I will admit I was sceptical when I saw the contrast between the subject matter of this book and the author's previous novels, but Lily Graham has handled this change of pace incredibly well. Throughout the novel she demonstrates a great respect for and understanding of history, and has presented a character-driven story set against a harrowing backdrop perfectly. Though the violence and death unavoidably linked with any story set in Auschwitz are present, they are not the main focus, so I feel this would be a great fit for anyone wanting to dip a toe into a dark period of history without jumping right into the graphic details (understandably) found in other novels of the genre. The author has clearly made a conscious choice to focus primarily on the characters' experiences rather than the camp itself, and I felt it worked well. 

The writing is clean and enjoyable, and the supporting characters in particular are incredibly well-rounded. I found it more difficult to get a real grasp on the protagonist at first, but her story is gradually fleshed out through flashbacks explaining her relationships with various family members and friends, which is in keeping with the overall message of the novel. The use of flashbacks was well done, and felt necessary as a narrative device.

I would have liked to find a little bit more depth within the scenes set in the camp itself, but that is likely due to my personal taste in heavy factual accounts, and not a reflection on the quality of the writing. She has managed to humanise a large number of background characters, giving the camp a real sense of life, which only makes the inevitable losses more devastating. Lily Graham has taken a very delicate subject and handled it well, inspired by a reality that most people (myself included) would never have thought possible - that there were babies born in Auschwitz who managed to survive.

The story was compelling, the relationships between characters felt believable and it was emotionally affecting without crossing over into a territory of overwhelm and despair. Tricky subject matter handled well, and an author I will be reading more from in the future.