully told story that unfolds through the experiences of the Melopoulos family--their loves and quarrels, their hopes and disappointments, played out against a world on fire. Sarah Shoemaker artfully draws us into her characters' rich lives and evocatively captures all that was lost as hostilities mount and innocent men, women, and children find themselves caught up in forces beyond their control.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2022
12 people are currently reading
3132 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Shoemaker
4 books180 followersSarah Shoemaker grew up in a suburb of Chicago and now lives in a little village in northern Michigan. When she was in the third grade, she knew she wanted to be a writer, but it has been a long and circuitous path to get there. She has been a teacher, a wife, a stay-at-home mom, a librarian and, finally, a published writer.
CHILDREN OF THE CATASTROPHE is her most recent book. Coming out September 6, 2022, it is a historical novel about family, about love and loss, and about courage and survival. Her previous novel, MR. ROCHESTER, told the story of the strange, sometimes imperious, sometimes playful, man that Jane Eyre fell in love with. In the case if both books, Sarah has written stories that she herself would want to read. As Toni Morrison wrote: "If you really want to read a book but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."
CHILDREN OF THE CATASTROPHE is her most recent book. Coming out September 6, 2022, it is a historical novel about family, about love and loss, and about courage and survival. Her previous novel, MR. ROCHESTER, told the story of the strange, sometimes imperious, sometimes playful, man that Jane Eyre fell in love with. In the case if both books, Sarah has written stories that she herself would want to read. As Toni Morrison wrote: "If you really want to read a book but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 27, 2022
Smyrna is the busiest city on the Mediterranean Sea in 1908, due to it's easily accessible port and connection to the inland. Part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, Smyrna has been home to generations of Greek and Armenian people.
Emmanuel and Theodora Demirigis have four daughters, three are married and they are looking for a suitable husband for their youngest daughter Liana. She marries Vasili the only son of Dimitri and Vala Melopoulos, Dimitri is a tobacconist, and her father Emmanuel is a talented silversmith.
The couple move to the countryside at Bournabat, Liana can still see her family, and they start one of their own. Theodora enjoys entertaining and she’s the perfect hostess, Dora holds celebrations for her children and grandchildren. Emmanuel likes to keep up to date with what happening, he warns Vasili about the tension between the Greeks and the Turks. Each country chooses a different side during WW I, when it ends Vasili assumes the hostilities are over, and unfortunately he’s wrong.
Vasili and Liana have no idea that everything is about to change, the Turkish Army lead by Mustafa Kemal has the Greek army on the run, and it will lead to wide scale disorder and catastrophe!
I received a copy of Children of the Catastrophe from Edelweiss and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. It’s a historical saga about the joining of two families, the arranged marriage turns into a love match, the ups and downs of their lives together, and the extended family. Their heritage, celebrations, births, disappointments, disagreements, and challenges they faced. I really enjoyed reading about the traditions and bond between the Demirigis family, how Theodora took Liana to the bath's for the first time, Emmanuel's skills as a silversmith, the food and culture, how she fell in love with Vasili, and her relationship with her mother-in-law.
Sarah Shoemaker’s well written narrative brought to my attention the details of the Greco-Turkish War, something I knew very little about, how the Turks wanted to reclaim the city of Smyrna, and it's now known as Izmir. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book, and it's released on the 6th of September 2022.
Emmanuel and Theodora Demirigis have four daughters, three are married and they are looking for a suitable husband for their youngest daughter Liana. She marries Vasili the only son of Dimitri and Vala Melopoulos, Dimitri is a tobacconist, and her father Emmanuel is a talented silversmith.
The couple move to the countryside at Bournabat, Liana can still see her family, and they start one of their own. Theodora enjoys entertaining and she’s the perfect hostess, Dora holds celebrations for her children and grandchildren. Emmanuel likes to keep up to date with what happening, he warns Vasili about the tension between the Greeks and the Turks. Each country chooses a different side during WW I, when it ends Vasili assumes the hostilities are over, and unfortunately he’s wrong.
Vasili and Liana have no idea that everything is about to change, the Turkish Army lead by Mustafa Kemal has the Greek army on the run, and it will lead to wide scale disorder and catastrophe!
I received a copy of Children of the Catastrophe from Edelweiss and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. It’s a historical saga about the joining of two families, the arranged marriage turns into a love match, the ups and downs of their lives together, and the extended family. Their heritage, celebrations, births, disappointments, disagreements, and challenges they faced. I really enjoyed reading about the traditions and bond between the Demirigis family, how Theodora took Liana to the bath's for the first time, Emmanuel's skills as a silversmith, the food and culture, how she fell in love with Vasili, and her relationship with her mother-in-law.
Sarah Shoemaker’s well written narrative brought to my attention the details of the Greco-Turkish War, something I knew very little about, how the Turks wanted to reclaim the city of Smyrna, and it's now known as Izmir. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book, and it's released on the 6th of September 2022.
