Stephanie Z

I had read and appreciated three earlier books by Kristin Harmel so I was expecting to also enjoy this book. However, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is so, so much more; a more immersive and consuming read, a can't-put-it-down personal discovery story, a primer on survival in the forest, and a totally new take on a strong female protagonist in a time of war. With this new book Kristin has outdone herself from a research perspective. Not only was she required to write convincingly about survival in the Eastern European forests through each season over multiple years, but she also had to cover a vast array of religious, linguistic, historical and self-defense knowledge since Yona, the protagonist, had such a wide and varied education. Kristin also created an interesting group of characters of many ages and backgrounds to give readers a sense of how devastating these times were to the Eastern European people who experienced them. This is a book that asks deep personal questions about what constitutes family, how one defines their own religiosity, and what love and betrayal look like to one who hasn't experienced either previously. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy historical fiction, who want to learn more about WWII from a new perspective, and those who enjoy strong female lead characters.