I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
PTSD affects a lot of people and Fenna Vos is no stranger to it after what she experienced as a child. Now as an adult, it still comes back to remind her of the tragedies she has lived through as she tries to help other people. First she is an entertainer who looks up to Houdini as the master of illusion. Then she helps out with the war effort from a distance before volunteering to go on a mission personally. It's an interesting read based on some true parts of WWII.

Fenna Vos grew up in a mining town in Michigan, where a tragic incident has left traumatic memories that she has managed to suppress by studying the work of Harry Houdini.
It is 1942 and WWII is raging in Europe. Fenna is an adult now that performs on stage in New York City as the assistant to an escape artist. In reality, she is the genius behind the artist’s tricks, controlling each aspect of their act, from conception to the construction of contraptions, and the actual performance. It is in one of her shows that a British military intelligence officer offers her a job in London designing escape gadgets for POW’s, aviators, and members of the Resistance. The job is challenging and sometimes frustrating, but her biggest challenge is a test of her loyalty that threatens to destroy the walls she has set up to survive.
This is a fascinating, well-researched book that deals with a little-known fact from WWII. The language is beautiful, and the story kept me engaged from start to finish. I feared for Fenna, cried with and for her, and admired her courage and fortitude, as well as her ability to observe, empathize and rationalize her feelings. Her will to survive leads her to find answers and solutions. Through adversity, regrets, and loss, she strives to move on in life honoring her loved ones. I am truly in awe of this character and of the whole story.
I also enjoyed the author’s notes on the inspiration behind the story and her research on the subject. This is a five-star book for me; one of my favorites of all time. I cannot recommend it enough.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book prior to its release.

The Ways We Hide presented a very different view of WWII. This is the first Kristina McMorris book that I have read. The female protagonist is a magician. The first half of the book is largely background and is historically accurate in many aspects. The second half of the book has Jenna working her magic to help the war effort.

Sections of this novel work very well. The background of Jenna's life was most interesting for me, primarily because the details of Jenna's life were explored in depth. Her relationship with her father, with Arie, and with his parents convey real complexity in both strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps because I am not interested in magic, the parts of the novel that focused on Jenna's career in magic was not as interesting to me, although how magic tricks were used in the war effort was instructive. Jenna's journey to Holland was set up to be emotionally draining, and in ways it was. However, it also dragged in places. I kept imagining how a film of this section of novel would best be able to capture the content and tension.

Admittedly, the ending of this novel was disappointing to me, and so I am struggling to get past it. I do appreciate why it was necessary, while also being disappointed. I do want to thank the author and publisher for providing this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. The above opinions are my own, and although I wish there was a choice of half a star, there isn't. My actual choice would be 3 1/2 stars. Thank you also to NetGalley for offering access to this title.

Fenna Vos has experienced a lot of highs and lows in her short life. From surviving a stampede of people trying to escape what was later learned was a false cry of “fire”, to the loss of her parents to illness making her an orphan. Through these early experiences, she meets and befriends Arie, who finds a book on magic by Houdini. Thus began her journey into learning about magic and the tricks of the illusions.

Fast forward to 1942, after an argument with her onstage partner, she is approached by a man from British Intelligence. He knows she is the mastermind behind the tricks performed on stage and presents her an opportunity to support the Allied troops. Unsure of what to do, she calls Arie to ask if he knows the man through his network with the military. Arie is brief with her about the person and ends up hanging up on her, leaving the reader to wonder what fractured their relationship.

While in England, working with MI9 to find ways to help Allied forces with their contraptions, Fenna encounters Arie. He leaves soon after and she discovers through a meeting with British intelligence that he has disappeared on a mission and has failed to report in. Fenna suggests that she go to Holland as bait to flush him out. As she trains for this mission, she is told by a friend that she overheard the officer going with Fenna is being sent to kill Arie for fear he has turned on the Allies.

