Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder have always lived quiet lives, working in their father’s clockmaking shop and helping their mother in the house. But like many other Austrians, they find it impossible to ignore the changes in the world around them.
Can three women who would die for each other, also be prepared to die for what is right?
Review
The Edelweiss Sisters is yet another stunning, poignant read by Kate Hewitt.
This is a story of three sisters, Johanna being the eldest. She is always by her mother’s side taking care of their household. It seems that is the plan that her parents have for her life. However, Johanna has different plans and ambitions that do not involve spending her life in a kitchen. Her plans drastically changes though when she meets her father’s new apprentice, Franz.
Birgit is the second sister in the Eder’s family. She spends her days working with her father in the family’s clockmaking business. Birgit is content with her role but that soon changes when her father takes on a new apprentice. Lotte is the youngest sister. She is beautiful, talented and full of life. Her parents have big ambitions for her but she instead yearns for a much more quiet, serene life. These three are the Edelweiss sisters. The normalcy of their lives, dreams and ambitions was soon shattered by the influence of Nazism in Austria.
The story is narrated through three POVs alternating between the sisters. At first, the narratives were separate as each sister had her own life and ambitions. With the Nazis coming though, the stories began to merge. Each of the POVs was captivating. The three characters were so well developed with very interesting stories that I did not favor any over the others.
This was a unique, poignant read. I have read plenty of stories about World War 2 with Germany and France being the setting. However, this is the first story that I have read set in Austria. It illustrates how the Austrians were affected by Nazism. The Eder family was so endearing and I enjoyed meeting other characters such as Franz and Weber through this family.
This is undoubtedly a heartbreaking read. It is quite well -written and utterly captivating. Despite the heavy themes, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I highly recommend The Edelweiss Sisters by Kate Hewitt to all fans of historical fiction.
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Glad you enjoyed this book, Debjani! Great review of a sad story.
Thank you, Marialyce ♥️
I’d probably have to be in the mood to read this sort of story because it sounds like a heart-wrenching one. I love your review, Diana. Thanks for sharing. 💜
Thank you. Yes, this bears some heavy themes and definitely does require that you be in the right mood for it. Its a powerful, beautiful story though so I hope you get to check it out some day,
I have not read anything by Kate Hewitt, but have wanted to give her books a try. I am reading light right now, but will put this on my list for the fall. Wonderful review, Diana.
Thanks Carla. Please do give Kate Hewitt a chance some day. She does write emotional reads but all are such a beautiful stories. I hope you will get the chance to read this one when the mood is right x
Thanks Diana. I have put this on my list for a later date, but if I need something a bit more serious to break up the light reads this summer, I will give it a go.
It is nice to have a WWII book set in Austria rather than France/Germany. Also nice that they storylines were well balanced between the sisters.
Thanks Laila. This was a great read in every way.