Such a moving, heartfelt book. An emotional story of what happened “after.” A story of resilience and bravery. Wonderful!

Cilka is first introduced in the Tattooist of Auschwitz. Heather Morris weaves a heartbreaking saga of Cilka’s early life drawing on fascinating actual research to tell the story of Cilka’s life. What is different about this historical novel, is that Cilka was a real person and this is her story. After surviving Auschwitz-Birkenau, Cilka becomes a prisoner in the Soviet Gulag. You will fall in love with the other characters and how they are interwoven into the story. Cilka’s Journey is an absolutely outstanding novel of tragedy, fortitude, and hope. For ardent fans of Tattooist, you are in for a wonderful reading experience...for Cilka’s Journey is even better. It is 6 stars!!!!

A story of bone deep suffering with glimmers of hope here and there. Perseverance and survival with no end in sight. A crude doily, a chipped mug with a little flower plucked from frozen, arrid earth. The simple pleasures in life we all take for granted. Cilka's ordeals, punishment, bravery and deep love make for an evocative, emotional read. It is the tale of true sacrifice for those she called her friends, her sisters in survival. It is a tale of toneless brutality at the hands of disinterested, entitled people in power - just because they could. The fact that the book is based on a true story makes it that much more heartbreaking. Well written, well researched - a truly excellent book.

It is a heart breaking story that needs to be shared to the world, as it is a story that is never told. I wish the book opened up with more closure from the first novel. While reading the book there are flashbacks but they do not happen until later in the text.

Privileged to have the opportunity to read this ARC from Netgalley. Heather Morris has done it again with this beautifully written story of courage, bravery and compassion against all odds where hope and courage can take root in even the darkest of places

I enjoyed this book almost as much as the Tattooist of Auschwitz. I enjoyed how pieces of that story were woven in to this one, but it’s not required to have read it to understand Cilka’s Journey.

At 10:50 a.m. I received an email inviting me to read an advanced copy of Heather Morris’ sequel to the Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey. At 11:00 p.m., I finished it. Pretty sure that’s never happened before. Good. Book.
I had not read The Tattooist prior to reading this (though it will be delivered today) and it is not necessary to have read it to enjoy Cilka’s Journey. This is a beautifully written, very readable account of Cilka Klein’s story after Auschwitz. Yes, all books from this horrific part of human history are about loss and survival, but this one is also about relationships and the human condition.
The characters came alive and were consistently written all the way through. The story flowed like water and I couldn’t put it down. I really appreciated the additional history included at the end. This is why I read historical fiction.

***I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley from the publisher***

This is Heather Morris' follow up to The Tattooist of Auschwitz (which I recommend you read first). This book tells the story of Cilka, a woman originally placed in Auschwitz for being a Jew who was later sent to the Soviet gulags for helping the Nazis...which she didn't. This is a story of survival, friendship, and the ability to love others in horrible circumstances. This was such a good book I read it in less than 12 hours and still wish there was more.