The Woman at the Gates

Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger

Published on September 2, 2021 by Bookouture

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1944, Germany: Gazing through the barbed wire fence, up to the pale blue sky, Antonia dreams of her home in Ukraine: cherry orchards, golden fields, and the man she loves, whom she may never see again…

Resistance fighter Antonia is out in the forest behind her family’s beloved farm when the Nazi soldiers arrive. As she sees her sister Lena and her young nephews herded towards the trucks, guns pointed at their heads, she faces a split-second, heart-wrenching decision: to stay hidden, stay free and continue the fight. Or to give herself up and go with her family to protect them—no matter what lies ahead.

As she clutches her nephew’s little hand in hers, her other arm tight around Lena, she knows she has made the right choice. And as the truck rattles towards a brutal labor camp, and they start to wonder what fate has in store for them, Antonia’s only thought is of how to escape.

Because before they were captured, Antonia worked tirelessly to free her country from those who had turned it into a bloody battleground. By her side had been clever, handsome Viktor. The man she was to marry, whose love shone like a light in the darkness of war surrounding them.

Antonia does not know if Viktor has been caught or executed. But she knows she must try to find a way back to him and she cannot wait any longer to be saved. Her precious nephews will die without proper food and they could all be killed at any moment. The world outside the camp gates is full of danger, but they have to find a way through them first. Even if it costs Antonia her life. The Nazis have taken everything from her, but they can never take away her courage…

My thoughts: Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is one of the “unsung heroes” of historical fiction. Her characters are remarkably developed, her stories are action packed, and her WWII books highlight the lessor known Ukrainian Resistance movement.
Antonia Kozak was a university professor who worked with the Resistance to get her beloved Ukraine out from the grips of both the Soviet Union and the Nazis. Along with her fellow compatriots Antonia desperately wanted to see a free, self-governed Ukraine. Members of the Resistance had different opinions about how that should be accomplished. A raid at the university coincided with individual members making their decisions about how to best serve and save the Ukrainian people. Antonia found herself forced away from the university and the man she loved. As she struggled to continue her fight for Ukraine, she found herself in the grips of the Nazis. Once entrenched at the dreaded concentration camp, Antonia struggled to find ways to keep her sister and nephews alive.
This story has so many subplots and intriguing characters. It is an absolutely gripping tale of defiance and resilience.
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.