Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Simon is the sole survivor of his family in Roger Swindells’ novel, Mendelevski’s Box. His father was a watchmaker, his talents sought after by wealthy patrons across the Netherlands. The family went into hiding shortly after the Germans invaded, but someone betrayed them and the family was sent to Auschwitz. Simon returns, bent on finding out who betrayed his family, who sent them to their deaths. What he finds is a country struggling to survive after the Germans were routed: people who starved or froze to death for lack of food and fuel, non-Jews who lost family members and were injured in unspeakable ways, and so much suffering. There isn’t much left of his Jewish community: most of the Jewish population was sent to death camps, never to return. His home is owned by a Dutch family (non-Jewish). And there continues to be a lot of anti-Semitic fervor amongst the Dutch people. Home is not what he remembered. Reconnecting with good people, those who helped during the war and others helping him after the war, Simon discovers a box left behind by his father, well hidden. The contents provide the young man with clues to help him unravel what really happened: how they were betrayed and by whom.

Roger Swindells’ novel, Mendelevski’s Box, is a passionate tale that almost reads like a memoir. The sad plight of the Jewish people, and many others for that matter, at the hands of the Nazis during World War II has been written about in countless ways. Earth-shattering and heart-wrenching as it was during the war, what about the aftermath? What happened when those who survived the Nazi death camps returned to their homes? In great detail, the author presents the sad and sorry state of the Dutch people at the end of World War II. He outlines the ongoing distrust and anti-Semitism that remains ripe and he presents an almost unfathomable life. The plot reads like a memoir, a mystery, and a journey of discovery as Simon struggles to define a place for himself in this new world, the aftermath of barely surviving hell on earth. As he follows his goal of unmasking the betrayer, he comes to the sad realization that the Jewish population were not the only ones to suffer greatly. And, many Dutch people were continuing to suffer terribly in the aftermath of the German occupation. As he unravels what happened to his family, Simon discovers a soul mate and, unexpectedly, falls in love. The journey continues as the two seek to find their place in this new world that is rising slowly from the ashes of disaster. A compelling and heart-wrenching tale of courage and survival.

Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite

Kenneth W. Harmon's historical fiction novel, In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow, is set in Japan, 1945. Micah Lund, a bombardier, falls to his death as his B-29 breaks up over Hiroshima. He knows he is dead, but his spirit is alive. On another plane of existence, he connects to the living world around him, and to the realm of other spirits. Kiyomi Oshiro, a war widow, saw Micah fall to his death. Kiyomi and her eight-year-old daughter Ai struggle every day with the war’s brutal hardships. Ai's and Kiyomi's spirits can leave their bodies when they are asleep. In this realm of spirits and dreams, Micah meets with them and draws closer to them. Micah's life changes profoundly as his hatred and intolerance towards the Japanese turn into guilt and compassion.

I greatly enjoyed reading Kenneth W. Harmon's In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow because at the heart it is a story of love and forgiveness. I loved the richly imagined characters, dialogue and vivid details that bridge the realm of spirits and the living. I was struck by the anguish and poignancy of the relationship between Micah and Kiyomi as they struggle to understand each other. I liked Kiyomi's strong and courageous character, as she tells Micah that there is only "ash and sorrow" in war. I loved Ai's character. She is convinced Micah has a significant purpose in their lives and they soon become friends. I liked Micah's character development, his life in the US, the contrast with life in Japan, and living as a spirit. Micah's journey turns inwards as he must make a difficult choice toward the end of the story. A compelling and thought-provoking novel indeed!

Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite

The Women of Great Heron Lake by Deanna Lynn Sletten connects two women who married into the same Madison family but exited decades apart from each other. When, after over a year of fighting pancreatic cancer, Nathan passed away, his wife, Marla Madison, felt free. After marrying Nathan, she had quit her job and devoted her life to caring for her daughter, Reese, and her husband. Now that Reese was an adult and her husband had passed away, suddenly she did not know what to do with the time available to her. Outside her family, she hadn't formed any real connection with people. With nothing else to do, she threw herself into renovating her mansion. It was during one of these renovation times that she found the journal of the first Mrs. Madison, Alaina. As she delved deeper into the journal, she shivered at the eerie similarities between her and Alaina.