August 12, 2022
Thanks to HarperCollins Publishing for my ARC of Author Sarah Shoemaker’s September 2022 release titled “Children of the Catastrophe” for an honest review. 📚 ❤️
Historical fiction at it’s BEST!!! No dry, boring, predictable read here!!! Author Sarah Shoemaker delivers a rich story teamed with characters you immediately fall for. This multi-generational tale begins with the marrying off of Liana to Vasili and how their family is drawn from quiet countryside living into the Catastrophe of the Great War’s resulting cultural and political warfare, and how their family will survive as life and dreams unravel. This is truly a beautiful book you won’t be able to put it down. 💕
Historical fiction at it’s BEST!!! No dry, boring, predictable read here!!! Author Sarah Shoemaker delivers a rich story teamed with characters you immediately fall for. This multi-generational tale begins with the marrying off of Liana to Vasili and how their family is drawn from quiet countryside living into the Catastrophe of the Great War’s resulting cultural and political warfare, and how their family will survive as life and dreams unravel. This is truly a beautiful book you won’t be able to put it down. 💕
September 11, 2022
Review to come 💕
October 15, 2022
When I originally saw the blurb for this book I felt intimidated because it was set during the Ottoman Empire in the early 1900s, a time period I knew little about. While filled with historic information, the first half reminded me of a family saga, and I was completely absorbed by the rich characters, family dynamics, and learning about the Greek culture and traditions. The second half focused more on the family’s experience during the Armenian and Greek massacre, which was sad and awful, but so important to read/ learn about. I listened to the audiobook and found it easy to follow along with, despite the novelty of the subject, and thought the narrator did a great job portraying the various characters.
I recommend this one if you:
-Are a fan of historical fiction
-Are interested in learning about the Greco-Turkish war
-Like multi-generational stories that highlight family traditions
I recommend this one if you:
-Are a fan of historical fiction
-Are interested in learning about the Greco-Turkish war
-Like multi-generational stories that highlight family traditions
July 30, 2022
I was grateful to receive an ARC for “Children of the Catastrophe.” Besides being a huge fan of historical fiction, my own (Greek) family was originally from Turkey and their stories of pain and suffering have always been part of my identity.
This book is about the Greeks (and Armenians) of Smyrna in the early 1900s. Their way of life was described in authentic detail. The story begins around 1908, focusing on the families of a young couple, Liana and Vasili. I loved the descriptions of how Greek mothers found their children’s spouses. (Not that I approve, but it was funny.) I loved Liana’s family with all their interactions, traditions, and warmth. It seemed that Sarah Shoemaker has a deep understanding and respect for the Greeks of Smyrna, so much so, that I wondered if she was Greek.
Vasili, the young husband, was a beautiful human being. His love for Liana, his children, and Liana’s family moved me. Liana’s father too was a loving family man, but Vasili had suffered from having a cold and controlling mother, and yet it didn’t turn him bitter. I really disliked his mother, Vaia, but she was not unusual for those times. My own grandmother was a lot like her. She hoped to control the young couple after they married, but underestimated the strength of Liana. Her strength of character was admirable, but sometimes our best qualities can also be our worst.
There are a lot of sad events in the book, and although the author writes with compassion, it is not melodramatic or sensational. I LOVED this book, and I feel that it will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#ChildrenoftheCatastrophe #NetGalley
This book is about the Greeks (and Armenians) of Smyrna in the early 1900s. Their way of life was described in authentic detail. The story begins around 1908, focusing on the families of a young couple, Liana and Vasili. I loved the descriptions of how Greek mothers found their children’s spouses. (Not that I approve, but it was funny.) I loved Liana’s family with all their interactions, traditions, and warmth. It seemed that Sarah Shoemaker has a deep understanding and respect for the Greeks of Smyrna, so much so, that I wondered if she was Greek.
Vasili, the young husband, was a beautiful human being. His love for Liana, his children, and Liana’s family moved me. Liana’s father too was a loving family man, but Vasili had suffered from having a cold and controlling mother, and yet it didn’t turn him bitter. I really disliked his mother, Vaia, but she was not unusual for those times. My own grandmother was a lot like her. She hoped to control the young couple after they married, but underestimated the strength of Liana. Her strength of character was admirable, but sometimes our best qualities can also be our worst.
There are a lot of sad events in the book, and although the author writes with compassion, it is not melodramatic or sensational. I LOVED this book, and I feel that it will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#ChildrenoftheCatastrophe #NetGalley
October 30, 2022
Shoemaker is a good writer. She describes people well and tells a good story.
I struggled with this book though.
It felt like a whole lot of buildup - for not much. Halfway through, I almost gave up, but hoped it would redeem itself. For me, it got worse.
There were side plots and details that made no sense (honey, the beach - just to name two of many).
The descriptions with cringe worthy. If I have to read about a woman being cut from neck to torso and laying in the street or that “warm moist place” that the main character loved about his wife one more time… I may never read again 😣 (these descriptions were used, over and over).
It’s historical fiction, but I wouldn’t classify it as such. It felt more like a fiction novel with some stuff about the war/genocide thrown in at the very end.
Lastly, somewhat like my review, it jumps all over. A decade flys by in the turn of a page. Suddenly the main character is married, pregnant, has 3 children. It was super hard to keep track of and felt jolting. And it made the random pages of detail drone on and on.
I usually don’t read books all the way through if they’re this low on my rating scale, but I kept hoping with this one because of the authors writing style. I loved her descriptions and loved some aspects of the story. But there are too many negatives for me to recommend this book.
Thankful to Sutton’s Bay library for a free copy of this book from a local author (I’ll be donating it to someone who will hopefully enjoy it more!)
I struggled with this book though.
It felt like a whole lot of buildup - for not much. Halfway through, I almost gave up, but hoped it would redeem itself. For me, it got worse.
There were side plots and details that made no sense (honey, the beach - just to name two of many).
