I’ve written before of my pandemic-era fascination with novels set during World War II and immediately after the war, so I’m always on the lookout for a fresh perspective on the conflict which continues to inspire so many writers born decades after it ended. Kristina McMorris’ The Ways We Hide presents the tale of Fenna Vos, an illusionist who creates amazing escapes modeled on her idol, Harry Houdini. For reasons that become clear later on, while Fenna crafts the tricks, she does not perform them; her associate, Charles, does. As a result, most audience members assume that he’s the mastermind and she’s his assistant, when nothing could be further from the truth.

After a spat with Charles, who endangered himself and the act by consuming alcohol before a show, a British man approaches Fenna to ask if she’d be willing to use her talents toward the war effort. He’d overheard her argument with Charles, and figures she might be up for a change of scene. Initially reluctant, Fenna decides to accept the offer.

Before the action moves to England, we travel back in time to Fenna’s girlhood to discover the roots of her love of magic and fear of confined spaces. One horrific incident that takes place during Fenna’s childhood is based in reality, as McMorris explains in the book’s afterword; so too is her job working for the War Office under Christopher Hutton, a Houdini fan who came up with the ingenious idea of hiding silk maps, tiny compasses and other useful items inside Monopoly games sent to POWs in German prison camps.

McMorris packs a lot of heartbreak into this 500-page novel; while I don’t expect World War II stories to be comfort reads, very few of them include the level of child endangerment and death that comprise a large part of The Ways We Hide. I had kind of hoped for more magic and illusion and didn’t think such a substantial part of the book would feature children in jeopardy, so let this serve as a content warning if such things are anathema to you. I was only able to read a few chapters at a time because it was so achingly sad. Still, I’m not sorry I read it, as it does illuminate a new aspect of the war that I hadn’t heard of before, and Fenna is a wonderfully strong and indomitable heroine.

I read this book while on a cruise ship sailing around Ireland. So whatever I read had to be something that would really hold my attention. And this story did just that. It is basically a war story and a magic story and a story about war time tricks to keep the soldiers safer and provide them with the tools they would need to escape the enemy. I don't really like war stories as such but I do like the ones that give you insight into the real lives of the people who survive the war and how they do it. This book was very interesting and about a part of the war effort that I haven't read about before. I would highly recommend it.

Holy WOW. No Hiding All the FEELS!
Heart, heartache and had my attention from the start. The story telling and writing is phenomenal keeping me on edge and needy for the next page. You feel the tragedy, strength and courage and the will Of a strong and determined woman. I'm completely and emotionally in love with the writing and storytelling that made this an easy five star read.

⭐️: 4/5

After a traumatic event in her childhood, Fenna Vos turned to sleight of hand and the inspiration of Harry Houdini to escape her fears. Now, acting as the assistant but the secret brains behind the operation, she performs acts of magical escapism around the country. A chance encounter leads her to a job helping the British military intelligence design escape devices for captured soldiers, and while there her loyalty is tested while she struggles to escape the traumas of her past.

I love books like this that are dramatized, but based on true stories of impressive stories in history. Historical fiction books are generally one of my favorite genres to read, but I haven’t read one recently at all, due to just not really being in the mood. Fortunately, the impending publication date of this one, for lack of a better word, forced me to read it sooner rather than later, and effectively break my historical fiction book slump along with it. It was a great reading experience, with short chapters so it was easy to read “just one more”. I also loved the time jump, where we first meet Fenna in her present, then jump back to get to know her past and childhood experiences that made her who she is, and then jump forward again to her present, working with MI9 and her travels across Europe. One of my favorite parts about the book was the tie-ins to Houdini and the discussion of how some of his tricks actually worked. It was also really interesting to read the Author’s Note at the end to learn more about what parts of the book were based on fact and what were made up.

While I enjoyed the story as a whole, at times it dragged, as it seemed nothing was happening story wise and we were simply getting a play by play of Fenna’s day to day activities. I also found it overall lacking when it came to actually making me FEEL things, because while the events portrayed were tragic or impressive or exciting or any other big emotion word, it just didn’t leap off the page. I’d credit the almost documentary style cataloguing of the details of scenes, which kind of took me out of the moment.

Thank you to @netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark @bookmarked for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I absolutely love WW2 historical fiction and so I was quite excited to read this book because the premise sounded different than many of the other WW2 books I've read. I really enjoyed reading about the gadgets they created during the war to smuggle contraband to soldiers and prisoners. I felt that the flashback to Fenna's childhood, while interesting (particularly her experience in the stairwell), went on a bit long. So well there were a number of things I liked about the story, the length made it a 3.5 star read for me.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC - 5+ STARS

I have read my share of WWII books and this is a true BREATH OF FRESH AIR in that genre. I was completely captivated by Fenna and her life, beginning with her close-knit Dutch-American family and the tragedies she witnessed as a child, through growing up and working both on the stage and during the war. I was entranced seeing how Fenna would use her "magic" illusionist skills to get herself out of tough situations again and again.

