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Half-Bloods Trilogy #1
The German Half-Bloods
From the Multi-Award-Winning Author comes, The German Half-Bloods. “A historical novel steeped in horror, danger and suspense; a true page-turner.” 2018 Readers' Favorite Award winner. Germany, September 1939. At the outbreak of War, Dieter Vogel and his family face catastrophic events and separation as each member embarks on their deadly paths towards survival, love, and freedom. Dieter Vogel, a German industrialist, believes in protecting his family at all costs, but in a bid to keep his English wife and children safe, he is plunged into a well of deceit that tears the family apart. Doctor Paul Vogel is coerced into working in the Nazi eugenics programme and soon discovers that sterilising handicapped and mentally-ill Germans is just a prelude to a more lethal plan against those the Reich deem unworthy of life. Paul, trapped by the SS, seeks help from the unlikeliest of people and is plunged into a world of espionage and murder. British Army Major, Max Vogel, is attached to The British Intelligence Services and Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive. His missions in occupied Europe are fraught with danger, and his adulterous affair with a woman he cannot give up leads him deeper into the quagmire of treachery and lies. Wilmot Vogel dreams of winning the Iron Cross, but when he confronts a mass killing of Jews in Poland, his idolatry of Hitler is shaken to its roots, and he finds himself imprisoned in the infamous Dachau concentration camp with no release date in sight. Hannah Vogel has no ambition other than to marry her English fiancé, Frank, before the lines of war are drawn. Against her father’s wishes, she leaves Berlin on the eve of the German invasion of Poland, but when she arrives in England, she learns that Frank is not the civilian engineer he claims to be. The Vogels, On All Fronts, coming October 2018 The Half-Bloods Series Book 2 Editorial Review, Readers' Favorite 5 Stars The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Blood Series Book 1) by Jana Petken is an intense, nail-biting ride through WWII Germany. The unique perspectives of the characters in Germany, as well as those in England, were refreshing and charismatic. I am well-versed in the history of the time period, and I must say that very few historical novels of the period are satisfactorily accurate enough for me to enjoy, this book being a rare exception. I was deeply impressed with the characters' viewpoints and the extent of the plot. The author spun such an intricately woven web of intrigue that I didn't want to stop reading. I was transported back in time and enjoyed every minute of it! I loved this novel! It is beautifully written and deeply moving. Although there are some historically accurate details that may disturb a younger audience, I feel that this novel is an essential historical read.
645 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
1153 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Jana Petken
25 books696 followers Jana Petken is a multi award winning historical fiction author.
She is critically acclaimed as a bestselling, gritty author who produces bold, colourful characters and riveting storylines. She is the recipient of numerous major international awards for her works of historical fiction.
Before life as an author, she served in the British Royal Navy. During her service, she studied Naval Law and history. After the Navy, she worked for British Airways and turned to writing after an accident on board an aircraft forced her to retire prematurely.
Nice to meet you all x
She is critically acclaimed as a bestselling, gritty author who produces bold, colourful characters and riveting storylines. She is the recipient of numerous major international awards for her works of historical fiction.
Before life as an author, she served in the British Royal Navy. During her service, she studied Naval Law and history. After the Navy, she worked for British Airways and turned to writing after an accident on board an aircraft forced her to retire prematurely.
Nice to meet you all x
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 18, 2019
Not my cup of tea!
It was very hard for me to like this book. And yet the idea of writing a WWII story from a German point of view is worthwhile. Faced with the pressures put on families the decisions various members of the family made ring true.
Though the Vogels are hardly your typical German family, the everyday person caught up in the storm of Hitler and the SS. The children of this family are privileged, half English and well educated. Privileges that make it possible for some of them to chart a course that others in the family and the society could not. English enough to confront and acknowledge what they see happening, that Hitler is not the savior of the German people and that something shocking is happening. Although it seems Wilfred and Dieter have some way to go.
One can't help but admire the research behind Petkin's novel.
A novel you either are drawn to or not.
A NetGalley ARC
It was very hard for me to like this book. And yet the idea of writing a WWII story from a German point of view is worthwhile. Faced with the pressures put on families the decisions various members of the family made ring true.
Though the Vogels are hardly your typical German family, the everyday person caught up in the storm of Hitler and the SS. The children of this family are privileged, half English and well educated. Privileges that make it possible for some of them to chart a course that others in the family and the society could not. English enough to confront and acknowledge what they see happening, that Hitler is not the savior of the German people and that something shocking is happening. Although it seems Wilfred and Dieter have some way to go.
One can't help but admire the research behind Petkin's novel.
A novel you either are drawn to or not.
