Three sisters make a promise to their father that they will always stick together, no matter what. But what happens when that promise is made mere years before the start of WWII?

Livi and Cibi are sent to Auschwitz while their sister Magda is in the hospital. But a couple years later, Magda is also sent to Auschwitz and the sisters are reunited once again. Now, they make a promise to each other that they will survive this horrible place.

Three Sisters is based on the true story of Livi, Cibi, and Magda, and their bravery and determination to survive one of the most horrifying and tragic events in the world.

I really enjoyed this story, and I liked that it incorporated other (real life) characters as well. The first two books in the series follow Lale and Cilka, and I was glad to see them mentioned in this book. I also appreciate that Heather Morris writes her books as a series, but they are all stand alone novels.

I did find that this story was more like any other WWII book. I don’t think there was enough in the story to make this book stand out like the first two. I felt at times the story was dragging on, possibly because it seemed like I had read the book before with different characters. That is not to say that it wasn’t a good book or an interesting story, because it was both. It just didn’t have the same oomph that the first two books did.

Overall, Heather Morris did another fantastic job at capturing the horror, fear, bravery, and determination that I am sure was present in Auschwitz. It is still unbelievable to me that these were true events, and the survivors faced these atrocities. 4 stars, recommended to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Oh my goodness, this was such an emotional novel. The author does a great job in relating the sisters experiences. I loved the author’s note at the end.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Morris has a pleasant writing style which is great for such difficult subjects. I love the way she weaves the stories together. I thought this was actually better than The Tattooist of Auschwitz because I thought the characters were more deeply revealed here. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read WW2 fiction or who enjoys stories about family, love, loss, and healing. 4.5 stars

Thanks netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I’ve read Heather Morris’ other books and thought they were well done and so is the three sisters.

A father has his three daughters promise him that they will look out for each other always. This promise helps the oldest and youngest daughters through 2 years in the concentration camp before the other sister is sent there. I don’t want to spoil the book but it is very well written and based on a true story. Please pick this up!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Three Sisters is just as heart wrenching as Heather Morris's first two books. We read about three sisters who from a very young age vowed to always look after each other and to never be parted. As they grow older and WWII starts to restrict their lives, they find ways to survive and keep each other safe until the day comes when two of the sisters are sent to a concentration camp. The third sister in time is also sent to the concentration camp and is shocked by the appearance of her older and younger sister. They do what they must in order to survive.

Heather Morris's name was all it took for me to pick up this book, I knew I would be in for a terrific read that was going to be emotional, heart breaking, with a certain feeling of hope and joy.

Unfortunately the WW2 historical fiction market needs a refresh and this book was not what it needed. Typical characters. Sad moments. Hopeful moments. Lots of people will like it. I will hand it off to many patrons, but as a historical fiction reader, I’m ready for something else.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a compelling story, about 3 sisters who all wind up in the same concentration camp, although two of them came together, and one was captured and imprisoned later. One of the first girls went voluntarily - her sister was swept up in a roundup of Jews and she came along in order to take care of her sister. They all tried to honor their vow to their father, to stick together and take care of each other.

I feel as if I have read too many books lately, about WWII and concentration camps - yes, I do know and agree that it's necessary to read these books and not to let any of this be forgotten. But (I know this sounds shallow), the shock value has diminished - I didn't really learn anything new or startling in this book. That being said, I found the "life after the camps" much more intriguing, since that did open up something new for me.

Despite the above, I found it a compelling story, even if it wasn't new to me. I got very invested in the girls, and cried more than once reading it. Whether your learn something new from the book or not, it's a good, if terribly sad, read - but with an encouraging ending!

This is the third book in the Tattooist of Auschwitz series. A historical holocaust novel based on a true story Three Jewish sisters, Cibi, Magda and Livi live in Slovakia when the Germans invade. Two of the sisters are sent to Auschwitz and the third arrives there two years later. A powerful moving story of hope, commitment and courage. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars.

Heather Morris has found some very important and impactful stories to tell. Yes, there is a lot of WWII historical fiction out there and yes there are a lot of tales about concentration camps, but this one has just so much that needs to be read. I have read all three novels in this series and I have been heartbroken by every one. Though able to be read as standalones, the stories do crossover one another in small ways. Three Sisters broadens the narrative in a way that continues to be eye-opening and gut punching.