What ensues is a tense adventure where so many things go wrong, but not too many that leave the reader shaking their head wondering how much bad luck one person could have. McMorris weaves a story of survival, love, and betrayal masterfully that leaves you rooting for Fenna to successfully complete her mission and reunite with Arie. She is a strong female protagonist that utilizes her intelligence and trade to survive all that life is throwing or has thrown at her. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #thewayswehide #kristinamcmorris #sourcebookslandmark

This story is a fictional story dating back to 1942 when WW2 was going on. I’m definitely in the minority with my 3 star rating but I had a hard time following this story. I’m sure it’s just me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my review.

In The Ways We Hide, we meet Fenna Vos, a young woman who is no stranger to grief and tragedy from a young age, who idolizes Harry Houdini and emulates him to become a magic show "assistant" devising new and daring ways for her partner to escape and thrill her audience.

When the book opens, we meet Fenna and Charles on stage during their magic act and things go awry between them, allowing Fenna to abandon the act and work for MI9 devising new spy gadgets and tools to aid the Allies in the war against Germany. Thanks to a long flashback section we learn more about Fenna and her troubled past in Copper Country in Michigan, and her relationship with Arie Jansen. She crosses paths with him again during her work in Great Britain and from there she sets off on another mission.

The first 50% of the book is simply setting up Fenna's past and back story to explain her character and choices and it hinestly dragged a bit. I also found the repeated use of foreshadowing phrases at the end of nearly every chapter to be mildly grating. Once Fenna joins the war effort and takes on her mission the book does pick up quickly.

This is definitely a new perspective and twist on WWII historical fiction and I did enjoy reading it and was hopeful all throughout that Fenna would get her happy ending.

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

This is another aspect of World War II that Was a complete surprise to me. Fenna had to learn to survive at a very early age living in a poor mining town in Michigan. She honed her escape skills while watching films featuring Harry Houdini. This talent made her invaluable to the war effort in Europe. Another story brought to light by a talented author.

I love historical fiction because I learn so much. History class was never this interesting. Ways We Hide is a wonderful story that is wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time. Fenna lives in a coal mining town with her father and a tragedy causes them to move away. Her best friend is Arie and the most important person in her life once her father passes away. They are of Dutch heritage and when World War II happens the Netherlands are one of Hitler's targets. How to help becomes the question for each of them. Their choices differ.

As a reader you will be rooting for each of the characters. This book shows how our childhoods affects our lives. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction. If you have never read historical fiction you should also give this book a try.

Thank you to #netgalley, #Sourcebooks, and #KristinaMcMorris for a copy of this well written book.

This is the WW II story of Fenna Vos and the eventual reunion of her and her childhood love, Arie Jansen.

The story is beatifully written and depicts the horrors and danger Fen faced during the war. At times it is very emotional.

I loved the courage Fen portrayed in the novel as she works with the British in the war effort against the Nazis.

Highly recommend

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

From the author of Sold on a Monday, Kristina McMorris is back with a new historical fiction novel. The Ways We Hide tells the story of an illusionist recruited by British Intelligence during World War II.

Trained as a magician, Fenna grew up in a poor community and quickly learned how to fend for herself. Working as the magician’s assistant, no one knew she was really the brains behind all the tricks and illusions. Fenna never imagined this would lead to her being assigned to create devices for British soldiers with hidden compartments containing maps and gadgets for escape.

I loved the survivor mentality and strong female character in this novel. The love story of Fenna and her childhood sweetheart, Arie, adds romance and more layers to the characters.I found myself rooting for the character to overcome her haunting past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to review this book before its release.

In The Way We Hide, Fenna Vos, a fictional magician in America during World War II, is recruited by British Military Intelligence, MI9, to be a temporary wartime civilian designing escape-and-evasion gadgets for Airmen, POWs and others covertly fighting the Nazis in Europe. The book also features her childhood sweetheart, Arie Jansen, whom she reunites with in Europe during a covert operation, adding a touch of romance to the novel.

I have enjoyed Kristina McMorris’ previous work so I was excited when offered the opportunity by NetGalley and Sourcebooks to read an ARC copy of this book. Unfortunately, unlike her previous works, this book failed to engage my interest. I think this may have been in part due to a somewhat lackluster writing style with short, choppy sentences, unlike her usual lyrical prose style. The book also felt drawn out and tedious, so that even the parts that were supposed to be suspenseful dragged on so much that even those sections of the book became boring.