The descriptions with cringe worthy. If I have to read about a woman being cut from neck to torso and laying in the street or that “warm moist place” that the main character loved about his wife one more time… I may never read again 😣 (these descriptions were used, over and over).
It’s historical fiction, but I wouldn’t classify it as such. It felt more like a fiction novel with some stuff about the war/genocide thrown in at the very end.
Lastly, somewhat like my review, it jumps all over. A decade flys by in the turn of a page. Suddenly the main character is married, pregnant, has 3 children. It was super hard to keep track of and felt jolting. And it made the random pages of detail drone on and on.
I usually don’t read books all the way through if they’re this low on my rating scale, but I kept hoping with this one because of the authors writing style. I loved her descriptions and loved some aspects of the story. But there are too many negatives for me to recommend this book.
Thankful to Sutton’s Bay library for a free copy of this book from a local author (I’ll be donating it to someone who will hopefully enjoy it more!)
September 8, 2022
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
Pub Day: 9-6-2022
We begin in 1908 Smyrna and follow 17-year-old Liana as she is paraded through a Greek bath house in the hopes of finding a husband. Liana and her family are the focus of this story, with the progression of WWI and the Greco-Turkish War in the background for most of the story.
I enjoyed how this story started and appreciated learning so much about the family traditions, but it didn’t really feel like a historical fiction until the last part of the book. The focus was on family dynamics for 15 years and then a lot of unsettling things happened in the span of a few days. I felt blindsided.
It’s a book that is very heavy on character development until the last three chapters, which are jam packed with the effects of war. I enjoyed the characters, but the end felt too rushed and I wished there had been more explanation and follow up.
Thank you Harper Perennial for the arc. All opinions are my own.
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April 28, 2024Loved this book. A gorgeous family, women with agency, and an ending that made me sob.
July 26, 2022
This was an amazing story. I was so into it, couldn’t put it down. Loved it
September 26, 2022
A story about a Greek family during the years leading up to the 1922 "Smyrna Catastrophe" of the Greek and Armenian genocides in Turkey. The story begins in 1908 with the arranged marriage of Liana, the youngest daughter of her family, to Vassili, the only son of a once rich family but one that has been done in by debts from his drunk father. Liana's father, Emmanuel, a successful silversmith, offers the business to Vassili as the dowry. This allows Emmanuel to work behind the scenes on his craft rather than have to continue the distasteful tasks of managing the business and sales shop. Emmanuel and Vassili's friend Ara, who is Armenian, warn Vassili of the political instability in Smyrna which is a melting pot of Turks, Armenians and Greeks that is about to boil over. But Liana will not leave her parents and older sisters and their families. Indeed, the family is very close, which Vassili respects so he agrees to stay even when Emmanuel asks him to reconsider leaving as WWI breaks out. By then Liana had given birth to 2 healthy children, a boy and a girl, and they had relocated to Vassili's home out of town by the Smyrna Bay. Liana has to deal with the death of her father-in-law from drink, the abandonment of her sister's husband to America and the frailty of her mother-in-law who became an invalid after a fall. But she loves her house and the gardens, which afford her the ability to host all her growing family's gatherings. Vassili is dealing with accepting the reality told to him by Ara who was forced to flee Smyrna and who describes the rampage of his new village by the Turks who killed everyone and burned the village down. Ara was forced once again to flee to Aleppo where he worked long enough to buy a boat ticket to America. His letters beg Vassili to leave Smyrna before the Turks turn out the Greeks in the same manner. WWI comes and goes and Liana's family is touched by the flu, killing her nephew but sparing her son, and life returns to normal for a time. They have 3 more children and celebrate the marriage of the eldest granddaughter. But then the Greeks, who had reclaimed Smyrna after WWI, got greedy and pushed further into Turkey. The Turks fought back and the Greek army started to retreat. Emmanuel saw the handwriting on the wall and begged Vassili to take his family and leave but Liana refuses. Emmanuel dies of a heart attack before the Turks raided Smyrna, which was likely a blessing. Vassili sells what he can to try to raise fare for the boat but by then it is too late. Vassili is killed trying to protect his shop and Liana finally realizes that she has to go but her mother and sister refuse. She leaves with her 5 children in hopes of reaching America and Ara in California. But they never get further than the wooden boat fleeing Smyrna when they die after the boat is doused with gasoline and set on fire. The only one to escape is the eldest son, Dimitri, who at 11 is a strong swimmer. He reaches an American ship and is brought to America. That is pretty much where the story ends. There is a brief epilogue set in 1982 where we learn that Dimitri never made it to California but settled in Detroit where he had a decent life. For a book with the title "Children of the Catastrophe" I though that we'd get more on the life of the children who survived but I guess not. I also would have liked a bit more info on the politics and the reasons behind the rising tensions that led to the tragic events since I don't really have a good understanding even after reading this book. But the story about Liana and Vassili's love and life and that of their family was enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2022
Stunning historical novel with excellent character development by author Shoemaker. This is one of the best historical novels that I have read in a long time. The story is long on buildup to the horrors of the genocide of the Greeks following WW1 which makes the tragedy all the more real and heartbreaking. By focusing upon the trivia of daily life the author brings home the reality and terror humans face when they are caught unaware.
The majority of this story is spent following the matchmaking efforts of the two families and the life filled with an endearing (unplanned) love match made by two old established working families. It's all business for the "old folk" who want only the best for their beloved offspring. While the parents are interested in the economics of their matchmaking the off spring are busy living a love filled life.
