Book Review: Warsaw Fury by Michael Reit

First of all, I'd like to wish all those who celebrate a happy, healthy, and peaceful Rosh Hashanah. L'shanah Tova!

Since I was little, I've always liked reading about WWII and stories about the courageous ones who fought against the darkness imposed by the Nazi regime and their allies, and protected others. I joined NetGalley just recently, and this title caught my attention.

This book was completely a page-turner that I couldn't put away until I finish reading this story. I loved how Michael finely weaves both stories, Natan and Julia, his two main characters into the reality they were facing in Poland during the German Occupation. I felt as if I was seeing through their eyes, facing their same feelings as their country had been invaded by the Nazis.

I applaud the intent of bringing this kind of stories into public awareness, and it resonates even more during these times when were still going through a pandemic, which is not a war or occupation, but we can identify with the main characters as they face the reality they knew is no more, and these two youngsters face it with bravery and courage, adapting to their convoluted new normal and joining the fight. I liked how the author represented both the struggles of civilian Poles and Jewish Poles, especially when the latter were facing growing antisemitism in Polish society back then.

And even when Natan and Julia were fictional, I really liked how the real characters were intertwined and the locations were accurately portrayed, which show how committed the author was to represent the story and make it as historically accurate as possible it could be. The narrative is quite fluid, there is certain bit of exposition at the beginning but not too much so we can easily get acquainted with the characters as we follow their stories.

I agree with the author - we should never forget the atrocious stories related with the extermination camps. However, these stories of resistance are so important in order to remind us all how in times of struggle and oppression, there is always something we can do or many different ways we can help and make a difference. Totally recommend this book! 

Warsaw Fury will be released on October 8th, 2021 both in physical and digital formats. Thank you NetGalley and Michael Reit for the ARC!