The Forest of Vanishing Stars: A Novel

Kristin Harmel

Jul 2021 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Parade “Best Books of Summer” pick * Real Simple pick * She Reads “Best WWII Fiction of Summer 2021” pick

The New York Times bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis—until a secret from her past threatens everything.

After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.

Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and suffused with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made Where the Crawdads Sing a worldwide phenomenon, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author whose writing has been hailed as “sweeping and magnificent” (Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author), “immersive and evocative” (Publishers Weekly), and “gripping” (Tampa Bay Times).

Ratings and reviews

Not my usual type of read The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel. Historical, WWII, Jews, Nazis. What started out for me slow and took awhile to get into the storyline. Did grab me after awhile. I would give it an almost 4 1/2 rating but closer to a 4. First time I'm reading this author.

I read this book in 24 hours and gave it five stars on Goodreads. It's suspenseful, terrifying, sobering, and inspiring -- all at the same time! With so much historical fiction coming out these days about World War II, this is a refreshingly different take. Based on a true story and supported by survivor interviews, Kristin Harmel explores the Jewish refugees who spent large parts of the war hiding from Nazis in woods and forests.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel is a Historical World War II Novel set in the European wilderness. Historical Fiction is a favorite of mine and this book has an unusual perspective on World War II Europe. Yona’s life seems unbelievable in this time period but her story is fascinating and I could not put this book down. The hope, bravery and perseverance of the people was inspiring. When we are oppressed by evil we should pray for the same strength. Ms. Harmel’s books always have an interesting view of life with exceptional and realistic characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

About the author

Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels including The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Room on Rue Amélie, and The Sweetness of Forgetting. She is published in more than thirty languages and is the cofounder and cohost of the popular web series, Friends & Fiction. She lives in Orlando, Florida.