Having overrun Czechoslovakia, the iron baton of Hitler's Third Reich is poised to orchestrate a requiem for Warsaw. Foreshadowing an international nightmare the world will never forget, millions are imperiled, destined to be caught and crushed in the Führer's grasp.
Lori Ibsen and Jacob Kalner, along with Jamie, Mark and Alfie, take refuge in Danzig, hoping they will be safe there while awaiting a ship to England. Peter Wallich escapes to Warsaw, desperately seeking a place among the Jews in Muranow Square. Lucy Strasburg, about to deliver her "S.S. child," stays behind in Danzig, hoping to evade the clutches of Wolf von Fritschauer. But there is no safe place in prewar Europe. Hitler's bombers hover over Danzig and Warsaw, a dark shadow of terror and death.
In London, Helen Ibsen and her sister Anna Lindheim wait and pray for the safe release of the Ibsen children. But as they wait, the sinister cloud of Hitler's wrath spreads across the Channel like poisonous gas, ready to annihilate all those who oppose the extension of the Führer's power.
BODIE AND BROCK THOENE (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 45 works of historical fiction. These best sellers have sold more than 10 million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake Thoene, Luke Thoene, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
As usual when reading a Body and Brock Thoene Book, I can’t seem to put them down. You feel and live all of the emotions and all of situations that the Characters are facing. Even though you know the outcome historically, you are still hoping for a different outcome for the plight of the German and European Jew. One thing that amazes me about the times, is how that two men born of the devil, both cruel and evil, and both purge and imprison and murder thousands if not millions of their on citizens. And are both responsible for more atrocities and crimes against humanity can live in the same time period and of them can be viewed favorably by some of the leaders of the allied nations, specifically President Roosevelt. Especially after as the book points out that Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression agreement, so when Hitler conquered and occupied West Poland, Russia conquered and occupied East Poland, and then after Germany surrendered, Russia occupied all of the countries that Hitler conquered and occupied during the war. Warsaw Requiem takes place after Czechoslovakia has already been occupied and because of the fears and the atrocities that the Nazis were committing against the Jews, they were fleeing into Poland and or any nation that would take them. I don’t like to tell to much about the story line, because I don’t give away the suspension of what happens, I want the reader to experience the everything that happens as the read the book. The book follows the trials and the evil that the following characters experienced while fleeing Capture by the Nazis. Lucy Strasbourg pregnant by her SS lover, who wants to send her to give up her unborn child to his wife to raise for Hitler. There is also the Danzig gang pursued from Germany, and trying to escape religious persecution, while two of the children’s father sits in prison for preaching against Nazi doctrine. And then there is my favorite character Captain Samuel Orde, recently retired from the British Army, for his exploits in helping the Jewish cause in Palestine, and now a war Correspondent in Warsaw working for TENS news organization. He is a man of character and a man of compassion and a man of action. And while all this is going the Nazis and the IRA are working together, spying and sabotage and bombings to disrupt The British home life in London. I highly recommend this book and all the books written by Body and Brock Thoene.
Loved this series!!!! It will make a wonderful addition to our library.
I didn't want this book to end. I wanted it to take me throughout the entire war. However, I was moved deeply by the ending and the epilogue. My favorite character was Alfie. If we could all be more like him, the world would never be plagued by hatred and war.
This book is a solid reminder of why I generally don't read suspense XD Because let me tell you, the suspense at the end of this book was gut wrenchingly captivating. And I don't do well with that too often. This book was, I believe, supposed to be the finale to The Zion Covenant series. But, thanks to Goodreads, I happen to know that the author picked it up again several years later. So, it's the not the end of the Zion Covenant for me, but if it was, it would be fully satisfying. Where do I even begin? Some of the most beautiful music is both sad and longingly hopeful, and it is the same with books. This book perfectly captures that. The amazing characters continue their story, and with many surprising turns. Like, so surprising, but genuinely satisfying and perfect. (SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT!!!)