A NetGalley ARC
March 25, 2018
Another excellent book from this author! The basis of the story I found fascinating; an Englishwoman married to a German, living in Berlin at the outset of the second world war. The children have mixed feelings about their English/German origins and where their loyalty lies. The plot is exciting and full of twists. The characters are varied and seem real. There is a good sense of the times and the danger faced by anyone opposing Hitler. A difficult book to put down. I assume this is the first in a series. It had better be as I want to read more of this family's adventures!
March 17, 2018
Petken has written a book that is steeped in history set in a time when the world was in disarray. This story focuses on the Vogel family and the reader gets to meet them from the opening paragraph, then watch them being separated and sent to different parts of the world by the mechanism of war and Hitler’s Germany. As a reader who is familiar with the history of that time in Europe, Petken did her research well, and sets up the environment so brilliantly, that if the reader breathed deeply he/she will smell the stench of war, for me almost eerily. But by focusing on the Vogel family, as they struggle to go through life in what has become their norms, the reader got to meet each one, to like or hate, as the case may be. I fell in love with Paul and his instance attraction to Judith. I like Judith’s character too. There are too many to like and applaud. The author gives the reader a glimpse into the daily lives of her characters, as they struggle to accept the changes that were taking place around them.
This is a brilliantly written book, from beginning to end. I have nothing but admiration for the author for taking events from a time in history that most would like to forget. Petken puts a human face on the Nazi's war machine, making it more palatable. The author makes the reader see the adaptability of the human spirit as it deals with the atrocities of war. Bravo!
This is a brilliantly written book, from beginning to end. I have nothing but admiration for the author for taking events from a time in history that most would like to forget. Petken puts a human face on the Nazi's war machine, making it more palatable. The author makes the reader see the adaptability of the human spirit as it deals with the atrocities of war. Bravo!
February 5, 2020
Good Read
My copy of the book needed editing. Otherwise, the author's writing mechanics were good. The book was free on Bookbub, but my opinion would have been the same had I paid for the book.
The book is about the early years of World War Two and how a family half English and half German conducted themselves with their mixed loyalties. The book was not anti-German, but it was anti-Nazism. I was left hanging about two characters that were so likeable. There is a sequel to this book, and I would like to read it.
Thank you, Ms. Petken, for a good read.
My copy of the book needed editing. Otherwise, the author's writing mechanics were good. The book was free on Bookbub, but my opinion would have been the same had I paid for the book.
The book is about the early years of World War Two and how a family half English and half German conducted themselves with their mixed loyalties. The book was not anti-German, but it was anti-Nazism. I was left hanging about two characters that were so likeable. There is a sequel to this book, and I would like to read it.
Thank you, Ms. Petken, for a good read.
October 6, 2019
Petken spins a good story packed with history and suspense. Her details and research ring true as her characters pull the reader through this terrible time of war and terror.
April 8, 2019
5 stars
** Please be aware that this is a difficult book that deals with the horrors of WWII. It might not be for the faint of heart.
This is a wonderful book. It is about the four adult children of parents who spend their time between Berlin and Dresden in the 1930's. The father is a very wealthy busnessman, a native German, who has been married to an English woman for thirty-seven years. The children are Hannah who is engaged to an Englishman named Frank and plans to move to England with him, Wilmot “Willie” who has been newly- and proudly - accepted to the SS, Paul who is a doctor and is essentially blackmailed into joining the Nazis in their eugenics program and Max currently living in England and living a secret double life.
The characters in ths book are all very different. We see WWII through their individual eyes, both in England, France and Germany. Their reactions to the goings-on in Germany, Britain and France in the 30's and 40's are described brilliantly and very detailed.
The reader gets a lesson in the resistance movement in France, as well as in Germany. We meet the people in the movement, all with their own reasons for joining this quest to free their countries and its peoples from the yoke of Nazi oppression.
This book is extremely well written. Ms. Petken's descriptions of the Nazi atrocities and the children of Dieter and Laura Vogel are complete. The sons and daughter, indeed the parents, too, all react differently at first, but their reactions change with time and experience. Of all the secret lives lived in this book, Dieter's comes as perhaps the biggest. My only disappointment with this novel is that it ended rather abruptly and I want to know what happened to the other characters.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this instructive and very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
** Please be aware that this is a difficult book that deals with the horrors of WWII. It might not be for the faint of heart.
This is a wonderful book. It is about the four adult children of parents who spend their time between Berlin and Dresden in the 1930's. The father is a very wealthy busnessman, a native German, who has been married to an English woman for thirty-seven years. The children are Hannah who is engaged to an Englishman named Frank and plans to move to England with him, Wilmot “Willie” who has been newly- and proudly - accepted to the SS, Paul who is a doctor and is essentially blackmailed into joining the Nazis in their eugenics program and Max currently living in England and living a secret double life.
