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.
I have previously tried to read 'The Winter Dress' by this author, and did not enjoy it. This book is completely different, I was engaged throughout. The author states it is not a true story but historical facts have been woven to create this fictional work so that it reflects the major events, emotions and reactions of the time. I know little of this area during WW2 so the behaviours and perceptions were fascinating for their similarities and differences to those in mainland Europe. The characters are interesting, the descriptions conjure up images effectively and I felt drawn in to continue to reading to the end to find out what happened in this time when people simply disappeared. Fascinating!

This wrenched every emotion that I have and I loved the two strong women characters who are so very different. Like the lace the story weaves together beautifully.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
As a grumpy sixty five year old Yorkshireman i somewhat doubt I am the target audience for this book, however I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of my follow readers and reviewers seem split on the Historical accuracy, whilst I consider myself somewhat of an History buff, I am ashamed to admit no knowledge of this topic whatsoever, and the Author points out in her notes it's Historical fiction and difficult to accurately research. It is well written character driven fiction atmospheric descriptive engaging from first to last page. A story of friendship hardship love and war, poignant and sad at times.
Thoroughly recommended.

This is another historical fiction about war and the lives affected by war. This one is set in Estonia in 1941, Hitler and his army are on the war path and survival depends on what is required from you.

Katrina and her family have a farm and so are need to provide food. Lydia goes to Estonia to explore her mother's heritage. And so the story begins, a story of war, family, heritage and saving what is precious to you. This is a story of two brave and courageous women, strong and determined, this is their life and how they survived and keep not only hope alive but also the tradition of the making of the lace shawls.

A very well researched and written book, it holds onto you and keeps you reading. It is intriguing and gives you a since of hope and understanding, it is passionate and strong. I love the friendships, the love and the courage to keep going and keep hopes and life alive.

A book that stands out from the crowd. The characters and the setting are written exceptionally well.

Being an avid reader of historical fiction set during World War Two, I was attracted to The Lace Weaver by the fact it is set in Estonia. Although I’ve visited Tallinn, I knew very little about Estonia’s history and certainly not about the period covered by the book during which the country was occupied by the Soviet Union and then by the Nazis with Germany initially being looked upon as Estonia’s saviour. As we learn, it didn’t work out like that.

First published in 2018, I doubt if Lauren Chater could have imagined at the time how the situation facing Estonia described in the novel – a small country threatened by a much more powerful neighbour whose stated aim is to bring it within its orbit – would have such similarities with the situation facing Ukraine today. Indeed, if applied to Ukraine, President Putin might well agree with Russian officer Lieutenant Lubov when he insists, ‘The Baltics have always belonged to Russia. She has just welcomed them back to the fold’.

Ostensibly Katarina and Lydia represent different sides of the conflict. Katarina, born and brought up in Estonia, is determined to ensure her country’s culture, such as the making of traditional lace shawls, survives for the day when Estonia is restored to independence. It also acts as a silent form of resistance when more active resistance brings only death. Lydia seemingly represents everything Estonia is fighting against, innocently absorbing the propaganda that Estonia is prospering under Soviet rule when, as we witness, the opposite is the case. Much of the population are starving having been robbed of their property as part of Stalin’s policy of collectivisation. Lydia has her own personal link to Estonia through her mother and her own reasons for wanting to flee Russia when she discovers the truth about her parentage. However, being a Russian in Estonia at that time brings its risks.

The author brings us moments of high drama as the worst excesses of both the Soviet and German occupations of Estonia play out. It starts with confiscation of property, travel restrictions and attempts to destroy the culture of the country, such as outlawing its language, and progresses to forced deportation, the persecution of Jews and other minorities, and eventually to mass murder and the horror of the concentration camps. There are scenes of brutality and cruelty that are hard to stomach, even more so because they are based on historical fact.

In time of war, it’s perhaps understandable that people will snatch at any chance of happiness. After all, who knows what tomorrow will bring or even if there will be a tomorrow? Katarina and Lydia both become involved in romantic relationships. I found Katarina’s more believable given that it developed from a childhood friendship into something more. Lydia’s was less credible being the product of a convenient chance encounter.