For instance, Samuel Orde's falling in love and marriage to Lucy Strasburg!!! Like, yes, they're so perfect for each other!!! And Jacob and Lori's marriage as well.. Don't know if that was the wisest choice, but you know, when war's happening you go to do things real quick XD And Alfie, oh Alfie. Perfect, darling sweet Alfie. Giving up his place on the ship for Lucy's baby was the perfect example of sweet self sacrifice. And he sees angels, and has such faith! Let's not forget Karl Ibsen. Oh Karl, no character is nearer to bringing me to tears. How much he endured for the sake of Christ. They never broke him, and in the end were forced to kill him. In a way, I'm glad that that was his end, that he might fly high to heaven from this cruel world. (And yes, I know he's a fictional character, but I'm sure there were many like him in real history. Nay, I KNOW there were. Rachel. Of all the characters, perhaps Rachel was the hardest to read about. Because, from reading The Zion Chronicles, I know what the terrible end is going to be for her. And while her story ends with redemption, I just... Anyhow, my point is, JUST READ THE BOOK!!! (And also, I've grown more resentful of passports because of this book. Nay, the whole series has made me hate them and man's selfishness.)
It says something about a book when there are over 100 pages left, and yet I stay up until 11:30 at night to practically finish it. (I read the epilogue today, because really, that's barely interesting)
What is interesting about the Thoene's characters is that I tend to love the men, but I find the women either slightly annoying or just pretty boring. I still like Lucy and Elisa, but I found Rachel annoying and naive, and Lori was kind of the same. But the men... I even want to bad ones to realize their mistakes. I always wished that Wolf would repent, and at first I thought Allan had the potential to be a good guy. And if the bad guys have hope... well, let's just say that Alfie, Murphy and Captain Orde are adorable, for lack of a better word. Orde's personality is amazing, and I was so glad at the end of his romantic life. Alfie is so precious, and this book really puts the mentally ill in a magnificent light. Murphy, as usual, is quite entertaining- especially when he's chasing the bad guy up a million steps, and about dying from exhaustion because of it.
As usual with this series, the almost-sexual content was definitely present. (One of the main characters is raped, and although the break appears before it actually happens, both the beginning and the after-effects are.) Usually, this drops my rating a little bit, but Orde's magnificence made up for it, in this case.
The action in this book takes place primarily in London, Danzig and Warsaw. In London, German agents still stalk John Murphy’s extended family; the family is unaware that some of those agents are even within the family circle. Also in London, IRA agents connected to Germany have started a terrorist bombing campaign - a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
One of the characters we have been following for several books is a teenage boy named Allie Halder. Allie is mentally slow and his parents were members of Karl Ibsen’s church in Berlin. He was placed in a hospital for those the Nazis deemed unfit, but he is very observant. In addition, he has a very simple but strong childlike faith in God. The night before the Nazis sent all the hospital patients on a transport to be killed, Allie escaped by climbing out of a tiny window. He hid out in his family’s mausoleum at New Church while unbeknownst, the Ibsen and Kalner children were hiding in the church. When the kids left the church to escape Berlin, Alfie helped them all to hide and successfully get away.
Now they are all in Danzig, waiting to board a ship that will take a few lucky children to England. Only Jacob Kalner was unable to get a visa.
Meanwhile, Lucy Strasberg and Peter Wallich with Peter’s baby brother, Willy, have also made their way to Danzig. Peter’s mother and sister never arrived and their fate is unknown. Early on, Peter put Willy on a children’s transport ship to England and the Peter goes to Warsaw. Lucy is left alone with only weeks until her baby is due. Wolf does indeed find her only a day or two after the baby is born. When he leaves her for a short time, she escapes through a window and runs with the baby to the docks.
Alfie recognizes her and gives up his place on the ship to the baby, whom Lori will care for on the way. Lori’s little brother, Jamie, is upset his friend, Alfie, is abandoning them, but Lori says: “Oh, Jamie, don’t you see? Alfie - Alfie the Dummkopf…Alfie gave this little baby more than a ticket to England. Alfie gave the baby his name. His life! It was what Jesus would do, Jamie. You see? Our Alfie is closer to heaven’s heart than anyone I know!”
Now in Warsaw, Polish Christians and Jews alike can feel the Nazis breathing down their necks, and only the willfully blind deny that war is coming. Samuel Orde arrives in Warsaw as the new TENS reporter; he has Jacob and Alfie as junior assistants while they are hoping to get passports and visas for England which is seen as the only safe place in Europe.
