Beyond Seven Forests

Description

The year is 1901, and the War has taken almost everything Zamoyska had: her parents, brother, fiancé, and home. The Russians burned down everything they could, destroying her life. But she still helps her village as much as she can and works as a doctor in training at the hospital. Then, one night, a blizzard challenges even that. Two Russians solders take shelter in her home, one badly wounded and the other not much better off. It’ll be a long wait for the blizzard to pass, and with few supplies and even fewer ways to keep the fire going, none of them might survive.

Though short, this book is not a light read; I finished it in a couple of sittings. It’s set towards the end of WWI. Things are looking up, but by no means are they good. Zamoyska may be fiction, but her story is no less important than what’s happening today. The cast is small, and each character has their own personality, even the ones who only appear briefly. The end twist was good, and I did like it, but I wish it had been hinted at more.