Reviewed by Nas Dean
The War Rings by Joanne Austen Brown is an emotionally gripping and beautifully written novel set during the harrowing years of Nazi Germany. From the very first chapter, the author pulls you into a world torn apart by cruelty, fear, and impossible choices—but also illuminated by extraordinary acts of bravery and love.
The story centers around a love story that becomes a powerful symbol of connection, memory, and resistance. Through the lives of characters who feel painfully real, Joanne Austen Brown captures both the brutality of the era and the quiet, stubborn hope that survived even in the darkest places.
What makes this book stand out is the author’s sensitivity and respect for the historical setting. The atrocities depicted are heartbreaking, yet never gratuitous. Instead, they underline what the characters are fighting to protect: humanity, family, and the belief that goodness can endure even when surrounded by unimaginable evil.
If you enjoy historical fiction that stays with you long after the last page, The War Rings is a must-read. It’s emotional, tense, and beautifully told—a story that honors the past while reminding us why it must never be forgotten.
Highly recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