This tale of the three Mellar sisters, Sibi, Magda, & Livi is created based on conversations with two of the three sisters (Sibi having passed prior to the telling of this tale), as well as other family stories and documents. There is some creative liberty taken with this information, but it still remains primarily true to the tale in a way that is so hard-hitting that it is at times incredibly difficult to read.

The atmosphere and characters are captured in a mesmerizing way and there were so many moments that I felt my breath stolen by the narrative. These stories are becoming so much more important to have written down as the Holocaust survivors pass away due to old age. Their harrowing journeys and suffering as well as their resilience and amazing human spirit are priceless and they need to be shared. Having these stories woven into fictionalized accounts doesn't take away their power, but makes them even more accessible, which I think is fantastic.

The power of the sisterly bond is so beautifully displayed in this novel. I was absolutely captured.
The way Sibi, Magda, & Livi held together swelled my heart at the same time I was being destroyed by the terrible things that befell their family. There is so much hope in their tale and such great focus on the family. I haven't been moved by a story this much in quite a long time.

Reading the acknowledgements at the end, featuring the family themselves, just did me in and wrapped up the story in a way that made me feel truly made a part of the tale. Heather Morris has done an incredible job here and I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to know the incredible and humbling story of the three brilliant, brave, and strong Meller sisters.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is book 3 of a trilogy about Auschwitz.

Heather Morris once again weaves together the story of three sisters - Cibi, Magda, and Livia, who promise their father before his death, that no matter what - they will always look after each other. He unfortunately dies when the girls are very young.

Years later - when the girls are in their teens, WWII starts and being Jewish, Cibi and Livia are sent away to the camps. Magda is in the hospital recovering from a fever and then she hides for 2 more years successfully until she is caught and sent away also. The girls are eventually reunited due to the tenacity of Cibi and continue through the torture that is Auschwitz and the camps. Will they all leave together?

The writing is so vivid, you feel like you are there. The sisters, two of whom are still alive, help Ms. Morris tell their story with so much passion, heartbreak, and compassion, you cannot help but to keep reading.

Three Sisters by Heather Morris is the harrowing but inspiring tale of Cibi, Magda and Livi, who grew up in Slovakia. Their father was wounded during World War I and, twelve years later, will undergo surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his neck. Before the procedure, he asks his three young daughters to make a promise to him and each other that they will "always be there for one another, no matter what. That you will not allow anything to take you away from each other." The next day he dies on the operating table, and their maternal grandfather, Yitzchak, moves into their small cottage to assist their mother, Chaya. Their uncle, Ivan, lives across the street with his family and provides support, as well.

Thirteen years later, in 1942, the girls begin to comprehend the importance and ramifications of the promise they made to their father. Rumors are rampant in their village that the Nazsi are forcing Jewish boys and girls sixteen years old and older to work for them. Seventeen-year-old Magda is ill so the doctor hospitalizes her in order for her to remain safe for the time being. Livi is fifteen and the eldest, Cibi, has gone away to a training program that provides young people the necessary skills to begin a new life in Palestine, but soon returns home to find that Livi has indeed been ordered to report to the synagogue. From there, she will be transported to an undisclosed location, allegedly to work for the Germans. Cibi assures her mother that she will accompany Livi. As their mother sobs in the doorway, the two girls bravely proceed to the synagogue where they, along with many others, are herded into a classroom. After a long night there, they are marched down the streets to the train station. As Cibi and Livi pass by, they are stunned to discover that "their former friends and neighbors are hurling rotten fruit and stale bread at their heads, yelling their joy that the Jews are finally living." They can't understand what has happened to the people who shopped in their mother's store and sought her counsel. It is only the beginning of the girls' long nightmare.

Morris details the girls' unimaginable experiences. They are forced into cattle wagons at the end of a train and transported to Auschwitz where "shaven-headed, hollow-cheeked men . . . swarm the train. In blue and white striped shirts and trousers, they move like rats fleeing a sinking ship as they clamber in to the wagons and begin to throw the girls' suitcases onto the platform." Their few belongings are confiscated and Cibi tells Livi, "We will eat stones, nails, and whatever we can get our hands on, but we must survive this place."

