‘If only I could give this book 100 stars rather than 5!… This book is epic, a mesmerizing book of strength through unimaginable losses… Heartbreaking and beautifully written this is a gripping tale of bravery… One of the best and most memorable historical books I’ve ever read!’ Deanne’s Book Thoughts, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐When the Nazis march onto the cobbled streets of Colmar on November 1st 1940, Josef, a … Colmar on November 1st 1940, Josef, a Jewish violin maker, gathers his wife and daughters closely to him and tells them everything will be alright.
But one year later, three sharp knocks on the door at midnight turn his seventeen year old daughter Sarah’s world upside down. As the oldest child, Sarah must be the first to leave her family, to make her escape in a perilous journey across France via Paris to Poitiers. And she must hide who she is and take a new name for her own safety. For now, bilingual Sarah is no longer a French Jew but a German girl.
As she bids farewell to her beloved father and family, Sarah has hope, against all odds, that she will see them again when the war is over. But, travelling through the mountains she finds herself in terrible danger and meets Ralf, a German deserter, who risks his own life to save her.
Ralf and Sarah continue their journey together, keeping their identities secret at all cost. But when Ralf is captured, will Sarah pay the ultimate price for sharing who she really is?
A gripping and heart-breaking account of love, bravery and sacrifice during the terror of war. A story of standing up for what you believe in; even if it’s going to break your heart. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Ragged Edge of Night.
Readers have fallen in love with The Violin Maker’s Daughter :
‘From the minute I opened this book I was completely enthralled. I couldn’t put it down. It was well thought out and expertly written… Really a great read and I can’t wait to look into other books by this author!’ Being Perry, 5 stars
‘This is the first book I have read by Sharon Maas and from the moment I started reading it I just could not wait to continue reading it. It’s sad, its poignant, its uplifting and it tells the wonderful story of Sarah, the violin makers daughter and her journey as she flees her home country, to escape Nazi’s …Beautifully written and a memorable read.’ Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Sharon Maas never disappoints! She is one of my favourite authors and with this wonderful, harrowing, heart breaking tale of courage and love in the face of unimaginable danger, she has cemented her place as one of the best historical fiction writes of today, right up there with Antony Doerr and Kristin Hannah. I SO loved this beautiful story… so stunningly realised. …I would very highly recommend this book and give it ten stars if I could. If you’re going to read one war book this year which marks the 75th anniversary of D-day, make it this one!’ Renita D’Silva, 5 stars
‘A gripping, heartbreaking, but yet heartwarming historical fiction (that is based on real facts concerning Colmar, Alsace and Lorraine as well as French and German Resistance)… It is raw and emotional, yet a necessary story to tell … A great read. 5/5 stars’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘I loved it! Once I started reading, I could not stop… I was on the edge of my seat… This is the first book I have read by this writer, I am eager for more!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘A heart wrenching story of bravery, love and sacrifice.’ For the Love of Books
‘I’m a huge fan of historical fiction and this one didn’t disappoint. I felt it was a good book about the horrors of wartime France.’Goodreads Reviewer
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The Violin Maker’s Daughter by Sharon Maas is a gripping, heartbreaking, but yet heartwarming historical fiction (that is based on real facts concerning Colmar, Alsace and Lorraine as well as French and German Resistance). The main character is Sarah Mayer and her (and her family’s) harrowing story of the plan to escape occupied France in WWII due to being Jewish is very hard to read. It is raw and emotional, yet a necessary story to tell. Sarah is only 17-18 and is so strong for her age.
I enjoyed all the characters of individuals that helped her and Ralf along the way.
I especially enjoyed the last part where she became part of the Resistance, and the ending was sad. However, in reference to our main characters, it still had plenty of positivity and hope, that I felt it ended appropriately and honestly.
A great read. 5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
Is this a YA book??? Very weak story line
A half-Jewish family in Alsace-Lorraine hides in plain sight during WW2, but is given up to the Nazis and must flee. They plan to escape in waves, and oldest daughter Sarah goes first. Character point of views in early scenes are presented in a scattered, omniscient style, which seems effective in highlighting the chaos surrounding the family’s plight. Then the story focuses on Sarah, and her transition from sheltered teenager to survivor, and ultimately a belligerent. Sarah’s journey is aided by Nazi deserter Ralf. Sarah and Ralf encounter numerous obstacles on their journey, though a number of potential high-tension situations seem under-developed. Much more time is spent of Sarah’s internal narrative as she sorts out her feelings for Ralf, sadness and speculation on her family’s fate, fear, anger at the Nazis, and even a sense of adventure. Her relationship with Ralf centers the book, though her feelings swing from an extended period of hatred of him as a representative of the Nazis to worshipful love, in what feels like a quick transition. Many recent WW2-based novels focus on the plight, and flight, of the persecuted (e.g. The German Girl, The Things We Cannot Say, Fugitive Colors, The Orphan’s Tale, The Tattooist of Auschwitz). For me, this one is enjoyable, but doesn’t capture dramatic tension of life and death moments as well as some of the others.
Was this review helpful? I am an avid world war based fiction reader and author. You can read more of my takes at https://brodiecurtis.com/curtis-takes/.
I have read quite a few books by Sharon Maas and have loved them. This was a great story as well of a young Jewish girl who becomes the first to leave her family to get to safety during WWII, when the Germans were isolating the Jewish community and taking them to camps. Her family lived in Colmar, in the Alsace region of France.
Sarah’s family had not confessed to being Jewish as they had a German name and were not religious, but someone new about them and they needed to leave for safety reasons. The family was large with a lot of children so they thought going in stages was a smarter option. Sarah was the first to leave, and she would need to go from safe house to safe house, on her journey across France to Poitiers, hopefully to be reunited with her family at some point.
Sarah meets many wonderful and brave people as she takes this journey, each risking their lives to help Jewish families escape.
It is a love story as well between Sarah and a young German deserter, who risks his own life to save her.
The story was great, but the main character Sarah was a bit frustrating, she had a lot of growing to do and was very naive at times, but I guess that was the part this character plays as she develops to maturity. I must say it added to the tension in the story.
I cant wait for the authors next book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book.
The violin Maker’s Daughter has so much potential to be a great WWII read. The reader can tell that the author Sharon Moss did a lot of research; however, the writing was not consistent. I think the beginning of the book showed so much promise. The Violin Maker, Josef Mayer, is a non-practicing Jew. He and his wife have five daughter’s and they need to escape Alsace before being taken by the German’s. Sarah, the oldest daughter, is sent on her own. Her journey is fraught with dangers and we see her immaturity. She falls in love with a German soldier, Ralf, who saves her from being raped. He was forced into being a soldier. From here, the story ihas several writing problems.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah Mayer is the eldest of 5 daughters of luthier Josef and Leah Mayer, nonsecular Jews in France 1940. When the Germans invade France and start deporting the Jews, Josef decides to send his family to a safer place via the underground and Sarah is the first to leave. This is the very well-written story of her flight to freedom and the various people she encounters, some trusting and others not so. I really enjoyed this book; however, I really disliked the character of Sarah who came across as a spoiled brat and put other people in danger because she did not want to follow the instructions given to her. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this page-turner in exchange for an honest review.