Lucy, too, has made it safely to Warsaw, but she has no hope that she can ultimately escape from Wolf. Her only desire is to hear that her baby arrived in England and that someone is caring for and loving him.
This is the final story of the original collection of the Zion Covenant. It mostly wraps up everyone's stories, connecting the characters from across several books, and brings us to the beginning of the war. Not all of it turns out as expected, not all the endings are happy, but it's a mostly satisfying conclusion. There are some very real moments that are sobering, which is actually pleasant to see in Christian literature of this kind, which can be a little too wrapped up in a bow sometimes. Life is just like that, but it can be positive, even in the darkness.
I'll have to go back and read the Zion Chronicles series that apparently sets the stage before this series, after I get a little break. Reading these during current political times is particularly frightening.
"Having overrun Czechoslovakia, the iron baton of Hitler's Third Reich is poised to orchestrate a requiem for Warsaw. Foreshadowing an international nightmare the world will never forget, millions are imperiled, destined to be caught and crushed in the Führer's grasp.
Lori Ibsen and Jacob Kalner, along with Jamie, Mark and Alfie, take refuge in Danzig, hoping they will be safe there while awaiting a ship to England. Peter Wallich escapes to Warsaw, desperately seeking a place among the Jews in Muranow Square. Lucy Strasburg, about to deliver her "S.S. child," stays behind in Danzig, hoping to evade the clutches of Wolf von Fritschauer. But there is no safe place in prewar Europe. Hitler's bombers hover over Danzig and Warsaw, a dark shadow of terror and death.
In London, Helen Ibsen and her sister Anna Lindheim wait and pray for the safe release of the Ibsen children. But as they wait, the sinister cloud of Hitler's wrath spreads across the Channel like poisonous gas, ready to annihilate all those who oppose the extension of the Führer's power."
I love the historical accuracy of these stories and journeying along with the rich, complex characters throughout the story line. However, I did discover a problem I have with the way these authors tell their story: they feature character cliffhangers. I want to know how certain characters’ lives turn out. We don’t see a full resolution and they sometimes just drop off in the story. Despite this I am eager to read the rest of the series.
Having overrun Czechoslovakia, the iron baton of Hitler's Third Reich is poised to orchestrate a requiem for Warsaw. Foreshadowing an international nightmare the world will never forget, millions are imperiled, destined to be caught and crushed in the Fuhrer's grasp. Lori Isben and Jacob Kalnar, along with Hamie, Mark, and Alfie, take refuge in Danzig, hoping they will be safe there while awaiting a ship to England. Peter Wallich escapes to Warsaw, desperately seeking a place among the Jews in Muranow Square. Lucy Strasburg, about to deliver her "S.S. Child," stays behind in Danzig hoping to evade the clutches of Wolk von Fritschauer. But there is no safe place in prewar Europe. Hitler's bombers hover over Danzig and Warsaw, a dark shadow of terror and death. In London, Helen Isben and her sister Anna Lindheim wait and pray for the sale release of the Ibsen children. But as they wait, the sinister cloud of Hitler's wrath spreads across the Channel like poisonous gas, ready to annihilate all those who oppose the extension fo the Fuhrer's power.
Once again, the authors weave a compelling tapestry of characters and story lines into a thoroughly satisfying and historically accurate group portrait that brings us to the absolute brink of World War II. The portrayal of a wide range of children, including strict Orthodox Jewish girls, intellectually challenged teenaged boys, Christian teenagers and non-religious Jewish teens, is admirable. This is the last volume in the series read for the Library of Congress by Barbara Caruso. After spending so many hours hearing her expressive, varied, and intelligent renderings, I confess that no one else who reads the succeeding volumes in the series will be able to surpass her. Even so, I have already begun Volume 7!
In total honesty, I really don't want to finish reading this series. Not because of the writing - it's amazing! But also because of the writing - it's so real, which makes it so hard to read, emotionally and psychologically. These books are amazing at opening your eyes to the truth of the times. The story lines are compelling, and the way they intertwine is masterful. This book ended with the most cliff-hanger type ending yet in the series. And even though I don't want to read on for purely selfish (and weak) reasons that align with ignorance being bliss, I will. We all know how the conflict ends, but I have to know the rest of the story.
