The Forest of Vanishing Stars was a unique historical fiction. Although it was set during WWII, it was unlike the storylines from the same era.

It began with a sort of fantasy feel, but I was soon captivated as we follow Yona, whose life thus far has been isolated and confined to the wild. Everything changes when she intersects with refugees fleeing from the Nazis and learns of the atrocities taking place.

Harmel’s writing made me feel a part of the story and become attached to the characters. I’ve loved all of her novels and this one might be my favorite.

I loved The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel, so I was looking very forward to reading her new book, The Forest of Vanishing Stars. It didn’t disappoint at all! Inspired by real-life stories of survival, Kristin Harmel weaves together the engaging story of Yona, a young woman stolen from her Nazi parents as a two-year-old and raised in the forests of Eastern Europe. Yona knows no other human except for the woman who took her. She is raised learning that the forest can provide and support and hide her. When her kidnapper dies, Yona is alone, living off the land and listening to her instincts when it comes to her brief encounters with other people. As the Nazi persecution of Jews intensifies, many flee to the forest for protection. They are woefully unprepared and when Yona meets a group desperately trying to survive, she stays to help them in any way she can. As Yona learns what it is to be surrounded by people, she also learns heart-rending lessons in love and betrayal, and ultimately acceptance. This is a beautifully written, detail-filled, suspenseful, and engaging novel. Yona will stay with me for an exceptionally long time. The author’s note at the end is equally compelling reading, noting the tremendous amount of research Kristin Harmel did. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced reader copy.

This novel is not your traditional World War II story but rather a unique perspective that focuses on the survival of those who were able to escape the Jewish ghettos and lived in the forest. This novel begins with the capture of a young child Yona while asleep in her parents’ home in Berlin by a woman named Jerusza. Jerusza resides in the forest and hears voices and premonitions which lead her to Yona and the need to save her. Jerusza raises Yona in the forest, teaching her the ways of survival, including how to live off the land, disappear and blend in. Yona learned multiple languages and customs and traditions. Yet, despite her vast knowledge, Yona was taught to fear people and avoid any interaction with them, as only “bad” things would come from it. After Jerusza’s death, Yona is forced to live alone until she encounters a group of Jewish people, who escaped the ghettos. Despite her fear, Yona feels this calling to help these people survive and in turn, becomes part of their community.

This novel is a wonderful collaboration of nature, survival, companion, empathy, belonging, doing right by others and goodness prevailing over evil. The author does an excellent job of developing the characters and portraying strength and weakness. The reader is able to step into the forest along with these characters and understand and relate to their feelings, cry for their losses and sorrow and forgive their sins.

The author does a good job of developing a story and highlighting a part of history that is not often explored – the survival of people in the forests. She touches on strong themes that tug at the reader’s heart and really emphasizes the courage and strength of people when faced with unimaginable circumstances. This novel is thought provoking and often leaves the reader questioning what he/she would do under these circumstances and hoping that he/she too would be strong enough to make difficult decisions.

This book was enjoyable and keeps the reader engaged. The pace moves quickly, and it is an easy read given the likeable characters. It is a good reader for anyone fond of historical fiction novels.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I love this author and everything she rights so I knew this would be no exception. She delivered. I loved this story! I’d highly recommend it to people and I think people are gonna love it!

The Forest of Vanishing Stars
by Kristin Harmel
Publishing date July 6, 2021

If you haven't read this author, run not walk to your closest book store or library and start reading her books!
Historical fiction at its best! This author researches so well and presents books that are remarkable.
I am a follower of her on Friends and Fiction and she is an inspirational person as well!
Thanks to her publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC. I will recommend her books to our historical fiction readers.

5star

Kristin Harmel has written a wonderfully provocative and fascinating historical fiction novel. You are on the edge of your seat as you turn every page. Her research is impeccable. Set in Poland in the early 1940’s, this piece relates a story not often told...of those who lived in the forests on the run from Hitler. Ms. Harmel has developed each major character so deftly. You will fall in love with Yona and read as she develops into such a strong woman and cheer the results of her every action. I have read hundreds and hundreds of holocaust novels, but this one is a must read. Five stars doesn’t give it justice!