The characters in ths book are all very different. We see WWII through their individual eyes, both in England, France and Germany. Their reactions to the goings-on in Germany, Britain and France in the 30's and 40's are described brilliantly and very detailed.
The reader gets a lesson in the resistance movement in France, as well as in Germany. We meet the people in the movement, all with their own reasons for joining this quest to free their countries and its peoples from the yoke of Nazi oppression.
This book is extremely well written. Ms. Petken's descriptions of the Nazi atrocities and the children of Dieter and Laura Vogel are complete. The sons and daughter, indeed the parents, too, all react differently at first, but their reactions change with time and experience. Of all the secret lives lived in this book, Dieter's comes as perhaps the biggest. My only disappointment with this novel is that it ended rather abruptly and I want to know what happened to the other characters.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this instructive and very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
March 18, 2018
Jana Petken really outdid herself with this one! The idea of basing the plot around a family, in which nearly all members find themselves on different sides of the tracks (at least at first) was certainly a brilliant one, and soon I was so engrossed with each Vogel’s plight that I couldn’t turn pages fast enough. The character development was also masterfully executed, just like with all of Petken’s novels, and I enjoyed watching idealistic Willie opening his eyes to the harsh realities of the SS ruthless rule around him; calm and reserved Paul risking his freedom and maybe even life while standing up to his superiors when faced with orders he couldn’t possibly bring himself to follow; and finally, a strict and faithful patriot Dieter show his true self.
I also enjoyed the fact that the story took place not only in Germany, but allowed me as a reader to travel to Britain and France, and watch the inside workings of the SOE and the French Resistance; follow one of the characters to Poland (and watch new tragedies unravel) and even to the Eastern front.
The descriptions were vivid and characters - multi-dimensional and real, growing and maturing in front of my eyes and easily gaining my affection and respect for their bravery and refusal to submit to a new power. Brilliantly-written and meticulously researched, this new novel is a true treat for all fans of the historical fiction genre and the one that I would highly recommend.
I also enjoyed the fact that the story took place not only in Germany, but allowed me as a reader to travel to Britain and France, and watch the inside workings of the SOE and the French Resistance; follow one of the characters to Poland (and watch new tragedies unravel) and even to the Eastern front.
The descriptions were vivid and characters - multi-dimensional and real, growing and maturing in front of my eyes and easily gaining my affection and respect for their bravery and refusal to submit to a new power. Brilliantly-written and meticulously researched, this new novel is a true treat for all fans of the historical fiction genre and the one that I would highly recommend.
August 14, 2019
Half-
Might have been a decent story were it not for the language. Some authors feel vulgarity is important for reality. It’s not!
Might have been a decent story were it not for the language. Some authors feel vulgarity is important for reality. It’s not!
November 22, 2019
I loved the German Half-Bloods series. I would definitely recommend it for lovers of WWII era history and historical fiction.
September 8, 2019
Excellent WWII novel centering around a family of five with twin sons who are grown and each bring a different take to how they handle The War.
There are lots of twists and turns.Once you start you will race on to the finish.
"Jana Petken" has started a great new series.
Am anxiously awaiting the other novels.
I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and leave my own review.
There are lots of twists and turns.Once you start you will race on to the finish.
"Jana Petken" has started a great new series.
Am anxiously awaiting the other novels.
I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and leave my own review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2019
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review. I am glad I did. I enjoyed the book which takes place in my period of study: WWII.
The story of a family, the parents: Laura from England, Dieter Vogel, German. Four grown up children. Three young men, one young woman. The youngest, Wilmott, is in the SS, the twins are separated. Max lives in England and works for MI6. Paul, the doctor who was planning to join his brother for his internship, is forced to work in the eugenics department and the euthanasia program, and loathes every moment of it. Anna just married her English fiancé Frank and both are in England. Laura makes no bone about her anti-Nazi feelings. Her husband Dieter is pro-Nazi as long as it serves his purpose, his laboratory and his wallet.
The characters are well-drawn, each much alive on the page, and quickly thrown into action.
However when the action moves to Paris, some proofreading by a French speaker would have helped get the “Paris-Bourbon” corrected to Palais Bourbon, and “in San Germaine” corrected to Bd Saint-Germain, etc.
The web of secrecy and spies is realistically structured. However well-done the research is, there are slips such as Klara going to the kitchen to get a glass of milk when milk in Paris was only available, with ration tickets, to babies and children, and then only if there was enough supply, which it rarely did.
But it is a well-written book (I’ll overlook some typos) moving along at a fast pace. Definitely a page-turner with all its secrets, lies, deceits and surprises when you don’t expect any.
