A World War II novel that takes place in occupied Amsterdam. Told in three perspectives from three different family members who each have different political and moral opinions. Great for fans of historical fiction. Michael Reit is an automatic read author for me can't wait for more from him.

Riveting and rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to the author and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Very easy to read, a little bit rushed and simplistic in plot. Unsatisfactory ending and rushed most at the end

I couldn't get into this one. It was slow at the beginning and life's too short for books that don't pull you in.

2.5 stars

A reasonable tale, although it had the potential to be so much more. The story itself was engaging enough, but I felt the characters lacked complexity and were rather one-dimensional (compared to “Will” by Jeroen Olyslaegers, for example, which felt similar in content but offered more depth).

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting the ARC.

This was a fairly middle of the road book. I feel like it lacked emotional depth, I wasn’t attached to the characters.

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction especially during WW11. I loved following the main characters strength and courage and the many meaningful acts that saved so many lives. Such an interesting perspective and thought-provoking novel! I highly recommend.

Book was told by three characters, two brothers and one of their wives. I enjoy books like this because it keeps you engaged. Historical fiction with many twists and turns. I will read more by this author.

The Policeman’s Wife

This is a story of the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. The policeman Floris that worked with the Nazis to catch Jews for deportation, his brother Christiaan the tram driver that worked for the resistance and wife Nora who smuggled Jewish children out from under the noses of the Nazi’s to save their lives. Nora also relayed information she heard from her husband to the resistance through his brother.

When Floris becomes suspicious and realizes what might be going on Christiaan must flea Amsterdam for Switzerland. With Nora’s help Christiaan and a Jewish girl flee Amsterdam.

Meanwhile, Nora is in great danger from Floris as he begins to realize what has happened.

It is a story of great courage amidst life threatening danger and breathtaking excitement and suspense. I was literally holding my breath through parts of the book.

This is a great story, it will keep you turning the pages. Now I can ‘t wait for the next story from this author.

Thanks to Michael Reit for writing a great story and publishing it. Thanks as well to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I love books dealing with WWII. I read everything I can get my hands on. I thought this book sounded interesting, telling of the Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of their country. It is a different avenue, one less explored in the books written today than say of the Nazi occupation of Paris where there are loads and loads of books centered there.
There are three main characters, Christiaan, who is a good, upstanding man, one of strong moral convictions and lives by his principles. He is not swayed to the Nazi way of thinking and does not join the Party. He risks his life to fight for the freedom of his fellow countryman.
Then there is Floris, a Dutch policeman on the city force. Floris is a member of the party and his every action is motivated by one thing-getting ahead, advancing in the party. He becomes fanatical in his quest for power and recognition and becomes responsible for transporting many of his country's citizens to their deaths in the camps.
Then there is Floris's wife, Nora who finds out the horrible deeds performed by her husband. Defying him, Nora joins the resistance helping to get orphans out and transported to safety.,
Great storyline overall, but there is something lacking. The characters seemed very two dimensional, they lack a certain depth, there is no spark to them, nothing that catches the reader's emotions and connects with them. Without that connection the story just falls flat.
I am sorry this could be a great book for some, just not for me.
Thank you to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

Orphans of War by Michael Reit was a historical fiction novel based on true events, people and places. This was the third book that I had read by Michael Reit. I read his first two books, Beyond the Tracks and Warsaw Fury and not only enjoyed reading them but came away smarter by reading them. The same held true for Orphans of War. As in Michael Reit’s previous two books I enjoyed how he expertly blended fact with fiction. The development of the fictional characters mixed with people who actually existed was flawless and quite believable. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started reading it. I was very invested in both the plot and the characters.

I have been delaying writing this review for more than two weeks. Mainly because I really wanted to like this more than I actually did. Reit's first two books were amazing and I really enjoyed it. So I went into this one with very high hopes. And while I definitely did like this book, it didn't thrill me as much as the two previous ones did. The plot is engaging, the characters interesting. But the emotional depth (that Reit has in spades in his other books) was just not quite there. Which really did weigh down the overall experience for me, as the subject matter was very emotionally fraught. So there was a real disconnect for me there, sadly. But with that said, it was still a good book and I am definitely not done with Reit's writing. ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing book written by Michael Reit! This is the second book by this author that I have read. Orphans of War was thoroughly fascinating, With so many World War II historical fiction books on the market, it is interesting to read what was happening in the smaller European countries embroiled in the war. I highly recommend this book to those interested in what was going on in Amsterdam during those devastating years.