This is the story of a young girl who was stolen and raised. In the forest of Poland. It takes place during world 2. She finds and helps Jews running from the Nazis survive in the forest.. it shows mans inhumanity to man. Through it all man can survive..

A heartbreaking story of survival with a little bit of magical realism. I absolutely loved the author's note at the end. A worthwhile and inspiring read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have recently read four WWII stories ~ which is unusual for me as it is not my favorite genre. Typical so sad and leaves me with feeling of not being able to do anything about the terrible things that occurred. I realize it was a time we must never ever forget and also a time in which we should have learned there is no reason for such cruelty.
<i>This story kept popping up as a recommendation and described as ‘not your typical story about Jewish feeling Nazis terrorist. </i> Additionally I have liked all of the [author: Kristin Harmel]’s novels.
This story starts out in July 1922 with Yona who was kidnapped at age two from her wealthy parents Berlin home by a woman named Jerusza. Jerusza lives in the woods and ‘hears voices’ and is told she must save the child ~ the only safe place is the forest. As Yona grows, Jerusza knows Yona is bright, sensitive and intuitive. She has learns to hunt, gather food and other survival skills. However, she has no idea what is happening outside of the forest.
Jerusza has two rules that Yona must do ~
1. She must obey her and
2. Must stay hidden in the forest away from men who might hurt her.
Yona and Jerusza live in the forest and in 1941, at the age of 102, Jerusza dies of natural causes. Story totally had me. Yona does remind me of Kyra in [book: Where the Crawdads Sings].

This is just the first part of the story. I won’t spoil by telling you anymore.

The ‘Author’s Note’ is a story within itself. I always love reading the author’s thoughts. Truly the inside scoop on the ins and out in creating a story.
Ms. Harmel did an amazing amount of research. Story has so much detail; it is far more historical than fiction. She tells of about the Bielskis who had a camp of over 1200 people. They were self-sufficient; lived in a community of trust and hope and were able to survive.

Her note ends with a recommendation on how to make the world a better place ~”Be nice if at all possible.” Sounds so simple ~ doesn’t it? However, as I watch the evening news and read the newspaper I am sadden by so much hate. Recently so many hate crimes.
On a positive note I love to read John Tesh’s daily inspirational messages.

We can all do better at trying to be nice by remember before we speak…ask yourself ~
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?

Want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books this uncorrected eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes only. Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 6, 2021

With The Forest of Vanishing Stars, Kristin Harmel once again takes a genre that can seem tired and overdone and spin a story that balances a unique, layered and relatable character with a storyline that's different enough from all the others that makes it worth picking up another book that takes place during World War II in Europe. In this story the focus is a young woman that is stolen away from her German parents and raised in the forests of Eastern Europe who ends up taking on the responsibility of helping the Jewish people survive that have managed to successfully escape the ghettos. Yona, while taught to understand how to survive in the forest and how to speak multiple languages, is naïve to the ways of people. When she decides to help the people that are in the space she feels comfortable she learns to form a symbiotic relationship - she helps them survive, and they teach her what it likes to be part of a family and community and all the complex emotions that go along with it. This and the beautiful, descriptive language help the book stand out from the pack. At several points during the book Harmel does try and bring Yona's early childhood full circle. I can see some value in this, and one point it ties into a real life historical event. But it also feels almost disruptive to the rest of the story being told and I kind of wish she'd found a way to write the book without incorporating these parts. Beyond that, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to Kristin's next book!

Enjoyable read, couldn't put it doown. One of the things I liked best was the title and the meaning behind it--Jewish people wearing stars on their clothing---vanishing thanks to Nazi Germany. Yona, the protaganist, grew up in the forest, and shares her skills helping groups of people survive the forests of Poland and Germany during World War 2. Outstanding book, highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a great story. The characters were easy to love even though it was not a great circumstance. The story was tragic but stories like these really help you to understand what it was like during that time.

I received this an ARC through Netgalley and Goodreads. This is not your typical WWII historical fiction. Yona is stolen from her bedroom in Berlin when she is two by woman of the forest, Jerusza. Jerusza felt compelled to steal Yona to keep her safe and prepare her for what life had in store for her. Yona grows up one with the forest, not knowing about her past. This is a tale of how you may not know at the time what you are doing and being taught will be used for the good of others in the future. With the skills Jerusza teaches Yona, Yona is able to help save and hide Jews in the forest. After 22 years of being with only one other person, will Yona be able to trust people? Find friendship and maybe even love?