That being said, the story itself would have been interesting if the pacing and writing style had been better. I may be in the minority in this opinion, as I place as much emphasis on writing style as the plot itself. Others may not be so exacting.

This book was one of those that will always be with me. The story is captivating and gut wrenching at the same time. I am amazed at Kristina's vast knowledge of the times and setting of this story. I felt like I was actually living it alongside Fenna. Kristina is one of my favorite authors because she cuts no corners and pens rich stories. I can hardly wait for her next one!

I almost did not finish this book. The first chapters were about a hung girl who worked as a magician’s assistant, even though she was the one with the plans and ideas eventually she is called by the British military to design an create various gadgets to be used as escape aids against the German army. As she is drawn deeply into the war, she is faced with unexpected emotions.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this very captivating book.

This is another aspect of World War II that Was a complete surprise to me. Fenna had to learn to survive at a very early age living in a poor mining town in Michigan. She honed her escape skills while watching films featuring Harry Houdini. This talent made her invaluable to the war effort in Europe. Another story brought to light by a talented author.

Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris is a wonderful WWII- era historical fiction that I truly enjoyed.

Fenna Vos is such a wonderfully complex, flawed, and ultimately like able and admirable heroine. She is a fighter, stronger than she realizes, and has heart and fortitude. Going through so much, yet persevering…just beautiful.

I loved the inclusion of the concepts of the “magic acts” and how that illusionary vision and talent caught the eyes of British intelligence and that they saw in her a resource that could contribute to the cause and war effort. It was just such a unique premise and really gave the story a unique angle to make it even more memorable.

I really liked the moments of suspense, the emotions, and the eventual outcome. It was just such a great book that I highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/6/22.

Not sure where to even start as this book had me engaged and captivated. I was taken away into the journey of survival that Fenna was going through.
Age 11 she is living with her widowed father, A teenager seeing and discovering the magic of Houdini. I have to admit I got caught up in Houdini's magic as well.
She gets recruited by British Intelligence to use her "magic" skills of escapism to help win the war against the Nazis.
An edge of your seat story as you take the journey with Fenna of danger during war while dealing with memories and things in her past that still haunt her.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book.

The Ways we Hide is another amazing novel by Kristina McMorris!
Fenna's background story is in parts heartbreaking but is also a survivors story. Before picking up this book, I had no idea persons with Fenna's skillset would be such an asset in a war setting, now I want to learn more!
The Ways we Hide is a page-turner! Before I knew it, I was at the half way point and just had to know what happened next.

I'd like to be able to give this book 3.5 stars. There wasn't anything particularly WRONG with it, I just didn't LOVE it. I'm sure there will be no shortage of readers who will love this book, however.
Part of the 'problem' for me was that my expectations weren't quite met; my assumptions for which character(s) and/or parts of the book would be history vs fiction were wrong. That being said, the story was perfectly fine, though I felt there were at least a couple scenes that could've been shortened or cut altogether.

Fen's story from being a poor daughter in a mining community to her experiences during World War II is engaging from start to finish! A well earned 5 stars!

I have no idea where to start with my thoughts about this mesmerizing book, which held me under its spell for every deep emotion, every heart pounding scene, every line of superbly-crafted prose. It’s apt to use a magical term to describe a book that features an illusionist, an escape artist, a woman who uses her cunning and intellect to escape her hardscrabble life, and to help the Allies during WWII. Fenna Vos is one of the most extraordinary characters ever to inhabit any novel. Her life is shaped by hardships and trauma that left deep psychological scars, but also left her with a profound instinct for bravery and survival. Completely enraptured, I was swept up by Fen’s journey from 1928 Michigan when Fenna is an 11-year-old living with her widowed father; to her teenage years when she first discovers the magic of Houdini and also her first love; to 1942 when she is first the mastermind of a magic act, until she is recruited by British intelligence to use her skills to design gadgets and escape aids to help defeat the Nazis. I was completely invested in every aspect of Fenna’s life, always on the edge of my seat, as she faced memories and regret that haunted her, at the same time facing treachery and danger during wartime. I cried for her and with her, I celebrated her victories, I was fraught with worry, I was amazed by her cleverness, and I was in awe of her courage.