The ways the author, Kristina McMorris, wove in so many unbelievable-yet-true historical facts and people blew my mind. She is an incredible writer - I enjoyed every word.

For fans of historical fiction, women's fiction, literary novels, or WWII, This would be an EXCELLENT book club pick, in fact, I'm so confident it will be a hit that I'm going to recommend it to mine as our next book!

The Ways We Hide is an extraordinary book. Kristina McMorris puts together a tale so unique, its hard to believe its based on true historical events.

Who would have imagined that an illusionist would have been recruited by British military intelligence to aid in WWII? McMorris did ... and her research and inquisitiveness brings a remarkable story to life about the strength of love and the perserverance of the human spirit.

I found myself rooting for Fenna Voss as I followed her from an 11-year-old girl in living with her widowed father; to losing him, and onto her teenage years when she first discovers the magic of Houdini and also her first love;. Later when she's discovered perfoming masterful illusion acts, she is recruited by British intelligence to design gadgets and escape aids to help defeat the Nazis.

Life isnt easy for Fenna. We learn about her fears of claustrophobia when she survives the harrowing experience when seventy-three men, women, and children were crushed to death in a stampede when someone falsely shouted "fire" at a crowded Christmas party. Her deep friendship with Arie and her love for all things magic/illusion help her through many hard times.

The Ways We Hide is an exceptional book; one all historical fiction lovers will love. McMorris covers war, loss, espionage, courage, finding strength to face your fears, surviving in a war torn country and opening your heart to a future after war.

I want to encourage everyone to read the authors note at the very end. It's here we learn McMorris based her story on an article she found in 2015 - "How Monopoly Helped Win WWII." Apparently game boards were used to smuggle escape aids to Allied prisoners of war!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for introducing me to Kristina McMorris and the Ways We Hide. Thank you for the fresh and fascinating new wartime take, along with an unconventional heroine. I cried with, cheered for and admired Fenna.

This book opens on a stage with Fenn as the assistant to an escape artist, reminiscent of Houdini. In truth, she is not the assistant but the brains, the inventor, the magician and creator of the show. After the show, she is sought out to come work for M19, in London, to aid in the war. Following that, the reader is taken back to Fenn’s childhood. Her childhood was quite traumatic due to a Christmas event where many lost their lives. The author did such a good job writing about this event, based on true history, that I actually gasped out loud. Her childhood was long and brutal but she persevered, losing herself in the magic of Houdini.
This background took her to serve in WWII, first in London and then on to Netherland. This book was very interesting, historically but a slow read for me. The section that compromised her childhood was too long a narrative. More interactions and dialogue between characters was lacking. I appreciate that I was provided with a digital ARC from Sourcebooks and NetGalley. This is my own opinion and it appears that the majority of readers would not agree with it.

McMorris has done it again! She has delivered an excellent book. It was a very exciting read. I was in the edge of my seat with each turning page. Fessa Vos is a chameleon and an illusionist, Magic is her game and tricks give her a name.
I loved all the intrigue and bravery of the characters. My heart did ache when the part of the story I wanted to work out a certain didn’t, but the show must go on.
Disappear into this great read!

4.5*
Historical fiction is always a win for me when it is during WWII. An interesting research by this author on the board game created by British Intelligence and how they were used for hiding information and holding off the Germans. When soldiers were stranded, this was aid for their escape. There is another book you can find more about this interesting tidbit "Inside Monopoly's Secret War against the Third Reich." Under classified documents, this intelligent ploy helped approximately 35,000 soldiers find their way back to their bases.

Another fascinating but horrendous look was the Italian Hall tragedy in 1913 Michigan leaving 73 people dead, mainly children in a stairwell for a false fire alert. People were trampled under the feet of those fleeing from nothing but fear. The narrator, Fenna, begins her story in a mining town in Michigan and is caught under the trample with one of her friends, Arie.

Fenna and Arie are inseparable and find their way back to each other after being separated as youngsters. Fenna loses her dad in sickness and she is whisked away to an orphanage. Her fight to get back to Arie is an emotional journey showing her bravery and loyalty to him.

When Fenna is older, she is hired by the British as an inventor and designer of these escape tactics during the war. She had worked as an inventor and assistant of an escape artist so her talents were helpful. This is an interesting tie-in and I found it fascinating to read all the tactics used in magic shows and the war. Arie and Fenna have a beautiful love story to tell in this Historical Fiction.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this title in exchange for my honest review!

Like the most skillful sleight of hand, Kristina McMorris' WAYS WE HIDE was beguiling, engaging, and deeply involving. The story of magicians, of gritty truth and expert illusion, set during World War II, was convincing and kept me up way too late reading one more chapter. No holds are barred, no opportunity to challenge her intrepid heroine are missed. I particularly enjoyed the genuine and artful ways she evoked a bygone time in Fenna's story of an incredibly capable woman confined to a secondary role rather than shining her own brilliance. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I received a digital ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley.

My absolute favorite parts of this story focused on the growing friendship between Fenna and Arie. I look forward to reading more of the author’s novels.