The book’s title is a bit of a misnomer as Estonian shawls of the kind featured in the book are knitted from wool not woven. Indeed, Kati and the other women themselves refer to their gatherings as ‘knitting circles’. Maybe ‘The Lace Knitter’ didn’t sound as good as a title? I found it difficult to visualise the lace patterns mentioned, which also form the chapter headings. It would have been helpful to have illustrations of them and while I’m at it perhaps a map of Estonia and a glossary too? This might have helped me appreciate the extent of the forest in which those displaced took shelter and which acted as the base for the Estonian partisans known as the Forest Brothers.

The Lace Weaver shines a light on events in a little known theatre of war. Those who like to be immersed in actual historical events will find much to appreciate in the book. And those who love an element of romance in their historical fiction won’t be disappointed either.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC of #TheLaceWeaver

This historical fiction takes place mainly in Estonia. It beautifully explores the nature of friendship and loyalty as well as sacrifice and love. The characters are loveable and feel so familiar. This novel will sweep you off your feet with its fast moving plot and real relationships and conflicts.

Kati, an Estonian woman who fell in love with knitting thanks to her beloved grandmother. Living under Russian occupation, her only solace is found in her knitting circle. Lydia, an Estonian and Russian who is living with her uncle while her military father is occupying Estonia. She has a few pieces that connect her to her mothers Estonia heritage but it’s all a mystery.

For Kati - the Soviet occupation proves deadly and as she struggles to make hard decisions and survive, she learns the true meaning of loyalty, friendship, love and hope.
For Lydia - her life becomes unmanageable and when she escapes to what she thinks will be her saving grace, it turns out to be a living nightmare. Through unexpected friendship and dire circumstances, she embarks on a perilous journey.

When these two meet, their lives will never be the same.

The Lace Weaver is a gorgeous piece of writing. Beautifully compelling, I was totally engrossed with Kati and Lydia’s story. Such strong and brave women, their relationship is tense as they battle for survival.
I loved the idea of the legacy of the lace weaving - capturing the history of their families and friends, the group of friends were more than just family. Kati’s grandmother was definitely a force to be reckoned with and it was obvious Kati had inherited so much of her strength, compassion and humility. I loved how each of the chapters gave the view of each of the women in turn - first Kati and Lydia were both able to show their view of the same world and same characters. A clever style which allowed the story to flow beautifully.

What an enthralling and emotional read. Set mainly in Estonia in 1941 when firstly Russia’s Red Army then Germany’s Third Reich occupied the country. It’s quite a slow burner as we meet the main characters but full of wonderful descriptions of the countryside, the way of life and the intricate and beautiful shawls made in the knitting circle. A lot of characters but the main ones are Katarina (Kati) an Estonian farmers daughter who is a gifted lace weaver and Lydia a Russian/Estonian who left her privileged life in Russia to visit her father who is stationed in Estonia.

Briefly, Kati and Lydia meet as refugees heading for a forest camp and although aware of Lydia’s status Kati doesn’t tell anyone knowing she would be signing her death warrant.

Clearly well researched this is a perfect mix of fact and fiction and whilst much of the story is harrowing the tradition of the knitting club and the shawls is a bit of light in the dark times. A lovely historical novel full of love and hope amongst death and despair- great read.

I'm an ardent fan of historical fiction but this one made its place in my heart for its unique storyline. The fact that the author chose a story which quietly highlights the turmoil of the war zones rather than in your face descriptions was a major trump in my opinion! Loved the tale of two girls who are so different yet twined together by a common legacy of lace weaving!
Beautiful, heartwarming and yet heartbreaking! A bittersweet story ❤️

This is an excellent read. The word heartbreaking is used too often, too glibly on the back covers of certain books. It applies particularly well here. A story about Estonia and the fact that it was sandwiched between 2 autocratic superpowers in the 1940’s. How both powers wanted to eliminate whole sections of Estonian society and silence any opposition to their regime. Yet it is a story of survival against the odds and how such a simple practice such as knitting can bind communities and generations together. Reading this was a great experience

Set in Estonia in 1941, The Lace Weaver is a gorgeous and engrossing story about sorrow, heartache, love and hope. At a time in history of little joy, the art of shawl making played an important role in bringing women together to learn about the craft as well as news. The special shawls were then recognizable wherever they were seen.

