he Warsaw Sisters is another wonderful and evocative WW2 novel from Amanda Barratt. Once again, she explores the lives of ordinary people and how they were changed through one of the worst and most brutal conflicts in history. In this case, it is two sisters Helena and Antonina, natives of Warsaw.

This book isn't just about people's experiences of war though, as with a lot of the author's other work it showcases the ways in which ordinary people resisted evil and fought for what was right. One sister joins the resistance, the other joins in the efforts to save Jewish children: an effort which was spearheaded by the famous Irena Sendler. Although she was far from the only person.

Barratt's novel is meticulously researched: showcasing many events in Polish history and the impact they had on the region around Warsaw. This includes the infamous Katyn massacre: the murder of more than a thousand Polish officers on the orders of Stalin. At atrocity which he then tried to blame on the Germans.
This novel is not a romance, for those used to this genre, and I prefer it for that. It is rather a historical novel following two sisters who make mistakes bad decisions but also survive and strive to do what is at a terrible time. There are of course faith elements in the story: it is published by Revell after all, but they are not treated in a trite or cliched way.

Kudos to the Evangelical author for providing a sympathetic portrayal of, among others, a Catholic priest who is involved in the resistance and the army. It is characters like this who I believe best represent faith in action: rising above factional divisions to come alongside their fellows the struggle for freedom and the battle against evil. Their ministry is simple compassion, decency, resilience providing a refugee in a dark time in a dark time.

As Helena concludes:

“For in the moments when it seemed no heart could bear such emptiness, I had learned God is nearest in our shattered places”

Barratt is one of my favourite authors of WW2 era novels. I’d love to see her maybe write something involving Nicholas Winton aka The English Schindler in future. Recommended.

I requested this title from the publisher via Netgalley. This did not influence my opinions, so all opinions expressed are entirely my own and freely given.

The Warsaw Sisters
A Novel of WWII Poland
by Amanda Barratt
Pub Date07 Nov 2023
Revell
Christian| Women's Fiction


Revell and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of The Warsaw Sisters for review:



An august morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dbrowska send their father off to defend Poland from German invasion. Within 24 hours, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering their childhood world.


After Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls, along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, fighting to free her homeland from occupation. The secrets they must keep threaten to tear them apart--and the cost of resistance is greater than either could have anticipated.


The Warsaw Sisters bring to the light the often forgotten history of Poland during WWII and is inspired by true stories of ordinary citizens who defended freedom and humanity in the darkness of wartime. It is an elegant portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the power of ties that bind us together.


I give The Warsaw Sisters five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

A touching historical novel about two sisters who both fought for their homeland and for their futures during WWII.
Poland was one of the hardest hit countries during the war, by both Germany and the Soviet Union.
I’ve read several books like this but need more to be written because Poland’s sacrifices and it’s people’s actions need to be highlighted more from WWII.

"In moments like this, it was easy to remember peace. When belief in “good tidings of great joy ” still held the wonder of innocence. When we trusted the future instead of feared it."

I stopped reading this one at 43% because of an inappropriate scene between two characters. While afterwards they were both sorry and ashamed for what they had did, the deed was already done.

Up until that point, the book was fine, just very filled with the heartache of war and atrocities committed against a people who had done nothing to deserve such brutality and hate. The truths of history must be told, regardless of whether it's popular or not.

I received a complimentary e-book from the publisher to review through Netgalley, and was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts above are my own.

Wow! Loved this amazing historical fiction novel. The characters were strong and compelling. The sisters both dealing with occupation in their own way, find ways to support the Jews and resistance. The book is full of action and surprises. Beautifully written fictional accounts of the occupation of Poland during WWII.

A very emotional read as I expected, however it was much more emotional than I anticipated.
The author has written some of my favorite Historical Fiction novels and this was among my all time favorites.
Great characters, compelling storyline and artfully written.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Antonina and Helena are Jewish teenagers who live with their father in World War II Poland. When their father is drafted for the Polish army, he asks the sisters to promise to look out for each other. A rift happen between the two girls after Poland is conquered and they do not agree how to agree about how to react. One almost immediately joins a group to help save Jewish children, and the other choses to try to adjust to the new circumstances, but she eventually joins the resistance. Because secrecy is necessary, neither knows what the other is doing. For this reader the story was a bit slow until the uprising in Warsaw in the Jewish ghetto. The description of what happened during that battle was compelling and heartbreaking. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc and for no pressure for a positive review.

