Roberta Kagan’s Michal’s Destiny is the first in a series that traces a family’s history from the Russian pogroms against Jews in the 1910s to the German atrocities against the Jews in the 1930s and 1940s. It does a good job of depicting the Jewish traditions of the time and would be a good soft introduction to the terrors of that time in world history.

This is a story about Michal's journey through WW2. The story starts off in Siberia and follows her to Berlin. You feel her struggle with almost everything right from the beginning, but you also feel her strength as she navigates her unknown.

I love a great historical fiction book where I learn something new, and this book fulfilled that more than once. I was hooked right from the beginning. I enjoyed the multiple POVs throughout the book and being able to feel the experiences by multiple people at the same time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Roberta Kagan, and the publishers for this free ebook. This review is 100% my own and honest opinion.

Really enjoyed this book, Hate how it ended. This story follows a girl named Michal from a teenager in Siberia to a woman who has moved to Berlin. She comes from a very religious family, the horrors that she endures are unthinkable. Once on her own in Berlin, she becomes a very strong and independent woman.

Courtesy of The Book Whisperer and Netgalley, I received the ARC of Michal's Destiny by Roberta Kagan, first in a series of three historical novels. Beginning in Siberia in 1919 with a pogrom against a Jewish village, survivors Michal and Taavi make their way eventually to Berlin to begin a new life before antisemitism becomes apparent. Encompassing Jewish culture, customs, religion, and values, this book covers German politics, the rise of Hitler, Kristalnacht, concentration camps, and the Kindertransport Train to Britain. The compelling characters mature as they make decisions, not always good, A story of love found, lost, and rekindled!

In the first book in her latest World War II historical fiction series, Roberta Kagan brings 1919 Siberia and the excess and instability of the Weimar Republic to life in this incredibly detailed and emotional novel. Following Michal, a sheltered young woman from a small Siberian village to Berlin in the years before the Nazis rise to power, readers explore the antisemitism from the period and the fascinatingly modern culture of 1920s Berlin. Exploring her relationships and the many other challenges she faces in the fourteen years covered in the book (1919 to 1933), readers go on a complex and emotional journey with Michal. With content warnings for sexual violence and antisemitic violence, Kagan’s attention to historical detail and her research for this book really shows throughout the novel. Fans of her other books will definitely enjoy this new series, especially because of the characters and the alternating perspectives throughout the book that allow readers to gain a greater understanding of life in Weimar Germany. A fantastic, emotional, and gripping historical fiction novel, readers looking to continue to discover life in World War II Germany and the rapid changes from the Weimar to the Nazi regimes need not look any further -- Michal and the readers live these changes in this strong start to a new series.

I have been reading a lot of WWII historical fiction lately and was ready for a break, but when I saw this new book by Roberta Kagan, I knew I had to read it, and I am glad I did! This book begins in Siberia where we meet a young Jewish girl named Michal as she comes of age and gets married. Late on night the Cossacks massacre the entire town. Michal barely escapes and eventually makes her way to Germany for a better life. And for a while it was for a while, life soon becomes more difficult as the Nazis rise to power. This is the first in a new series, and I can't wait for the next one!

Michal’s Destiny by Roberta Kagan is a heart-breaking story of a Jewish girl from Siberia. We follow her as her small community experiences a pogrom. Her life is shattered as she watches her peaceful neighbors stand helplessly watching and are struck down in their innocent ignorance. Michal’s rescue begins a new kind of life until history begins to repeat. Not a happy book, but one too moving to miss.

This is my favourite, and probably most read, genre of book. And yet Roberta Kagan has somehow completely slipped past me. Well not any more. If Michal's Destiny is anything to go by, then I may have found a new "must read" author. As such it's very rare that I give 5 stars, as I judge these books very critically. In fact, the only thing I found "wrong" was the antisemitic paper being called "Der Stammer" rather than "Der Stürmer" which could possibly be a translation issue. Either way it didn't bother me enough to affect my rating!

