Review: No Woman’s Land by Ellie Midwood

No Woman’s Land by Ellie Midwood

Publication Date: May 31, 2019

eBook; 368 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Description:

“It was very dangerous for him, and he knew it. But his love for me was stronger than fear.” – Ilse Stein

This novel is based on the inspiring and moving love story of Ilse Stein, a German Jew, and Willy Schultz, a Luftwaffe Captain in the Minsk ghetto, who risked his life to save the one he loved the most.

When the last of the Jews’ rights are stripped in 1941, Ilse’s family is deported to a Minsk ghetto. Confined to a Sonderghetto and unable to speak the locals’ language, Ilse struggles to support the surviving members of her family. Befriended by a local underground member Rivka, Ilse partakes in small acts of resistance and sabotage to help her fellow Jews escape to the partisans.

A few months later, after losing almost his entire brigade of workers to one of the bloodiest massacres conducted by the SS, a local administrative officer Willy Schultz summons the survivors to form a new brigade. Ilse’s good looks immediately catch his eye, and he makes her a leader of the new unit and later, an office worker. Soon, an unlikely romance blossoms amid death and gore, moving a Nazi officer to go to great risks to protect not only Ilse but as many others as possible and allowing a Jewish girl to open her heart to the former enemy. Knowing that the ghetto would soon be liquidated, Willy Schultz swears to save Ilse, even if the cost would be his own life.

“We live together, or we die together,” – an ultimate oath of love in the most harrowing setting.

Dark, haunting, but full of hope, “No Woman’s Land” is a testament to the love that is stronger than fear and death itself.

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Book Review:

The first word I thought of when attempting to write about this book was: stark. In the first few chapters, the reality of life as a Jewish person in Germany during WWII is displayed in such a compelling way. It’s not just the atrocities committed, the indignities suffered, or even the violence. It was the slow, methodical dehumanization of these people. What stood out for me from other Holocaust novels was the way I was able to see and understand the reason people didn’t flee from Germany as soon as Hitler rose to power.

It’s not as if Hitler immediately sent people to die at Auschwitz. In No Woman’s Land, we can begin to experience how victims were boxed into untenable circumstances. Imagine standing in an open field, then someone says they are going to build a wall of glass. Then later, they add another wall of glass, then another, and another until you are surrounded. You can still see the field, so it’s fine, not worth risking your life to escape. Then they cover the windows with cloth. Then the cloth is covered by cement blocks. Then the walls begin to move inward. All you are left with is the feeling of the walls closing in, but it’s too late and there’s nothing you can do to stop the inevitable. That terror resonates throughout the novel, while still allowing glimpses of hope.

In the hope is where we live as readers of No Woman’s Land. Isle’s hope of life and love despite the certainty of death that surrounds her. Willy’s hope that he can save the woman he has grown to love. The hope of the people surviving in the ghetto to not only endure, but to defeat Hitler and the SS. Gripping from start to finish, this historical fiction novel will pull on your heart and remind us all of the human hearts capacity for both love and hate.

About the Author

Ellie Midwood is a best-selling, award-winning historical fiction writer. She’s a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, a neat freak, an adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew and a doggie mama.

Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical Fiction category (2016) – “The Girl from Berlin: Standartenfuhrer’s Wife”

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical Fiction category (2016) – “The Austrian” (honorable mention)

New Apple – 2016 Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing – “The Austrian” (official selection)

For more information on Ellie and her novels, please visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Friday, July 19
Review at Passages to the Past

Saturday, July 20
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Monday, July 22
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Tuesday, July 23
Feature at Words and Peace
Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat

Wednesday, July 24
Review at Impressions In Ink

Thursday, July 25
Review at Bibliophile Reviews

Friday, July 26
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Saturday, July 27
Feature at What Is That Book About

Monday, July 29
Review at Red Headed Book Lady

Tuesday, July 30
Feature at Coffee and Ink

Wednesday, July 31
Feature at Broken Teepee
Review at Lost_in_a_book_reviewer

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away one paperback copy of No Woman’s Land! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

No Woman’s Land