After staying away from a lot of historical fiction lately, this one has been my way back to loving the genre. It might be fiction and imagination but there's certainly truth in the fact that we still do not really have all the pieces of information even after all this time.

"That's the wonderful thing about life, my darling - it goes on. If we're lucky, that is."

Amongst the two timelines, the past was definitely the more exciting one to read but it is in the present one that the mystery is solved. Hence, there are no complaints about the storytelling, whatsoever. As always, thank you for my advance copy NetGalley.

*** I received an e-ARC of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

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Summary: It is 1938 in Vienna, Austria and Adolf Hitler and the Nazis have taken control of the government. Sophie Klein and her family are forced to endure mistreatment, verbal abuse, and physical abuse because her father is Jewish. After the ultimate tragedy, Sophie and her sister are left as orphans. Alone and afraid, their only way to survive is by separating. Sophie is granted a position in the Royal Library at Windsor castle, while her sister is sent to America. Life at Windsor castle is very different for Sophie, she was sent here for a special reason. She is a spy who has been tasked to find and translate documents and letters. When she learns that Windsor is compromised, Sophie doesn’t know who she can trust. Someone has betrayed the crown, but who? Sophie must make drastic choices to save the Crown Jewels, and it just may cost her her life.

It’s 2021, and Lacey Jones is celebrating Christmas with her mother, Adele, and grandmother, Gubby. Lacey is doing her best to keep a secret from her family, but she’s not the only one with something to hide. After her mother surprises the group with plane tickets to visit Lacey’s older sister in Canada, Lacey is checking the expiration date on her grandmother’s passport. Why does it say Gubby was born in Austria? And why does she have a letter stamped with the Windsor Castle crest? The past and the present weave together as Sophie searches for clues while Lacey faces her fears looking for answers.

Thoughts: This story is told from the alternating POVs of Sophie and Lacey. The story is good, and the dual timelines blended seamlessly. I do think there is enough of a story for Sophie’s POV to be a book on its own. As I was reading the story I thought I was able to figure things out but I was wrong. This story tugs in the heartstrings and reminds us of the importance of family.

🗣️This was my first book from this author but it certainly will not be the last! Daisy Wood has a way of spinning a story that will keep you turning the page.

✨ Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

1938 Vienna: Sophie lives with her parents and nine year old sister Hanna. Their father is Jewish and because of this, he has lost his job and has become a recluse within their home. On the day of Hanna's 9th birthday, their father decides they will go out as a family to celebrate her birthday. This decision is to have a devastating effect on all their lives. The Nazis have taken over the city of Vienna and the suffering of this occupation has begun. Sophie and Hanna's father and others of the Jewish faith suffer violently at the hands of the Nazis and their father dies as a result. Their mother protests against the treatment and she is taken away from the girls never to be seen again. 19 year old Sophie is now responsible for her sister. Their home is taken from them and they are alone and have lost everything. Sophie hears of an American couple who have a number of Jewish children they are taking from Vienna to live in the United States. Sophie regretfully sends her sister to America with them. Sophie, through her job as a Librarian and her desire to leave her home country due the Nazi occupation, is placed in the Royal Library at Windsor castle.
2022 Bethlehem, USA: 93 year old Gubby, mother and grandmother, has lived her life with her family in America. When her granddaughter Lacey discovers a letter with the Windsor Castle crest, Lacey who is a writer, embarks on a research journey to England to discover the history of this letter. What she finds is so much more than she could have imagined and lives will change as a result of the search she carried out without the knowledge of her grandmother.

I loved this story so much. This is the third book I have read by Daisy Wood, her stories just get better and better. I very much look forward to her next book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story prior to publication.

Another great read by Daisy Wood.

A fictional story set in WW2 and the present day which was so well told with both storylines intertwining so well. Rooting for both heroines. The behaviour the Austrians and Jews were treated with was truly horrendous and this was very well written. The ending was a little rushed for me but would definitely recommend.

An interesting and enjoyable read set against the background of the Second World War. Despite being a work of fiction the book seemed quite realistic as there was a real depth to the characters which created a believable atmosphere. Set in Vienna, Austria and Windsor Castle during 1938 and throughout the early years of the war but also in modern day Philadelphia 2021/22 when Lacey sets about finding out her past and in particular her grandmother's sister Sophie who worked at Windsor Castle. Fascinating insight into the discovering of paperwork connecting the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and their involvement with the Nazi party. Full of mystery and intrigue which certainly keeps the reader immersed in the story whilst also being involved in historical events.

