As World War II intrudes upon their home, three young friends risk everything for freedom, love, and a chance at a better life. On October 28th, 1940, Mussolini provides Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas with an ultimatum: either allow Axis forces to occupy their country, or face war, and Greece’s response is swift. “Oxi!” they say. “No!” In a small village nestled against the radiant waters … against the radiant waters of the Aegean Sea, we find Alexei, the son of a local fisherman, and his best friend Costa, who were both born on the same night eighteen years earlier and have been like brothers ever since, though now, like all the other young men in their village and throughout Greece, they will leave their homes to bravely fight for their country.
But before they go, Alexei asks Philia, the girl that he’s loved his entire life, to marry him, which sets into motion the events which will change the lives of these three and their family and friends forever, and begins an epic and unforgettable story of courage, survival, sacrifice, the strength of the human spirit, and of a love and friendship that will echo across time and generations.
A spellbinding novel and sweeping romance that performs the remarkable feat of creating action-packed scenes, characters that we care deeply about, and revealing in vivid detail the untold true story of how Greece helped the Allies to win World War II, Once We Were Here is an unforgettable tale that pays tribute to the brave men and women who fought and gave everything for their country, for each other, and for freedom.
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This book starts with a yearly summer holiday with Andrew and his family while they visit with his grandparents (Papou and Yia Yia). But you’re just starting to turn the pages when you find yourself going back in time and learning about best friends, Alexei and Costa, and life in Greece. I learned so much about the time period when Mussolini declares war on Greece. These two young men were so willing to serve their country and support each other through time of war.
I had many tearful moments as I read through the story. I loved the twist at the end which had me gasping out loud. And I love when a book does that for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Arcade Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The actual storyline was elucidating, and I learned a ton about Greece in WWII. Very worthwhile read.
I found it interesting to read a part of history about the Greek Resistance fighters. The personal storyline was well done. However, some of the scenes were disturbing.
Too much battle rhetoric to make it a 5* for me but I did enjoy the characters and the story. Interesting Greek history.
What an extraordinary book…gutwrenching. heartwarming. The tension of war all around…the struggles just to stay alive…..I cried….what a marvelous book.
Good book
We find ourselves in the small coastal fishing village of Agria in Greece, in October 1940, and view life through the eyes of Alexei, a young man, Alexei is a well-read youngster, his heroes are Homer and Aeschylus, Achilles, Odysseus, and Alexander… And his biggest hero, his fisherman father Iannis is also a hero, larger than life. He and his best friend Costa have spent their entire youth training together as long-distance runners, with a dream of Olympic medals in their future, and Alexei is a well-trained fisherman and sponge diver, taking up the slack on the family fishing boat as his father slows down with age and the after-effects of WWI injuries. Alexei has also found his life’s partner, Philia Karras, daughter of the richest man in the town, and he has already picked out the family goat he will offer her father in exchange for her hand. Big dreams, huh? And then first the Italian army and then that of Germany work their way through Greece on their way to Athens. Young Greeks answered the call and were able to turn the Italian army back, but they were outnumbered and out equipped by the German machine. Now they must figure out how to retreat and hold their world together as war comes again to Europe and the Middle East.
I received a free electronic copy of the ARC of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, Christopher Cosmos, and Skyhorse Publishing. thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Once We Were Here of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work Christopher Cosmos writes a compelling tale with well-researched background and characters who will warm your heart.
Once We Were Here by Christopher Cosmos is an excellent historical fiction mainly depicting the events and struggles of two male friends (Alexei and Consta) that join the call to fight and defend their country (Greece) from adversaries. One assailant after another, first the Italians then the Germans) during WWII. This book covers some of the events that they experience upon entering this fight after they both leave from their small fishing village and all that they know and love, and join the fight to defend their homeland.
It is nice to read about a location that isn’t a “well-covered” country such as France, Germany, and even Italy. Not too many books that I have read lately cover Greece during WWII.
This book encompasses love, loss, loyalty, friendship, defying odds, relationships, and fighting for what matters.
I loved reading the backstories and the “human factor”. It must be the anthropologist in me that loves to take a peek into social customs, societies, and day to day lives of other areas. I definitely enjoyed reading that aspect of the book as well. The struggles and losses that people and their families had to go through, was very hard.
A great book that presented passion, love, loss, change, and war.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Arcade/Simon & Schuster for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.