Kate Hewitt is a masterful storyteller. Her historical fiction novels are full of nuance and impeccably researched details. She also has a keen eye for human nature in the face of adversity. The Angel of Vienna is a perfect example of all of this.
As always, no book report retelling of the plot here. Suffice to say that as you read this book, you will gain an even greater understanding of the depths of evil perpetrated against innocents during WWII.
Hannah sees this firsthand when her half-brother asks her to work at a hospital where he is sending his son. It’s slightly more complicated than that, but I don’t want to give plot points away.
She soon realizes that to hold on to her own humanity, she needs to sacrifice her safety to save others. It is a daring choice at any time, but in the heart of Nazi Germany, it could be a deadly one as well.
I thought the author did a great job of character development. She doesn’t hit the reader over the head with obvious statements but rather lets the reader draw conclusions from the characters’ actions. I appreciate that.
It is difficult to say that you “like” something with a topic such as this one, but I did like how the author chose something other than the usual German camp settings. For one, it gives the reader a new perspective on the breadth of evil.
It also allows for learning more about history. In light of recent events, this particular focus seems even more vital. Treating humans as cattle or lab rats is never acceptable. Ever.
But treating children as such and calling it “research” is beyond vile. In a time when medical decisions are being made with little to no scientific background, and certainly no long-term studies, it sometimes feels as if we are dangerously close to a precipice. Who will save the children then?
Another thing that the author is successful at is the pacing. She builds the dread and tension slowly so that as the horror grows on Hannah, so it does on the reader. It may seem slow at times, but there is a methodical logic to it that works for the story.
I know I dance around the details of The Angel of Vienna. But this historical fiction novel by Kate Hewitt is emotional and thought-provoking and needs to be experienced to receive the full impact of the atrocities perpetrated in the name of science.
Twitter: author_kate
Author Bio:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.