The Warsaw Sisters is a beautifully written account of a horrendously tragic event. Amanda Barratt has created a remarkable story of endurance, determination, love, and loss in the midst of one of the most inhumane and deadly times in recent history. I'm ashamed to say I did not know much about Germany's occupation of Poland during WWII before reading this book. Through Barratt's weaving of personal and historical stories of this devastating time, I have a greater understanding of the events that took place, and the impact they had on so many people.

I really enjoyed this book it was well written with a compelling plot and well developed characters. The book is full of hope, resilience and courage and I went through so many emotions whilst reading it.

Sisters Helena and Antonina live in Warsaw, Poland during the occupation by the German forces in WWII. Their beloved father has gone off to war and they, in their young 20s, are left behind. Both are gainfully employed and seemingly beyond the reach of the occupying forces. However, the injustice they see daily spurs them into action. Each sister has her own way to participate in the resistance.
The author does a good job of character development for each sister. We learn why they have made their choices and we feel the pain and struggles of their circumstances. The story is gritty and engaging.

Author Amanda Barratt said, “ordinary people who, when thrust into times that test the very substance of humanity, fight with quiet resilience to uphold preserve that which should be most sacred to society.” Through sisters Antonina and Helena we see this come to light. They struggle under the occupation of their homeland as they come of age and learn their strength, challenge what one induvial can do and taste fear of the unknown.

I immediately liked the style of writing, it drew me right in – there is so much more to be learnt from a person’s thoughts, rather than just what they verbalise to others...
There is very powerful writing about the ghetto uprising, and later the siege of Warsaw. I have read a lot about these already, but never in this detail from a participant’s point of view. Then what it was like to return to their city – I am reminded of Christchurch following the earthquakes, where nothing familiar remained, all the landmarks erased.
They may be twin sisters, but what contrasts between Helena and Antonina’s lives during the War. And between their perceived lives during the War – neither girl knew what her sister went on to become involved in, following their going separate ways.
What began as another WWII novel, gradually gained depth as their lives became more complex. When the unthinkable becomes the norm. And as in real life, not everything turns out happily.
As a reader, one can’t help but put oneself in their shoes : what would I have done? Could I have done what they did? Would I have survived? With the benefit of hindsight, we can hope we would have made certain decisions – but if we had faced the reality, would we have had the strength? ‘The Warsaw Sisters’ has brought it all home in a very real way...
I shall certainly be looking out further books by this writer!

I can't recall when a book last moved me as this one did. It was a very emotional read for me. Maybe it was the climate we are living in presently or maybe it was just that I too have a beloved sister. Whatever the root cause I really struggled to just sit and read this one through. I found myself needing to take a break from it.

Please let none of that detour you from reading this beautiful story of two sisters and the unbreakable bond they shared. The setting is Warsaw, Poland during World War II so you already are familiar with some of the atrocities that are going to befall them and their loved ones. How they maintained any semblance of hope is at the center of the story and it is what kept me picking the book back up. I'm so glad that I persevered to the end. Love is always worth the pain and suffering.

If you enjoy reading about the World War II era you can't let this one slip past you. I can guarantee that it will give you a gut punch or two but in the end you'll be glad you took the time to read it.

This is a hard book for me to review, mostly due to subject matter.

It’s 100% a necessary story, and the right reader will absolutely drink it in. It reminds us why we should “never forget,” increasingly important as time passes further and further on from WWII.

The book is impeccably researched and well written; this is both its strength and its challenge. The descriptions of events are graphic—unfortunately, too graphic for me most of the time. Only one other time that I can recall offhand—reading _The Hunger Games_ series—did I feel physically ill while reading.

I did finish the book, and was mostly glad I did—I’m a big fan of the author and again, do feel it’s a necessary book—but it was not an easy one. Sensitive readers like myself may be challenged to keep going.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I am completely clueless on how to write this review. It’s been a few days since I’ve read The Warsaw Sisters, yet my heart and mind is still reeling from the impact of its haunting, gut wrenching story.

The Warsaw Sisters is set in Warsaw, Poland, beginning in the year 1939. Amanda Barratt wrote this novel in such raw, graphic detail that I could nearly see the city of Warsaw from my reading spot. I could feel the heartbreak of the twin Dąbrowsk sisters as they watched their father go off to war. And I could vividly sense (but never fully imagined) the oncoming horror that the characters would go through. Alternating between the viewpoints of Antonina and Helena Dąbrowsk, The Warsaw Sisters delivers a mesmerizing story of sisterhood, patriotism, and the courage that it takes to preserve both. The dialogue was nothing less than lyrical, adding depth to a thought provoking storyline.The scenes that were depicted were intense, moving, and utterly unforgettable.

