Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
The information provided explains this book is about Yona who 'helped hundreds of News escape from the Nazis'. The book starts with a child being stolen from her home, under the nose of her parents, by Jerusza, who sees a light over Berlin to guide her to their home. This seemed fanciful and I wasn't sure if it was a hint of the paranormal or irreligious. The book continues to highlight the child, who becomes Yona, as something special with a destiny to fulfil once she is suitably prepared by Jerusza. The story progresses through the war years with details of how the groups of Jews hide, and descriptions of how they live and war atrocities are vivid and credible.
The book is historical fiction based in facts, and is written well enough to picture and understand events, thoughts and feelings of those involved. However, I did not think it matches the publisher description and although I found it interesting I thought it meandered through the romantic and relationship subplots rather than being a fast-paced historical novel. Overall my one-word summary has to be 'average' as I believe some readers will enjoy it whereas others, like me, will think it far from the best book I've read recently or ever.

Abducted as a toddler from her German parents by a strange Jewish woman and brought up virtually living a life of survival in the forest, Yona’s life is not what you’d call normal. However her ability to sustain herself, creating shelter, using plants for their healing properties and trapping prey for food, stands her in good stead for the events that are to come. On the passing of Jerusza, her teacher and abductor she faces the uncertainty of life alone and the story highlights the plight of the Jews during WW2 from another perspective as well as Yona’s ability to trust fellow humans whilst feeling like an outsider.

This piece of historical fiction whilst an interesting read, felt more of a cross over fantasy novel for me, I enjoyed the strength and resilience shown by the main character and the use of nature in the novel.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel is a hauntingly, powerful story based around the true story of the Jews who escaped the Nazi terror and fled into the forests and survived the war in their new formed communities.
The story follows Yona who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help the Jews escape the Nazi’s, however, Yona has a secret which threatens everything.
I loved this story, another WW2 story I knew nothing about yet I’ve read many historical fiction books during this time…all incredible survival stories during the atrocities of war. With meticulous research and deft prose, Kristin crafts a powerful reminder of these survivals and unbridled heroism with this story of the many Jews who survived in the forests, her inspiration being the forming of communities who found trust, life and hope in the darkness.
I always appreciate it when a author takes the time to tell of the inspiration which led them to writing their book and it was fascinating to read what she learnt whilst talking to Aron Bielski. It was his remarkable life which detailed the true human side of this harrowing story and his reflection, ‘sorrow teaches a person how to live, how to survive, what to do next.’
Big thanks to Kristin Harmel, Welbeck Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

This is one of those books that you know will stay with you for life. Beautifully written and incredibly immersive. Kirsten Harmel has created a heartbreaking yet heartwarming masterpiece.about love, loss, survival and hope.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel is a strong piece of World War 2 fiction. It tells the story of Yona, a young woman who was stolen from her German family as a very young child and raised in hiding in an Eastern European forest by the elderly Jewish woman who took her. For almost twenty years the two lived together, while Yona learned about surviving on only what the forest could provide in terms of food, medicine and shelter, as well as learning to protect herself. When her kidnapper dies, Yona is left alone until one fateful day when she meets a family of Jews who have escaped from a nearby camp. In her isolation Yona knows nothing about what is happening in the world outside the forest and she is shocked when confronted by the harsh reality , and even more so when she learns of the family's fate. When she meets another group of fleeing Jews she is determined not to repeat her mistakes and decides to teach them all that she can in order to help them survive. In turn she learns some life lessons of her own, which will stand her in good stead when a shocking encounter in an occupied village causes her past and present to collide.
This is a well written historical fiction loosely inspired by some real life people and events. Yona is an interesting and sympathetic character, and it is easy for the reader to connect with and root for her. At the heart of the book is the question of nature versus nurture, which will have a greater influence on Yona, her German blood or the lessons learned from her Jewish kidnapper who raised her like her own child.? Yona's struggles with this internal conflict are what make her so compelling as a character. The writing is superb, there are some beautifully descriptive passages that really highlight the plight of the group as both Winter and the Nazis draw ever closer and also some memorable passages that speak to the humanity of the reader .
I read a review copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is one of those stories that you read almost without realising, it absorbs you.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars begins in 1922 with an old woman waiting outside a Berlin apartment where a Nazi party member, his wife, and his two year old daughter live.

"She knew as surely as she knew that the bell-shaped buds of lily of the valley and the twilight petals of aconite could kill a man, that the girl must not be alllowed to remain with the Juttners.

That is why she had come."

She takes her deep into the forest and teaches her how to live their and how to avoid people. After the old woman dies Yona has an encounter in the forest and must decide whether to aid a group of Jews or to keep to her solitary life.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars deals with questions of faith, spirituality and culpability: what makes someone Jewish? Is it an accident of birth, blood or a question of spirituality? Can simply following the practices or a feeling of affinity make someone Jewish? What of German blood? Is someone culpable for the acts of their family simply because they share the same blood?

"What if her German blood made her culpable? It was something she had been thinking about lately. If Jewish blood made one Jewish, what did her German blood make her? If the legacy of miracles was part of one's birthright was the legacy of sins, too?"

Jeruza truly believes Yona to be better off living with her. She educated her on the ways of the forest, on matters of faith and a whole host of other things. She teaches her about balance, how to kill but also how to heal. What Yona knows next to nothing about is social interactions and the like.

On her deathbed Jeruza reveals the truth of her parentage and informs her the knowledge may come in useful one day.

"We are all interconnected, Yona. You know that by now. Once fates intertwine, they are forever linked. Lives are circles spinning across the world, and when they're meant to intersect again they do. There's nothing we can do to stop them."

Some of the events in the book are all the more harrowing for being events that would have occurred in real life.

