First of all, let me begin my review by clarifying that I'm not rating the atrocities done in Auschwitz here. I'm rating and reviewing the book, storytelling and character building.
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As someone who has read a lot WW2 fiction and a fan of the author's writing, I had a lot of expectations for the book.
I understand the integrity behind divulging details of the atrocities done in Auschwitz, however, for novels, it's a fine line to tread when handling historical information. You want to write a detailed description of the suffering but you also need a strong plot to make the read palatable, otherwise, it's just a string of endless suffering. If I wanted only the harrowing details, I would've went the nonfiction route.
Which takes me to the next point, the plot.
The storyline was pretty weak this time around for Soraya. She took inspiration from actual people, midwives and doctors, to build a whole book on, which was a mistake in my opinion.
Their stories offered some mind-blowing details and information, no question about it, but they did have a narrow range of plot building material.
I think the author went through a moral dilemma that made her write the main characters as saints. There's being a good person, and then there's being an angel incarnate.
Considering the suffering they were put through, it didn't make any sense for the characters to be completely faultless. They lacked the imperfections of the human self. I wouldn't say I didn't relate to them because I obviously wouldn't in a hundred years understand that type of suffering and despair, but they felt pretty... fictional?
The epilogue was my favorite part, it was written so beautifully and realistically, I genuinely felt for them at the end.
Overall, I wouldn't say it was a bad book, but you can definitely find better books in the genre, actually by the same author.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC I received over a year ago. I did not get the book read so I recently purchased the Audio book.
I feel like this storyline was a bit above average for a Holocaust historical fiction. It did have very interesting new elements, and it is so fascinating it is based on real events.
I just did not really become invested with the characters like I am for books I rate higher.
The narration increased a rating of 3 stars up to 4 stars for me.
I am glad I listened and was saddened to once again, know the atrocities of the concentration camps.

Another phenomenal book by Soraya M. Lane. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Once I start one of Soraya's books, I have a hard time putting it down. I cannot wait to read more books by this author!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Every time I read another historical fiction book on WWII and Auschwitz, I am shocked at the human spirit. How people persevered during this horrendous times - it nothing short of amazing and these stories need to be told, so history knows not to repeat.

Emilia is a midwife that has certain freedoms in occupied Poland in 1942. However, Emilia is also keeping a secret, she has been assisting Jewish women in hiding and helping the resistance. However, that comes to an abrupted end when someone she thought she could trust tells on her. She is packed into a train car with other Jewish people taken to the Auschwitz camp. Since she is a midwife, she is useful to the Germans; however, she will still find a way to assist those that really need it most.

Amazing, amazing, read.

How is it possible to enjoy a book, which covers such a distressing time, so much!
It is beautifully written, Emilia entered my thoughts from the beginning and I’ve thought about her since. She was such a thoughtful person who placed herself in danger to help others. When suddenly someone betrays her and she is carted off to Auschwitz.
It is here that she comes into contact with Dr Aleksy Gorski when working alongside him on the hospital wards as a midwife. It’s thanks to him that she’s not put to hard labour which the prisoners in her hut don’t like. Emilia can’t understand why they don’t like Lena, until she discovers that she works in “Canada “, the form a close bond. I have to say I found Lena’s story distressing.
Lena and Emilia decide to help Zofia when she finds herself in difficulty! Emilia sees it as a way to seek revenge for the way women are treated by Germans, especially Josef Mengele who sees them as play things.
The way Emilia’s story unfolds is so easy to follow, you wonder how she managed to keep it secret for so long. She was definitely my favourite character, and least favourite has to be Becker.
Look forward to more by this author

A masterpiece of bravery and courage to stand up for what you believe in and helping others in the most toughest of circumstances. I already think highly of those in the medical profession but this book has just made me appreciate them even more.

