Thank you NetGalley for my copy of Sisters of the Sky by Lana Kortchik. This is an independent review with no payment or reward given for this review.

4.5 stars - Excellent read, I enjoyed this book!

I liked the writing from the first page. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this story being a historical, and being of World War Two. Lana’s voice and tone kept me captivated wanting to turn page after page.
I felt the characters were well built for the time period. I could visualise the characters behaving and acting as they did. Nina’s courage through all the odds thrown against her was tough going and I found myself willing her to get through to the other side and to safety. I loved how Nina stuck to her principals and convictions despite all that was thrown at her. I did find myself at one or two points early on in the book thinking that Katya had a lot more to say than Nina and some plot points felt a little repetitive, however I think that if I was in a war, I would find myself rehashing the past as well..
I think Lana did a great job of portraying the Soviet life, painting a sufficient backdrop for her characters to walk through. There was enough conflict, enough character development and a satisfying ending.
Good job Lana!

i am little bit scared of reading ww2 fiction, because i have read so many of them, and i am scared it will be nothing new to read. but after lowering my shoulders, i really enjoyed the book. the sisterhood between the female pilots, their bravery , the glimmer of hope in a dark time. . sometimes i felt too much was happening, and there were some cliches. but i highly recommend this book
thank you yo netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

This was a wonderful book. I have read a lot of WW2 novels but this is the first one about the Soviet Union. It was an exciting and sad read. I cried throughout the whole book. Sisters of the Sky is about Marina Raskova’s 587th Dive Bomber Aviation Regiment of all women flying and fighting in WW2. You follow the main character Nina through training with her best friend to flying and losing loved ones. It’s a story I won’t be forgetting any time soon. I loved the characters and the way the author kept the story going…no boring parts at all! I highly recommend this book and this author to any book lover.

Thank you to HQ Digital for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Recommended for fans of WWII historical female fiction.

During WWII in the Soviet Union, Nina joins the first female-only aviation regiment. Spanning several years and many tragedies this novel follows Nina’s experiences as a female fighter pilot for the Soviet Union.

I am a huge fan of female characters WWII historical fiction, especially female pilots. Unfortunately, I found some chapters in this novel repetitive.

Beautiful novel. Loved the way it is written. The characters and the eta are well portrayed, wrapped in the history of WW11. Good research into the era and the functions of the woman's airforce has been performed , which has made the book come alive. The descriptive scenes makes you actually see what’s being given to you. Must read.

This was an interesting book. My historical knowledge is lacking somewhat and I had no idea what part Russia played during WW2 so this was all educational for me. At the time Russia was the only country in the world to have women pilots actively involved in combat. Fiction, but very much based on fact, Sisters of the Sky tells the story of Nina and the women she came to see as family, who formed a regiment of mostly female pilots and navigators playing an important role in driving back German enemy lines after Hitler invaded Russia.

We follow Nina and her best childhood friend Katya from when they decide to voluntarily sign up for aviation training with the then famous Marina Raskova who had persuaded Stalin to allow her to set up an all-female fighter squadron. We see them through their gruelling training to their heroic efforts in combat.

Although it is told in the third person, Nina is very much the central character in this book and we the reader are always with her throughout, whereas other characters come and go. I must admit that at times I did find the book a little repetitive, with Nina often reminding us through her own thoughts how much she and her friends and family have sacrificed, what they have lost, how she often feels she can’t carry on. As it’s written in the third person, I would have liked some time away from Nina and heard more from the perspective of other characters in the book and at times, for me, tedium tended to set in.

I also found that despite how incredibly sad and traumatic life was for the women, it never seemed to evoke a great deal of emotion in me. I felt something was missing but couldn’t quite put my finger on what. However as I got almost to the end of the book I was shocked and angry at what materialised towards the end. Obviously I’m not going to go into detail but the thought that this is based on real events really does hit home how much people have suffered at the hands of dictators.

Overall a fascinating and informative story and definitely an alternative view of events surrounding WW2 which made a refreshing change.

*Review to be posted to blog around publication date*

An amazing Russian Romance entwined with the story of the Night Witches, the Russian female pilots, the first women combat pilots in the world,

Everything I have ever read by Lana Kortchik is always a treat and of the highest quality, and this book was no different. What sets her apart is her breathtaking prose, her excellent characterization, and the quality of her historical accuracy. Combine that with women pilots ("Witches" they were called) and powerful female friendships during WWII in the Soviet Union and you are swept away yet glued to your seat! Absolutely wonderful! I recommend all her books, but I believe this one is my favorite and her best yet! TEN STARS!

4.5 ⭐ Riveting from the first page to the last, this book will take you on a journey of love and loss that will make and break then remake your heart. Kortchik does a phenomenal job of writing friendships and family dynamics, the powerful need to protect your own (family, friends, and country), the horrors of war, and the bittersweet relief of making it through devastating times.

One of the things I love the most in Kortchik's writing is the friendships. Through all the horrors of war, this is what stands out to me the most. The way friends can overcome hardships together, the rawness of what happens when someone you really love hurts you, it's all here in this heartbreaking story. But so, too, is the message of forgiveness and the power it gives us to move on with our lives.

Captivating story, wonderfully fleshed out characters and relationships, and beautiful writing make this a must-read!

[Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the eARC!]

"Female friendship is the most precious thing in the world. It brings out the best in us." Major Marina Raskova

This book packs a powerful punch. Not only does it detail the history of the 587th Dive Bomber Aviation Regiment, one of three female Soviet air corps regiments, it also showcases the strength & dedication of these exceptional young women. It's difficult to even imagine the hardships they faced...brutal weather, uniforms & planes designed for men, inadequate food & shelter, and a better-equipped enemy, the German Luftwaffe. This story makes your heart soar with every flight, pound in every battle, and break with every loss. These women accomplished so much without ever forgetting who they were. They truly were sisters of the sky. It was an honor to read their story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the ARC. The review is my own.