The story of a family, the parents: Laura from England, Dieter Vogel, German. Four grown up children. Three young men, one young woman. The youngest, Wilmott, is in the SS, the twins are separated. Max lives in England and works for MI6. Paul, the doctor who was planning to join his brother for his internship, is forced to work in the eugenics department and the euthanasia program, and loathes every moment of it. Anna just married her English fiancé Frank and both are in England. Laura makes no bone about her anti-Nazi feelings. Her husband Dieter is pro-Nazi as long as it serves his purpose, his laboratory and his wallet.
The characters are well-drawn, each much alive on the page, and quickly thrown into action.
However when the action moves to Paris, some proofreading by a French speaker would have helped get the “Paris-Bourbon” corrected to Palais Bourbon, and “in San Germaine” corrected to Bd Saint-Germain, etc.
The web of secrecy and spies is realistically structured. However well-done the research is, there are slips such as Klara going to the kitchen to get a glass of milk when milk in Paris was only available, with ration tickets, to babies and children, and then only if there was enough supply, which it rarely did.
But it is a well-written book (I’ll overlook some typos) moving along at a fast pace. Definitely a page-turner with all its secrets, lies, deceits and surprises when you don’t expect any.
March 9, 2018
Review for The German Half-Bloods
Jana Petken, as a master, or should I say, mistress of the Historical Novel, has totally outdone herself with this one.
The story of a German/English family stuck in Berlin at the beginning of the second world war could raise hackles on some people’s necks but let me tell you, this is a masterpiece.
Petken’s ability to draw her characters with a brilliant colours makes each individual’s dialogue stand out, so that you always know who you hearing, who you are reading about, and this, to me, is the mark of a high-calibre author.
The story unfolds as the Vogel family face separation and tragedy while the Nazi war machine ramps up and rumours of euthanasia centres abound. Can this truly be happening?
Twin boys, Max and Paul have chosen different directions for their lives and they suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Wilmot, the youngest, is so fired up that he cannot see past his nose on his surge to become an SS rifleman, but when his nose is put out of joint, he has to reassess.
This is a wonderful, beautifully written, heart-felt tale from go to whoa. Jana’s understanding of the importance of ‘Show don’t Tell’ in her narrative marks her as a cut-above many authors who don’t even bother to get their work edited. I couldn’t put it down and I am about to read it again, in case I missed anything first time round. Petken’s skill in plot construction and tight narrative make this a brilliant read.
Can’t wait for Book 2.
Jana Petken, as a master, or should I say, mistress of the Historical Novel, has totally outdone herself with this one.
The story of a German/English family stuck in Berlin at the beginning of the second world war could raise hackles on some people’s necks but let me tell you, this is a masterpiece.
Petken’s ability to draw her characters with a brilliant colours makes each individual’s dialogue stand out, so that you always know who you hearing, who you are reading about, and this, to me, is the mark of a high-calibre author.
The story unfolds as the Vogel family face separation and tragedy while the Nazi war machine ramps up and rumours of euthanasia centres abound. Can this truly be happening?
Twin boys, Max and Paul have chosen different directions for their lives and they suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Wilmot, the youngest, is so fired up that he cannot see past his nose on his surge to become an SS rifleman, but when his nose is put out of joint, he has to reassess.
This is a wonderful, beautifully written, heart-felt tale from go to whoa. Jana’s understanding of the importance of ‘Show don’t Tell’ in her narrative marks her as a cut-above many authors who don’t even bother to get their work edited. I couldn’t put it down and I am about to read it again, in case I missed anything first time round. Petken’s skill in plot construction and tight narrative make this a brilliant read.
Can’t wait for Book 2.
March 18, 2018
I love Jana Petken's style of writing and have read all her books to date. Indeed it was her award winning book, Guardian of Secrets that led to me returning to reading historical fiction. Although this one isn't my favourite, Swearing Allegiance has that accolade, I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
The members of a half German/half English family each choose sides at the start of WW2. Jana bravely doesn't shy away from those that choose to join the SS and gives them the same space as those who openly choose Resistance along with those who aren't quite what they seem. Jana's forte is family sagas and her understanding of what holds a family together despite individual differences. She does so here with aplomb despite the extreme divergence of opinion. The book follows the family from the break out of war until 1941. I can't wait to find out how the family survives the rest of the war in the rest of the series.
The most intriguing character in the book for me was Dieter, the father. I would have loved to have learnt more about him and the reasoning behind his actions. Maybe later in the series?
A great read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
The members of a half German/half English family each choose sides at the start of WW2. Jana bravely doesn't shy away from those that choose to join the SS and gives them the same space as those who openly choose Resistance along with those who aren't quite what they seem. Jana's forte is family sagas and her understanding of what holds a family together despite individual differences. She does so here with aplomb despite the extreme divergence of opinion. The book follows the family from the break out of war until 1941. I can't wait to find out how the family survives the rest of the war in the rest of the series.
The most intriguing character in the book for me was Dieter, the father. I would have loved to have learnt more about him and the reasoning behind his actions. Maybe later in the series?
