Thank you for the opportunity to read and give an honest review. This was a very different book than what I am used to reading. I love historical fiction which is why I thought I’d give it a try. Fenna is an illusionist recruited to help in the war efforts. This grabbed my attention, but was a bit disappointed given that the book was so long and did not hold my interest. The story itself was very unique, which I liked, but dragged a lot and was very hard for me to stay in tune with it.

Fenna is a magician/illusionist/escape artist who developed her skills as a child as a means of dealing with claustrophobia after narrowly escaping a tragic accident in which many people were trampled to death in a stairwell. During WWII, Fenna is recruited by M19 in England to work on developing devices that could help imprisoned allied soldiers escape or survive. This work eventually leads to her traveling to the Netherlands in order to “bring in” her childhood friend and love of her life, Arie who is accused of being a double agent.
I have mentioned in previous reviews, there is so much current WWII fiction being published, I think that authors need a different “angle” to keep readers interested. This book definitely has that angle to a certain degree with the illusionist story. I did read about all the research that the author did and very much appreciate her incorporating this interesting information into the story. I see that other reviewers have loved this book so glad it resonated with them. However, I had a hard time getting through the book. It took me over a month to read it because I dreaded picking it up and chose to read books that I found more entertaining. The book was just plain boring to me. The interesting “angle” was such a small part of the story and the rest was typical WWII drama - working with the resistance, narrowly escaping the Nazis, some characters being caught and killed, helping children and of course, some romance thrown in. And it seemed like the story was drawn out much longer than it needed to be. The episode of Fenna parachuting into enemy territory as a civilian with no training was so unrealistic, it sort of negated the author’s careful research. I think I am so done with WWII historical fiction!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Ways We Hide is a historical fiction book about an illusionist who uses their skills during World War II. The main character Fenna Vos has had a hard life but seems to endure, when she starts working for British military intelligence she comes face to face with a part of her past. I found the characters very well-written, the main character Fenna is so intelligent and strong-willed it's inspiring. The story got a little slow for me at parts, especially in the middle. I flew through the end, the action is really intense. The story itself is very unique and I enjoyed learning the crazy ways that illusion and tricks came into making some really weird gadgets that helped allied prisoners of war. This is a good one that historical fiction fans will love.

I think this is great book but it is so long and I dosed off in some parts and you can't shorten it because each part is important but it just isn't my type of book but I really tried.

What I love most about this book is after finishing the incredible story, is finding out how much of it was true (from the Author’s Note)! This book is full of adventure, love, magic, spy craft, and war. There is truly something for everyone. Fen is an illusionist who gets recruited in the war effort and ends up on a much bigger mission. It’s a little unbelievable, some of the things she’s allowed to do as a civilian during the war, but I happily suspended belief in order to follow her along on her adventures. It’s a real page-turner that is filled with memorable characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I gave it a 4, but it was more like a 3+. The author’s notes at the end may have been the best part of the book. I appreciated learning how immigrants from Europe migrated to the upper mid-west and how they kept their communities very separate by nationality and religion. We start with a very drawn out story of Fenna’s time as a magician and magician’s assistant. It’s not that this work is unrelated to the story, but it could be condensed. I also found the events surrounding Arie’s sister and her family to be a stretch from history. No, I am not a Holocaust denier. I am particularly dismayed when the camps are used for a convenient storyline and given the timing and what they knew, I find it hard to believe they went to Europe during a troublesome time.

