What a magnificent debut by Adriana Allegri ! This is an impeccably researched historical fiction novel that rendered me speechless despite the mountains of WWII novels I have read in the past. Ms. Allegri has a true gift as a writer and had me glued to the pages from the get-go.
We meet Allina, a spirited young lady who struggles with staying quiet in the midst of all the injustice she is surrounded by. After a series of horrific events, Allina finds herself forced to work at the Hochland Home, a Nazi baby factory, mirroring one of the real-life Lebensborn facilities opened by Hitler to perpetuate the "German master race." Readers follow Allina's journey as a member of the resistance as her life intersects with Karl, an SS officer, who harbors his own hidden skeletons.
Allegri does an incredible job with the dual timeline. She seamlessly transitions between Allina's modern-day life with her daughter, to whom she eventually discloses the atrocities of the past.
I look forward to reading more of Allegri's work in the future - with such a strong start, I'm sure she will continue to grace readers with her amazing words.
Many thanks to partners, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this gifted review copy.
Read 11/12/24
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