SO FRUSTRATING! I very much wanted to love these books as they are beautifully written and historically accurate. HOWEVER I have MAJOR issues with how many stories are left hanging. Literally, we follow characters along for four, five, six books and thousands of words written but there is never a true ending. Apparently, you're supposed to go on to poorly written 7, 8, 9 (added much later as "director's cuts") or follow along on completely different series and hope that characters will be semi-explained. Feels like it just keeps dragging on and I'm not willing to devote any more time to being frustrated.
The tension building up to the invasion of Poland was heart wrenching and brilliant. I still can’t believe these are true events. Not even a hundred years ago this was happening. It’s certainly insightful to see how evil crafts, manipulates and misleads entire nations. The real enemy here is apathy, England and France backed out of promises to protect smaller countries. The United States claimed neutrality for way too long, no one was willing to stand up to the bully, because they didn’t think it was their fight.
I felt like this book was cluttered with so many characters and people I couldn't keep track. Over all the series I've felt like the books are about 50 pages to long. This one felt at least 100 pages too long! I hate how some very important characters are dropped out of the story with no mention or just a passing mention. Leah, Shimon, Mrs. Wallich and others I'm sure I've missed either don't come into the story or are just passed over. I don't know if I am going to finish the series and the last three books don't have the best reviews.
I’ve slowly read this series this year and have loved every bit of it.
This one is very emotional as there is much about moms giving up their kids to save them from the Nazi regime.
I honestly didn’t love the ending—it felt rushed but I’m thankful for the Twilight of Courage stand-alone and the next series so I can find out at least a bit where these characters end up. Bodie Thoene creates the most relatable wonderful characters—I can’t let them go!!
I enjoyed this book very much however I was disappointed by what I felt was a lack of closure at the end. Some of the main characters of the series were pretty much ignored and I wish the epilogue would have touched on them. But when all is said and done it was a gripping read and a beautiful and heartbreaking look into the lives of fictitious characters living in an awful reality. Very insightful.
As the last book of the Zion Covenant series, I was once again pulled into the heart wrenching conflict in 1939 Europe. Bodie weaved the Lord throughout this novel. I cried with the characters who cried. I rejoiced with the peace that passed understanding as characters like Alfie or Pastor Ibsen saw the miracles God displayed for them. The historical accuracy to actual events was incredible. Bodie and Brock do this in every novel! Bravo!!!
This book is part of the Zion Chronicles. This series follows one family and their friends and relations through the very beginnings of world War II up to the end. It's very interesting and has many different aspects not considered before. While this is considered a Christian series I think anyone who loves historical fiction will enjoy it.
To reach the promised land was the final pursued goal of all the main characters in this story. One had to be a careful reader to keep tabs on where everyone was through the entire book. But as history has told us Poland was not out of reach from Hitlers claws and as the book ends our main characters have reached the havens of their loved ones.
I love this story! The characters are well developed and the story is well researched! I never grow tired of reading this series. The only thing that annoyed me was the plethora of typos in this kindle edition. They really should do a better job of editing. It was quite distracting.
Hold on tight for this novel. The plot just keeps getting more and more tense and I was in knots by the time of the last paragraph. Now I’ll need to read The Zion Chronicles to continue the storyline.
This novel is so full of historical facts and there’s just so many characters to keep up with. It’s hard to put down. Great series!
This was great, but it seemed to drag quite a bit. My least favorite character was Wolf, because of the way he treated Lucy. I really liked Alfie's cat, Werner.
I really did enjoy this book a lot, so i give it 5 stars.
It took me a while to get into this book and it was a good read. Good story line and even though you know the history there are surprises. Will read the rest of the series
This and Danzig are my favourites in the series & Jacob & Lori are my favourite storyline in the series. I love how the storylines stay coherant and continue even though some have merged. I also never knew about the Irish component in the lead up to WWII.
These books are absolutely fabulous. Historically detailed, great character development, all with a faith-based foundation. Some of the best books ever written.
I loved this whole series, amazing. Read them several years ago so I can’t distinguish them anymore. If you live historical fiction and WWII, this series is a must read.
This series, Zion Covenant, is really good. Read years ago. Set in Europe I think in the time of World War II. Book titles have names of European cities.