Spanning the years from the Russian Revolution and anti Jewish pogroms of 1919, to Kristallnacht in 1938, Michal's Destiny follows Michal from a village in Siberia to the bright, modern city of Berlin.

Roberta has captured the sheer terror of a village destroyed by a pogrom, she holds nothing back in the descriptions of the violence that took place. Roberta also builds a wonderful background to her characters, I really felt that I knew Michal, and although I don't know much about Judaism, the important aspects were built into the story so that the characters motives were clear.

There was also wonderful insight into pre-war Germany and what life was like there. It was, by all accounts, a haven where people were free to be who they wanted to be. The clubs and cabaret bars, and s3xual freedom sounds modern, rather than 100 years ago.

Roberta has obviously spent a lot of time researching this period in time, and it really shows in her writing.

I can't wait to see where this series goes next. This book ended in such a way that I just have to know that everyone is safe, although for a Jewish family in Nazi Germany I can probably guess the answer to that.

This was really good, great character development and great story. Starts in Siberia 1919 and moves through time to Berlin at the start of the Second World War.
It can be hard hitting at times and just became invested in the characters which are Jewish and treat so awful, its almost like humanity learnt nothing with current events!
Read it if you like WW2 novels.

Another great story about Jewish people and their traditions, a romance fated to be marred by hardship and heartbreak, the horrors of WWII and the Jewish persecution by Hitler and his hateful nazis. A very good start of a new series delivered by Ms. Kagan.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This story begins in 1919 in Siberia. Michal is newly married, although she has always had a crush on another man. The village where they lived was attacked in a pogrom where she was raped, and her husband was killed. Taavi, who was her crush, rescued her and they subsequentially moved to Berlin. As the first book in a series, this follows their move to Berlin and the development of their difficult relationship. I am anxious to read the next book to read the next chapter of their story.

Michal’s Destiny by Robert Kagan starts in Russia during the time of the pogroms. Her village had escaped thus far, but for how long? Michal’s father had arranged a marriage for her and there was no point in arguing. She had her eye on a boy in the village but her father had chosen Avram. She was beyond nervous, but when she was finally married and she lifted her veil, he looked nice. The more she got to know him the more she liked him, but it was not grand passion. Her regret was that she had yet to become pregnant. That was her main duty and more than anything she longed for a child. Then one night, the Cossacks games to her village. She and Avram ran, but Avram was cut down and beheaded by one of them and Michal was thrown to the ground and assaulted. Then, Taavi appeared. He was they boy to whom she’d been attracted and he was now there to save her. They ran and ran, into the forest, until finally Taavi took her to the cabin of a woman known to her people as a witch. It turned out she was the furthest thing from a witch. She took them in and fed and kept them warm. From her Michal learned midwifery skills and Taavi learned to hunt. Taavi went back to the village but there was not much left there. They decided to go to Berlin. Then things didn’t go as planned.

Michal and Taavi never really got along well. Michal felt guilty that she was sinning in so many ways. Taavi was not as strict as she was and it worried her. They managed until Taavi did something unforgivable and she left him. She is an excellent characters, resilient, but fearful. She worked hard and fell into a good position but as with all things that didn’t last forever. This is a wonderful story, but it’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. We know what is going to happen shortly to Jews in Germany and knowing and then watching the beginnings of it is horrific. Her life was up and down all the time and she had to adjust, which mostly she did. As are all Roberta Kagan’s books, this is an excellent read. Hers are a little different than many Holocaust books and that makes them so readable. Thanks, Roberta Kagan for another wonderful story.

I was invited to read Michal’s Destiny by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #RobertaKagan #MichalsDestiny

I’ve read other books by this author and loved them. She is outstanding at researching history and bringing it to the pages of a fiction story. I was disappointed in this book because it gave too much focus on sex, even though it was closed door. Plus I felt there was more profanity than in previous books. I give this book 3.5 stars. I was blessed with a free ARC, and I’m voluntarily submitting my review. Quite a cliff hanger. I do plan to read the second ARC in the series.