The Women of Great Heron Lake by Deanna Lynn Sletten reflects on the lives of women -- now and then (the year 1875). Although born decades apart, both Marla and Alaina went through drastic changes after marrying wealthy men. Alaina was happy taking care of her father's business and living the life of a spinster, but when she met Nathaniel, she could not resist his charms. Gradually, he manipulated her into adjusting her life goals to accommodate his dreams. Eventually, Alaina lost the one thing she craved the most: her freedom. Similarly, Marla, too, had lost track of her goals after marrying Nathan. When he died, she struggled with finding her purpose in life. The plot will resonate with many women who alter their personalities and passions to fulfill their expected duties as a wife and mother.

This is a story of hope and second chances. Deanna Lynn Sletten makes a smooth transition between the present (Marla's story) and the past (Alaina). The mindset and mannerisms remain authentic in both the timelines. This book is heaven for architecture enthusiasts. The descriptions of the houses and mansions are so crisp that they transport you inside these spacious structures. Emotions run high as Deanna Lynn Sletten narrates the sacrifices that Alaina made in the name of love and marriage. Patriarchal society's flawed and biased rules are laid bare in the form of a gripping plot. Women supporting women is the backbone of the story as well. I recommend The Women of Great Heron Lake by Deanna Lynn Sletten to readers who enjoy a slow-paced story that highlights a woman's search for her identity.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Lords of the Wind is a work of fiction in the historical and action sub-genres and was penned by author C. J. Adrien. The first novel in The Saga of Hasting the Avenger, this is a work for adult readers due to the inclusion of violence, scenes of a sexual nature, and the use of explicit language. Set during the exciting and bloodthirsty age of the Vikings, our central protagonist is Hasting, and we see him during his first experiences which truly shape him for the avenger he will go on to become. Orphaned, sold as a slave, and then adopted into Viking life, the story recounts Hasting’s first great difficulties, his early love affairs, and the path that would lead him to become a famed warlord throughout all of history.

It is clear that author C. J. Adrien is both a historian and a writer, for the prose is filled to the brim with interesting and accurate details about the Viking period that are sure to have fellow history fans deeply fascinated. There is, however, an intelligent balance between historical research and the furthering of the narrative, and the pace of the novel holds up well and moves along without too many breaks for exposition. One of the things which most captivated me was the unique sense of dialogue, which reads well for a modern audience but still manages to keep a sense of the true atmosphere of the Viking times. There is never a jarring moment that would take you away from the period, which leads to a fully immersive reading experience that truly captivates an audience. Overall, I would highly recommend The Lords of the Wind to historical fiction fans everywhere.

Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite

Life changes dramatically for fifteen-year-old Ella Kühn in August of 1961 in Leah Moyes' book Berlin Butterfly: Ensnare. Berlin is divided by a wall that East Germany is building to keep its residents in. Unfortunately, Ella and her dying father get stuck while she sends her little brother and sweetheart ahead to the west and to freedom. After the death of her adoptive father, Ella gets employment with the wealthy well-to-do mortician Herr Franke in order to pay off the debt of the burial she couldn’t afford. The Franke household is a world of its own with its owners lacking for nothing while chaos erupts as people are killed while desperately trying to seek freedom in the west. The lady of the house is cruel and the older son seems determined to torment her as well. Ella never gives up hope that one day she’ll be able to get past that wall to the family that awaits her. As the months of her servitude continue, things change, people change, and Ella finds herself conflicted between the need to escape or staying with a boy she has come to forgive and love.