So much attention at first to the matchmaking and living of life seems a bit over much but when the slaughter of the Greeks in Turkish territory following WW1 happens, the killings feel immediate and close. The focus upon living life and "ignoring politics" is a reminder of how so often in war, the masses are caught unaware because we humans are caught up simply living our lives nor having the means to relocate.
The novel is not for the faint of heart.
The majority of this story is spent following the matchmaking efforts of the two families and the life filled with an endearing (unplanned) love match made by two old established working families. It's all business for the "old folk" who want only the best for their beloved offspring. While the parents are interested in the economics of their matchmaking the off spring are busy living a love filled life.
So much attention at first to the matchmaking and living of life seems a bit over much but when the slaughter of the Greeks in Turkish territory following WW1 happens, the killings feel immediate and close. The focus upon living life and "ignoring politics" is a reminder of how so often in war, the masses are caught unaware because we humans are caught up simply living our lives nor having the means to relocate.
The novel is not for the faint of heart.
October 31, 2024
After 3/4 of a very slowly paced novel with very minimal plot, where I was really waiting for anything to happen, the last quarter of this novel slammed into me. I haven't cried over a book the way I did reading the end of this one in quite a while. The simple prose with which the devastating and unspeakable horrors of what the Greeks in Smyrna experienced in 1922 is told had me sobbing and clutching this book in my grip as I finished it. After such a quiet dip into Liana and Vasili's world, the ending came out of nowhere. I wonder if the author wanted to shock the reader with this jarring shift, so we felt something similar to the people waking up on beautiful summer morning and having to lock their doors and hide from destruction and death, that was ultimately inescapable. It made me long to flip back to earlier pages in the novel and hope for a different outcome.
November 27, 2022
Harper Perennial gave me a free copy.
This book took me a month and a half to read but not because it was bad. It centers around Smyrna and the Catastrophe that happens there. I had no idea about any of this history and started researching and then didn’t want to continue after learning what the catastrophe meant because I liked this big Greek family. The book is a family story with the city’s political upheaval mainly in the background, until it can’t be ignored anymore. This is a sad, tragic book, but it highlights a part of history I knew nothing about.
This book took me a month and a half to read but not because it was bad. It centers around Smyrna and the Catastrophe that happens there. I had no idea about any of this history and started researching and then didn’t want to continue after learning what the catastrophe meant because I liked this big Greek family. The book is a family story with the city’s political upheaval mainly in the background, until it can’t be ignored anymore. This is a sad, tragic book, but it highlights a part of history I knew nothing about.
October 31, 2025
I honestly hadn't read anything about Greece/Turkey in WWI and its aftermath before so I found this a fascinating read. The story specifically focuses on a family in Smyrna, a traditionally Greek town in what is now Turkey. I would have rated this higher had the ending not seemed so rushed and less detailed than the rest of the plot.
November 23, 2022
I want to give this book two stars, but it gained one from the way it was written. It was definitely easy to read and stay engaged in the story, however it did leave a bad taste in my mouth. The paragraph on the back promises an exciting story in a largely unexplored (IMO) backdrop, so when I started reading I was SO confused. I just feel like there was a disconnect with the story the author wanted to tell and the story the publisher wanted to promote, which left the story feeling disjointed and left me very upset.
January 15, 2023
Pub date: 9/6/22
Genre: historical fiction, family drama
One sentence summary: Liana and Vassili build a life with their new family in early 1900s Smyrna, but when the conflict between the Greeks and Turks explodes, they'll have to decide if Smyrna is still home.
This book is a hybrid family drama/historical fiction - I was expecting the conflict in Smyrna to come up much earlier in the story, but instead, the beginning focused on Liana and Vassili's marriage and relationships with their in-laws. I enjoyed the character development, but I kept waiting for the plot to pick up. When it did, it moved very quickly, and even the epilogue left the story feeling a bit incomplete.
This one wasn't my favorite, but I would try another from Sarah Shoemaker!
Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: historical fiction, family drama
One sentence summary: Liana and Vassili build a life with their new family in early 1900s Smyrna, but when the conflict between the Greeks and Turks explodes, they'll have to decide if Smyrna is still home.
This book is a hybrid family drama/historical fiction - I was expecting the conflict in Smyrna to come up much earlier in the story, but instead, the beginning focused on Liana and Vassili's marriage and relationships with their in-laws. I enjoyed the character development, but I kept waiting for the plot to pick up. When it did, it moved very quickly, and even the epilogue left the story feeling a bit incomplete.
This one wasn't my favorite, but I would try another from Sarah Shoemaker!
Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2022
The reaction of the main characters to the treatment of Armenians in Turkey- It can't possibly be that bad because nothing has happened to us. We're special.
Response to discrimination of Greeks in Turkey- We're fine, it's fine.
Response to WWI- Not our problem. Yay Germans! Oh, the Germans are gone. Greeks are here!
Response to Armenian Genocide- That's too bad for them. It won't happen to us, we're special.
Let's just say I didn't find the characters to be very well-rounded. They seemed to only care about themselves. Not to mention that many of the huge historical events get one paragraph before the story moves on to the annoying mother-in-law again.
With that said, if you're just looking for a good novel about family, you may really like this book, it's just not great historical fiction.
Response to discrimination of Greeks in Turkey- We're fine, it's fine.
Response to WWI- Not our problem. Yay Germans! Oh, the Germans are gone. Greeks are here!