This story reads like a fairy tale, like an epic, and a war novel all in one. The entire story is beautifully written, very rich in imagery, and I very much enjoyed the storytelling. I always enjoy historical fiction, but this story comes with secrets and mystery which made it so interesting and compelling to read. I didn't look up many of the words and phrases, but just reading the words evoked the spirit of Judaism, and I felt a deep respect for all the Jewish people who suffered from this war and all other forms of discrimination around the world. Yona is a strong heroine, but she's not invulnerable - I grew to really like her as a character, and I really liked the way she connected with the forest. In a way, it reminded me of Native American cultures and their closeness to nature - this book gave me that same impression. I would highly recommend for anyone who is interested in WWII, Jewish survivors, and a little bit of magic.

Many thanks to Kristin Harmel, Gallery Books, and NG for allowing me to read an ARC of “The Forest Of Vanishing Stars”.

Although the first chapter was a bit “phantasmagorical”, I am so glad that I kept reading...the book grabbed me at that point and sucked me in...I didn’t want to quit! Yona is a remarkable and strong woman and the fortitude of the Jews who she helped to survive in the forest was incredible. A thoroughly enjoyable WWII historical fiction novel...you will love it!

The main character is a girl named Yona. Who was kidnapped at birth from a lady in the woods. Yona’s parents were Germans and they were bad people according to the lady who took her. The German’s were very harsh towards the Jews who all fled to the forest where Yona lived. Yona tried to save and help many Jews. I thought the book was very interesting and kept my attention the whole time.

FOUR STARS!

I wasn't sure that I wanted to read yet another book about WWII but I kept hearing about this book and seeing information on #bookstagram. Go glad that NetGalley was able to honor my ARC request.

I am half way through this and I love Yona. She is strong, resilient and kind! I need a few hours of uninterrupted silence to finish.

My heart aches and breaks for the Jewish people in Poland. Survivors among evil, awful persons.
This is my first book by Kristin Harmel. I’ve enjoyed her storytelling even though it was hard to stomach at times.
I’ll have to pick up another of her books soon.
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Great book! Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy to review.

I loved how the book didn’t go back and forth between time-periods and I was totally invested in the story too. Yona being the female protagonist in this one had me hooked from the beginning.

It was emotional when you think about the heartache of loss and all the upheaval they went through, but story was well-written though and I loved it!

Excellent. Based on true events during WWII. Yona is a character that makes you think and feel. The details are so vivid that you feel like you are living and surviving in the woods with Yona and the group of Jews.

Yona is stolen from her German parents at the age of two by Jeruza, and old woman. Jeruza raises Yona in the woods. Yona doesn't meet another human until she is a teenager. Jeruza makes sure that Yona learns survival techniques, many languages, and how to gather food in the forest. Yona comes across a group of Jews fleeing the Nazis in 1941, and she helps them to survive in the woods. In the process, they teach Yona about family and love and loss and belonging.


"After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @gallery books and @netgalley for the eARC of The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel. This was my first read by Harmel and I now know why her books are popular by so many. I absolutely loved this one!

Yona is taken from her home in Berlin, Germany when she is just two by Jerusza, a women who lives in the forest. Jerusza has taken Yona to save her from her fate. She teaches Yona how to survive in the wilderness. Jerusza lives to be quite old but when she dies, Yona is left to survive on her own. Yona knows nothing about WWII and the Nazi's. But soon, she meets a group of Jewish people who have fled to the forest to escape and she quickly befriends them. Showing them how to survive and helping them to stay safe. But, Yona is betrayed by one of the group and she flees. She leaves the forest and and meets a Nazi officer. Does she know this man? Could it be her father? Yona learns that her friends she abandoned in the forest are in danger. She goes back to the only family she has ever known. Will it be too late or will Yona guide them to safety?

This is one of the best books I've read so far this year. This is more than a story of WWII. I can't put this story into words. Let's just say; I could not put this book down. This story also sheds light on what purpose we have. How things come full circle and how God puts you right where you are meant to be although you may not know it at the time.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars releases on July 6, 2021! You are going to want to mark your calendar but this is one not to be missed!