Sunday, September 14, 2014

Prisoner of Night and Fog: A Review

Goodreads (description):

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.



My Review:

So this is my last review for a long time, for school starts on Monday!! Whoop whoop! I've already gone to all the initiation stuff and I know it's going to be so much fun and I've already met a ton of cool and fun people.

Once again, thanks for visiting me and commenting. It really makes my day.

Anyway, here is my review.

First of all, this is a series. I must have not realized that when I read others reviews or when I added it on goodreads (via cell phone), because when I finished it was an abrupt end and I was like, WHAT? Then I was told that it was indeed a series. Dang it. I wanted to read a stand alone before school started so that I wouldn't forget something from a series. Ah, well. I don't think I will be able to forget this book.

What I loved is that Blankman really did her research, There were only a few people that were fictional characters, with only a couple of made up situations. Other than that everything in this book actually happened. And man, WWII and especially Hilter and his Nazis make me want to curl up in a ball and cry. They are terrible, freaking creepy and just plain psychotic.

I didn't expect from this book to have such a... hmm... Not necessarily medical view, but in a way, it was. Gretchen desires to go to school to become a doctor of sorts, and now that she is older, and has met Daniel she's beginning to realize that the people around her--mainly Hilter and her brother--are not acting like normal people.

Now, being in the 21st Century, we might think... how the heck could people actually like and believe Hilter?

Well, through Gretchen's POV, we see how everyone was tricked, which was why it was so shocking to her when she realized that he was super crazy. And I loved that she placed the dots together and did her best to do the right thing and... well, I'll let you read to see what she does :)

This book was a big eye opener for me. I have read WWII books mainly from the losing POV, the jews or young Liesel from The Book Thief. Gretchen, in the beginning at least, was on Hilter's side. And *shudder* it was insane to see how people just fell under the crazy man's spell.

I am so grateful to live in a safe and secure place in the 21st century. I sincerely hope that nothing like that ever happens again. We only saw the beginning, before Hilter even became Chancellor and the real leader of Germany and already I'm cringing.

The poem the title is based off of is probably the creepiest thing I have read in forever. It's insanly horrible.

I admire Blankman's research and the way she created a fictional story within a true one. Genius. I say.

I give this a 4 out of 5!

4 comments:

  1. So glad you liked this and hopefully you can fit in the other books at some point in time soon.

    Good luck with school, I hope it all goes well!

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  2. I had no idea this was a series either, I wanted a standalone. I studied History in school and college and was always fascinated by Hitler and the Nazis. It feels strange to us, looking back, how so many people supported Hitler for so long. I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but ones set in Nazi Germany are some of my absolute favourites. Great review and good luck with school :)

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  3. I am sure this is an eye opening read. I had it scheduled this summer but due to all the drama, I didn't get it done, I need to revisit it before the next book comes out. Hitler was insane.

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