This book set at end of World War 2 in Berlin there should be peace, but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. No food or medicine can get in. This story tells how people overcome the harsh times to try and survive.

I just reviewed Child of the ruins by Kate Furnivall. Such an emotional, powerful, well written, totally gripping book and I was blown away by the way it was written.
I felt I was actually there! WW2 had ended in Berlin 1948, however the Russian troops were causing disaster for the city, blocking roadways and rail having service points to intimidate the Germans. 2 women searching for a child for different reasons. Absolutely brilliant 🤩
Thank you to Netgalley and @HodderBooks

Child of the Ruins by Kate Furnivall

Well-researched, slow-burnt and emotional post-WW2 historical fiction.

This was a story between two story lines of Anna and Ingrid lived in East and West Germany post-war time. The horror, trauma and anger were vividly shown in the story plot.

“I had learned to obey. Berlin had learned to obey.”

The shortage of food, medicine and money during that time drove people crazy. Losing hope. The trauma in Anna was strong, especially while she was looking for her lost child in the ruins.

The most enjoyable part in the story was the research part. Full coverage and meticulous. Informative read, yet easy to follow.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Kate Furnivall for this captivating historical fiction.

Kindle: 472 pages
Pub date: Oct 31, 2023

This is a great novel about three women, each fighting their own demons in post war East and West Berlin . Whether because of trauma, loss, what these women had in common was their fight to survive: for food, money or a child lost....
I really enjoyed both storyline and plot: captivating and impossible to put down! What I also particularly found interesting was the well evoked atmosphere of Berlin after the war. I could see the destruction, hear the orphans living in the streets, feel the hunger and coldness as well as the loss of so much more. The characters were well drawn, with their strengths and weaknesses. I did find them relatable even if I did not necessarily agree with them all. But who am I to judge? Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

Was wonderful to read the new and long awaited book by this excellent author.
I found the book very informative as it covered area's that I didn't know too much about, I also found it to be rather violent, but a very good read.

This is a hard hitting novel of life in post-WW2 Berlin, the violence, the hunger, the Russians. Encompassing the period of the Berlin air-lift when the allies kept the citizens of West Berlin fed in spite of the Russians, this novel covers the lawlessness, desperation and fear of the period. I found all of this absolutely fascinating. The description of the lives of the wolf children- abandoned orphans living a feral existence among the ruins- really brought home how terrible this time was. At the crux of the book is a story of a lost child and the lengths the characters go in order to trace him. I was completely gripped by this story and could not put my book down. A brilliant read, and an enthralling insight into a desperate period in history.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and author Kate Furnivall for providing me with this eARC

I had so much hope for this book as I love WW II & post-WW II historical fiction.
Sadly it was a bit of a letdown for me.

The pacing of this felt really off to me. For the first 60% barely anything happens and what does happen plot wise feels very disconnected. It’s mostly set up and could’ve been condensed so, so much!
There are lots of things that seem like they could become important & interesting but end up forgotten. And loads of internal monologues from both our protagonists about how Berlin used to be great and now it’s destroyed. I realise it’s important for the reader to understand just how devastating the war and then the Soviet occupation was, but for one it gets repetitive because it’s always the same thoughts and two it was all tell, no showing!
Which leads me to another problem I had with this book. We are told so many things but shown barely any of them. We are told our characters are angry, sad, worried etc. but their actions don’t really reflect their strong emotions. Also for Ingrid I was really missing some motivation & character insight!
The mystery sadly wasn’t much of a mystery either as you could basically guess the broad answer from the first scene between Ingrid & the villain. Non of the big reveals were big because they were so heavily hinted at multiple times during the book.
Going back to pacing for a moment, after 60% of build up the book rushed through the plot for the next 30% or so.
It was by no means a bad book - a bit lengthy
& predictable but I was just expecting/wanting more…
2.75 stars

One of my favourite authors and again a super read. Fiction but with a backgroud of fact. I learnt a lot about Berlin in the post war era. Shocking and emotional. The characters became part of my life. It is not an easy read and a very emotional journey however I cannot recommend this book enough. Read it, you will not be disappointed.

Child of the Ruins by Katie Furnival

1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted.

Wow I was blown away in reading this book , and I've never said that before.
The plot is exciting , heart racing , breathe taking , in fact everything you could ever want in a good book and more so.
Loved the two main characters Anna and Ingrid and the lengths they are prepared to get back what they want.