'Everything is better with magic!' It indeed is.
The Ways We Hide - a magical tale of a fierce young illusionist determined to help while fighting her own demons.
The Ways We Hide is a historical fiction novel with a magical plot comprising amazing characters. The best thing about the novel is the rich and vivid writing, which I absolutely loved. I knew right off the bat that this book would be a special one. Through this novel, Kristina has chosen to write and show the readers something that's lesser known and talked about. The novel revolves around a World War II illusionist named Fenna Vos who unexpectedly is employed by MI9 to design escape aids for the British soldiers who were fighting against the Germans. Fenna Vos has become one of my favorite characters. She is a force to be reckoned with, and she is an inspiration. Fenna's emotions jumps right off the page and she's such a realistic character. The book is based off many facts, and hither and thither Kristina has altered them so as to suit the plot, about which she has extensively discussed in the author's note. The book literally pulled my heartstrings, brought out tears, smiles and anxiety in several scenes. Though it took me a while to get through the book, this is one of my favorite books in terms of the writing, the plot, the imagery and the characters. It's a highly recommended novel for lovers of history, magic and rich writing. Looking forward to read other works of Kristina McMorris.

Thankyou NetGalley and Kristina McMorris for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If I was to sum up my reaction to “The Ways We Hide” in one word it would be “WOW.”. When I first started the book, my thought was that I had no desire to read about an aspiring magician. I honestly thought about not continuing but when I got to 1928 and started reading about Fenna Vos’ life, I became absorbed and wanted to know more. Her early years were marked with tragedy, loss and constant change, her near death experience, the loss of her parents, her time in an orphanage, and her finally growing up in the house of her best friend.

Fast forward to 1943. With the war raging in Europe, Fen leaves the stage and becomes part of the war effort as part of M19. At this point in her life, I was totally hooked. I couldn’t put the book down. She takes part in a dangerous mission in occupied Netherlands to find the best friend she grew up with and find out if he has become a traitor. What she uncovers is both heart warming and tragic. She experiences both love and loss. Kristina McMorris is very descriptive in her writing with well written accounts of courage, fortitude, love and war. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this pre-release in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.

Fenna Vos grew up obsessed with Harry Houdini as part as an escape from her tough luck life. During World War II, she is recruited by the British intelligence while being an assistant (actually the brains behind the operation) for a magic show. Fenna uses her illusionist skills to help transform ordinary objects into things that Allied soldiers could use to escape from enemy lines. Fenna learns that her childhood friend and sweetheart is lost in the Netherlands, and she starts a desperate journey to find him and get him home safely.

Ways We Hide, by Kristina McMorris, is a historical fiction novel mixed in with real life figures. I didn't know anything about that side of the intelligence world, so it was fascinating to find out that there were quite a few events/inventions that actually happened. It was an entertaining and well written read, especially for people who enjoy history.

This book had some interesting parts, but for my reading, it was too long and the parts about her childhood could have been shortened to still give us the same impact. She is a talented magician, that gets recruited to help in the war efforts/helping with escapes. There is a lot of interesting history and strong characters that grow and that I cared about

Kristina McMorris, the author of ‘The Ways We Hide” has written an intriguing and captivating novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Romance. I love the novel and “magical approach” that Kristina McMorris has used in describing how illusion and magic can be a show maker, and yet be used during World War Two. The story takes place during World War Two and goes to the past regarding the characters and events. The places where the novel takes place are America, England, and Europe. There is danger, destruction, threats, and possible death.

The author describes her dramatic characters as complex and complicated. Some are survivors and brave. During the tragedy of war, some characters are depicted as evil, and some are kind and risk their lives to be helpful. The female protagonist in the story Fenna Vos, grows up in America, and after tragedy finds herself in an orphanage. Fenna seeks out her friend Arie, who had helped free her of a terrible situation when she was trapped. Fenna and Arie have their own communication and do understand each other. Both care deeply for each other, but Fenna sets out to make her own way in the world.

Fenna has always been intrigued by Houdini and magic, and creates a magical show. Military Intelligence in Britain, M19 is interested in her ideas and gadgets to help fight Germany, and Fenna finds herself involved with espionage. Fenna has no idea the perilous journey she has to face, and realizes that there are “many ways that we hide”.I would highly recommend this thought-provoking and unique historical fiction novel.