A great read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 13, 2018
I am a literary editor and am spending a great deal of time these years reading and editing Historical Fiction. Over the past 16 years of deep research and much reading, I have come to have a great deal of knowledge of the events and locations in Europe, Africa, and Asia where battles were fought and won or lost. Characters are important to me. I want to care about them, and here is where Ms. Petken shines. She spins a good story with enough surprises and nuances to keep this reader satisfied, and since she does not clutter up her book with manipulstions and devices, it reads clean and clear and chronological. Although 4-6 characters are narrating throughout, there are no flashbacks or stopping to wonder, "now who was whom?" I like a long book that's solid and keeps me up at night. This one certainly did, and I recommend it. I will be looking out for the next books in the series to meet up with those characters I enjoyed--who, I suspect, will be very busy closing down the war and restoring their family in the next one!
May 20, 2018
One of the few books I have given 4 stars to. I could hardly put it down. I like the surprises of Dieter being with MI6 as well as Max. It was a spellbinding read--until the end. Again, and I've said this so many times I can't even count them--I think authors get pushed to finished within a deadline or they simply get tired of writing, or they run out of ideas, I can't even guess why, but so many books just END. It is a travesty to the reader who has plodded along hoping to get a happy ending and being willing to settle for a not-so-happy one, this was horrible. I don't know what happened to Paul or Wilmot and I can't for the life of me decide what Jana Petken was thinking to leave such a noteworthy writing in the middle of a sentence! Would've been a 5 star book with an ending--ANY ending that wrapped it up either way.
April 25, 2019
I read every WWII book I find. I grabbed this one and found it to be very interesting. The half-bloods are the children of a German father and an English mother. As the world is drawn into war the family begins to have split loyalties. The writing is very clear and accurate on the actions of that time. The character are unique and frustratingly real. I was upset to find the fate of two of the half-bloods to be undetermined as the novel ended. The book had a few surprises and much suspense. I put it on my shelf to read again.
November 23, 2019
3.5 stars
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March 30, 2018
Dieter Vogel is a businessman first and foremost. He has a factory, and the Nazis need somewhere to produce their gas. He also has an English wife, and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. And as for his children, well, they will have to toe-the-line and do as they are told. Germany is counting on them. And so is he.
A story so haunting that it left me in tears on more than one occasion, The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Bloods Series Book 1) by Jana Petken is one of those books where the topic is sometimes hard to read about, but it is impossible to forget. This is a story that is going to stay with you long after you have turned the last page.
The book is set in the early days of World War II. The story follows Dieter Vogel and his grown-up sons and son-in-law as they are forced to witness, and in some cases participate, in the early days of the Holocaust.
Paul Vogel, a young doctor who had hoped to change the world with his radical ideas on how to treat the mentally ill, finds himself in an experimental Nazi hospital, where to his disgust his patients are not just being experimented on. They are being murdered. Paul is such a gentle soul. His actions when he discovers the truth, came as no surprise. Paul was a character that I simply adored. His integrity and his kindness never wavered in the face of such systematic brutality. A true hero.
Paul's twin brother, Max, is a British Agent and when Paris falls he finds himself in the thick of the action. Like Paul, Max is steadfast in his beliefs, and he is willing to risk everything to stop the war and to bring down Hitler's Third Reich.
Wilmot Vogel is a character that really grew during this story. He started out as an ardent Nazi supporter and had romantic notions of being awarded an Iron Cross. But his eyes are brutally opened to the truth behind the fancy uniforms and the grand rallies. Like his brother, Paul, he will not participate in the murder of innocent citizens. I am not going to give away any spoiler, but there is a scene in Russia where Wilmot really showed what he was made of.
I am a big fan of Jana Petken's books. I thought The Flock Trilogy was wonderfully executed, but The German Half-Bloods was astounding. This story is staggeringly compelling, and I simply could not put it down.
I tutor this era of history and I have done so for many years. Ms Petken has obviously done her research. She depicted wartime Berlin and the events leading up to it very accurately. Kudos, Ms Petken. Book 2 cannot come soon enough!
A story so haunting that it left me in tears on more than one occasion, The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Bloods Series Book 1) by Jana Petken is one of those books where the topic is sometimes hard to read about, but it is impossible to forget. This is a story that is going to stay with you long after you have turned the last page.
The book is set in the early days of World War II. The story follows Dieter Vogel and his grown-up sons and son-in-law as they are forced to witness, and in some cases participate, in the early days of the Holocaust.
Paul Vogel, a young doctor who had hoped to change the world with his radical ideas on how to treat the mentally ill, finds himself in an experimental Nazi hospital, where to his disgust his patients are not just being experimented on. They are being murdered. Paul is such a gentle soul. His actions when he discovers the truth, came as no surprise. Paul was a character that I simply adored. His integrity and his kindness never wavered in the face of such systematic brutality. A true hero.