This was a good book. I was expecting more because of the praise I've heard of Ms. McMorris' first book, but it didn't give me those excited tingling feelings I was expecting. I just felt it was average. I did like the highlighting of the two historical stairway deaths and loved learning that those were based on true events. I enjoyed that we met adult Fenna and learned that she had committed some unknown, unforgivable offense to Arie, and then we got to meet them as kids. It really helped with those feelings of wanting them to rekindle and wondering what could have possibly happened to go from childhood to where they are now. I enjoyed learning about the different things that were created for captured Airmen and soldiers that allowed them to escape. I really enjoyed the historical aspect of all this. However, when everything went down with Arie, that's where it fell flat for me. It became less historical fiction and more of a romance novel. I just felt Arie's storyline became too convoluted and it made me lose interest. I wish the ending had been a bit different, but I can't really explain without spoilers, so I'll just leave it at that. 3.5 stars for me.

This book was a fascinating read as it mashed up the life in a circus and life during the war. It's a heartwarming story of a woman finding her way and purpose in a patriarchal society. A book worth the time indeed!

Another war historical fiction? I've read so many lately my first thought was I need something new. Well this isn't your ordinary war novel.

This book is a bit long - but well worth the read.

Fenna Vos grew up in Michigan where she experiences trauma and loss at a young age. This trauma informs her character throughout the novel. Magic becomes her salvation thanks to her friend Arie who gives her a book about Houdini. As an adult, she can only assist in her magic shows because of her fear of being closed in. When she falls out with her partner, she is offered a position with MI9 developing spy gadgets for British intelligence.

I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first as the pace seemed to pick up. MI 9 gets little attention in WWII historical fiction so that increased my enjoyment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another historical fiction novel that takes place during World War II? Yes! But featuring a little known aspect of WWII that keeps it fresh and new? Yes, really! Although this is such a crowded genre, Kristina McMorris has managed to pull out something I had not heard of: how escape aids were smuggled into Nazi occupied territory for Allied prisoners of war by hiding them in Monopoly game boards! This tidbit, combined with the Italian Hall disaster of 1913 in Michigan, where many children were tragically killed in a stairwell stampede because they believed there was a fire, form the backstory for our fictional protagonist, Fenna Vos, a performing illusionist who is recruited by the London War Office as a "temporary wartime civil servant." Since Fenna is ready for a change, and she is hoping to run into her old friend Arie, she accepts the job thereby setting in motion a series of events that will upend both of their lives.

I had not read a book by Kristina McMorris before, so I was blown away by the beautiful writing, dialogue and endearing characters. Fenna was strong, spirited and brave; Arie was sweet, tough and protective. I didn't expect the romance to play such a big part, but I'll admit I loved that aspect. The story moved along quickly with short chapters that made the book feel like less that its nearly 500 pages. I will definitely read this author's work again.

I will highly recommend this to readers who like historical fiction and women's fiction.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris. The story takes place during World War II and we meet Fenna Vos.
Fenna experiences many events and readers will be amazed at her courage both as a child and adult in overcoming obstacles. She learned how to survive at a very young age.

The unique childhood friendship she develops with Arie Jansen plays a considerable role in Fenna’s life. As her best friend, Arie gives her a book of magic tricks and her life is changed. I think I can safely say that she idolized Houdini. Fenna’s character was well written. I love that the author refers to Fenna as a “skilled illusionist”.

As a young woman, Fenna is working in Brooklyn developing staged escape acts with a partner. One night after her show, she is approached by an Englishman and he wants her to design secret and hidden escape aids to help the Allies thwart the Germans. She is not quite sure that she wants to do this, but eventually Fenna moves to London to use her skills to assist. She is pulled into a secret mission and learns the meaning of courage and loyalty.

I’m fascinated by the gadgets and the ‘tricks’ she engineers to impede the enemy. And… “a classified use of Monopoly boards to smuggle escape aids to Allied POWS” …why yes!!! Tell us more!!!

Readers will be captivated by this story and how she perseveres through her experiences and of course, a little romance along the way always helps!!

I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This historical novel was really entertaining. From the story of Fennas early life, to her relationships with Arie and Charles, to illusions and espionage as part of the war effort, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story.

Fenna is a strong character and she has to be as she is cast out on her own from quite a young age. She has to fight against the expectations of society to pursue her career in magic and a job in espionage is hardly a typical job for a woman of the time either. I was very much rooting for her throughout the book.

The story of her and Arie, lifelong friends brought together by a tragic event and then separated by the war is so well told.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for a chance to read an early copy

“The Ways We Hide” is a great historical novel by Kristina McMorris.

Thinking I was reading a typical Great Depression/WWII novel, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The focus of this novel is on Fenna, who, because she was poor, had to quickly develop street smart skills. Those skills lead to her working as a magician’s assistant (though she was the one developing the tricks behind the curtain). Yet, such expertise leads to her assisting Great Britain during the war.

Feena was a delightful, spunky character, and I loved the friendship she had with her childhood best friend, Arie. This novel does more than tell a good story, but makes us fall in love with a woman who survives hardships is a very unique way.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for the privilege of reviewing this book.