Estonia enjoyed a period of independence before occupation of Russia. Everything changed. Starvation and death became constants. Katarina and her parents raised sheep and grew apples to sell. Her brother Jakob was in university where she longed to be. Her only spot of joy in dismal days was her crafting group. Lydia from Moscow escapes to Estonia but discovers horrors there, too. Nazis would soon invade causing devastation from all sides. The Forest Brothers was a partisan group who sacrificed greatly for their country. Families were torn apart and people were deported and worse. Author Lauren Chater seamlessly weaves the stories and characters together amidst (and because of) collective great suffering.

The seldom-explored Estonia Historical Fiction perspective won my heart immediately. Estonians' fierce loyalty under the most dire of conditions was incredible. Descriptions of creating exquisite shawls with various hidden symbols and shapes to the uninitiated are beautiful. I love the "test" the crafters used! As a crafter who understands the therapeutic values of craftmanship, it is easy to see that in times of war it was crucial to have a semblance of normalcy and loveliness.

Historical Fiction readers yearning for a unique story, this is for you. I am so glad to have read it and enjoyed it tremendously.

My sincere thank you to Allison & Busby for providing me with an early digital copy of this marvellous book.

I really enjoyed this book it was well written with a riveting storyline and well developed characters, some of which I took to my heart. The book had obviously been very well researched as well as including fiction to seamlessly link it all together. A great read

The Lace Weaver is the first novel by Australian author, Lauren Chater. In mid-1941, the hard-won independence of Estonia (and the other Baltic states) was no more: the Red Army occupied the countries, installing pro-Soviet governments, although they put it this way: “the Baltics have always belonged to Russia. She has just welcomed them back to the fold.”

On their farm near Tartu, Katarina Rebane and her parents work hard to survive, tending sheep and growing apples. Much had been lost in the preceding years: Kati’s beloved grandmother Elina had died; her best friend Oskar Magi had fled after being accused of murdering his family; her brother, Jakob attends University in town, seldom returning home.

At least she still has her knitting group, where the important Estonian tradition of creating lace shawls, to be sold at the flea markets, is continued. But now, the Partorg (party organiser) in Tartu has directed that all their wool be handed over to the state: not even the meagre amount used for shawls can be retained. Will their tradition die?

Partorg at Tartu, Piotr Volkov has just received word that another round of mass deportations is to be enforced, when his daughter, Lydia turns up from Moscow. Reeling from the arrest of her beau, Joachim, and revelations about her mother’s death, Lydia has decided to console herself with a visit to her father, there in her mother’s homeland. But more shocking revelations are to come.

Within days, both Kati and Lydia are with other refugees in a forest camp under the protection of a partisan group, the Forest Brothers, while Oskar and Jakob have put on brown uniforms and are fighting the Russian soldiers. The partisan groups are pinning all their hopes on the Germans, confident that the Nazis will oust the Russians and return the Estonian government to power.

In an evocative historical novel, Chater blends fact and fiction to draw attention to the losses that war can precipitate: not just life and limb, but also the precious legacy of traditional arts and crafts that epitomise a nation. It’s easy to imagine how these groups of women knitting shawls and chatting would bring calm in troubled times. Chater also demonstrates how, even during war and flight from persecution, life with all it’s small joys and petty jealousies, goes on.

Chater’s extensive research on all matters Estonian and shawl-related is apparent on every page. She provides information in her acknowledgements on suggested further reading, although a link to images of the shawls, or even an illustration of some patterns would have been welcome. A moving debut novel.