Week 47 Review: The Blood Years

From Goodreads:

Frederieke Teitler and her older sister, Astra, live in a house, in a city, in a world divided. Their father ran out on them when Rieke was only six, leaving their mother a wreck and their grandfather as their only stable family. He's done his best to provide for them and shield them from antisemitism, but now, seven years later, being a Jew has become increasingly dangerous, even in their beloved home of Czernowitz, long considered a safe haven for Jewish people. And when Astra falls in love and starts pulling away from her, Rieke wonders if there's anything in her life she can count on—and, if so, if she has the power to hold on to it.

Then—war breaks out in Europe. First the Russians, then the Germans, invade Czernowitz. Almost overnight, Rieke and Astra’s world changes, and every day becomes a struggle: to keep their grandfather's business, to keep their home, to keep their lives. Rieke has long known that she exists in a world defined by those who have power and those who do not, and as those powers close in around her, she must decide whether holding on to her life might mean letting go of everything that has ever mattered to her—and if that's a choice she will even have the chance to make.

Based on the true experiences of her grandmother's childhood in Holocaust-era Romania, award-winning author Elana K. Arnold weaves an unforgettable tale of love and loss in the darkest days of the twentieth century—and one young woman's will to survive them.

My Review:
Oh man, this book! I love Elana K. Arnold's writing so much, but I was a bit apprehensive, because the real life war in this book was hard, and the way Jews were treated was horrendous. That the author's grandmother lived though experiences that inspired this book...it was tough. But we need books like this.

Really, Astra was a very unlikable character. That Rieke was born to give Astra a companion, because she was such a difficult child, says a lot. I know they're sisters and they love each other, but the way that Astra treats Rieke, no. You don't treat someone you love that way.

This was an amazing read and I can't wait to read more by Elana K. Arnold! 

Author: Elana K. Arnold
Read: November 20th, 2023
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a Historical Fiction 2023 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: October 10th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars