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The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Bloods Series Book 1) by [Jana Petken]

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Jana Petken

The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Bloods Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Jana Petken (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

307 ratings

Book 1 of 3: The Half-Bloods Series

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From the Multi-Award-Winning Author comes, The German Half-Bloods.
“A historical novel steeped in horror, danger and suspense; a true page-turner.”
2018 Readers' Favorite Award winner.

Germany, September 1939. At the outbreak of War, Dieter Vogel and his family face catastrophic events and separation as each member embarks on their deadly paths towards survival, love, and freedom.

Dieter Vogel, a German industrialist, believes in protecting his family at all costs, but in a bid to keep his English wife and children safe, he is plunged into a well of deceit that tears the family apart.

Doctor Paul Vogel is coerced into working in the Nazi eugenics programme and soon discovers that sterilising handicapped and mentally-ill Germans is just a prelude to a more lethal plan against those the Reich deem unworthy of life. Paul, trapped by the SS, seeks help from the unlikeliest of people and is plunged into a world of espionage and murder.

British Army Major, Max Vogel, is attached to The British Intelligence Services and Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive. His missions in occupied Europe are fraught with danger, and his adulterous affair with a woman he cannot give up leads him deeper into the quagmire of treachery and lies.

Wilmot Vogel dreams of winning the Iron Cross, but when he confronts a mass killing of Jews in Poland, his idolatry of Hitler is shaken to its roots, and he finds himself imprisoned in the infamous Dachau concentration camp with no release date in sight.

Hannah Vogel has no ambition other than to marry her English fiancé, Frank, before the lines of war are drawn. Against her father’s wishes, she leaves Berlin on the eve of the German invasion of Poland, but when she arrives in England, she learns that Frank is not the civilian engineer he claims to be.

The Vogels, On All Fronts, coming October 2018 The Half-Bloods Series Book 2

Editorial Review, Readers' Favorite 5 Stars

The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Blood Series Book 1) by Jana Petken is an intense, nail-biting ride through WWII Germany. The unique perspectives of the characters in Germany, as well as those in England, were refreshing and charismatic. I am well-versed in the history of the time period, and I must say that very few historical novels of the period are satisfactorily accurate enough for me to enjoy, this book being a rare exception. I was deeply impressed with the characters' viewpoints and the extent of the plot. The author spun such an intricately woven web of intrigue that I didn't want to stop reading. I was transported back in time and enjoyed every minute of it! I loved this novel! It is beautifully written and deeply moving. Although there are some historically accurate details that may disturb a younger audience, I feel that this novel is an essential historical read.

Print length

645 pages
Language

English
Publication date

March 6, 2018
File size

3063 KB
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Product details

ASIN : B079YCV9K9
Publication date : March 6, 2018
Language : English
File size : 3063 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 645 pages
Lending : Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #94,665 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #54 in History of Russia & Former Soviet Republics
- #56 in Historical Russian Fiction
- #210 in Historical German Fiction

Customer Reviews:
307 ratings

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5 star		66%
4 star		21%
3 star		6%
2 star		4%
1 star		4%

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Jasper

A Real Page-Turner!

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2018

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Petken just keeps getting better and better. The queen of Historical Fiction has done it again with her new novel, ‘The German Half-Bloods.’ This, I think, is one of her best – a real page-turner.

The story focuses on a German/English family living in Dresden at the start of WWII. It begins in 1939 before the invasion of Poland, and we are introduced to the Vogel’s: Dieter, the patriarch; his wife, Laura, who was a British citizen by birth; their sons, Wilmot, Max, and Paul; and their daughter, Hannah who is engaged to a Brit (Frank).

Paul has just graduated from Medical School and the Vogel’s are having a party in his honor. Dieter, a German industrialist and member of the Nazi party, has invited several prominent party members and SS officers to the celebration. Paul, who distains the Nazi’s, plans to study psychiatry and hopes to get a residency at a hospital in England. But, he will soon discover that his father and the Nazi’s have other plans for him.