Response to Armenian Genocide- That's too bad for them. It won't happen to us, we're special.
Let's just say I didn't find the characters to be very well-rounded. They seemed to only care about themselves. Not to mention that many of the huge historical events get one paragraph before the story moves on to the annoying mother-in-law again.
With that said, if you're just looking for a good novel about family, you may really like this book, it's just not great historical fiction.
June 5, 2023
❝𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬, 𝐉𝐮𝐦𝐩! 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐦! 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐬: 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞.❞ ━ Sarah Shoemaker
──
✑ First Impression
The summary really caught my interest, which is why I entered the giveaway in the first place. Historical fiction with a dash of romance? I'm down! The cover isn't the fanciest─especially with the author name being almost as big as the title─but it gets the overall theme across.
✑ First Half ( 1-165)
Liana and Vasili are definitely an interesting couple. We're first introduced to them separately, each naively going about their young lives in beautiful 1908 Smyrna while their parents scheme behind their backs. Then, when they finally do meet, it's love at first sight. And man, who wouldn't want Vasili as a husband? He's kind and caring, hardworking, and smart. Their life together seems like a fairytale, especially when the first baby comes along. But like all fairytales, there's usually a curse involved. And this poor family goes through so much over their lives that they had to have been cursed twice.
✑ Second Half (165-331)
While the first half of the book sets up Liana and Vasili's seemingly ideal life, the second half shows you how quickly it can all fall apart. War creeps along the horizon, and for a while, both Liana and Vasili believe nothing can touch them. They're in Smyrna, after all. And why would anyone ever want to destroy such a gorgeous place? But that way of thinking is eventually their downfall. War, as it always does, comes for them faster than they can leave.
✑ Overall
I'm thinking that Sarah was counting on this book doing well because her other did. But not really having much of a plot and every other chapter being the same thing, just written differently, really made this book flop. If Ara had been one of the characters with a POV and his story had been written correctly, it would have made this book ten times better. Although it wasn't an entire disaster because I did learn some interesting historical facts that weren't taught to me in school, so I did enjoy the chapters that allowed me to learn something new! Big thanks to Harper for sending me an ARC!
──
✑ First Impression
The summary really caught my interest, which is why I entered the giveaway in the first place. Historical fiction with a dash of romance? I'm down! The cover isn't the fanciest─especially with the author name being almost as big as the title─but it gets the overall theme across.
✑ First Half ( 1-165)
Liana and Vasili are definitely an interesting couple. We're first introduced to them separately, each naively going about their young lives in beautiful 1908 Smyrna while their parents scheme behind their backs. Then, when they finally do meet, it's love at first sight. And man, who wouldn't want Vasili as a husband? He's kind and caring, hardworking, and smart. Their life together seems like a fairytale, especially when the first baby comes along. But like all fairytales, there's usually a curse involved. And this poor family goes through so much over their lives that they had to have been cursed twice.
✑ Second Half (165-331)
While the first half of the book sets up Liana and Vasili's seemingly ideal life, the second half shows you how quickly it can all fall apart. War creeps along the horizon, and for a while, both Liana and Vasili believe nothing can touch them. They're in Smyrna, after all. And why would anyone ever want to destroy such a gorgeous place? But that way of thinking is eventually their downfall. War, as it always does, comes for them faster than they can leave.
✑ Overall
I'm thinking that Sarah was counting on this book doing well because her other did. But not really having much of a plot and every other chapter being the same thing, just written differently, really made this book flop. If Ara had been one of the characters with a POV and his story had been written correctly, it would have made this book ten times better. Although it wasn't an entire disaster because I did learn some interesting historical facts that weren't taught to me in school, so I did enjoy the chapters that allowed me to learn something new! Big thanks to Harper for sending me an ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2025
The story begins in 1908 in Smyrna, the most cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea. Although it has long been a part of the Ottoman Empire, Smyrna has always been predominantly populated by Greeks who honor the traditions of their ancestors. The book focuses on the Demirigis and Melopoulos families, who are united through the arranged marriage of Liana Demirigis and Vassili Melopoulos, orchestrated by their parents.
For most of the book, we follow the idyllic life of Liana, Vassili, and their children. We witness their ups and downs, loves and quarrels, hopes and disappointments, and their daily life. They live outside the city, where they feel safe from the rising political tensions affecting the region, but their false sense of security does not last forever. Within a decade of their union, their comfortable life comes to an end, and they are thrust into danger. That is when the story truly takes off and progresses with grave consequences for the Greek and Armenian families.
I would have rated this book higher, but I felt there was too much buildup for what the story was ultimately about. I would have preferred a deeper exploration of the tensions building up and the growing divisions between the Greeks and Turks, or at least more time devoted to that aspect. This is classified as historical fiction, but it largely reads as a family drama with elements of war, genocide, and history introduced toward the end. The last few chapters felt overly rushed, and spending more time on that part of history would have been more engaging. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book and learned about a historical event that I knew very little about.
Sequels centered around Greek and Armenian survivors, particularly a couple of them, would be welcome. I would enjoy reading about their experiences and what their journey was like after they escaped the turmoil and sought safety.
For most of the book, we follow the idyllic life of Liana, Vassili, and their children. We witness their ups and downs, loves and quarrels, hopes and disappointments, and their daily life. They live outside the city, where they feel safe from the rising political tensions affecting the region, but their false sense of security does not last forever. Within a decade of their union, their comfortable life comes to an end, and they are thrust into danger. That is when the story truly takes off and progresses with grave consequences for the Greek and Armenian families.
I would have rated this book higher, but I felt there was too much buildup for what the story was ultimately about. I would have preferred a deeper exploration of the tensions building up and the growing divisions between the Greeks and Turks, or at least more time devoted to that aspect. This is classified as historical fiction, but it largely reads as a family drama with elements of war, genocide, and history introduced toward the end. The last few chapters felt overly rushed, and spending more time on that part of history would have been more engaging. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book and learned about a historical event that I knew very little about.
Sequels centered around Greek and Armenian survivors, particularly a couple of them, would be welcome. I would enjoy reading about their experiences and what their journey was like after they escaped the turmoil and sought safety.
September 25, 2022
I kept thinking when listening, this is gonna get ugly, this will end badly, omg is it happening now?! But Smyrna seemed to weather the storm...for a time.
All is well is Smyrna, well as well it can be as second class citizens in Turkey. Liana is a young woman ready for marriage, and it was quite interesting seeing how the Greeks did it in Smyrna. And she does get chosen, Vassili is a really good man ad they have a happy marriage.
But, world war 1 happens. The Spanish flu happens. The Armenian genocide happens. The genocide of Greeks in Turkey happens. And so far sort of good. Smyrna seemed to be a safe harbour. But I knew, I knew something bad was coming. The Greeco-Turk was happens. And living as a Greek in Turkey wont end happily.
I do warn you, any book with genocide, well you know people will die. Also wtf is wrong with humankind?! And we can't say oh that was a 100 years ago, it is happening right now. Soldiers raping, killing, mutilating. Humankind is evil, and soldiers turn into animals. But it is also a book that needs to be read, for example we all know which country that has not admitted to the genocide of Armenians.
But yes, a book about living in the shadows of bad thing, and continuing to the end.
And then, something bad did happen, and I cried and cried. It broke me.
A good book that should be listened to.
Excellent narration. She had this calm voice and it was like I was there. A haunting story.
All is well is Smyrna, well as well it can be as second class citizens in Turkey. Liana is a young woman ready for marriage, and it was quite interesting seeing how the Greeks did it in Smyrna. And she does get chosen, Vassili is a really good man ad they have a happy marriage.
But, world war 1 happens. The Spanish flu happens. The Armenian genocide happens. The genocide of Greeks in Turkey happens. And so far sort of good. Smyrna seemed to be a safe harbour. But I knew, I knew something bad was coming. The Greeco-Turk was happens. And living as a Greek in Turkey wont end happily.
I do warn you, any book with genocide, well you know people will die. Also wtf is wrong with humankind?! And we can't say oh that was a 100 years ago, it is happening right now. Soldiers raping, killing, mutilating. Humankind is evil, and soldiers turn into animals. But it is also a book that needs to be read, for example we all know which country that has not admitted to the genocide of Armenians.
But yes, a book about living in the shadows of bad thing, and continuing to the end.
And then, something bad did happen, and I cried and cried. It broke me.
A good book that should be listened to.
Excellent narration. She had this calm voice and it was like I was there. A haunting story.
September 1, 2022
I've struggled with how to review this family saga set in Smyrna in the early 1900s mostly because how it ends. No spoilers but know that it felt, to me at least, as though this was only half the story, that somehow there was meant to be more. The plot follows Liana who marries Vasili and builds a family much like her own boisterous loving group of sisters, a direct contradiction to Vasili's difficult and proud mother. Much of the story is about her family life as she navigates marriage and motherhood, and caring, ultimately, for her mother in law. There's always a shadow lurking in the background - Smyrna is contested ground between Greece and Turkey and, in a thread that's not fully explored, Vasili's best friend is an Armenian who after an act of violence, ultimately flees but writes to Vasili periodically. There are some lovely scenes of parties and food and some emotional ones as well. I learned a bit about the region and the war between Greece and Turkey- Smyrna is now known as Izmir as a result of the events here. Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC. An interesting read for fans of historical fiction.
November 29, 2023
I'm going to give this 3.5 stars. This is a very interesting story of two families joined by the marriage of Liana and Vasssili. As the years go by and their family grows, Vassilli becomes successful in Liana's father's business as a silver artisan. It takes place in Smyrna, where political tensions build between the Greeks and the Turks. Liana's and Vassilli's peaceful lives look very different as the city becomes embroiled in conflict. While I really enjoyed the quieter portions of the book that introduced us to the characters and explored their relationships and families, that was the vast majority of the book. There was very little of the book devoted to the rising political conflict and the tragedy that befell Smyrna and its residents. It's not a historical event or period of time that I know very much about, and a deeper dive into the Catastrophe, as it is called, would have made for a richer book, in my opinion. The main characters were fully crafted and the description of their day-to-day life was very detailed. The political aspects of the story needed similar levels of detail. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the advanced reader copy.
January 27, 2023
Children of the Catastrophe by Sarah Shoemaker is my newest discovery through my #thebookdrop subscription. It takes place in the city then known as Smyrna, within the Ottoman Empire, starting in 1908 through the 1920s.
Going in I knew so little of this time period, and I found much of the book fascinating. There are aspects of the Armenian genocide discussed, but since we follow a family with Greek heritage that isn’t the focus here.
So much of the first part of the book is focused on character and world building. There’s so many details, which is always my favorite part of a book like this.
Given the title and the cover, you know something bad is coming. There is definitely ominous foreshadowing, but when it actually happens… it’s a lot to take in especially, after you’ve started to care so much for these characters.
