The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa

☆☆☆☆
ebook, 320 pages
Expected publication: May 7th 2019 by Atria Books & Simon & Schuster Canada
About the Book:
The internationally bestselling author of The German Girl delivers an unforgettable family saga of love and redemption during World War II, based on the true story of the Nazi massacre of a French village in 1944. New York City, 2015: Elise Duval, eighty years old, receives a phone call from a woman recently arrived from Cuba bearing messages from a time and country that she’s long forgotten. A French Catholic who arrived in New York after World War II, Elise and her world are forever changed when the woman arrives with letters written to Elise from her mother in German during the war, unravelling more than seven decades of secrets. Berlin, 1939: Bookstore owner and recent widow Amanda Sternberg is fleeing Nazi Germany with her two young daughters, heading towards unoccupied France. She arrives in Haute-Vienne with only one of her girls. Their freedom is short-lived and soon they are taken to a labor camp. Based on true events, The Daughter’s Tale chronicles one of the most harrowing atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis during World War II: the 1944 massacre of all the inhabitants of Oradour-Sur-Glane, a small, idyllic village in the south of France. Heartbreaking and immersive, The Daughter's Tale is a beautifully crafted family saga of love, survival, and hope against all odds.

This book is fantastic. I love Armando Lucas Correa's writing so much. Historical Fiction educates as well as entertains and Correa is a master of both. The writing is powerful and brings to life the characters and settings making the reader truly feel as if they were in the midst of the story.

The subject matter wasn't light, but it was wonderful learning more about this time in history. I actually wasn't aware of all that happened. It is very obvious that the author did extensive research and perfectly fit the facts into the book. There are strong themes of family, friendship and loyalty throughout the book.

It’s an utterly gripping story — very difficult to put down. Elise’s voice is real and thoroughly human as she struggles to find her place in the world and understand why people behave the way they do. She struggles with finding a place she can call home. The narrative clearly articulates how war affects everyday people who want no part in it and yet are given little choice. I found the historic details to be largely accurate and I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a very interesting yet informative read.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, Simon & Schuster Canada and Armando Lucas Correa for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

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