The girls quickly learn that they must keep working in order to survive, as rumors swirl of a bunker below ground where prisoners enter alive and are carried out dead. They watch vindictive guards kill prisoners who don't work fast or hard enough, or otherwise displease them, and are forced to carry the bodies of other girls back to Auschwitz at the end of a grueling day of work. Cibi watches over Livi as she grows thinner, and memories of home and family seem like just a dream.

Five months after their arrival, they are told they are being transferred to Birkenau, a camp for women. But a fellow prisoner warns them not to get into a truck. "You must walk -- understand?" The only way to stay alive is to show the Germans that they are strong and can keep working, no matter how horrendous the conditions. The SS make selections during the morning rollcall, marking those who appear sick or weak for extermination. Even as typhus sweeps through the camp, every girl knows that if she remains in her bunk in the morning, she will be dead by the time the other prisoners return that night. So when Cibi has a raging fever, the other prisoners half carry her to and from Auschwitz where they are assigned to work each day. Every time they pass through the gates, they must walk unaided past the guards., and they are forced to stand naked to be inspected for injuries or sores that will immediately consign them to death. They are given a brief reprieve on Christmas Day because the guards are celebrating. But Cibi refuses to offer any more nightly prayers, telling Livi, "No one is listening to us."

Meanwhile, Magda remains at home with Chaya and Yitzchak, hiding in a neighbor's house or the forest when the Nazis search the houses every Friday night. Magda questions the point of hiding, telling Chaya, "They will get me sooner or later, and maybe this way, I can join Cibi and Livi." But Chaya is determined not to let the Nazis take her remaining daughter, selling what few belongings she has left in order to buy food.

But eventually, of course, the Nazis are not satisfied to simply enslave the young. Uncle Ivan has learned they "are coming for all of us," as they remove every Jew from Slovakia. In 1944, they are forced from their home, and Magda is separated from Chaya and Yitzchak. She is first taken to Ilava prison, and then transported to Birkenau where, miraculously, she is reunited with her sisters. But not for long. Soon Cibi and Livi are transferred back to Auschwitz, leaving Magda despondent and abandoned.

By late 1944, planes are flying overhead and the girls hear missiles being dropped. They are given yet another miracle by Elisabeth Volkenrath, a beautiful young SS officer who oversees Cibi's work in the post office. She facilitates a second reunion of the three sisters.
But even as the war comes to an end, the sisters must survive a grueling death march with a multitude of other female prisoners in order to make their way to real freedom.

Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey, has penned another powerful account of perseverance and survival during a period of history that must never be forgotten. Morris writes in an appropriately straight-forward manner about a subject that needs no embellishment. As with those two prior books, Morris conducted extensive research to ensure accuracy. She was fortunate to meet with Livi and many members of the family, and credibly conveys their emotions. Key events are depicted in the book exactly as they happened, including the heartbreaking moment when Cibi begs a Nazi commander to spare the lives of their mother and grandfather. Chaya's last words to Cibi were, "Look after your sisters, my darling," as she was taken to her death.

A good portion of the book is devoted to the sisters' lives after World War II when they questioned the decisions they made during the war and wrestled with survivor's guilt, questioning whether they deserved to love and be happy again. Even though the war was over, the world was still not a welcoming place for Jews and when they returned to Slovakia they encountered "everyday acts[s] of racism." Morris details the fraught journey Magda and Livi make to a new home, "desperate to believe the memories which haunt them will magically disappear once they set foot in Israel." It is not that simple, of course, but they gradually learn to "embrace the future with an open heart" after enduring so much suffering.

Morris compellingly chronicles how the three sisters' promise became a part of them and, by living up to it, they saved themselves and each other. The Three Sisters is the remarkable story of three young women who refused to give in or give up, and thrived because of their steadfastness. They survived unspeakable atrocities so they could pass their stories from generation to generation. Livi told her growing children, "You are my victory. My family is my victory." Three Sisters is the lovingly-crafted documentation of that victory. -- a must-read for students of history.