I just found out this book is the first installment of a trilogy - I can't wait for books 2 & 3.

Title: Orphans of War
Author: Michael Reit
Release Date: September 8th, 2022
Page Count: 311
Start Date: September 1st, 2022
Finish Date: September 17th, 2022

Review:
Story: I want to give some warnings about this story so that people can go in with the knowledge they will have to read them. Besides the obvious horrors of the things that happened during WW2. This also includes domestic violence and public violence and bullying. I really enjoyed this story very much. I felt like I was actually there and viewing everything from all points of view. I felt horrified by certain people in the story. I also found myself rooting on the people who were just so amazing.
Characters: This book is told in three different points of view. We have Christiaan who joins the resistance because he wants to do something to stand for the wrongs that are happening around him. We have Floris, Christiaan's brother, who is an officer helping bring in the Jewish families for the Nazis to send away to "work camp". Finally, we have Nora, Floris' wife. She's tired of everybody looking at her with disgust because of what it is that her husband does. Eventually she decides to stop being ashamed and start taking action. She joins Christiaan in the resistance.
Critiques: None
Final Thoughts: This book was very emotionally gripping. I can't explain how much it made me think. I went through so many emotions. I was so horrified by things. My heart broke for people. I also find it interesting that no matter what "side" you're on, you think you're right. The beliefs that you're standing strong for is right in your eyes and your heart. At least for people who actually feel compassion and empathy anyway. I definitely recommend this book fully. I can't think of what else to say. I think I may have to go back and reread this again one day to see if it still hits me as hard.

I received a complimentary electronic copy of this fact-based novel from Netgalley, and the author Michael Reit. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Orphans of War of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Michael Reit is an author I will follow. The research behind the quality of this book is obviously extensive and the story compelling. Not a book you can read a little from here and there, Orphans of War is another all-nighter.

Life as defined in Amsterdam in the winter of 1941 after the invasion of Germany, Orphans of War introduces us to not just the children left homeless or parentless or both, but to every citizen in Holland. Left vulnerable to the transference of power that came with the German troops, every aspect of daily living was now an imminent problem and their immediate troublemaker was local - the NSB and the fascist movement were at times harsher on the lives of the Dutch than even the Nazis. Food, funds, and even water and electricity were now out of the control of Dutch citizens, and tomorrow might be even worse. Citizens were already freezing to death, dying of starvation, shot for minor infractions, and jailed at the whim of a soldier.

Those Iives in Amsterdam are viewed from the aspect of the two Brouwer brothers, Christiaan who is compelled to join the Dutch Resistance, and his brother Floris, a Nazi collaborator, spousal abuser, and Dutch policeman. We also have the feminine aspect of this Netherlands invasion from the wife of Floris, Nora, who can see both sides of this conflict and must make choices that will change her life drastically.

Altogether a very compelling tale, taking us into this aspect of the war not often explored. The NSB, the Dutch National Socialist Movement, was at times even more inhumane than the German overseers to the lives and times of Dutch citizens. There were side problems stemming from the fascist movement in Holland as well. Those with an interest in WWII or the Netherlands themselves should read this work. Come to that, I see several points of the overthrow of the country of Holland at work today in the US. Citizenship split into multiple intolerant factions will often lose focus on the important stuff.

As the first book in his trilogy about the Dutch Resistance during WWII, author Michael Reit expertly blends fact and fiction to make this an outstanding example of historical fiction. The story of 2 brothers on opposite sides of a brutal occupation by the Germans is touching and poignant, with a cast of memorable characters, and a story of survival of family and love against brutality and opposition. Recommended.

INTERESTING AND ENGAGING PLOT, BUT SADLY LACKING IN EMOTIONAL DEPTH

I have been delaying writing this review for more than two weeks. Mainly because I really wanted to like this more than I actually did. Reit's first two books were amazing and I really enjoyed it. So I went into this one with very high hopes. And while I definitely did like this book, it didn't thrill me as much as the two previous ones did. The plot is engaging, the characters interesting. But the emotional depth (that Reit has in spades in his other books) was just not quite there. Which really did weigh down the overall experience for me, as the subject matter was very emotionally fraught. So there was a real disconnect for me there, sadly. But with that said, it was still a good book and I am definitely not done with Reit's writing.

