The Hand We Are Dealt

by Robert Bordas

Anna stopped counting the times she fell. Now she would take a stand...
Anna Onisko has grown up under the shadow of her tyrannical stepfather. Now in her teens she is determined to escape him and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. But this is Uzhhorod, Czechoslovakia, the year is 1938 and the Hungarian occupation is about to tear Anna's life apart. Through wartime dangers and family betrayal, Anna has to find the strength to make impossible choices and protect those she loves even if it means sacrificing everything she cares about.
Based on the true story of a woman of courage.

Genres: Historical Fiction

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2022

About the author

An early retirement from a satisfying business career has recently allowed Robert Bordas to devote himself only to writing, his dream of his younger years. He is interested in history, languages, self-identity, genealogy, and more. If not writing, he is reading on his Kindle, learning another language, traveling, enjoying outdoors or giving invaluable advice to his family.

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I selected this book because I have diplomatic experiences in Hungary. I was not disappointed. This was a strong female lead character with an incredibly accurate piece of Historical Fiction.

The fast pace of the book kept my attention from beginning to end.

The final line of the book is a fantastic summary, “Anna’s story is here to remind us of those who have lost their identity, homeland, language or more due to the war eighty years ago, and the war happening in front of our own eyes even today.”

I recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dominika · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Hand We Are Dealt’ was an amazing and a very interesting read about the WW2 through the eyes of a young Hungarian girl. I haven’t seen many books from that era being set in that region (now border of Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine) and it was interesting to see how the war has affected the people in that area - especially the youth. It’s even more intriguing to know that it was based on a true story - the author’s own mother’s diary. Hoping there will be a sequel to it - the ending made me want to know more about Anna’s life after the book!

[Katerina Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this novel because I have a huge interest in Hungary and its history. Although WW2 is not my favourite era of historical fiction, I was pleasantly surprised. This is a heart-warming story, filled with drama, emotion and hard choices. It’s a story of a young woman’s struggle for independence, fought not on the battlefields but in the harsh reality of everyday life. But independence usually requires difficult choices and sacrifices that the heroine must endure. I was totally absorbed in her struggle and rooted for her, every step of the way, rejoiced in her successes and felt her heartbreak and pain. The writing flows effortlessly, expressing all emotions in a genuine and innocent way, befitting the equally genuine and unassuming heroine. All in all, an excellent read and highly recommended, especially for those who want to know more about how WW2 affected that corner of the world.

(Disclosure: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)

[Erica Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a perspective that I have never heard before and the story was intriguing and real. The only thing I would change is the pacing; the beginning of the book is a little slow and takes a while to get going. But once I got into the story, I couldn't put it down. Anna is a very relatable and likeable character.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yurii Chekan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Bordas’ novel is based on a real life story. Family history of a simple woman. Which is much more humane and truer than stories about military leaders, battles, economic or political movements.
This novel is about a simple person in difficult life circumstances. Late 30s - early 40s. Second World War. Czechoslovakia, Carpathian Ukraine, Hungary, Soviet Union. Rusins, Slovaks, Magyars, Jews, Romanians, Germans... A cruel stepfather, an authoritarian mother, an imposed husband, a baby daughter. Everyone has their own truth. Everyone has their own interest. And above all this is a big dream. To which the heroine goes, no matter what.

[JK · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book interested me with its topic so I forced myself to read it and I do not regret the time spent with this great book. The novel's plot is set in the difficult time at the beginning of the Second World War and describes the fate of the author's beloved mother from the beginning of her adulthood. If you want to immerse yourself in that time and experience it through the eyes of a young lady, then the book is highly recommended.

[Bor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! Story of a young girl building her own family in times when history was rewritten and borders were changing. Heartbreaking. Enjoyed every page.

[Nadine Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this remarkable book at 3:30am. I could not put it down. I was generously gifted an Advanced Reader Copy of Robert Bordas’ debut novel that I requested on LibraryThing.
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“Anna Onisko has grown up under the shadow of her tyrannical stepfather. Now in her teens she is determined to escape him and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. But this is Uzhhorod, Czechoslovakia, the year is 1938 and the Hungarian occupation is about to tear Anna's life apart. Through wartime dangers and family betrayal, Anna has to find the strength to make impossible choices and protect those she loves even if it means sacrificing everything she cares about. Based on the true story of a woman of courage”. - from Amazon
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This piece of historical fiction is based on a true story recorded in the main character, Anna’s, real life memoirs. It gives the reader (especially readers in North America) a first hand account of what WWII looked like for the people in the Subcarpathia region which is surrounded by Hungry, Romania, Slovakia/Czechoslovakia, The Ukraine, Poland and the Soviet Union (I think I have that right).
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The first few chapters are setting up the political climate at the time and how that intertwines with Anna’s life, which is both necessary and fascinating. Anna’s storyline really starts picking up pace 1/3 of the way through. Historical Fiction is my favorite and main choice of genre and what makes Anna's story so riveting is that it takes place in a different country/region at the start of WWII that many won't be familiar with. A different country, whose perspective we don’t really ever read about, especially here in North America where the majority of WWII fiction is from the perspective of the USA’s involvement in the war. So this is a powerful and unique piece of WWII historical fiction.
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The author’s intimate knowledge of Anna’s life, aids in telling the story of her courage, tenacity and strength through hardship. Her story is both heartbreaking and hopeful. I hope there is a sequel in the future.
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Side note: There are maps included at the end of the book (ebook) and do not skip the author’s note and acknowledgements at the end!
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I loved this book so much I ordered two physical copies. One for myself and one to giveaway! 5/5 stars from me!