I was absolutely captivated by this book from the first page. I admit my history is a bit rusty when it comes to after WWII and what happened to Germany when the wall went up. I was a year old when it finally fell; my father-in-law was there with the US army when it happened. It’s so refreshing to read historical fiction from a period not written about much in that sense. Leah Moyes has done a fantastic job in telling the at times heartbreaking story of Ella Kühn and those first couple years the wall was up and what occurred in East Germany. There are so many colorful and amazing characters that I can’t really choose one that I liked the most. I am anxiously looking forward to the second book and what the future holds for Ella, Anton, and the Franke family.

Reviewed by Ioana Drever for Readers' Favorite

In the Company of Like-Minded Women by Elaine Russell follows the lives of three sisters over six weeks in summer 1901, against the backdrop of a developing city - Denver - and the Colorado women’s efforts to advocate and implement political and social reforms. Elizabeth (Lida) Clayton is a widow who is working hard to support her two children. She’s recently qualified as a doctor, fighting against prejudice and trying to balance her studies and being a mother. She’s even converted to Catholicism in order to secure a job. Lida hasn’t seen her sisters in eleven years, but she is very happy to welcome to Denver the much younger Eva who is recovering from scarlet fever and with whom she’s kept in touch, as well as her older sister Mildred with whom she once was very close but who decided to take their mother’s side in a family rift a long time ago. Many things change during their six-week visit - their perspectives, their determination to follow (or not) their hearts, as well as their relationships.

Elaine Russell creates very believable characters. I like that each chapter is written through the voice of a different person, showing things from varying perspectives. The setting - Denver and its surroundings - is vividly described and transports the reader into that time and place. Elaine Russell has clearly done a lot of research into the topography, the fashion, the approach to religion and the topical issues of 1901. I liked the historical references to the fight for women’s rights and the (maybe) lesser-known movement of temperance. If you’re after an easy read with some substance, you will enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite

“History is written by victors.” So, who can tell if the well-known accounts of the Trojan war reflect the actual truth? In The Fall of the Phoenix, Daniel Kelly incorporates historical events mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid and weaves them together to present an alternative version of history. The book starts with the famous duel between Hector and Achilles, ending with the fall of the once-mighty Trojan empire. The ten-year-long siege had exhausted Troy while the Trojan horse succeeded in breaching their hitherto impenetrable walls. However, in Kelly’s version, the Trojans ended the war on their terms, ensuring the downfall of the Greeks with their dying breaths. I would implore you to read the first installment in the saga of these unsung heroes and be a part of their last battle.

I loved how each character came alive under Daniel Kelly’s skilled writing. Priam the Trojan king’s kindness shone brightly in contrast to the endless greed of the Greek king, Agamemnon. Kelly described Achilles, the great hero, as a human being full of compassion, and at times, uncertainty and grief. Apart from the famous heroes, Kelly also introduced many commanders from Troy and Myrmidon, whose feats of bravery left lasting impressions. Diomedes, a Trojan orphan taken captive by Achilles, made me realize how oppressive it must have been for the commoners to live under the siege. Entire generations grew up knowing nothing but a state of war along with a scarcity of essential supplies. Kelly described the Trojan war with vivid details, thus transporting readers to a different era. He also envisioned an ending that deviated from the legendary epics yet seemed even more intriguing. I would recommend The Fall of the Phoenix, a masterpiece of speculative fiction, to any reader interested in history and mythology.

Reviewed by Keith Julius for Readers' Favorite

In The Serpent and the Eagle: Book One in the Tenochtitlan Trilogy, author Edward Rickford takes us back in time 400 years. It is 1519, and Captain Hernandez Cortes has just landed on the Yucatan Peninsula at the start of what will be his conquest of Mexico. With him is Father Aguilar – a Spanish castaway who has spent the last eight years as a captive of the Mexica people; Pedro de Alvarado – a trusted military advisor to Cortes; and Vitale – a reluctant soldier in the invading army. Along the way, the invaders come across a slave girl named Malintzi, who becomes a trusted part of the expedition when her skills as a translator become known. Interestingly enough, even though Cortes is the individual that most influences the events of the story, we are never privy to his thoughts and inspirations. Rather we view his actions from a distance and wonder at the force that drives him so much to succeed. Likewise his rival leader – Motecuhzoma, the ruler of the Triple Alliance that dominates the One World of the native people – remains elusive, as we follow his generals and counselors but see little of the man himself.

