Review and Giveaway: Like a River From Its Course by Kelli Stuart

Like a River From Its Course

by Kelli Stuart

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope. The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little--known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the "killing ditch." He survives, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda is sixteen when German soldiers rape her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Fuhrer's plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism.

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Kritters Thoughts:  A unique look at World War II through a country that I haven't visited in life or fiction - Ukraine.  Told through multiple perspectives that take you into the real nitty gritty of war and how it affects all walks of life in the country where the war actually takes place.  

First, what really made me love this book was that not only did you hear from citizens in the occupied country but one of the perspectives was from a German soldier.  I am not sure if I have ever read a book that really portrayed why he felt that the war was necessary.  I am not sure he convinced me of his cause, but it was at least interesting to see it through his eyes.  

I also loved that this was more than a book about war.  It was a book about family relationships and love and loss all of those things in between.  Yes there was a war going on, but life also moves forward maybe differently but still moves forward while a country is at war.  I enjoyed reading about how these families were trying to keep it together and as many things as normal in the midst of chaos.

I read this book in 24 hours in just three sittings and I couldn't put it down.  I hope that Kelli Stuart tackles a different topic or spot in time with this detail because it was both thoroughly entertaining and insightful.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Litfuse Publicity.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.