Paul's twin brother, Max, is a British Agent and when Paris falls he finds himself in the thick of the action. Like Paul, Max is steadfast in his beliefs, and he is willing to risk everything to stop the war and to bring down Hitler's Third Reich.
Wilmot Vogel is a character that really grew during this story. He started out as an ardent Nazi supporter and had romantic notions of being awarded an Iron Cross. But his eyes are brutally opened to the truth behind the fancy uniforms and the grand rallies. Like his brother, Paul, he will not participate in the murder of innocent citizens. I am not going to give away any spoiler, but there is a scene in Russia where Wilmot really showed what he was made of.
I am a big fan of Jana Petken's books. I thought The Flock Trilogy was wonderfully executed, but The German Half-Bloods was astounding. This story is staggeringly compelling, and I simply could not put it down.
I tutor this era of history and I have done so for many years. Ms Petken has obviously done her research. She depicted wartime Berlin and the events leading up to it very accurately. Kudos, Ms Petken. Book 2 cannot come soon enough!
August 22, 2019
Quite readable family saga tracing the experiences of the Vogel family, and some significant others that will interact with them, as the war clouds grow darker over Germany in 1939 and then the war breaks out. What makes this story more interesting is their different perspectives and reactions, as Dieter, the Papa is a rich and dutiful industrialist, making medical supplies to serve the Reich, while Laura, the plump and doting Mama, loves her husband dearly and follows his lead while always serving tea and cakes, yet as a Brit from Kent has made sure his kids all speak both languages fluently and could feel at home in either culture.
There are four children, all young adults, and this first novel in the series explores how they and their parents adapt or change based on events 1939-41. Paul and Max, the identical twins age 25 are oldest, with Paul a doctor hoping yo get a position in Munich in the growing field of psychiatry and Max, the more assertive of the pair, off in England, ostensibly studying engineering. Their 20 year old sister Hannah is engaged to a British fellow the twins have known from schooling in the United Kingdom, and Willie, the 19 year old baby of the family, apt to be impetuous and lose his temper or defy authority.
I am an American who lived in Germany for a year n the early 1980s, and I appreciated getting a sense of the conflict, both internal and external, for these characters from this particular social perspective. Occasionally it bothered me a bit when characters got a lot of attention and I invested time in getting to know them and care about them, and then they just disappeared. But this is a saga--so perhaps some of them will turn up in later volumes.
There are four children, all young adults, and this first novel in the series explores how they and their parents adapt or change based on events 1939-41. Paul and Max, the identical twins age 25 are oldest, with Paul a doctor hoping yo get a position in Munich in the growing field of psychiatry and Max, the more assertive of the pair, off in England, ostensibly studying engineering. Their 20 year old sister Hannah is engaged to a British fellow the twins have known from schooling in the United Kingdom, and Willie, the 19 year old baby of the family, apt to be impetuous and lose his temper or defy authority.
I am an American who lived in Germany for a year n the early 1980s, and I appreciated getting a sense of the conflict, both internal and external, for these characters from this particular social perspective. Occasionally it bothered me a bit when characters got a lot of attention and I invested time in getting to know them and care about them, and then they just disappeared. But this is a saga--so perhaps some of them will turn up in later volumes.
November 8, 2018
Amazing story telling
As an avid reader of literary and historical fiction I have criteria on choosing what book I should purchase when I am unfamiliar with an author. This incredible book fits all but one of these ....I like books that are under 400 pages but not under 325 pages. This one tips the scale at 593 pages and every page was worth the read. I find that long books frequently lose focus or provide too many opportunities for the story to wander. I gobbled this book up with not one page of boring or wandering, or checking to see how many pages are left before I can start a new book. The virtues of this incredible read are so great that I would have to write a book myself to describe them. It explores the many sets of emotions and choices the German people made during the 3rd Reich and everyday conflicts and moral judgements required to survive during those dark days, with your soul even slightly intact, without demonizing all of the German people. That being said, the atrocities the Jewish people and other subgroups suffered at the hands of Nazi's severely restrict the flow of absolution and mercy any reader can have for those who did not stand up to resist the Nazi party. It also reminds us of the courage of the resisters and spies and networks that defied Hitler,with no concern for their own safety and the possibility of the danger their participation had on their loved ones.. Now I must go purchase the next book in this two book series.