"Hunting. The word lodged in her chest and throbbed there dangerously. She had hunted animals. She had been hunted by animals. But the thought of humans hunting humans - it was difficult for her to understand, and it made her feel ill."

This is a story unlike any other, a perfect read.

OMG! This drew me in quickly and there was that instant tension of a drama unfolding. I turned ever quicker and devoured this- the sign of a gripping, well written read. A captivating, rollercoaster of a book. Loved it.

Wow I didn’t realise this book is a re¬¬-release when I requested it on NetGalley, but I am so glad I did. This is an amazing book from Kirstin Harmel. The first book from the author I have read and can’t wait to check out her other books.
The Forest of the vanishing stars is a heart wrenching story of the Jews surviving the German genocide in the forests of Poland in WW2. This is a Unique story based on facts. I found this to be a very good page turner. One of the best that I have read in a long time. In where some of the parts of this story is heart-breaking but in other parts of the story tells of the bravery and the determination between the survivors. I won’t go into the detail of the story as many of you have read this by now. And if you haven’t why not? If you are a fan of WW2 historical fiction. I would highly recommend this book. 5 stars from me.

Yona has lived in the forest her entire life. After being stolen as a toddler, her kidnapper taught her she knew about how to survive in the wilderness - how to find medicine, food to eat, build shelter, and a dozen different ways to kill anyone who might hurt you. When her kidnapper dies, she stumbles across a Jewish family who have fled to the woods to escape the Nazi ghettos. Shocked to hear what is going on outside the forest, Yona vows to make a difference ….

What. A. Book “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” is! It’s an incredible read which covers an aspect of the Holocaust not often seen in fiction. I learnt a lot and the title is perfect.. The description of the forest was so vivid I felt like I could feel the breeze through the trees and hear the birdsong as I read. Yona is a wonderful character whose strength is so inspiring. I devoured the last half of the book as I just had to know how it would end. I loved the mystical elements of the story, which were perfectly balanced with the real events of history.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, romance and survival fiction. It’s perfect book group fiction.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Whilst this book is fiction, such things did happen. The story was full of twists and turns and I really didn’t know how it was going to end. The characters and settings were well described and I felt I was there. I loved the character. The book has obviously been well researched bringing to life an awful period in history. I’d highly recommend this book.

This was a beautiful story which kept me absorbed, in spite of its harrowing subject matter.

Yona is kidnapped as a toddler from her parents in Germany by a woman who I can only describe as 'eccentric'; I'm still quite confused about her! Jersusza takes Yona into a life of isolation in the forest, teaching her survival skills whilst sharing no love. I found this relationship odd and I couldn't completely work out the motivation here. It reads that Jersusza takes Yona in order to ensure that Yona serves her life's purpose in rescuing Jewish people, but the old lady doesn't seem to like or love any people?! I wish we'd been told a little bit more about why Jersusza made that choice.

The people Yona meets after Jersusza passes of old age are what breathe life into the story. I fell in love with a lot of the characters, particularly Zus who is so caring and steady. The stories of survival are incredible and the history here, which is expanded on in the afterword, is fascinating.

If you enjoy world war two fiction and want to learn more about the Jewish people who survived from the forest, I'd definitely recommend!

Just before the Second World War two year old Inge, the only child of a wealthy German couple, is snatched from her bed by an eccentric elderly Jewish lady,  who has visions about the child's future.

Renamed Yona, this modern day Rapunzel is brought up in the forests of Poland. She has a nomadic childhood, learning to survive in nature, eating seasonal food and making her home in the trees. Her upbringing is strict and she is told to stay away from other people as they are "bad". She is taught how to defend herself and even the best ways to kill a person if under attack.

At 103 the old lady passes away and Yona has to adapt to life alone. Now in her twenties and unused to the company of other people she is curious about the Polish communities surrounding the forest. When she comes across  a group of strarving Jewish people who have fled the Nazi ghettos she tried to help them and starts to learn what it feels like to be part of a community.

This is a beautiful but emotional story, which highlights the courage of the Jewish people who fled Nazi persecution to survive in the wild.

Yona was kidnapped by 80 year old Jerusza and raised by her in the forest, where she was taught how to survive there. When Jerusza dies in 1941 Yona is almost overwhelmed when she finds people fleeing into the forest, Jews trying to survive. Despite having been taught not to trust anyone, particularly men, she finds she can’t just leave them, she has to try to help them..

I’ve read numerous books about WWII, and this has to be one of the best I’ve read. It feels so authentic, well researched and you can tell the author has put her whole heart into the writing. It’s moving without being overly mawkish. I loved Yonas character,although it must have been so hard to write about someone who has only ever really known one other person, and nothing about where she’s from or what’s going on in the outside world, it’s also lovely to see what just one person can do to make a real difference. A must read. You also need to read the notes at the back of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am a huge fan of Kristin Harmel and I was delighted to get the chance to read her newest book. I loved The Forest of Vanishing Stars particularly the main character. I have read many books set during World War 2 but the plot of this book was unique and had me engrossed from start to finish. I can't wait to read more from the author in the future.

I have read The Book of Lost Names by this author and I loved it so I had high hopes for this book, and I wasn't disappointeded. This was so well written, with a completely enchanting storyline that was unlike anything else I have read recently. I loved it.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

Yona has used her knowledge of the wilderness to help hundreds of Jews escape the Nazis. But what happens when a secret from her past emerges and threatens everything?
After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies.
Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what's happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest – and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation.
But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.
I have to say , I never read a book like this and I absolutely loved it. Wow , such an unusual storyline and plot.
The author has taken what could have been just another tale of helping escapees during the war , to an almost fairytale like quality to it. The characters were beautifully created .
I raced through this novel and yet was surprised and heartbroken when it ended.