The Serpent and the Eagle is a finely crafted story that will captivate anyone interested in history, and it is obvious Edward Rickford has heavily researched the subject. This is no dry retelling of a 400-year-old story, but rather a lively and entertaining look at people and the greed that drives them. Much of the action is of necessity supposition, but it is presented in a masterful manner where you come to believe the people involved and get drawn into the story of this pivotal time in the history of the Americas. The story concludes in a manner obviously intended by the author to set us up for the next installment of this gripping tale of heroism, greed, and man's inhumanity to man as one race subjugates and overwhelms another because of their misguided sense of superiority. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

When We Were Brave is a work of historical fiction penned by author Karla M. Jay, which focuses on events taking place during the Second World War. In a multi-perspective novel, we find ourselves following the lives of a collection of individuals stuck in Europe during wartime, and how their fates interweave as the story progresses. An SS officer tries to spread the word about the horrifying reality of the death camps, whilst young Izaak finds his life as a Jew getting more difficult by the moment, and an American family with German roots are sent back into the belly of the beast and left to their own devices to survive.

Combining excellent historical research with a compelling storyline, the hard work of author Karla M. Jay really pays off the more deeply involved you become with the characters in her plot. I found Wilhelm’s story to be the most compelling for me, as he was right in the spotlight and going through some fantastic emotional turmoil as a disillusioned SS officer trying to make things right for himself, and for the world. Jay really pays attention to the emotive aspect and motivations of all her characters, making them leap off the page with reality and endearing them to readers, which is what makes their hardship all the more harrowing to read about. As the plot threads and connections slowly come together, the conclusion marks the realities of war and sticks in your mind for a long time after. When We Were Brave is a highly recommended historical read.

Reviewed by Thomas A. Peters for Readers' Favorite

It’s November of 1944 in Germany and adept American OSS agent Lilian Saint James has just been handed the perfect opportunity to insert herself into the home of a leading Nazi tactician, after saving the German army colonel’s young daughter from being run down by a car. After passing an investigation, she is sent to be a nanny in the Oberndorf home, where she begins to gather intelligence and take pictures of strategic maps of munitions factories, air fields and static U-boat locations that she hopes to pass on to the Allies. Her hopes are dashed, however, when the only two contacts available to her are neutralized by the SS. Fearing that her cover is blown, Lily must find a way to escape west past the battle lines into liberated France where, with the help of American Army troops, her undercover efforts are brought to fruition. After an all too brief recovery period, the ever-intrepid Lily, who refuses to be relegated to a desk job while the war continues, is requested to return to Germany to help rescue a downed British pilot and she jumps at the chance. Following this death-defying success, it would appear Lily’s days of intrigue are over, but again she manages to shrewdly insert herself into the action and, in the waning days of the European war, she arrives at the captured concentration camp of Buchenwald where she makes a discovery instrumental in identifying its horrific commanding officers who fled before the Allied arrival.

Seasoned author Ellen Butler’s first foray into historical fiction with the World War II spy novel, The Brass Compass, is a magnificent success filled with characters that remind the reader again and again why the moniker “greatest generation” is so aptly applied. The carefully constructed first-person narrative, perfectly in vogue with the vernacular and popular culture of the era, is flavored seamlessly with the many tongues that the multi-lingual Lily must use to navigate in a dangerous world where it seems no one can be trusted. On its own, as a novel of intrigue and espionage, The Brass Compass would stand as quite an achievement, but the story truly hits the high notes with the romance between its Ingrid Bergman look-alike protagonist and Milwaukee gentleman-turned-army major. Physical beauty aside, it is the internal thoughts, and moreover, the impetus to “do something more” for the war effort which simultaneously drive Lily and the reader forward in discovering the horrors of combat and the triumph of love.