Thanks to #netgalley and #amazonpublishinguk for letting me read this #arc that was released this summer. A harrowing but rewarding story about a Polish midwife imprisoned at #auschwitz and the #Jewish lives she fought to save. I highly recommend this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book that can be found on store shelves now. 📚📚📚 #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreads #kindlereads #my2023readingchallenge

This author is one of my favorite for historical fiction. This was a very difficult story to read as any novel about Auschwitz. The story is of Amelia, the midwife at Auschwitz. A very different point of view and one I was very interested in.

Wow! This was an emotional read that I will never forget. Emilia is a character who will make you want to be better. A must read!

I love historical fiction like this one, so compelling, so emotional, so heart wrenching.

Emilia is a midwife, part of the Polish resistance, helping to smuggle Jewish babies to safety.
But she is betrayed and finds herself in Auschwitz.

Emilia is a strong, forceful character, who I couldn't help but fall in love with.

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Told as a multi POV with a dual timeline, Emilia is now an old lady recounting her past.

The story flits between present day and her time in Auschwitz.

This story captures everything from despair, hope, love, and anything in between.

This was heartbreaking and hard to read at times, especially knowing that real people faced these horrors. Obviously this was a fictional story with made-up characters, but they were loosely based on real people at Auschwitz, so this was a powerful and inspiring read.

I thought this was just going to follow Emilia, but we also closely followed two other characters, Aleksi and Lena, and I was deeply invested in all of their stories. It was impossible not to feel for them and the devastation they all had to experience throughout the war, especially Lena.

The whole Emilia and Aleksi reveal at the end was super obvious to me, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of this book. It's one that I would definitely recommend, and the kind of book that I feel like I'm going to be thinking about for years to come.

The Secret Midwife by Soraya M. Lane is a very powerful and emotional story that takes place during WWII and the Auschwitz concentration camps; an unforgettable time period in our history. It is a story about conflict, war, love, sacrifice, and strength of character that will be difficult to put down and will stay with you after you turn that last page. There is much to learn in this book and it is heartbreaking to read. This story is told from a different viewpoint than many others; basically about the ones who were not afraid to help the Jews survive. A great deal of research about the thousands of Jews who survived the war hiding in the forest was done to make this story credible. This is a very disturbing story about the terrible atrocities and complete disregard for human life as well as thought provoking. The human spirit is truly resilient. This novel is fascinating and emotional and it will definitely stay with me a long time.

Loosely based on actual events and people, this story will tug at your heartstrings from the very first page to the last. This is a different approach to WWII fiction and I can only imagine the emotional difficulty in writing this but these stories need to be told and Ms. Lane did a superb job doing so. I highly recommend The Secret Midwife to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This was a well written book that was definitely worth the read. My only issue was not with the writer but with my choice. At times, I felt like I had already read this but then I suppose it shows the truth in what happened to women in Auschwitz. Some parts were very similar to a previous book I had read, but with a different main subject. I look forward to reading more from this author.

ARC was provided by Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

Soraya M. Lane writes some of the best Historical Fiction stories and she bases her stories on Historical facts. I love a book where you can learn a thing or two about and era and get engrossed in a book, which leaves you satisfied with the story.

The is a Secret Midwife is a dark, sober dual time story about the darkest periods of WW11, while shining light on the lives of ordinary humans , the sacrifices and the horrific situations they were put through they had to do in order to survive .There is a love story that develops in spite of these hard times which gives hope for the future.

Loved the story and I highly recommended to read if you are a Historical fiction lover.

Once again I am reminded that Soraya M. Lane writes some of the best Historical Fiction you will find in the book world today. She bases her novels on Historical facts and creates such wonderful characters. I love when I can read a book and learn something along the way and also get so involved with the characters that I actually forget I’m reading a book. She writes books that I don’t want to put down until I’m done. Sadly, I have to. 

The Secret Midwife was one of those books. I was so wrapped up in the lives of the characters and all the horrible things they were going through to stay alive at Auschwitz. This book is not based on actual characters but on the many experiences of the Polish Resistance. Soraya Lane actually prompted me to do a little research on my own on a few subjects in her book. One of them shocked me so much, I had to see if it really happened and it did! 

