I love novels about complex, fully realized women and how love and life drive their stories. This novel is exactly one of those.

Evocative and moody, this historical fiction novel is framed through the thoughts, dreams, and memories of an ailing woman on her death bed. Magdalena (Lena), is a strong-willed, smart Polish girl who's passionate about becoming a doctor. After she's hit by a streetcar, she's forced to abandon her dreams of becoming a doctor and marry an older military man named Anton who loves her with a passion that teeters between adoration and obsession. When Anton sends her and their child away from the base due to the rise of WWII, she goes to her family home in northern Poland. She and her family are sent to a Siberian labor camp by the Russians who consider their middle-class family enemies of the state. Here she meets a prisoner-turned-guard, who turns out to be the love of her life.

The way Lichtarowicz moves seamlessly between what a dying Lena is experiencing and what she is remembering is a true feat of storytelling. As a reader I went right along with the changes and loved it all. Lena is my favorite type of female character. Strong-willed (especially for the time in which she lived), smart, complicated, and even frustrating at times. She's a great character through which to drive this story.

I both read and listened to this book. The audio is a wonderful example of how special effects can enhance the storytelling! When Lena is in that space between immortality and mortality, talking to those who have gone before, the narration is done so that it sounds like the voice is in a cage with echoes. It helps the listener know what is a dream or not as an ailing Lena's realities and memories flood the narrative. I loved it. Major props to Rose Ackroyd for the terrific narration.

Much thanks to both @netgalley and @hachetteaudio for the gifted copies in exchange for a review. I LOVED this historical fiction and its strong female protagonist. Highly recommend!