The Book of Uriel by Elyse Hoffman

The Book of Uriel: A Novel of WWII by Elyse Hoffman

Release: January 26, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Project 613 Publishing
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

In the fires of World War II, a child must save his people from darkness…

Ten-year-old Uriel has always been an outcast. Born mute in a Jewish village known for its choir, he escapes into old stories of his people, stories of angels and monsters. But when the fires of the Holocaust consume his village, he learns that the stories he writes in his golden notebook are terrifyingly real.

In the aftermath of the attack, Uriel is taken in by Uwe. He is a kind-hearted linguist forced to work for the commander of the local Nazi Police, the affably brutal Major Brandt. Uwe wants to keep Uriel safe, but Uriel can’t stay hidden. The angels of his tales have come to him with a dire message. Michael, guardian angel of the Jewish people, is missing. Without their angel, the Jewish people are doomed. And Michael’s angelic brethren cannot search for him in the lands corrupted by Nazi evil.

With the lives of millions at stake, Uriel must find Michael and free him from the clutches of the Angel of Death…even if that means putting Uwe in mortal danger.

The Book of Uriel is a heartbreaking blend of historical fiction and Jewish folklore that will enthrall fans of The Book Thief and The World That We Knew.

About the Author:

Elyse Hoffman strives to tell historical tales with new twists: she loves to meld WWII and Jewish history with fantasy, folklore, and the paranormal. She has written six works of Holocaust historical fiction: the five books of The Barracks of the Holocaust and The Book of Uriel.

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The Book of Uriel Review:

When I started reading “The Book of Uriel,” I had no idea how it would impact me. The book exceeded my expectations and turned out to be a profound, wonderful, tragic, and grand tale of good vs. evil.

Set against the backdrop of WWII, the story centers around a mute boy and a linguist as they embark on a quest that will change their lives. The author also embedded fantasy elements with angels and Jewish folklore that works so wonderfully in the tale. I also adored the side stories that the author puts through Uriel like, “Simon the Fool” and “Fish in the Barrel.” The plot also has beautiful illustrations that made me feel like I was reading a classic fairy tale. However, that doesn’t mean that the book is for children. Even though the author tells the story straightforwardly, the book also contains some dark, gruesome situations and scenes. Some of the scenes particularly shocked me, like when Major Brandt tortures his prisoners.

Moreover, the characters were terrific. Uriel is adorable in the lead, and my heart went out to him. The author represented him wonderfully as a mute child, where he wishes he could be like others. I also loved his relationship with Uwe and thought it was the highlight of the tale. The author balances Uwe and Uriel’s storyline nicely, where you feel like you are reading two different stories, but they merge well in the end. Uwe’s storyline is raw, where he faces the evil of men, whereas Uriel has to go on a magical quest to free Michael after making a deal with the Angel of Death. There was never a dull moment in the tale.

Overall, “The Book of Uriel” is a beautiful historical fantasy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Giveaway:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Book of Uriel by Elyse Hoffman Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!