Book Title: Ways We Hide
Author: Kristin McMorris
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction
Pub Date: September 6, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars

Fenna Vos, a skilled illusionist who was raised by her widowed father in Michigan, her mother died in childbirth. Life hasn’t been easy for Fenna and then they get worst however, she but has the support of Arie Jansen, and his parents.
Fenna's always been interested in magic tricks, she and Arie learn to communicated by using a secret and code.
We read most of her story when Fenna was an adult, and the brains behind a Magician/Illusionist act.

After one late after a show she is approaches by Major Hutton asking if she could aid the war efforts by using her skills. When we join her as an adult, she’s now the BRAINS behind a Magician/Illusionist act.
She is approached late one evening by Major Hutton. He asks if she could aid the war efforts by using gadgets and other things that MI9 designed including hidden maps.

Kristin McMorris tells us about her research ~
She discovered that the British intelligence department responsible for this ingenious tactic was MI9, or what she dub the "go-go-gadget team of WWII." States that more than a few of the devices they engineered would absolutely amaze us.

I am not a WWII fan also prefer plot driven stories rather than character. ~ SO why was I attracted to this this? Well although I am not a fan of WWII as it was such a sad terrible time, I was curious about Michigan and yes the MI9 gadgets.

Also Kristin McMorris gives us a lot of info at the end of this book in the following articles:
 Author’s Note ~ she tells us how her research helps inspire her writing. For example using a webpage that inspired her novel " Sold on a Monday" there was a picture of children being offered for sale. (I didn’t read that novel but certainly am interested now!)
~ She tells us how the documentation of young victims back in 1913 in Calumet. Michigan’s
Italian Hall Disaster inspired this story. She offered many pages of information on her
research. In fact, the information at the end of this book are stories in themselves!
For more information, you can visit www.KristinaMcMorris.com
 ~ Further Reading: lists many resources
 ~ Acknowledgments
 ~ About the Author

Want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 6, 2022

This is an unforgettable story of two childhood friends that have no idea what’s about to come as they play games together. We never know what’s next … do we?

Magic. It started as simple games when Fenna was playing with her friend Arie in a small town of Michigan in the 1930s. Later, she used everything she learned to make some money managing a show. It was a blend of illusion and danger with her partner Charles on stage. When they had a loud argument over the way it was going, she was ready to depart. Just so happened that a recruiter from the war office in London overheard this loud dispute. He said, “Your unique skills should be utilized for a grander purpose than amusement on a stage.”

That’s when in 1942 she left NYC and started working as a temporary wartime civil servant in England. Fenna grabbed onto everything she knew within the world of illusion to create ways to help the fighters survive through the horrors of WWII. She created ways of using playing cards, board games, gadgets and various tricks to escape some seriously tough situations. Then she took a gamble on her own life. The storytelling was so involved, it made me feel tense at times.

The author used a lot of resources -- articles, notes and books -- to write this story. While the book is 496 pages, the chapters are relatively short and it reads quickly with a lot of suspense. It includes a bit about Houdini’s role with spies during the war. We tend to think of magic shows as entertainment. Yet, the book shows us how powerful it can be to manipulate one’s attention to escape and hopefully survive any type of hostility.

My thanks to Kristina McMorris, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected publication date of September 6, 2022.

4.5
Fans of historical fiction from the WWII era will love Kristina McMorris's "Ways We Hide.". The integration of magic and gadget making breathes new life into the genre. The story is told from the point of view of Fenna Vos, the daughter of immigrants who was orphaned at a young age, escaped the orphanage to which she was sent and later taken in by her best friend, Arie's, family, Fenna is both both fabulously strong and vulnerable at the same time. She is fascinated by a book of magic tricks and the life of Houdini and pursues a life on the stage designing tricks and acting as the assistant to her magician partner.

She is solicited by a British man to come to London to help with the war effort by using her talents to design gadgets which can covertly carry information to the network of spies risking their lives to stop Hitler. The designs she and the M19 group she works with comes up with are captivating, In the Epilogue, I enjoyed reading about the true stories surrounding the these devices and the leader of this unit. I plan on reading his biography, as well.