I was drawn by how the novel explored the harsh years of World War II and its effects on the ordinary lives of the Polish people. It allowed the reader to understand how and why those people — men, women, and children — struggled yet persevered under the oppression of the German army. Although The Warsaw Sisters does this through the lens of fiction, the reality of that grave time in history is not shied away from. Barratt does a wonderful job in honoring those real life stories through the lives of Antonina and Helena, two characters who’ve left their imprint on my heart. Now I look forward to researching more about all of the events mentioned throughout this novel.

There was, however, one issue that unnerved me. For The Warsaw Sisters to be a christian fiction novel, faith seemed to be an afterthought in the storyline. I understand why it may have had to be written that way, yet I still find it disappointing. Despite that, I’m more than glad to have read this book!

I have yet to read a book from Amanda Barratt that did not touch my heart in deep, meaningful ways, and The Warsaw Sisters is no exception to that. The amount of history, emotion, turmoil and yes hope that Barratt puts in her stories is amazing. She has this uncanny ability to take you on this horrific journey, and yet layer it with hope, determination, sprinkles of grace, love, and so much more. On top of that, you learn about parts of history that are either often forgotten or unheard of. And so while you are on this emotional roller coaster, you are also learning and digging for even more information about this people and their circumstances.

Honestly, there are not enough words to be able to describe the amount of respect I have for Barratt, or how much I thoroughly enjoy her novels. Yes, there are difficult things to read about - we are talking WWII after all. But Barratt handles them with such finesse and grace. She puts in just what is needed for the story, as well as educating the reader and touching their heart. And again, I cannot stress the amount of hope she puts in her characters. They are no one "special" in the world's eyes, but they still fight for what they believe in and try to make a difference. They are truly inspiring.

Historical fiction fans will not be disappointed with Barratt's most recent release. Yes tissues need to be close by at all times, but trust me when I say you will not regret reading the pages of this novel. May it touch and inspire you as it did me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read a lot of books, both historical fiction and non fiction, about WWII and how hard Poland was hit. Despite having read a lot, I felt like this book gave me a new appreciation of the role that the Polish people played in the war. Especially those who resisted. I like that the story is told from both of the sister's points of view, giving it even more depth.
This story was a little hard for me to get into initially, but I'm glad I stuck with it, since it's a wonderful story of goodness in a dark hour of history.

I received this book from Revell. This is my honest review.

This is a deeply emotional story that captures World War II in Poland. The author describes what the war looked like and how it can destroy relationships. Sending their father off to war burdens Antonina and Helena and brings a heavy heart to them. I could picture the scene as if I was standing beside them. You can almost feel their heart racing as their goodbyes drew near. What was once a nice and calm life was about to change forever.

The sisters are only eighteen yet they now must face being on their own. I held my breath as they sat in the cellar while planes flew over and bombs started going off around them . Can you imagine being young and facing a war tucked away in a cellar? Who can they depend on now that their father is gone off to war? The emotions run high in the story and at times I wanted the darkness to stop. But in reality this is what war is like and the author takes us front and center with our two main characters.

The story made me think of how much we have and how thankful we need to be. The streets filled with destruction, injured people littered the hospital and supplies were scarce. I was mesmerized by the story and how difficult it had to be. Survival was upmost in the sisters minds and everyday was a different challenge. I loved how the author gives us historic facts that enhance the story. This is a must read for everyone to see what a war can do to people and what they were willing to do to put theirselves in danger to save others.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Program. The review is my own opinion.

This is one of those books you won’t forget quickly. It stays with you and you remember. The sacrifice these women made and the fight they gave was tremendous. This book is another well researched and well written about WWII Poland and the devastation and horrors that happened. Two sisters living the same war at the same time experiencing different battles. It is definitely a must read and a must remember so we don’t ever repeat those atrocities again. It’s a reminded of how strong we can be as well. I received a copy of the book from the publisher. I also listened to the book via audio and enjoyed the narrator reading the book. It’s very well done. I may have shed a tear or two as I listened. All views stated here are my own.

I really enjoy historical fiction novels. They bring history to life, which previously I found boring, but now I'm intrigued and want to know more. I love the way the author makes you feel like you're there and experiencing what Helena and Antonina are. It was a really well written story and I'm interested to read more from the author.

Many thanks to Revell and Netgalley for an advanced review copy of this book.