There is no doubt about the fact that Ms Leunens novel is a fabulous book It makes any reader feel that. how can anything else be possible? The story opens in Vienna, Austria at the time when Austria entered into a union with Nazi, Germany allowing Hitler to take control of the Austrian government. Johannes Betzler, a young man enters into the spirit of what the Nazis espouse by immediately joining the Hitler Youth movement and attempting to get his parents to do what the Nazis think everyone should do. At an initial point of the story Johannes stumbles on the fact that his parents are actually hiding and protecting a Jewish girl. The author does an excellent job in describing Johannes' mixed feelings and why he ends up doing what he does. As the reader is drawn into the story he or she learns about Johannes and Elsa's reactions to both the radically changed political climate and the fact that Jewish people and other selected minorities are used as scapegoats by Hitler to move Germany into war.
Ms Leunens utilizes hard hitting prose, sarcasm, and black comedy to bring out a book that will be impossible to forget. That it is an all nighter is a natural for writing that drags in any reader that picks it up. The novel is in the process of currently being developed as a motion picture and is at this writing available in 16 countries. A major literary talent has emerged and I for one, am anxiously awaiting her future novels.

Caging Skies by Christine Leunens is a novel that takes one on a thrilling ride into the darkest corners of the human mind and soul.

This book is set in Austria during WWII, however the time and place take a backseat to the internal and external struggle between the two main characters: Johannes and Elsa. The turmoil that is presented draws you in and keeps you wrestling with your own comfort and thoughts on who is “in the right and who is in the wrong” the whole time.

It is intriguing and thought-provoking in wanting you to look at the second layer on just whom is “in charge of whom”. Twists and turns kept me engaged throughout and I will stop there so that as to not give away any more of the ingenious plot for fellow readers.

A must read. 5/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me this advanced read in return for my voluntary and unbiased review.