Overall this is such a hidden gem. It’s an unbelievable story from such a specific point in history and am so grateful to have learned a little more from it.
5/5
Going in I knew so little of this time period, and I found much of the book fascinating. There are aspects of the Armenian genocide discussed, but since we follow a family with Greek heritage that isn’t the focus here.
So much of the first part of the book is focused on character and world building. There’s so many details, which is always my favorite part of a book like this.
Given the title and the cover, you know something bad is coming. There is definitely ominous foreshadowing, but when it actually happens… it’s a lot to take in especially, after you’ve started to care so much for these characters.
Overall this is such a hidden gem. It’s an unbelievable story from such a specific point in history and am so grateful to have learned a little more from it.
5/5
June 7, 2023
Note: The author is a friend--for first-time readers, I recommend her "Mr. Rochester."
While familiar with the Armenian Genocide, a few years before the time when this book was set, I didn't know anything about the siege of Smyrna (now Izmir), where an estimated 100,000 people lost their lives as they tried to escape the ravages of the Turkish army.
From the very beginning of this well-told story, there is foreshadowing--something's coming, but our characters, settled into a pleasant life in Smyrna, just cannot believe that they are threatened. The plot meanders along--weddings, funerals, children born, sumptuous meals, and the men always off in the corner, "talking politics." Men!
The story builds to a disastrous, heart-rending climax. If I had a complaint, it's the epilogue, where we are given a mere sketch of the aftermath--but maybe that sketchiness is the point.
I do have to say that there are lessons for our own time in this simple tale: pay attention to politics, even when life seems destined to be pleasant forever. Five stars.
While familiar with the Armenian Genocide, a few years before the time when this book was set, I didn't know anything about the siege of Smyrna (now Izmir), where an estimated 100,000 people lost their lives as they tried to escape the ravages of the Turkish army.
From the very beginning of this well-told story, there is foreshadowing--something's coming, but our characters, settled into a pleasant life in Smyrna, just cannot believe that they are threatened. The plot meanders along--weddings, funerals, children born, sumptuous meals, and the men always off in the corner, "talking politics." Men!
The story builds to a disastrous, heart-rending climax. If I had a complaint, it's the epilogue, where we are given a mere sketch of the aftermath--but maybe that sketchiness is the point.
I do have to say that there are lessons for our own time in this simple tale: pay attention to politics, even when life seems destined to be pleasant forever. Five stars.
July 17, 2024
Upheaval
A story of the Melopulos and the Demirigis families before, during and after the great war. This is a time when the Greeks still followed rules of marriages arranged by their parents. It takes place in the Greek city of Smyma. When Liana and Vassili marry they built a home outside the city for their family.
As the Great War (WWI) begins the tensions between the Greeks and the Turks, who have always lived side by side, grow. Soon there is fighting between the Greeks and the Turks and the families are caught in the middle.
It is a historical story of the massacre of Greeks and Armenians after World War I. It is the story of the families and their hopes, dreams and lives as they live. Sometimes in harmony and then in danger.
The story shares many of the customs of this time period of the Greeks and is very descriptive of the customs and the clothing. Also, of the city and the area in the country. I really enjoyed reading it.
I received a copy for free and my review is voluntary.
A story of the Melopulos and the Demirigis families before, during and after the great war. This is a time when the Greeks still followed rules of marriages arranged by their parents. It takes place in the Greek city of Smyma. When Liana and Vassili marry they built a home outside the city for their family.
As the Great War (WWI) begins the tensions between the Greeks and the Turks, who have always lived side by side, grow. Soon there is fighting between the Greeks and the Turks and the families are caught in the middle.
It is a historical story of the massacre of Greeks and Armenians after World War I. It is the story of the families and their hopes, dreams and lives as they live. Sometimes in harmony and then in danger.
The story shares many of the customs of this time period of the Greeks and is very descriptive of the customs and the clothing. Also, of the city and the area in the country. I really enjoyed reading it.
I received a copy for free and my review is voluntary.
April 18, 2023
Much of this book is like a good beach read - an idyllic story of a happy, larger-than-life Greek family on Smyrna, the subject of disputed sovereignty between Greece and Turkey in the early 20th century, when this book is set.
Liana and Vasili start a family and despite many warnings of unrest and war, they decide to stay in the town that they have always called home. Eventually, though, tragedy starts to befall various family members and although three-quarters of the book moves relatively slowly, the last part goes like lightening and the final two chapters are shocking.
I do have one issue and that's the ending is highly unsatisfactory, as it skips MANY years and I wanted to know what happened to Liana and Vasili's son Dimitri during those years after he was tragically the only member of his immediate family to survive!
Sarah Shoemaker, please write a sequel to let us know!
Liana and Vasili start a family and despite many warnings of unrest and war, they decide to stay in the town that they have always called home. Eventually, though, tragedy starts to befall various family members and although three-quarters of the book moves relatively slowly, the last part goes like lightening and the final two chapters are shocking.
I do have one issue and that's the ending is highly unsatisfactory, as it skips MANY years and I wanted to know what happened to Liana and Vasili's son Dimitri during those years after he was tragically the only member of his immediate family to survive!
Sarah Shoemaker, please write a sequel to let us know!
