#BlogTour: Those Who Are Loved by Victoria Hislop @VicHislop @headlinepg @Bookywookydooda @annecater #ThoseWhoAreLoved #5Stars #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

The gripping new novel by Sunday Times Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of which left deep scars.

Athens 1941. After decades of political uncertainty, Greece is polarised between Right- and Left-wing views when the Germans invade. 
Fifteen-year-old Themis comes from a family divided by these political differences. The Nazi occupation deepens the fault-lines between those she loves just as it reduces Greece to destitution. She watches friends die in the ensuing famine and is moved to commit acts of resistance.

In the civil war that follows the end of the occupation, Themis joins the Communist army, where she experiences the extremes of love and hatred and the paradoxes presented by a war in which Greek fights Greek.

Eventually imprisoned on the infamous islands of exile, Makronisos and then Trikeri, Themis encounters another prisoner whose life will entwine with her own in ways neither can foresee. And finds she must weigh her principles against her desire to escape and live.

As she looks back on her life, Themis realises how tightly the personal and political can become entangled. While some wounds heal, others deepen.

This powerful new novel from Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop sheds light on the complexity and trauma of Greece’s past and weaves it into the epic tale of an ordinary woman compelled to live an extraordinary life.

Those Who Are Loved is published today in ebook and hardback. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Those Who Are Loved is the latest book from the wonderful Victoria Hislop who is one of my all time favourite authors as I credit her book The Island as the book that got me out of a huge reading slump. Once again the author has written a fantastically gripping but highly emotional historical novel which will stay with me for a long time.

The occupation of Greece during WW2 is not a subject I knew anything about before reading this book so I found all the details about this utterly fascinating. The author has clearly done her research and manages to bring this period to life with the vivid descriptions of what life was like under the occupation. The fear and oppression that became the norm is almost palpable and I found myself on edge through parts of the book. It was great to read about the bravery of ordinary citizens whose exploits to fight the regime where very admirable. I’m not sure I would have the courage they did in the same situation.

The story follows Themis in two time periods, one as a fifteen year old during the war and the other as an old lady in 2016. Themis is a character that I loved instantly and someone I think I’d love to have as a grannie. She’s obviously seen and done a lot during her time but is aware that not everyone will think favourably about her actions. We learn about Greece’s history through her which makes what happens seem more personal and more horrific as it feels like it is happening to someone you know.

The story goes along at a good pace and I was soon absorbed into the story with the vivid descriptions of Greek culture and the beautiful sounding scenery. I was so fascinated by the story that wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen even though I wasn’t sure I would like it. It being war time there are some very harrowing and emotional parts to this book which had me in tears at times. My heart broke for Themis and all she goes through but it was more upsetting to realise that the events could actually have happened.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Caitlin from Headline for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria Hislop wrote The Island in 2005. It became an international bestseller and a 26-part Greek TV series. She was named Newcomer of the Year at the British Book Awards and is now an ambassador for Lepra. The Island has sold over 1.2million copies in the UK and more than 5 million worldwide. 

Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, which inspired her second bestseller The Return, and she returned to Greece to tell the turbulent tale of Thessaloniki in The Thread, shortlisted for a British Book Award and confirming her reputation as an inspirational storyteller. It was followed by her much-admired Greece-set short story collection, The Last Dance and Other Stories. The Sunrise, a Sunday Times Number One bestseller about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, was published to widespread acclaim in 2014. Victoria’s most recent book, Cartes Postales from Greece was a Sunday Times Number One bestseller and one of the Top Ten biggest selling paperbacks of 2017. Her novels have sold 10 million copies worldwide.