Another great historical fiction written by Daisy Wood. I read The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris and I absolutely loved it, so when I got the chance to read an early copy of The Royal Librarian, I didn’t think twice.

This book was great and had all you need from a historical fiction: lots of information about what was happening at that time in the world, amazing characters, heartbreak, eye opening scenes, mystery and a beautiful plot.

We watch Sophie, the older sister of Hanna, make her way through the world and escape the terror of Nazis in Vienna. She is a strong and incredible woman, she is definitely my favorite character from the book. I loved the dual timeline - while we learn what Sophie was going through, we are also diving into the present where Lacey finds out that her grandmother is not who she thought she was, her thinking that Gubby is American, while she was truly Austrian and Sophie’s younger sister. I absolutely adored how the two timelines intertwined and this was my favorite thing about the book, reading both Lacey’s and Sophie’s stories.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a great historical fiction set in the Second World War!

A dual timeline read, set in pre WWII Austria and present day USA and England. Any book that combines real people and their lives with fictional characters, and does it well is a must read for me. I really liked the premise, especially with the Royal storyline, showing what feels like a realistic side to the Royal Princess’ lives during the war when they were teenagers and their father had just become king after the abdication of Edward VIII.

The feeling of what happened in Austria before the war, and the way the Jewish people were treated was very well handled, and well researched. I loved Sophie’s storyline and was rooting for her all the way. I wasn’t quite so taken with Lacey but she came to life more when she became involved in trying to find out what really happened to Sophie. An interesting re-imaging of real events with fictional characters. Recommended.

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

Thank you to @netgalley and @AvonBooksUK for the ARC. Germany has invaded Austria. Hanna and Sophie's parents have been killed - their father for being Jewish, their mother for defending him. Now homeless and orphans, they try to find their way out of Austria. Hanna was able to go with Americans headed back to the states, taking many children with them. Sophia however was granted a spot in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. Since she spoke both German and English, she was hired to translate letters written by King Edward who just abdicated. He wrote many letters to high ranking officials in the Nazi regime. Flash forward many years and Lacey notices that her grandmother's passport state her birthplace as Vienna, Austria. She begins to piece together her grandmother's past. Whey did the sisters never reunite? A really good read! #TheRoyalLibrarian #DaisyWood #AvonBooksUK #April2024

The attraction of reading historical fiction is learning new factual information effortlessly while being entertained and this book delivered. It is the first time I've read anything by Daisy Wood but it won't be the last. I've never been a royal watcher but I found the setting of Windsor Castle during World War II fascinating, having read about it endlessly in earlier historical periods. The story is told with a dual timeline and I much preferred Sophie's WW II thread to that of Lacey in 2021. Perhaps I am simply too old to relate to Lacey's issues.

Reading any novel set during World War II gives the reader the advantage of knowing certain facts that the characters don't. Sophie's assigned task at the Royal Library of rooting out disturbing documents of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor made me nervous, knowing that many of the British aristocracy supported Hitler. Though not a real person in history, Sophie was such a rich character and many of the people surrounding her were actual people. This book gives us another vantage point for viewing the Anschluss in Vienna and the war years in England. With fascism rising again in the 21st century, we must never forget the lessons learned in the recent past. This fascinating book both informs and entertains with a fast-moving plot and an emotional punch.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.

Sometimes dual timelines can be confusing and hard to follow, however, this story was so enhanced by this feature. I had to keep reading in order to finish off with the different timelines. I loved the characters and the setting of this book, keeping me intrigued the whole time. The incorporation of historical fiction was a great touch that was wholly appreciated. Thank you Avon Books UK for sending me an ARC of this book.

Set over dual timelines. I absolutely loved the past set in Austria and later at Windsor Castle. The role she undertook as Royal Librarian shifting through the correspondence to help the British government. It was a lovely blend of historical fact with historical fiction. A lot of research went into the storyline and i enjoyed it very much.

Sadly, I didn't enjoy the present day. As an historical fiction fan I just didn't enjoy the second timeline. It took me away from the storyline, so I ended up skipping it all. I don't feel as if I missed out on anything..