This is a gripping story which brings you through the immigrant American life, the transient performer's life, a world at war and and what one will do for for those they love. There are so many ways we hide, most often in plain sight from the ones we love the most. I hope that you, too, will be spellbound by reading The Ways We Hide. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so different from anything that I have ever read and super intriguing. I had never heard of illusionists being used during WW2 and really appreciated the author's notes at the end. The notes really added to the story. I loved the MC, Fenna, and was rooting for her from the beginning.

I was pulled in from the first chapter but the interest died down a bit in the second half of the book. My main critique is that I felt the book was a little longer than it needed to be. It was paced very well; however, with the chapters being a good length.

I think this will be a bestseller for a lot of people. While it wasn't a 5-star read for me, I definitely am intrigued by the author's writing and will be checking out more of her books.

This is a wonderful story of love, courage, and a determination to help one’s country. Loved every minute of reading it!

The Ways We Hide was a beautiful, but at times extremely sad, WWII historical fiction novel. It is a story of a childhood friendship that begins during a tragic event and grows into a complicated love story that is marked by the events of a terrible war. Fenna, the beautiful American heroine, is a resilient and incredibly strong woman. Her amazing talent of being able to perform magic tricks sets her on a path of assisting Britain’s war efforts. Arie, Fenna’s best friend from childhood is a determined and brave figure who will do whatever it takes to save his family.

I did find the story a little hard to get into at first. It was not quite what I expected and different to other WWII historical fiction that I typically read. But then something changed and suddenly I just wanted to keep reading and finding out what would happen next. A fantastic book by a wonderfully gifted author.

I received an ARC copy of this book thanks to the author and NetGalley.

Historical fiction fans rejoice! Kristina McMorris has crafted another spectacular tale based on little-known parts of history with her imagination tying it all together.
Fenna Vos, a US-born child of Dutch immigrants, experiences immense tragedy and loss in her early years. An unlikely friendship and the magic of Houdini combine to help her not only survive but blossom into a magical performer in her own right. With World War II raging on, creative minds seek new solutions to help POWs. Fenna’s experience with illusions proves to be just what is needed and sends her across the Atlantic and into unfathomable danger.
A unique tale, the story of Fenna grabbed my interest and had me wondering which parts were true and which were imaginary. In her author’s note, McMorris lets readers know; I was so surprised to find that many of the outlandish events actually occurred or were based on real events! The author masterfully weaves a theme throughout the book and allows her characters to develop and grow over the course of the novel.
If you are looking for an edge-of-your-seat tale, look no further than this book. Countless times I gasped out loud at the situations playing out on the page before my eyes. It had great pacing, allowing me to find the breaks in the narrative while simultaneously wishing I could get back to the adventure instead of sleeping.
Even if you think you’ve read your fill of World War II historical fiction, The Ways We Hide offers a unique look into that time period. The author provides a detailed story with information about the era without the annoying “info dumps” found in some other historical fiction works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

As someone who loves historical fiction but is maybe a bit burned out on WWII novels, I was a bit worried about this book - however, I really ended up enjoying Ways We Hide.

Told by Fenna, who discovers her love of magic as a young child she grows up to become an assistant to an escape artist. She ends up being called by the British military intelligence to help design escape aids. I loved reading this part of the book as I learned so much about the devices they engineered to aid in the war.

I really enjoyed many aspects of this book - there was a lot of action that kept me engaged, bits of history I had never heard before and even a little romance thrown in there. If you love historical fiction, I would pick this book up!

Thanks, Netgalley, for the ARC of this book!

The main character, Fenna, is a skilled illusionist with multiple life changing events. The Ways We Hide is full of loss, family, danger, and a bit of romance. I enjoyed reading about a part of history that I had no knowledge of. The writing is wonderful, and it is evident that extensive research was done. Unfortunately, I thought the story was a bit slow in some areas and I was not fully engaged until more than halfway through. The author notes at the end are very informative and fascinating. If you are on Facebook check out the author's page to view clips of M19 gadgets that were used for servicemen. An interesting story with a wonderful ending.