The Goddess of Warsaw: A Novel

The Goddess of Warsaw is rare among the women’s historical fiction that I have found. Most of what I have read have been good books with intriguing stories, as this is, but most also feel softened, as though women’s fiction must of necessity keep a certain distance from not only harsh emotions but also the harsher aspects of reality.

Not so this book. Barr has created a novel with teeth, one which is vibrant and gripping and deeply unsettling all at once. Her writing overflows with sensory details, and while her heroine may not always be likeable, she is always compelling, largely because of the difficult choices which she must make.

I recommend this book to fans of both historical fiction and thrillers, people who want something they will be unable to put down. While at times the story leaned too heavily into its melodrama (some of the plot twists felt a little overdone), it nevertheless kept me riveted. I also hope the book inspires more people to learn the history of the Warsaw ghetto, which is full of more stories than any one book could ever capture.