I loved the duel timeline. It was about 90% during the war years if not more. The other part was told by one of the characters that survived internment at Auschwitz. I have read several books that took place during this time and her book was spot on. Maybe the conditions were a bit worse than I remembered reading. Maybe, I just took it harder this time because I was invested in the characters. Emilia is the Midwife and Aleksy is the doctor who helps her treat some of the women. 

There is a love story that develops between Emilia and Aleksy. It starts as admiration and friendship. It is very secondary to the story. It was a beautiful relationship that was allowed to grow after the war. The things that happened at Auschwitz will break your heart. My heart is still a little broken for all those that suffered there and were not able to leave. Thousands a day were exterminated at Auschwitz. 

If you enjoy learning while you read, getting involved with the characters and being able to feel all the feelings these folks suffered, you will absolutely love this book. We need these books to show us what really happened even though some believe it never happened in the first place. We need to know our history. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors your read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from @Soraya M. Lane, @Netgalley and @LakeUnionPublishers. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This was a new author to me, but I will definitely read more by her! The Secret Midwife is a historical fiction told in two timelines, the current one and flashbacks during WWII both featuring Emilia who in the present day is elderly and the past as a midwife prisoned in Auschwitz.

This story is unbelievably heartbreaking and horrific made even more so because there is truth in the horrors from that time. This book will make you feel so much. Emilia, Lena and Aleksy absolutely will capture your heart with their goodness and strength as they do everything in their power to help others survive against such evil. Just thinking about all the atrocities still makes me want to cry...

This book had so much blatant ugliness of war and the pure depravity of man, but at the same time there was beauty in the spirit and fortitude of our main characters. They leave a lasting impression beyond the last word on the page. I am still thinking about them!

5 stars

An engrossing and harrowing story of a Polish midwife, Emilia, sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau during WWII and the lengths to which she, her fellow prisoner, Lena and a male doctor, Aleksy, go in order to protect the women and children imprisoned in the camp. Under the threat of Joseph Mengele, the trio devise a plan to save innocents, that, if they were found out, would spell utter disaster for them.

One cannot soon forget the memorable characters in The Secret Midwife and I highly recommend this for any reader. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Sensitively written, Emilia, a trained midwife, is imprisoned in Auschwitz for her resistance work by the brutal Nazi regime. Finding Aleksy, a doctor, gives a ray of hope to many pregnant inmates who have no way to care for an infant. Excellent historical fiction.

This book was a difficult read. There have been other books written on the subject of Midwives that were imprisoned at Aushwitz (The German Midwife for example), however this book exposes the reader to a different - and difficult - scenario. It not only details what life was like for a pregnant woman in the camp, it also bring Dr. Josef Mengele into the scene, to show just how horrible the experience was.

A difficult read but a good one. If you enjoy WWII-era historical fiction, this one is not to be missed.

This was an interesting book following a few characters that ended up as prisoners in Auschwitz concentration camp. Emilia is a midwife, Alesky an OB, and another girl Lena. Lena befriends Emilia when she arrives at the camp, and Alesky saves Emilia’s life on her first day there when she sees horrible things happening with babies in the camp. Emilia is put to work as a midwife and soon realizes that she can help the women end their pregnancies, to save their life in the camp, otherwise both them and the baby would be put to death or tortured.

Alesky has lost his wife and son prior to being sent to the camp and helps Emilia out as soon as he meets her. I had to stop reading the book for a minute when it describes his wife and son dying.

Lena is put through abuse at the hands of a German guard in exchange for a better job and food. Pretty soon she ends up in a situation that lead Emilia and Alesky needing to help her out.

There could have been more detail into the story behind the help that Emilia and Alesky did at the camp for pregnant women, but this book was still full of a lot of details about the horrible things that happened there and what life was like then.

Definitely be prepared for not a light hearted read with this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!