[Christine Weald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This started as a tale about a young girl’s quest to free herself from her family life and struggle to fulfil her dream and to become a teacher. Her cruel Father was demanding, but Anna persevered and developed a talent in bartering and purchasing items for her Father’s shop.
Growing up she had a few romances but her Mother persuaded her to follow tradition and make a good financial marriage and forego love. So a marriage was arranged, and the story evolved with historic accounts of the wars and changes of ownership in Hungary and Czekoslovakia and the emergence of German genocide and how it affected her everyday life. The war account did not feature as the main event as common in WWII novels, but set the scene and situation that Anna found herself in.
The book describes the simple life of the people. Anna’s hardships, her struggles and achievements and determination to pursue her dreams are beautifully scripted and is based on the author’s Mother’s hand written memoir.
It ends with yet another blow to Anna, but leaves you thinking that hopefully there could be another story with happy events.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and recommend it. My review is honest and left voluntarily.

[Marcia Vida · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book which made me reflect on dreams, repression and war. Anna Onisko is a young girl who suffers from her stepfather and she wishes to be a teacher. Suddenly, a war comes shaking her life. A beautiful story that brings us up-to-date on events of the time. It was really hard to put this reading down. I enjoyed each moment described on each page. I recommend it. Thanks to the author and Voracious Readers.

[Chandaly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel! The story told by the author was inspired by a true story. It was built, I think, from accounts and diaries.

We follow the story of a young woman living in Czechoslovakia on the eve of and during WWII.

We see the hero grow up and facing all the hardships that the world is sending to her, especially in this charged context of civilian unrest, world war and territory dispute.

Obviously, the novel was extremely well-written and well-documented. I couldn't breathe through some of the worst moments lived by Anna.

But this is not what I liked the most. What I really enjoyed in this history novel is the brand new perspective it offered me on the conflict. When I picked it up, I dreaded "another WWII novel". But the war was in the background really. Here and never far. I loved discovering how people far from the front were impacted by it in their daily lives. The simple lives of people living in the countryside having to build life from echoes. There was something deep and real in this novel. This was what made this novel beautiful to me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paula Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very poignant but most interesting read. This is my first experience of Robert Bordas' work but will hopefully not be the last. I will be recommending this book. Many thanks for my ARC copy. P Fowler

[Brenda Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna's life was filled with obstacles and she faced the betrayal of many. Her story is necessary for us in order to be aware of that time in history and her own personal journey; and, Anna's story is relevant for us and our future, as we navigate these troublesome times.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of "The Hand We Are Dealt" by Robert Bordas. Thank you for the book. This was a great story. Robert Bordas did a great job of painting the feelings of the characters. We could feel what they felt. This is a well written book and I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to the next book from him.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story based on a real life memoir was very engaging. The poor lass gained my empathy throughout. It gave me an insight into the history of Europe and the impact upon people's lives. I would love a second book to to see her story continue.

[Emmeline Everdeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Historical Fiction. It was a captivating story offering the reader a glimpse into the life of a woman who finds her strength through adversity. I enjoyed reading this book.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only

[Julie Angstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of life in Hungary after WWII.

Anna is a young woman studying to be a teacher when war breaks out. She is first almost engaged to Laszlo who is in the military. But, he finds out he has impregnated another woman, and needs to get married. Then, she meets a man who is a teacher, but he disappears. She then meets a police officer, Miklos. He's a policeman. He convinces her to marry him, even after she finds out he impregnated a woman from a diner, who lost the baby. Life is difficult with the war, and living with her mother and stepfather. The war is a struggle. There are many struggles

[Carolyn Fechter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good read!

I loved this book, I could hardly put it down.
We only began to believe the suffering this lady went through during times of war, she was a strong.

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

What a hard working, enterprising young woman in the tuffest of times. The plot was vivid and you felt like you were there with Anna. I recommend this book.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
We follow a young Hungarian woman in Czechoslovakia during the early days of WWII, which poses challenges to her attempts at making a living and having a normal family life. She is portrayed as a strong and intelligent woman who is hard done by the harsh conditions during the war. Women’s lack of choices as well as cultural identity are common themes. Some heavy topics are mentioned here including the Holocaust, rape and domestic abuse.

The writing was fine, but I found the book was pretty slow-going with a lack of action and unnecessary detail (the cost of potatoes and what people are wearing). There was a lot of repetition to the story, which I didn’t feel very invested in. However, we learn at the end of the book, that the story is based on the author’s mother’s journals, which makes it more interesting in hindsight.
I won a free copy of this book (thanks to the author & publisher!) and am voluntarily providing my honest review.

[The Book Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Bordas' The Hand We Are Dealt is an intimate, deeply personal accounting of life during World War II. Based on his mother's own memoir, many of the settings may be unfamiliar to readers. This provided an additional depth of interest as it gave a well-tread time in history a sense of newness as if the reader stumbled upon something previously undiscovered . The style is as if you are reading in a second language. It isn't your mother tongue, but it is one with which you are comfortable. This helps immerse the reader in the story. This book is good one for readers of historical fiction who are interested in slice of life stories that reveal how people change through age and life experience.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anette · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible story about an intrepid young woman determined to survive WW2, by buying and bartering goods to keep food on the table. The story takes place in Subcarpathia (then Czechoslovakia) which was turned over to Hungary after the war, dividing families and friends. Despite bad choices with her male counterparts she manages to overcome the hardships and survive, thanks to a canny sense of what people need and are willing to pay for!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually a 2,5*, but because of the interesting historical background, I rounded it up to 3*. I found the writing not compelling at all: a journalistic style, sometimes clumsy in its structure with characters I could not really relate to.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from BookSirens and I am leaving voluntarily a review.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good read with a bad ending

UGH, started out so good and was a great read. Then the end... literally ended without finishing the story. It didn't even have a cliff hanger. It's like the author just didn't finish the book.