Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck
Product Details
Web ID: 14352440Story of two women who refuse to be defeated
Such a great story! Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck is the story of two women who find themselves fighting the Germans behind the front lines in France. Violet, whose Mother is French and father is British is asked to join the SOE and soon finds herself in France working with the resistance. Virginia, an American married to a Frenchman, decides to stay in France rather than escape to America. Together, her and her husband join the resistance and help escort dozens of downed Allied pilots to safety. Told from the perspective of each woman, this story gives us a fascinating look into how women were able to help defeat the Germans during WWII, and how much their participation has largely gone unrecognized. Both Violet and Virginia vow to do whatever they can to defeat the Germans. The author did extensive research and many of the characters are based on actual people and events that took place. I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fiction, or stories with strong female leads. Ms. Robucks writing is beautiful and she develops her characters very well and gets details right. I can’t wait to read more from her!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Spellbinding WWII True Story
Few stories, in recent memory anyway, captured my interest and tugged at my emotions more than this true story of two remarkable, brave women caught up in the tragedy that was the European theater in WWII. While I thought their backstories moved a bit slow, once the action started, it was hard to put the book down until I finished it late last night. Perhaps more interesting was reading this story within the context of what is currently happening in Ukraine and could potentially happen here in the U.S. -- the threat of war, the actual invasion of France, the quiet, almost polite behavior exhibited by the Germans as they moved into towns, homes, and communities before the real atrocities began when people were forced into work camps and cities were leveled. Throughout this portion of the story I was constantly reminded of Ukraine and its own brand of resistance. Lastly, I thought the story was well-researched by the author (including her notes where "artistic license" was taken to advance the storylines, and was beautifully written. I believe this book will stay with me for a long time.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Excellent!
Best book I have read in a long time. Characters are well developed making you deeply care for each women and how they handle their situations in life.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
WWII women spies
Two unsung women made a difference during WWII. Two women living in different countries made the choice to resist in their own ways. Virginia D’Albert Lake is from Florida. She marries a Frenchman and stays in France when war breaks out. Violette Szabo lives in England with her French mother and English father. She was shipped home when war broke out and is desperate to get back and do her part. The parallel storylines are suspenseful. The character development is superb. The appearances of other women spies add to the drama and heartbreak. This is a powerful, well-researched book that will keep you reading late into the night. This is my second opportunity to read and review a novel by Erika Robuck. I will definitely be checking out her backlist. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Excellent WWII Novel
The Sisters of Night and Fog is the story of two very determined, very different women that fought in their own ways the Nazi’s during WWII. The story is based on two real women and their heroic and fearless determination to save lives at any cost including the possibility of them giving of their own lives in the process. The first woman is Virginia D’Albert-Lake, an American, that decides to stay in occupied France with her husband Phillipe. In spite of all his protests that Virginia should go back to the US, she is determined to stay by his side. As a couple, they decide to work for the French Resistance and help downed Allied soldiers through a network that will lead them back to their home bases. The second is a young French woman by the name of Violette Szabo. Her anger and rage toward the Nazi’s leads her to become a member of the SOE, the French version of the OSS, and becomes a courier in the spy network of the French Resistance. As you follow these two women and their exploits through WWII, the bravery they show and the things that they accomplish, you are left to wonder through three quarters of the book what they have in common and why these two were written about together. That part of the book is why for me this was originally only going to be a 4 star read instead of a 5, but as soon as you get to the end you will see why the author wrote this book they way she did. Erika Robuck has given a story that not only shows the bravery, but also the heartbreak and devastation that occurred during this time period. The research that went into the telling of this story was incredible and you can tell by the way the Author characterizes the people you meet that she spent a very long time contemplating how to write the story of these two very noteworthy women. You are left thinking and wondering how such evil and sadistically people can treat one another and how can we keep it from ever happening again. This story will have you rooting for both women’s success and leave you drained and heartbroken in the end. This is definitely a MUST read for those that love WWII historical fiction. The two women of note are people that’s story needed to be told and remembered. Thank you to #netgalley, #berkleypublishinggroup,berkley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All statements above are my own and are no way influenced by anyone but myself.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Blew Me Away!
This book has rendered me speechless. Erika Robuck took my heart in her hand and led me through WWII. The horrors that they witnessed, the terror in which they endured, the way in which they survived will bring you to tears. I am having a challenging time putting into words just how truly astounding this book is. It has left an imprint on my soul. Well done Erika Robuck, this is now one of my favorite WWII reads I have ever experienced. Erika Robuck brings to life two truly heroic women of history, Virginia d'Albert-Lake and Violette Szabo. Virginia an American who feel in love and married a Frenchman, refuses to go back to America at the start of the war. Where one is the other should be, no matter what is going on around them. They move to their country home to settle in and hide from the rest of the world. Establishing a false sense of security while hiding out. They come to the decision that they need to do more. Violette Szabo is a force to be reckoned with. She is a true lover of life. She wants to experience everything and anything. Fear is not in her vocabulary, but courage is. Her love of France comes from her mother, it is the place she wants to be, needs to be. Her French husband is killed leaving her with a newborn baby girl. The years tick slowly by, leaving Virginia and Violette wanting to do something to help protect their fellow man and not go insane themselves. Virginia becomes heavily involved with the French Resistance and Violette joins the Special Operations Executive. Both women putting their lives on the line for the good of others. They take to the shadows, blending in with their surroundings. The fog adding another layer of protection. Will this be enough to keep them safe? This is an extremely powerful, intense, humbling read. That is balanced with the good times that shines through the dark. Where courage, bravery, and dedication come through. You can tell that Robuck spent time researching these two women. I did not realize until the end that this book is based on two real heroes. Who stood up and courageously fought back against the Germans. This will now be one of my go to recommendations for historical fiction readers. I am giving it all the stars! I am so grateful to Erika Robuck and Berkley Books for sending me this mesmerizing read.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Strong women - marvelous research - heartbreaking
We meet Virginia, an American in Paris and married to a French man. We meet Violette, a British and French citizen who marries a French man. Both are strong women based on real people and who want to do more for the war effort than staying home. They both want to help their country fight the Nazis. SISTERS OF NIGHT AND FOG begins with chapters of details about Virginia and Violette. As the war rages on, we learn of what they did. Virginia saved downed airmen, and Violette went on dangerous missions in France to help rid her beloved country of the Germans. They both end up being arrested and sent to Ravensbruck. You will feel the tension as we find out how the resistance carried out dangerous tasks - some successfully others not successfully. SISTERS OF NIGHT AND FOG is well written, marvelously researched, heartbreaking, and will have you devouring every page. You will love the two main characters and admire their strength, loyalty, and determination. 4/5 This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Powerful!
Intense! Powerful! This is what fortitude feels like. Two feisty women fight to protect, not only their own lives, but the valuable lives of airmen who have fallen behind enemy lines. Sisters of Night and Fog is a deeper engagement with the resistance and a perfect follow up to The Invisible Woman. Robuck deepens the tracks she laid, taking us deep into the terrifying prisons and torture chambers where Virginia and Violette struggle to survive in the enemy camps of Germany. Fading away until they weigh almost nothing, within days of death, each hour losing a little more of their humanity. Robuck keeps you inside the courageous hearts of these women, waiting and listening for the sounds of freedom. Robuck has created a fascinating and satisfying body of work with The Invisible Woman and Sisters of Night and Fog.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com