Book Reviews

Book Blurb

As the German Blitzkrieg brings the Soviet Union to its knees in 1942, a regiment of women aviators flies out at night in flimsy aircraft without parachutes or radios to harass the Wehrmacht troops. The Germans call them “Night Witches” and the best of them is Lilya Drachenko. From the other end of the world, photojournalist Alex Preston arrives to “get the story” for the American press and witnesses sacrifice, hardship, and desperate courage among the Soviet women that is foreign to her. So also are their politics. While the conservative journalist and the communist Lilya clash politically, Stalingrad, the most savage battle of the 20th century, brings them together, until enemy capture and the lethal Russian winter tears them apart again.

 

Book Review

This is an astounding, dramatic, and delineated story of Russian women pilots in World War II. It initially focuses on their training, but they become essential and active military people performing many sorties that help push the Nazi-Germans out of Russia. Eventually tagging along with the all-women air division is a photojournalist who is remarkably talented and captures several amazing pictures that make it through the censoring process and back to the United States. The photojournalist and one of the female aviators connect serendipitously and become a superbly hot duo. The intensity of their liaison is a marvelous focal point that weaves in and out of the entire story. Delicious!

Lilya Grigorevna Drachenko joins the military as a trainee pilot initially, but eventually reaches the upper echelons as an ace. She is devoted to her mother, Major Raskova, and Alex, who introduces Lilya to some intense sexual ecstasies. Lilya is an unexpected jewel with a volatile personality. It is breathtaking to follow her growth, her tenacity, and her passion. She is also a vibrant woman who really shines as an impressive representative for those fighting to save the motherland. She experiences and lives through an extraordinary set of challenges. It made me prouder of my Russian heritage on my mother's side. Magnificent!
 
Alex Preston, formally known as Alexandra Vasil'evna Petrovna, is an American photojournalist and fluent in Russian. When Alex meets and befriends the administrator for the lend-lease program and a slick manipulator, they manage to arrange an audience with Premier Stalin. Alex gets some very fine pictures plus the go-ahead to photograph the new women's aviation regiment…a total coup! Alex goes through some breathtaking twists and turns. Plus, when she makes that loving connection with Lilya, this assignment becomes heads and shoulders above any she has ever completed previously. Some of the challenges she faces plus the machinations necessary to stay alive and on point were glorious. The postscript adds some eye-opening and delightful background data including the fact that Alex was based on Margaret Bourke-White. Remarkable!

This book is a solid winner. I recommend it with no reservation. I previously read this author's ‘Waiting for the Violins’, which I also found quite staggering and engaging. I hope to read more of Ms. Saracen's work in the future, both previous and future works. In conclusion, ‘The Witch of Stalingrad’ is phenomenal!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 312 pages/99500
Heat Level
Publication Date	01-March-2015
Price	$9.99 ebook, $16.95 paperback, $19.99 bundle
Buy Link	http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/9781626393301B.html