I read the story of the Three Sisters because I had read and loved Morris’s previous books in the series, “The tattooist of Auschwitz “ and “Cilka’s Journey”.
Morris has an uncanny way of telling a story and making you feel like you are right there in the midst of everything that is going on. As soon as the story arrives at Auschwitz I feel like I am back to a familar place. Not because I have read so many other stories about Auschwitz, I have, but because Morris’s previous stories were so real to me that her writing just immediately transported me back to that place. tI read this book in a little over a day because I just could not put it down.
The story follows the lives of three sisters, Cibi, Magda and Livi living is Slovakia. Their father made them promise that they would always stay together. It was something they always abided by until one day the Hlinka guards arrive and announce that Livi’s name will be on the list of girls who are to be transported to work for the Germans. Magda at the time was in the hospital and Cibi has decided that Livi will not go alone. She will honour her fathers wishes and stay together with her sister. She will go with Livi.
The sisters are transported to Auschwitz and this is only the beginning of their story.
The story of the Three sisters is a retelling of actual events that the Meller sisters went through during the Holocaust. It is an emotional journey, one that needed to be told and shared with the world and I couldn’t think of a better person than Heather Morris to tell the story.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the advanced copy.

5 stars! I thoroughly enjoyed Heather Morris’ newest novel. It’s one that I continue to think about thought I’ve finished reading it. For fans of World War II historical fiction, this is a must read.

Menachem Meller, a Jewish WWI vet with a bullet still lodged in his neck made his three daughters, Cibi, Magda & Livi promise him that they would take care of each other and not let anyone separate the three of them no matter what. Unfortunately, through circumstances out of their control they could not keep their promise to their beloved father.

This compelling novel focuses on family bonds, strength and hope even in the worst of circumstances.

I received an advance digital review copy of this book all opinions are my own.

Three Sisters is the third book from Heather Morris focusing on the same time period and acquaintance group of prisons at Auschwitz-Birkenau during World War II. While there are three books that are linked, each one is a standalone novel. The first was The Tattooist of Auschwitz and the second was Cilka's Journey. In this third release, Three Sisters; we meet Cibi, Magda, and Livi. The sisters range in age from 20's, to teens, and the youngest being still a child. Each sister has their own story of how they come to end up in the camp, but they reunite and endure the horrors there together.

While this is technically fiction, it is a fictionalized account of actual events and people. There really are three sisters, of the same name, and they really dis experience much of what occurs in the book. Morris creates her books based off of survivor's and their family's oral histories of the time. I am a huge fan of Heather Morris and meeting all her characters and hearing what they experienced. However, this was my least favorite of her other books. I am not sure if it was the people or her writing, but so much of what the characters did felt calculated, which feels out of character for people living in dangerous and uncertain times.

Three Sisters by Heather Morris is the third in the Tattooist of Auschwitz series. It follows three Slovakian sisters, Livia, Magda, and Cibi, and is based on a true story. The sisters made a promise to their father to always stay together and take care of one another. The girls have to live through WWII and the holocaust, they are taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau. This is a deep book that takes on a very heavy topic but does it in a beautiful way. You will for sure want to have plenty of tissues handy when reading this book you will not want to miss.

2.5 stars

A wartime novel focused on the love and bond between sisters.

Based on true events, sisters Cibi, Magda and Livi share a promise to their father that they will always look out for one another. This promise carries them through several harrowing years living as Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.

One theme that stuck with me throughout this novel was how people suffered with ‘survivors guilt’. Feeling guilty if they survived the concentration camps, feeling guilty if they didn’t suffer as much as the next survivor, feeling guilty for witnessing things they didn’t try to stop, etc. The author did an excellent job pushing this topic forward and showing the reader how endless and life consuming this guilt can be.

This was one of my most highly anticipated novels of the year as I loved Books 1 and 2 in this series. Unfortunately this lacklustre ending to the series didn’t live up to my hopes and expectations.

My main issue was the main characters — the three sisters were extremely childish and “cutesy”. They didn’t feel real. I couldn’t take their conversations seriously as their immaturity and babyish behaviour and dialogue took away from the harrowing storyline, the true grit and the heaviness of the times. For this reason, this entire story lacked the emotional pull that I have come to expect from this series. I simply wasn’t invested in the characters so my heart wasn’t in it. I can understand how wonderful it would have been for the author to be interviewing these sisters and putting their story to paper, but this simply didn’t resonate with me in any way.

Another issue for me was that this book lacked anything new. I love reading historical fiction so that I can learn about pieces of our history through fictional, entertaining characters. While the author did a good job telling the true story of these sisters, it failed to offer a fresh perspective on this time in our history. These characters brought nothing new to the over-saturated genre and the repetitive feel made the book drag.