This was a terrific read. The characters are multi-faceted and it was easy to become invested in their fates. Twists and turns abound as we follow the Vogel’s through the horrors of the war and atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. The narrative had me sitting on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down. I can’t wait for the second installment in this marvelous family saga.

Most highly recommended for lovers of Historical Fiction and complex family dramas. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

23 people found this helpful

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Luv2read

I'm a great fan of this author

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2018

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I'm a great fan of this author, having read all her previous books so it was with great interest that I purchased this new book and venture into a very dark time in history: Nazi Germany and Hilter's attempted Third Reich. Without retelling the story what I want to say is that this is thus far my favorite Petken novel. For a subject matter that had been written about and rewritten about ad nauseam, I didn't know what to expect. Would it be more of the same rehashed WW2 storyline? Yes and no. Yes it covers the historical issues, bringing them successfully into the story. But no in the sense that the author captures emotions so vivid, creates conflict so challenging, that it reads as something fresh and intriguing. Tackling a very dark subject within the story is eugenics and where this leads kept me glued to the pages and reading well into the night. The characters ring authentic and the action burns from the page. The only disappointment is that the story ends. But thankfully, it's the first in a series and I can't wait for the rest. This is a terrific stand-alone first book in the German saga and I'm thrilled that one of my favorite authors has more coming.

16 people found this helpful

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Linda Lee

This is One of the Best

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2018

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Actress Ingrid Bergman has been described by a colleague as so confident of her physical instrument that she was able to be entirely natural in the roles she played. Because of her absence of self-consciousness, never was there a hesitation, a sour note, or an unfortunate movement in her performances. The facets of the characters she played were like the ripples of a river, each one connected in a harmonious whole. Reading author Jana Petken leaves one with the same kind of an impression. An educated guess leads me to believe that both of these extraordinary women did something else that contributed to the velvety smoothness of their work…they prepared thoroughly. They studied the topic, the history, the geography, the events, and the people that populated their projects so assiduously that all of it became second nature to them, thus allowing such outward ease of portrayal. This surface of ease is a mark of a genius, which I believe Bergman to have been and Petken to be—hard-working, diligent, and mindful of the need to get their rough edges smoothed out before putting face to camera or pen to paper. Petken’s “The German Half-Bloods” is one of the best and easiest to read books I have come across. And that is saying something because her thesis is so deep, so complex, and so consequential.

12 people found this helpful

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Daryl

Amazing story telling

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2018

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As an avid reader of literary and historical fiction I have criteria on choosing what book I should purchase when I am unfamiliar with an author. This incredible book fits all but one of these ....I like books that are under 400 pages but not under 325 pages. This one tips the scale at 593 pages and every page was worth the read. I find that long books frequently lose focus or provide too many opportunities for the story to wander. I gobbled this book up with not one page of boring or wandering, or checking to see how many pages are left before I can start a new book. The virtues of this incredible read are so great that I would have to write a book myself to describe them. It explores the many sets of emotions and choices the German people made during the 3rd Reich and everyday conflicts and moral judgements required to survive during those dark days, with your soul even slightly intact, without demonizing all of the German people. That being said, the atrocities the Jewish people and other subgroups suffered at the hands of Nazi's severely restrict the flow of absolution and mercy any reader can have for those who did not stand up to resist the Nazi party. It also reminds us of the courage of the resisters and spies and networks that defied Hitler,with no concern for their own safety and the possibility of the danger their participation had on their loved ones.. Now I must go purchase the next book in this two book series.

7 people found this helpful

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Maria

The German Half-Bloods

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2018

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I love Jana Petken's style of writing and have read all her books to date. Indeed it was her award winning book, Guardian of Secrets that led to me returning to reading historical fiction. Although this one isn't my favourite, Swearing Allegiance has that accolade, I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
The members of a half German/half English family each choose sides at the start of WW2. Jana bravely doesn't shy away from those that choose to join the SS and gives them the same space as those who openly choose Resistance along with those who aren't quite what they seem. Jana's forte is family sagas and her understanding of what holds a family together despite individual differences. She does so here with aplomb despite the extreme divergence of opinion. The book follows the family from the break out of war until 1941. I can't wait to find out how the family survives the rest of the war in the rest of the series.
The most intriguing character in the book for me was Dieter, the father. I would have loved to have learnt more about him and the reasoning behind his actions. Maybe later in the series?
A great read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

