Book Synopsis:
Germany, 1938. ‘No,’ she cries out as she falls to the floor, fear clutching desperately at her chest, ‘They can’t have taken him, they can’t have taken my husband.’ As her tear-filled eyes dart wildly around the empty room, she realises she has no one to turn to. She is his only hope. But how can she possibly save him?
When shy, beautiful Edith first met Jewish-born Julius it was love at first sight. Julius swept her off her feet, whisking her from humble beginnings into the sparkling society and glittering ballrooms of Berlin’s powerful elite. It felt like all her dreams had come true.
But her perfect world begins to crack with rumblings of the Nazi party growing in power and influence. Every day there are new laws to strip Jews of their money and their freedom. And there are even more frightening rumours, of horrifying camps, and people disappearing in the night…
Then when Edith’s own brother Joseph enlists as an SS officer, and her whole family turn their backs on them, she knows that it is only a matter of time before they come for her husband. She pleads with Julius that their only chance is to run away and start again. Who cares about worldly possessions if they can still be together, their lives intact? But despite everything, he refuses to believe he is in danger.
Then one terrible night, the sounds of cries and breaking glass ring out across the city as the Nazis wreak their destruction. Edith’s worst fears have been realised— Julius has been taken.
For so long, Edith has led a sheltered life, secluded from the real world. But the only way to save her beloved husband is to defy the Nazis and put herself in grave danger. Can she draw on every bit of strength she has to fight for love and save him… or is she already too late?
A totally devastating, powerful, and ultimately uplifting story, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, My Name is Eva and Sold on a Monday.
My Review:
The First Spark Of Fire is an emotional, compelling and gripping read which I really enjoyed.
The story follows Edith and Helga from the early 1920’s to 1938. They are two very different women, from different backgrounds and I enjoyed following them throughout the story. It was very interesting to see how the economic situation and the rise of Hitler affected them differently.
I found it fascinating to learn more about life in Germany between the wars and how Hitler gained popularity. This was a subject that I knew little about before reading so I enjoyed discovering more about this period. It was especially interesting to learn more about the treatment of the Jews and how families could be targeted for having any Jewish connection no matter how small.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this promising series. I felt fully transported to Germany, able to feel the fear and trepidation of the characters as if it was happening to me. Having the benefit of hindsight the reader is able to understand what is going to happen and I think this increases the tension in the book as we learn about the increasingly difficult rules the Jewish population have to follow. I found myself reading faster as the book went on as I cared about the characters and what would happen to them.
Huge thanks to Sarah for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
USA Today Bestselling author of historical fiction.
Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.
Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemma, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.
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