Book Synopsis:
She kneels by her husband, his face contorted with pain. “You must get yourself to safety,” he tells her. She grips his hand tighter as a tear tracks down her drawn, pale face. “I promised to stay beside you. I will keep that vow to the end.”
Berlin, 1944. Edith Falkenstein weeps with joy when the crowds of brave women protesting on Rosenstrasse manage to save their Jewish relatives, including her husband Julius, from deportation to the camps.
Julius once believed abiding by the rules would shield him and his wife. But now he knows better: there is no such thing as mercy from the Nazis, and they must do all they can to save others. Their apartment, long stripped of its luxurious furnishings, might offer little protection from the frigid winter air, but it has become a place of secret shelter—though it puts all their lives at risk.
As bombs rain a thunder of devastation on the city and Soviet soldiers close in from the east, the Nazis have only become more desperate, and more deadly. For the inhabitants, their only option is to flee. But when another raid leaves Julius critically injured, Edith realises he is far too frail to make the perilous journey. She closes her eyes and prays for a miracle.
The final days of the war are here, but there is no cause for celebration in Berlin, where death lingers on every corner. Their love has been the source of their strength and survival all these long years, but will either of them live to see the end?
An absolutely page-turning and deeply heart-rending story of one woman’s promise to protect the people she loves. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Alice Network and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
My Review:
The Berlin Wife’s Vow was a gripping, heartbreaking read from one of my favourite historical fiction writers.
Firstly I’ve been a huge fan of this series from the start and have enjoyed following the characters throughout the series. After the nail biting ending of the last book I was very excited to see what would happen next for all the characters I’d grown to love. I was therefore initially a little disappointed to discover the focus had shifted in this series to the younger generation of the family. This soon changed as the book continued and I found myself growing to like the new characters as well. My favourite character was definitely Roxi who I absolutely loved. She was such a strong lady and I loved how fearless she was, often doing things to help her family regardless of the consequences. I’m really hoping she pops up in another of the author’s books as I’d love to read more about her.
As always the author has done a great job researching the era so that the reader feels they are actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters. It was interesting to see what life was like living under nazi rule and how the different groups were treated. I was shocked to discover that people who were half Jewish or who had renounced their faith were still targets. It must have been a horrendous time to live through and I really felt the character’s fear as I watched events unfold.
I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. I really enjoyed getting a new perspective on the situation through the new characters and my heart was in my mouth as I watched them try to survive the war. This is sadly the last book in the series but there is going to be a spin off series which I’m very excited for.
Huge thanks to Sarah from Bookouture for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Marion Kummerow writes historical fiction that explores the dark side of human history. A USA Today Bestselling author, she has received rave reviews from readers and critics for her novels about the German resistance during World War II. Her books feature characters who face moral dilemmas, make difficult decisions, and fight for what is right. She also infuses her stories with humor and undying love, because she believes that love is what makes the world go round.
Born and raised in Germany, Marion has lived in various countries before returning to Munich with her family. After writing several non-fiction books, she felt drawn to the past and the subject of resistance to the Nazi regime. It took her years of courage and hard work to turn the true story of her grandparents Ingeborg and Hansheinrich Kummerow into a trilogy: “Love and Resistance in the Second World War”. UNRELENTING is the first book in this series.
Bringing history to life through her books is Marion’s passion. She visits museums, travels to memorials and the locations in her books, reads original source material, and consults experts to meticulously research the historical facts and details in her novels.
Her stories are authentic and immersive, transporting readers to another time and place. She writes with the conviction that we must never forget the past, so it won’t repeat itself.
When she’s not writing or researching, Marion likes to travel, do yoga, and spend time with her family. She also enjoys reading books by other historical fiction authors.
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