As an avid reader of literary and historical fiction I have criteria on choosing what book I should purchase when I am unfamiliar with an author. This incredible book fits all but one of these ....I like books that are under 400 pages but not under 325 pages. This one tips the scale at 593 pages and every page was worth the read. I find that long books frequently lose focus or provide too many opportunities for the story to wander. I gobbled this book up with not one page of boring or wandering, or checking to see how many pages are left before I can start a new book. The virtues of this incredible read are so great that I would have to write a book myself to describe them. It explores the many sets of emotions and choices the German people made during the 3rd Reich and everyday conflicts and moral judgements required to survive during those dark days, with your soul even slightly intact, without demonizing all of the German people. That being said, the atrocities the Jewish people and other subgroups suffered at the hands of Nazi's severely restrict the flow of absolution and mercy any reader can have for those who did not stand up to resist the Nazi party. It also reminds us of the courage of the resisters and spies and networks that defied Hitler,with no concern for their own safety and the possibility of the danger their participation had on their loved ones.. Now I must go purchase the next book in this two book series.
October 10, 2019
I have been reading many books about the Jewish plight before, during and after WWII and the Holocaust. Whereas the main characters are not Jewish, this gook deals with the issue from the "other" side - the perpetrators - the Germans. Half Blood in this case refers to the fact that the family is British from the mother's side and German on the father's side (a potential problem for a fuhrer that wanted only "pure" Aryans. This was an excellent story, well researched. Giving a look at the lives of 6 amazing and different characters in one family. There is the British born mother, married to a German and living in Berlin. The father is a wealthy factory owner who appears to trade on his children for his own benefit and profit. Their twin sons - one (Paul)who wants to be a doctor in Germany following the oath of "to do no harm" but is forced to work for the Nazis due to his father's connections. The other twin (Max) lives in England and is MI6. The third son (Wilmot)wants to be/is a Nazi and defend the fatherland, but he has a temper that gets him in trouble. And there is the only daughter who falls in love with Frank, a friend of Max' and a Brit. They end up marrying and moving to England. Views and beliefs seemingly miles apart. An opportunity to try to understand the moral dilemmas of the very different situations. The end of this book ties it up nicely and many questions get answered.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
September 13, 2018
Another historical tour de force
Another cracking read from this author which opens with the Vogel family sparring over Dieter’s affiliation with the nazi party. Laura, a strong minded English woman raising her 4 kids in Dresden is not happy about hosting said party during a family celebration. One of her sons, a newly qualified doctor shares in her disdain but finds his politics at odds with that of his own brother. An offer from the nazi party will soon test his loyalty to Germany.
The characterisation in this book is beautiful. There’s many characters to love; softly masculine Dieter who does everything he can to keep his workforce of the radar, wilful Willie who has bought into the propaganda of the SS, Paul who shares his mother’s belief that Hitler is nothing more than a thug. The stand out character for me though was Laura, strong and feisty and so English in a time where it may not have been the fashion or the norm. She’s an absolute treat to read, a strong matriarch who says what she thinks and believes.
Historically accurate? I have no idea as I’m not a historian but it certainly appears authentic and I’ve no doubt, having read Petkens other work that this rings true. Either way it is wonderfully written, engaging and heartbreaking all in one fell swoop. One more she should be proud to add to the ever growing cannon.
Another cracking read from this author which opens with the Vogel family sparring over Dieter’s affiliation with the nazi party. Laura, a strong minded English woman raising her 4 kids in Dresden is not happy about hosting said party during a family celebration. One of her sons, a newly qualified doctor shares in her disdain but finds his politics at odds with that of his own brother. An offer from the nazi party will soon test his loyalty to Germany.
The characterisation in this book is beautiful. There’s many characters to love; softly masculine Dieter who does everything he can to keep his workforce of the radar, wilful Willie who has bought into the propaganda of the SS, Paul who shares his mother’s belief that Hitler is nothing more than a thug. The stand out character for me though was Laura, strong and feisty and so English in a time where it may not have been the fashion or the norm. She’s an absolute treat to read, a strong matriarch who says what she thinks and believes.
Historically accurate? I have no idea as I’m not a historian but it certainly appears authentic and I’ve no doubt, having read Petkens other work that this rings true. Either way it is wonderfully written, engaging and heartbreaking all in one fell swoop. One more she should be proud to add to the ever growing cannon.
March 10, 2019
Amazing
A very, very good book! And a bit of a cliffhanger to boot! I really enjoyed it.
I'm still feeling the angst from this suspense-filled drama surrounding this family living in Germany during the rise of Nazi Germany in WWII. The father is German married to an English woman and they have four grown children who all have differing political beliefs at the outset of the war.
Secrets abound within the family and have serious repercussions as the vice grip of Hitler's evil policies have adverse effects on each member of this family.
Its well written and filled with intensity as secrets, lies and rude awakening comes about. Very difficult book to put down, and I cannot wait to read the next book in this exciting trilogy.
Definitely I would recommend to readers of historical fiction.
A very, very good book! And a bit of a cliffhanger to boot! I really enjoyed it.