3 people found this helpful

Bill

Excellent adventure!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2018

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Another excellent book from this author! The basis of the story I found fascinating; an Englishwoman married to a German, living in Berlin at the outset of the second world war. The children have mixed feelings about their English/German origins and where their loyalty lies. The plot is exciting and full of twists. The characters are varied and seem real. There is a good sense of the times and the danger faced by anyone opposing Hitler. A difficult book to put down. I assume this is the first in a series. It had better be as I want to read more of this family's adventures!

3 people found this helpful

Bookaholic

If I could give it more stars, I would!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2018

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Dieter Vogel is a businessman first and foremost. He has a factory, and the Nazis need somewhere to produce their gas. He also has an English wife, and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. And as for his children, well, they will have to toe-the-line and do as they are told. Germany is counting on them. And so is he.

A story so haunting that it left me in tears on more than one occasion, The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Bloods Series Book 1) by Jana Petken is one of those books where the topic is sometimes hard to read about, but it is impossible to forget. This is a story that is going to stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

The book is set in the early days of World War II. The story follows Dieter Vogel and his grown-up sons and son-in-law as they are forced to witness, and in some cases participate, in the early days of the Holocaust.

Paul Vogel, a young doctor who had hoped to change the world with his radical ideas on how to treat the mentally ill, finds himself in an experimental Nazi hospital, where to his disgust his patients are not just being experimented on. They are being murdered. Paul is such a gentle soul. His actions when he discovers the truth, came as no surprise. Paul was a character that I simply adored. His integrity and his kindness never wavered in the face of such systematic brutality. A true hero.

Paul's twin brother, Max, is a British Agent and when Paris falls he finds himself in the thick of the action. Like Paul, Max is steadfast in his beliefs, and he is willing to risk everything to stop the war and to bring down Hitler's Third Reich.

Wilmot Vogel is a character that really grew during this story. He started out as an ardent Nazi supporter and had romantic notions of being awarded an Iron Cross. But his eyes are brutally opened to the truth behind the fancy uniforms and the grand rallies. Like his brother, Paul, he will not participate in the murder of innocent citizens. I am not going to give away any spoiler, but there is a scene in Russia where Wilmot really showed what he was made of.

I am a big fan of Jana Petken's books. I thought The Flock Trilogy was wonderfully executed, but The German Half-Bloods was astounding. This story is staggeringly compelling, and I simply could not put it down.

I tutor this era of history and I have done so for many years. Ms Petken has obviously done her research. She depicted wartime Berlin and the events leading up to it very accurately. Kudos, Ms Petken. Book 2 cannot come soon enough!

One person found this helpful

Fifty Sheds of Books

The German Half-Bloods

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2018

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Jana Petken writes award-winning novels and with The German Half-Bloods you can see why. The author specialises in epic family sagas and with World War Two as her canvas she paints a vivid picture of the Vogel family here. As ever her research is excellent and the attention to detail sublime. This book has a broad sweep and will appeal to readers who love to become engross in complex sagas. The book also explores some controversial issues, which are timeless, and by doing so this adds great strength to the tale. A quality book by a quality novelist.

One person found this helpful

Books R Best

FAMILY SAGA SET DURING WW II

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2018

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I wish Amazon would allow us to award half stars, as I would have given this book four and a half, but because the storyline was so good, I have ticked the 5 star box. I enjoyed the read, but there are a lot of characters, the Vogel family was large as families were in those days and it took a while to sort them all out. It was difficult to identify with one, as I tend to do when I read any book, and so there was no particular character I routed for. I expected to connect with Hannah but she played a very small part, and of the three boys, Max, Paul and Wilmot I couldn’t decide which I liked more than the others. Overall the story is good, the research first class and I would recommend it to readers who like family sagas and books set during World War II.

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