The Woman at the Gates

1944, Germany. Gazing through the barbed wire, Antonia makes a vow: she will not let her family die in this camp. She will find a way for them to escape, to return to Ukraine, even if it costs her own life. The Nazis have taken everything from her, but they can never take away her courage…

Would you go into a prison camp if there was a chance to save your family? When resistance fighter Antonia’s beloved sister and her children are taken by the Nazis, she knows what she must do. Only she is strong enough to save the family who have been her whole world since she was separated from her true love, Viktor.

As Antonia clutches her nephew’s little hand in hers, her other arm tight around her sister Lena, she knows she has made the right choice. And as the truck rattles towards a brutal labor camp, Antonia’s only thought is of how to stay alive, so she can escape and rejoin the fight to free her country. But with the brutal guards on the lookout for anyone who was involved in the resistance, she knows she can trust no one.

As the freezing winter sets in, her older nephew soon falls ill, while Lena starves to give her children what she can. For Antonia, the only thing worse than watching her nephews suffer is seeing Lena realise that her child will die without help. She cannot let that happen.

With the risk of betrayal always present, she must rely entirely on her own courage and ingenuity to plan their escape. Out of the gates. Away from the Nazis. To safety. To freedom. And perhaps even back to the man she loves…

A heartbreaking, inspiring and totally unforgettable story of the unbelievable courage and determination of extraordinary people in the darkest days of war. Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, Fiona Valpy, and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will be gripped from the very first page until the final, heart-stopping conclusion.

Readers love Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger:

“Absolutely heartbreaking… Gripped me from the first page and I read it in one sitting!… Will stay with me for a long time.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Fantastic!!! There wasn’t a moment when I wasn’t gripped!… My heart really ached… Incredibly gripping!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book broke me, it was heartbreaking and had me gripped… The descriptions and imagery was so vivid that it felt like I was stepping into World War 2. I cried, I smiled and I didn’t want it to end. This book is totally captivating.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Kept me up all night and I finished this book with tears in my eyes after I read the ending!… Powerful, gripping… Unputdownable… Five stars!” Tropical Girl Reads Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A gripping story that will stay with you long after you have put it down… I highly recommend.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I could barely put down the book. I smiled, cried… I recommend it to all history lovers!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Grab a few tissues… Such a powerful story you must read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wonderful intense read… So vivid you will feel you are there. I could not put this story down. I loved the book.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Riveting, intense… From the very beginning you feel like you’re amidst the chaos, the heartbreak, the despair but also the incredible bravery and spirit of the people in WWII.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