Overall, this was barely an “ok” read for me. Many readers will love this for being a heartwarming, lighter wartime read. I feel that readers who have followed along in this trilogy will find this last book less intense and impactful. It was more of a cute, feel-good story than a powerful, emotional one. It failed to offer anything new and felt drawn out and repetitive. I strongly recommend reading Book 1 & 2 in this series and then adjusting your expectations for this one as it’s a completely different kind of read.

Thank you to St Martins Press for my review copy!

“I want you to make a promise to me and to each other that you will always take care of your sisters. That you will always be there for one another, no matter what. That you will not allow anything to take you away from each other…three of you are stronger together…”

This book, based on the true story of three sisters, Cibi, Magda, and Livi, and their unbreakable bond to always be there for each other, will leave you in awe of their lives. Author Heather Morris spent time with two of the sisters and the family and demonstrates great respect in sharing their stories with the world. She takes readers on their journey from a childhood promise to the unspeakable horrors and losses they survived in Auschwitz/Birkenau, to the war aftermath and all the way through to their new life in the promised land.

Although fiction, many scenes play out as they actually occurred. There is a great deal of pain, and each sister carries their own feelings guilt, fear, and sadness throughout their lives. But they are always strengthened by their bond…it is what propels them forward and helps them survive. The author does a good job of not only showing the lack of humanity by friends and neighbors, but also the small acts of kindness and compassion, like buds of hope in a dark world. In doing so, the reader also finds hope in humanity.

One particularly meaningful bit of imagery is when Magda finds a flowering sword lily: “They are a genus of the gladiolus family…it means strength of character….It means never giving up. And it is part of the Iris family, which signifies hope….Strength and hope….These are the finest qualities a person can have.” Strength and hope sums up the sisters and how they survive.

While the true story is compelling, I struggled to continue with reading and needed to put it down and come back to it. At first I thought it was because of the war horrors. But the first half had me enthralled. it was really the second half of the book, mostly part 3, that I struggled with. The pace was much different from the first half and often the dialog was almost forced to get through the story. It felt like a different book. I would probably rate the book a 3 because of this since I just wanted to finish and move on. But then I was completely engaged again and overwhelmed with the ending…the epilogue, authors note, and afterwords by family members. These brought me back to grounding in the story, and incredible respect for the sisters and their life stories. Thank you Heather Morris for writing their powerful story.

“Part of their routine, an unspoken part, is to ask themselves, every day, is today our last day on this earth?….We survived another day”

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Books enter your life at the right time so it's fitting that 'Three Sisters' is my first book of 2022. Ending a tumultuous year, the novel reminds readers to embrace the future and feel grateful for our friends and family. Based on a true story, Heather Morris pens the hope and strength of Cibi, Magda and Livia as they honor the promise they made their father to always look out for each other.

I've been a fan of the author since reading the 'Tattooist of Auschwitz' and started reading the novel before its publication in October 2021. I love historical fiction as while often difficult to read due to the subject matter, depicts protagonists overcoming obstacles and embracing life in spite of the tragedies they faced.

While I eagerly awaited reading #ThreeSisters I wasn't in the right mindset to fully appreciate the novel. I put it aside and picked it up again at the end of the year. I cheered, cried and cringed along with the characters marveling at their display of the strength under such devastating conditions.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Morris' heartfelt novel in exchange for an honest review. Sharing the sisters' stories afforded a glimpse into the horrors they faced while honoring their bond that wouldn't allow circumstances to break them.

I don't know how Heather Morris does it. My heart has been shredded only to be put back together piece by piece. Three Sisters by Heather Morris is a story that captures the true horror, resilience, and love of Cibi, Magda, and Livi's life within the Nazi concentration camps and the hope they hold for their lives after they escape. Through it all, they fall back on the promise they made to their father to alway stay together and no matter what, they always do. 4.7 beautiful, bright stars for Three Sisters. Highly recommend.

A beautiful, emotional, stunning book. This is the third in the series but they work as standalones. This is a story of courage and tenacity in the face of extreme adversity. This story of sisters walked the fine line between heartbreaking and hopeful in a very respectful way. The atrocities of this time period never cease to amaze me and the author captured it perfectly. 5⭐️