July 9, 2023
In 1908, Liana Demirigis, the last of four sisters, marries Vassili Melopoulos, an only son, as agreed upon by their parents. Thus begins a new life of love, friendship, and affection. Their family grows as tensions rise in Smyrna, a city ruled by the Ottoman Empire but considered Greek by many of its citizens. Liana and Vassili strive to keep their family together and safe in a time of great unrest.
Shoemaker brings history alive in creating characters that embody the everyday love and courage that holds families together. Historical fiction, at its best, serves to place the reader in a time and place they know little about, and show those universal and timeless values and qualities that allow humans to survive and thrive in any era. Shoemaker has certainly accomplished that here, painting a bittersweet picture of a family that is special, not in any newsworthy way, but in the way that all families are special.
This is a slow-moving novel, covering the years of Liana and Vassili’s marriage and the context in which that marriage flourishes. Lush with detail and written with grace and skill, this pick from The Book Drop Books for Tea subscription, is another winner for me. Olivia Dowd does an excellent job narrating the audiobook and I highly enjoyed it in that format.
Shoemaker brings history alive in creating characters that embody the everyday love and courage that holds families together. Historical fiction, at its best, serves to place the reader in a time and place they know little about, and show those universal and timeless values and qualities that allow humans to survive and thrive in any era. Shoemaker has certainly accomplished that here, painting a bittersweet picture of a family that is special, not in any newsworthy way, but in the way that all families are special.
This is a slow-moving novel, covering the years of Liana and Vassili’s marriage and the context in which that marriage flourishes. Lush with detail and written with grace and skill, this pick from The Book Drop Books for Tea subscription, is another winner for me. Olivia Dowd does an excellent job narrating the audiobook and I highly enjoyed it in that format.
March 2, 2024
This was a really unique novel. It read like a family drama and then morphed into this massive tragedy. I appreciated the history, since I knew very little about the massacre of the Greeks and Armenians after WWI.
What struck me about this book is what a solid 180° it took, perhaps to drive home the point that everything is fine until it isn't when it comes to rising political tensions. There was so little redemption at the end that it left me completely bereft. I suppose that speaks to the great job that the author did with character development. But, I'll be honest, I really struggled with it. I think because this book toggled between historical fiction and family drama, the massive tragedy at the end seemed to come out of left field.
Thank you kindly, partners, TLC Books and Harper Perennial for this gifted review copy!
For more of my reviews, please check out my blog at www.mamasgottaread.blogspot.com or follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mamasgottaread.
What struck me about this book is what a solid 180° it took, perhaps to drive home the point that everything is fine until it isn't when it comes to rising political tensions. There was so little redemption at the end that it left me completely bereft. I suppose that speaks to the great job that the author did with character development. But, I'll be honest, I really struggled with it. I think because this book toggled between historical fiction and family drama, the massive tragedy at the end seemed to come out of left field.
Thank you kindly, partners, TLC Books and Harper Perennial for this gifted review copy!
For more of my reviews, please check out my blog at www.mamasgottaread.blogspot.com or follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mamasgottaread.
March 17, 2025
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway winner.
This is a historical fiction story set in the WWI of an unknown to me battle in Smyrna, Greece . It begins in 1908 of a coastal town and the story of two families brought together through marriage. The youngest daughter is betrothed to the only heir of the Melopoulos family. Interested custom of meeting the groom's mother with the family of the bride to be before anything is arranged.
The couple marries, and begins a family of their own with the help of the bride's father who allows the young man to apprentice in his renowned silversmith shop where the jewelry is prized and well known.
The war divides the country of Greeks and Armenians and many cruel acts of men are imposed on the women in the name of war and spoils of the winner. Sad and emotional what the families had to endure during this horrific time.
This is a historical fiction story set in the WWI of an unknown to me battle in Smyrna, Greece . It begins in 1908 of a coastal town and the story of two families brought together through marriage. The youngest daughter is betrothed to the only heir of the Melopoulos family. Interested custom of meeting the groom's mother with the family of the bride to be before anything is arranged.
The couple marries, and begins a family of their own with the help of the bride's father who allows the young man to apprentice in his renowned silversmith shop where the jewelry is prized and well known.
The war divides the country of Greeks and Armenians and many cruel acts of men are imposed on the women in the name of war and spoils of the winner. Sad and emotional what the families had to endure during this horrific time.
October 19, 2022
Set in 1908 Smyrna, it is an idyllic time. The Greeks and Turks live together peacefully in the most cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea. But just thirteen years later, that life comes to an end when Greeks and Armenians are massacred in what became known as the Smyrna Catastrophe.
This is a family saga of love and survival. The Demirigis and Melopoulos families were brought to life through Shoemaker’s writing. I was enchanted with the love story of Liliana Demirigis and Vissili Melopoulos.
I am an avid historical fiction fan, so I really enjoyed this book. I relished the historical details of life at that time – the foods, the celebrations, the fine artistry of the silverwork created by Liana’s father. And then the destruction of Smyrna, the Great Fire of Smyrna, and the fear of the people fleeing for their lives. It was all so vivid.
This is a family saga of love and survival. The Demirigis and Melopoulos families were brought to life through Shoemaker’s writing. I was enchanted with the love story of Liliana Demirigis and Vissili Melopoulos.
I am an avid historical fiction fan, so I really enjoyed this book. I relished the historical details of life at that time – the foods, the celebrations, the fine artistry of the silverwork created by Liana’s father. And then the destruction of Smyrna, the Great Fire of Smyrna, and the fear of the people fleeing for their lives. It was all so vivid.
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