1941 Amsterdam - I enjoyed reading the Orphans of war. A real page turner story well researched by author Michael Reit about WW2 Nazi persecution in Amsterdam with plenty of twists and turns. I highly recommend it for historical fiction readers. Orphans of War is a story about a national socialist police officer named Floris, his younger brother Christiaan, and Nora Floris's Wife. As a tram driver Christiaan Brouwer interacts with his fellow Amsterdammers on a daily basis and witnesses shocking scenes almost everyday in the street. One day at the Waterloo Square - Blaubrurg - the blue bridge, the German police officers at least thirty of them with their ten trucks parked across the square were rounding up people. The German Police entered the new Jewish synagogue at the Jewish Quarter and raided the Jewish husbands and fathers - Jewish citizens were rounded up like cattle, arresting people on the square, blocking all traffic. Christiaan was horrified and felt sharp pain witnessing people getting arrested at the synagogue, seeing all the men being taken and loading them up in trucks. Seeing them at the square, kneeling like criminals - arresting more than hundred people off the streets. the Grunei police arrested them cause of Jewish violence, the Jews have been causing trouble all over the town, attacking even the Grunei police with gas.

Floris Brouwer was a Nazi supporter whereas his wife and her brother in law Christiaan joined the Resistance. Nora was NSB officer Floris's wife. Floris Joined the police force after the resistance.

Christiaan couldn't stand injustice, Nora knew from Floris about the men arrested and being transported to Germany for work camps later. Nora had heard plenty of elderly men were taken in trucks.

Amsterdam 1942: It was announced Jews were no longer allowed to use public transport. All Jews were forced to wear the star of David in public. Amsterdammers responded by giving up their seats to their star wearing citizens. The character Christiaan is compassionate and kind. He went ahead to ensure the Jews were kept safe and fed in their hiding places. He even carried so many food coupons to give Jewish citizens avoiding any of the German checkpoints. Christiaan was shocked to hear how Germans conducted themselves, they suppressed the strikes with violence and death and twenty people had died, with hundreds injured. The Sicherheitsdienst had even executed several people, with hundreds more arrested and deported to German. As a tram driver Christiaan came to know the secret network of tram drivers delivering messages and small packages all over the town. Christiaan now found himself part of one of Amsterdam's resistance cells. At this time Floris along with his colleagues was arresting Jews and sending them to Mauthasen, a camp in Austria. He made sure infractions of the rules were punished. Floris joined the Bureau of Jewish affairs and had arrested more Jews in his time at Bureau than all of them combined.

Nora Joins the resistance with Christiaan settling into a spy role for the resistance extracting information from Floris. Floris gets promoted as Sergeant. The new role gave him closer access to the higher ranks of the Sicherhertsdienst and Grunei police and in turn made him more successful in hunting down Jews, growing his stash astonishingly mix of cash and Jewelry.

Christiaan wanted Nora to help out saving children - having started smuggling them away from creche, to bring them to safety somewhere else in the country. Therefore, Nora meets Henriette Pimental the Jewish lady who runs the creche - Mrs Pimental - Everybody knew about the woman who ran the exclusive Jewish - Creche across from the Schouwburg. Orphans of War revolves around the role of NSB in the Nederlands - tales of heroic resistance, a story of European WW2. The creche at the Plantage Middlellaan was real and Mrs Pimental oversaw the smuggling operation saving an estimate of 500 to 1000 children from certain death. The author has done extensive research to bring this novel alive and enjoyable for his readers.

I just reviewed the Orphans of War by Michael Reit. Thanks to Author Michael Reit and Publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy for my honest review.

“Orphans of War” is the beginning of a trilogy set in Amsterdam during WWII. If you want a book that will captivate you and leave you smarter, this story is for you!
It focuses on a Dutch soldier Floris, who turned Jews over to the Germans, his wife and brother. I like how the author wrote about “the bad guy” from a first person point of view. I always wonder what makes a person do such evil things. Greed seems to be a common motivator. I look forward to read more about Nora, Floria’s wife and Christiaan, his brother. Many thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#OrphansofWar #NetGalley

Reading ORPHANS OF WAR by Micheal Reit inspired me to reflect on the courage of those who defied Nazi laws to save lives, those who stayed loyal to their own country in spite of invaders. It reminded me of a discussion with students reading NIGHT of how I HOPE I'd have such courage, but one doesn’t know until tested. Nora is tested, as are so many, and the tale is compelling. May we all choose well and stand strong, showing kindness and helping those in need. There are hints of future books, which is good, because I’m not wanting to leave Christiaan, Nora, and allies.

This book was a little slow to get into and then the plot was a little anticlimactic when the French border was being crossed. There were some parts of the plot line that were not really believable. It was interesting to read about this era from a Collaborator/NSB perspective