Review : Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat

Wolfsangel

By Liza Perrat

Release date: 16th November, 2013.

Page number: approx 390

Publisher Link: www.triskelebooks.co.uk/

ISBN Paperback: 978-2954168-12-8

ISBN E-book: 978-2954168-13-5

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About the book:

Seven decades after German troops march into her village, Céleste Roussel is still unable to assuage her guilt.

1943. German soldiers occupy provincial Lucie-sur-Vionne, and as the villagers pursue treacherous schemes to deceive and swindle the enemy, Céleste embarks on her own perilous mission as her passion for a Reich officer flourishes.

When her loved ones are deported to concentration camps, Céleste is drawn into the vortex of this monumental conflict, and the adventure and danger of French Resistance collaboration.

As she confronts the harrowing truths of the Second World War’s darkest years, Céleste is forced to choose: pursue her love for the German officer, or answer General de Gaulle’s call to fight for her country.

Her fate suspended on the fraying thread of her will, Celeste gains strength from the angel talisman bequeathed to her through her lineage of healer kinswomen.The decision she makes will shadow the remainder of her days.

A woman’s unforgettable journey to help liberate Occupied France, Wolfsangel is a stirring portrayal of the courage and resilience of the human mind, body and spirit.

(NB: The story involves a small amount of sex, but not graphic. It contains the violence of WW2, but again, not graphic, except one event at the end of the story, which is quite graphic and could be a bit shocking).

Buy Links:  Amazon │Barnes & Noble │Smashwords

My Review

A story about a woman’s journey to self discovery during a time of war, Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat, is a gripping tale based on real events.  Showcasing both the highs and lows of human character, Ms. Perrat’s book is filled with well developed characters, plenty of action and heartfelt emotions.  Set mostly in a small town in the French countryside, Wolfsangel is a book I won’t soon forget.

Twenty years old during the summer of 1943, Céleste Roussel lives on her family’s farm in the outskirts of Lucie-sur-Vionne as the Germans begin their occupation of her city.  While no one wants the Germans there, tolerating their presence, and occasionally getting the better of them in a financial transaction, is their only choice.  When Céleste’s brother, and his childhood friends, become members of the resistance, Céleste realizes no one will be able to avoid choosing sides in the war.  She just never planned on getting torn between her love for her friends and family and a young German officer.         

Ms. Perrat does an excellent job developing Céleste’s character throughout her story.  Naïve and only trained to be a farmer’s wife, the war both gives, and at times forces, Céleste to learn a different way of life.  Becoming involved in the resistance, due to the rest of her family’s involvement, Céleste also develops an attraction to a young German officer stationed in their town.  While her head knows it’s wrong to be attracted to one of the invaders, this is the first adult relationship in her life and she also hopes to use it to gain information from the enemy.

As the war continues around them, and Céleste becomes more deeply involved in the resistance, she’s exposed to the modern thoughts of a women being educated, treated as an equal to men, and is exposed to their willingness to put themselves in the line of danger to free their country from an enemy destroying everything they believe in.  The secondary characters, of which there are quite a few, all play a part in Céleste’s education about both the war and about what it means to be a part of a changing society.    

As the Allied army begins its invasion and liberation of France, Céleste is exposed to even more of the war’s ugliness as the German’s are suddenly facing a new and determined enemy.  Her escalating anger and actions, along with those of the other members of the local resistance, will have some lasting effects on her town.  She’ll also have to make a final choice in regards to her forbidden love.

Will Céleste and her family survive the war?  Will Lucie-sur-Vionne manage to survive the German occupation?  You’ll have to read Wolfsangel to find out, I really enjoyed it and consider this one of the best books I’ve read this year.  In fact, I can quite easily see this book turned into a movie.

My Rating:  5 out of 5 Crowns 

FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.