So well written, another follow up and stand alone book from Roberta kagan. Was on the edge of my seat.full of compassion, love and twists and turns. Soo looking forward to the 3rd book in the trilogy.

4.5 stars- really enjoyed book 2. I’m so anxious for the next, this left on a major cliffhanger. Several storylines I will be anticipating how they end! Thanks NetGalley/author for this early read!

This is book number 2 in the series, and wow did it end on a cliffhanger, and my mind keeps spinning, what will happen, the different scenarios keeps playing in my head. I need the next book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Set in 1933 Berlin, My Son's Duty explores the conflict between family loyalty and moral conscience. As the son of a high-ranking Nazi SS officer, Ziggy is expected to follow the party line—but what happens when he cannot reconcile himself with its hatred and violence? This is the second book in the three part series of Duty and Betrayal however can be read as a standalone without any issues (I haven't read the first instalment, A Daughter's Duty, but will be reading it ASAP).

Roberta Kagan has crafted a historical fiction novel that draws you into the life of the Lang family. Ludwig Lang comes from old money and is power hungry. When Hitler comes to power, Ludwig wants to rise as far as possible in the party to exert his control and influence over as many people as possible. He hates his farmer heritage wife, Greta, and is horrified by his soft natured son, Ziggy. He is a man easy to hate.

Ziggy is the dutiful son, who only wants to make his Vater proud. He attended the Hitler Youth, joined the party, and now wears an SS uniform but unlike his father he does not crave power or influence. He wants to be forgotten. Forced to marry, the only light in Ziggy's life is his son Auggie.

Greta has never loved her husband. She married to appease her parents and finds herself at odds to her husband's brutish and demanding nature. Her childhood best friend is Jewish, she knows her husband is wrong! They are not evil; they do not deserve to die. But how can she save her friend and keep her family safe at the same time?

Roberta Kagan has crafted a WWII era drama that transports you back in time. You can feel the angst and uncertainty of the times in her writing. Her characters are so well developed that you want to know everything about them but at the same time feel like you have lived alongside of them for many years. This is unlike any other historical fiction novel I've read. Most WWII novels focus on the Allied Forces or those under persecution, this is the first that I have read from a German POV. The moral and ethical issues covered in this book are so well written. And the cliff hanger at the end?! Roberta, what are you doing to us?! You can't leave us in suspense like that!!

If you enjoy historical fiction, you will enjoy this book! Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted eARC - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My thanks to Net Galley, Book Whisperer, and the personal invitation I received to review this arc!

An absolute excellent read! I read the first in this series and this follow up did not disappoint. Greta is back in an unhappy marriage to Ludwig and a kind son Ziggy, who suffers his own heart break while trying to be the kind of son his high ranking Nazi father really wants. Greta re unites with her first love Hermann while Ludwig continues to be cruel to her. This is so well written and engaging. It ended with quite the cliffhanger that is making me anxious to read the next book!

My Son's Duty
by Roberta Kagan

Rating: 5 star rating

I just finished My Son's Duty by Roberta Kagan. It is a intense book set in Berlin back in 1933 when the Nazis army took effect.

The main guy is a young German named Ziggy who is living a nightmare. His dad is a mean Nazi officer who runs their house like a drill sergeant.

The saddest part is when the girl Ziggy secretly loves, but is his best friends girlfriend, ends up killing herself because she got pregnant by his ex-best friend Alex. Ziggy tries to save her from the shame of it all, but it is just too late. Then, his dad forces him into an arranged marriage just so the family can get more power in the Nazi party.

Later Ziggy comes home to find his mom, Greta, risking her life by running a secret rescue operation. She is literally hiding Jewish people right in their basement while the Gestapo is hunting everyone down. When Ziggy finds them, he is caught in the middle. After getting over his surprise, he stands up for his own beliefs of right and wrong, by choosing to help his mom instead of blindly following orders.

Fair warning though, the book ends on a massive cliffhanger, it leaves you totally hanging for book three. If you like historical WWII stories, you should definitely read this one. It was a great story, and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you, NetGalley, Book Whisperer, and author Roberta Kagan, for providing me with a copy of this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley
#BookWhisperer
#Roberta Kagan
#My Son's Duty

http://goodreads.com/patriciasreadingroom

http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogspot.

This is the second book in the series by Roberta kagan and it's brilliant.
It kept me hooked through all the pages and I need to know what happened.
Can't wait til the next one.

This is book 2 in a series. Miss Kagan always fills you in so you never feel you are lost if you come in in the middle of a series. Another page turner and quick paced novel. I can’t wait for Book three.

Roberta Kagan is one of my favorite authors. She is able to write a WWII story that is well researched and makes me feel as if I am there. This story did all that. Loved this story!

Roberta has given us another well written book, which follows on from book 1 daughter's duty. While it builds upon what happened in book 1, it could be read as a stand alone. It is suitable for teenagers and adults. It is set in Nazi Germany and blends in with the history of the period.
It explores the issues of duty and also loyalty and friendship and although it finishes on a cliff-hanger, making the reader anticipate the next book all the more. I can't wait. Looking forward to reading about Greta and her friend''s next steps.
Thank you Roberta for another excellent book, thank you netgalley and book whisperer for the advance copy. This review is freely given.

Roberta Kagan was 'on fire' with this historical work of fiction. In my opinion, it was a blast from start to finish. Her time frame for the book is during WWII and the setting is Hitler's Germany. Besides the plight of the Jews and Gypsies which was horrendous, the ordinary Aryan, German citizen was also in a dilemma. A case of 'do or die' was basically presented to them and if they did or did not comply to the ever-constrictive rules of Nazi Germany, their fate would be swift and sealed towards destruction right there alongside the Jews and other folks deemed 'undesirable' by the Nazi's. It was a terrible choice. What's more, if one happened to be a wife or a son of a diehard SS officer obsessed with promotions in the regime, it was even more dangerous.

This is the take in a nutshell I got and that I felt Kagan was highlighting so aptly. I found my heart in my throat and tears in my eyes at the heartless, senseless, uncaring behavior. But when there were those who cared, it was so heartening to see.

I'd say this Book 2 in the Duty and Betrayal series is very well done and more than satisfactory. I'm holding my breath, waiting for the next in the series, which I hope to be able to read.

~ ERC July 2026 ~

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

A great Roberta Kagen installment! I know it’s important to highlight the trouble the Jews experience during the Holocaust, but leaving Germany for China didn’t require paperwork from the Chinese government only exit permits from Germany and many thousands of refugees left after Kristalnacht.

Thanks NetGalley for thus second book in the series Duty and. Betrayal.
Look forward to,receiving the third one love Roberta Kagans book please keep them coming,
Berlin 1940 Greta has a very u happy marriage to Ludwigshafen he is a hard man they have one son ziggy.
Ziggy is nothing like his father he is quiet and does not want to join in the hitlers youth. Movement.
Life is very hard for ziggy he duslikes his father.buf loves his mother who is always trying to protect him
From his father,
Ziggy falls in love with his best friends girl friend but he knows she will be hurt in love the same way he is.
Loved the book,