I'm still feeling the angst from this suspense-filled drama surrounding this family living in Germany during the rise of Nazi Germany in WWII. The father is German married to an English woman and they have four grown children who all have differing political beliefs at the outset of the war.
Secrets abound within the family and have serious repercussions as the vice grip of Hitler's evil policies have adverse effects on each member of this family.
Its well written and filled with intensity as secrets, lies and rude awakening comes about. Very difficult book to put down, and I cannot wait to read the next book in this exciting trilogy.
Definitely I would recommend to readers of historical fiction.
September 6, 2019
Excellent characters,setting was mostly Berlin and Poland.
Great characterizations and each character had a remarkable part to play
The main family portrayed the father and son both working for the Nazi's even though they lived in Germany and hated what they stood for.
The father had a factory,which actually made the gases,that killed so many Jews,which he didn't know.As soon as he was sure,he bombed it & went into hiding.
Since it was about the War,there was a lot of cloak.and dagger stuff going on and not knowing who to.trust.
One pleasing part were the twin Bros.Max and Paul,they both had different thoughts about the way things were,but generally accepted each other.
I will.read the Author,Jana Petken again,as this really held my attention.
I would also.like to take the opportunity to thank Netgalley,for for allowing me to read "The German Half-Bloods" for an honest review.
Great characterizations and each character had a remarkable part to play
The main family portrayed the father and son both working for the Nazi's even though they lived in Germany and hated what they stood for.
The father had a factory,which actually made the gases,that killed so many Jews,which he didn't know.As soon as he was sure,he bombed it & went into hiding.
Since it was about the War,there was a lot of cloak.and dagger stuff going on and not knowing who to.trust.
One pleasing part were the twin Bros.Max and Paul,they both had different thoughts about the way things were,but generally accepted each other.
I will.read the Author,Jana Petken again,as this really held my attention.
I would also.like to take the opportunity to thank Netgalley,for for allowing me to read "The German Half-Bloods" for an honest review.
February 18, 2020
I do love historical fiction, and this is by far the best I've listened to! This particular story is very interesting to me. I've always wanted to know my family story and how they escaped Germany during the war but have very little info sadly. The family in the story shares my last name. Sadly not my family or their story, but still very cool. I even learned a few things about the Germans I didn't previously know and the terrible things that happened to the Jews. Such a sad a terrible thing to have happened.
Well I've already bought book two and plan to start in the morning. I see there is a book three but not on audio yet. Hopefully soon! Great narration by Alistair Davis. He does an outstanding job with all the different accents and voices. Wonderful story so far by Jana Petken. She has a few other books I plan to check out as well. All are historical fiction.
Well I've already bought book two and plan to start in the morning. I see there is a book three but not on audio yet. Hopefully soon! Great narration by Alistair Davis. He does an outstanding job with all the different accents and voices. Wonderful story so far by Jana Petken. She has a few other books I plan to check out as well. All are historical fiction.
September 28, 2019
The first of a trilogy, Petken asks the reader to consider patriotism. German Dieter Vogel fell in love with Laura from Kent, England before the Great War. They married and he left to fight for Germany. In the decades after, the couple raised a family and built a business in Germany, while maintaining relationships with family in England. Then in 1933 Adolph Hitler assumes leadership and the Vogels have to maneuver their way through love of country and the effects of fanaticism. Each of their children chooses a different route and appearances are not what they always seem. Petken narrates a more balanced view of times of strife.
March 22, 2018
Another Jana Petken novel that's certain to be an award-winner. This epic tale follows the lives of the Vogel family during the events of WWII. Each of their paths vary: some maintain the might of the Nazis, while the others help the Allies. The story covers the war from east to west: Germany, Poland, Russia, France, and Britain. It has so much depth--both in regards to the events and the people themselves. It's a history lesson brought to life as the horrifying events unfold. Too much to be conveyed adequately in one novel, the passion of the characters will continue in a second novel.
September 14, 2018
I have been a fan of Petken's work for the longest time and was delighted to be able to get my hands on this newest release. I loved this book with the way it weaved the story through the pages. She always has a way of making her characters pivitol to the plot and that time in history. I loved reading about the Vogels and the part they played in Nazi Germany. And I especially look forward to the next book because I need to know what happens to them all. Petken has a way with words, read this and you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended!
April 17, 2019
Jana Petken knows how to tell a story. First, the subject matter is fascinating. The, she makes the characters compelling and intriguing. The story is , a family divided, makes for a great book. The wife is English and the husband is German. The kids are parts of both. What seems obvious is not; Deiter, a "loyal" German and an important industrialist whose factory makes products that kill Jews, is a British spy? Can't be, but it is. These two books in a series of three (can't wait) are just plain damn good.
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