Week 51 Reviews: Prisoner of Night and Fog, Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke

From Goodreads:
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.

From Goodreads:
The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: She used to be part of Adolf Hitler's inner circle. More than a year after she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, she lives with a kindly English family, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and is preparing to graduate from high school. Her love, Daniel Cohen, is a reporter in town. For the first time in her life, Gretchen is content.

But then, Daniel gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany, and Gretchen's world turns upside-down. And when she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, she has to face the danger she thought she'd escaped-and return to her homeland.

Gretchen must do everything she can to avoid capture and recognition, even though saving Daniel will mean consorting with her former friends, the Nazi elite. And as they work to clear Daniel's name, Gretchen and Daniel discover a deadly conspiracy stretching from the slums of Berlin to the Reichstag itself. Can they dig up the explosive truth and get out in time-or will Hitler discover them first?

My Review:
This was a really fantastic series! I enjoyed these characters, of learning about this world that caused so much heartbreak and loss. And knowing that there was one man in charge, leading things to blame, and to watch one girl go from calling him Uncle Dolf, to being totally against the party, was pretty outstanding!

So according to Prisoner, Nazi means country bumpkin. And seeing as that's what the party is most commonly known as nowadays, it's one small thing that could in no way make up for the pain that they created, but a middle finger to them.

One thing that this brought up for me, is the question of, if after WWI, if the harshness of consequences for Germany weren't as harsh, would've WWII have happened? Which is haunting, because of all the people that died.

Both these books are mysteries, the first on the mystery of her father's death, the second on the death that Daniel was accused of. So it's that, combined with the fact that these took place mostly in 2 different cities, that made this books both connected, and different and awesome!

Really enjoyed reading both of these books, they had a pretty great ending, even with the knowledge that in real life, WWII came.

Author: Anna Blankman
Series: Prisoner of Night and Fog #1, 2,
Read: December 16th, 17th, 2015
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: They sound really great, and they're Historical Fiction 2015 Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2015 Books!
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: April 22nd 2014, April 21st 2015

Prisoner of Night and Fog:

5/5 Hearts

4.5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke:

5/5 Hearts

4.5/5 Books

5/5 Stars