I am really glad that I found this author and this is one of the reasons why my interest in historical fiction has been reignited. This was set in pre ww2 and although I remembered a lot of what had happened at the time (from school studies) it was written in a way that was accessible.
Looking forward to the next installment.

In particular the elements set in the Weimar republic and the exploration of the why's of how Hitler got in control. I have never read a book before that explored how a Jewish woman coped in moving to Berlin and the atrocities that she had to face as a result of essentially suffering PTSD. The whole book was so well written and I engaged with all the characters - some of who I wanted to shake.

Michal’s Destiny by Roberta Kagan is my first book by this author. It is the story of an orthodox Jewish settlement in Siberia, Russia. The main female character is forced to flee because of the pograms occurring and perpetrated by the Cossacks. The story follows Michal who ultimately finds herself in Berlin, Germany until the event of Kristallnacht.

Unfortunately, I felt the book was so poorly written. There were multiple point of view changes which made it feel poorly written. There is all narrative and very little dialog. What dialog there is is labored. There is little connection between incidents. Some events are over explained. The author obviously has a story to share it just wasn’t executed well at all. On top of that the story ends abruptly and there is no way to find out what happens unless you read the next book. I don’t necessarily like having an author forcing the reader into the next story or just give up.

I would like to thank Book Whisper and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book written by Roberta Kagan and one I look forward to following along as it is the first book in a new series.
Great historical fiction set in pre WWII in Siberia we follow a young girl, Michal wanting what her Jewish family don't want her to have, the man of her dreams and not the one she is betrothed to.

But things are not always what they seem and with war looming things will only get worse. A story of bravery, courage, tragedy and so much more. The characters in this book are what make the story so real. A wonderfully written story and I look forward to seeing what comes in book 2 of this series.

Thank NetGalley and Book Whisperer for giving me the opportunity to read and review.

I loved this story and right up to the end I was on the edge of my seat! This was my kind of book with characters with bravery and hope and nonstop action. There was so much going on and I loved every second of it. If you love Historical Fiction, this one is for you.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

DNF'ed after eight chapters, and I only pushed myself through those in order to assure myself that it wasn't a rocky start that would get better. It didn't get better. The writing is stilted, as if trying to be Fiddler on the Roof but with more "enlightened" characters. There's a lot of info-dumping in the first several chapters, giving information about shtetl life - and many of the historical details are wildly inaccurate, including the way arranged marriage is portrayed, the way sexuality is portrayed - down to the shaving of a girl's head on the night of her wedding, which is a fairly modern practice and was not done in the shtetl except for the most ardently Hasidic families. For such a highly acclaimed historical novelist, this one is a stain on Kagan's record.

Very well written, heartbreaking story of the trials of Michal, a very young Jewish girl who sees a lot of tragedies starting with the destruction of her village in a pogrom. The first in a series, we follow Michal as she grows up and not only has to survive horrible conditions, but also we watch her growing as a woman. Highly recommended for women's interest reading, historical fiction, book clubs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC #sponsored

When I selected this book, I thought it was going to take place during WW2/the holocaust. The story actually begins in 1919, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I have read close to 100 pieces of historical fiction that take place during WW2, but this is the first book I've read that gives a glimpse into what occurred prior to that devastating time.

I learned quite a bit about Jewish lifestyle, beliefs, and customs; much more than most works of historical fiction touch on, especially pertaining to romantic relationships. Additionally, reading about the pogroms that took place in Siberia against the Jewish people were heartbreaking.

The main character, Michal, endures more heartbreak in her young adult life than most people who live to be 70 years old endure. She makes several questionable decisions in her early adult years that left me scratching my head and actually yelling out loud at her!

The ending of the book was definitely a cliffhanger that I didn't expect. The destiny of many of the main characters was left up in the air.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.