Best historical fiction novel I have read I on a long time

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Cilka's Journey is about a young woman named Cilka, at 18 years old she has survived the horrors of Auschwitz, only to become accused of "Sleeping with the enemy" by the Soviet Agency. After spending a few months at a prison in Krakow, Cilka is sentenced to 15 years hard labor at Vorkuta Gulag in Siberia. The year is 1945.

It is on the way to Siberia where Cilka meets Josie, a 16 year old from Krakow. Cilka can tell this is the first time Josie has been subjected to anything this brutal. She makes it her mission to protect her and the first of many friendships is born. Friendships that carry Cilka through the darkest days. One night, Josie injures her hand and ends up in the medical ward. Impressed with Cilkas medical knowledge, Cilka catches the attention of a doctor. She is then offered a position at the hospital and through this position, finds purpose.

Cilka's Journey is 2nd book in the "Tattooist of Auschwitz" series, but it can also be read as a standalone novel. (I have not read "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" before reading) The book follows Cilka's experiences and time spent at Vorkuta Gulag, with many flash backs of her childhood and of her time spent at Auschwitz. Despite the horrible conditions of everyday life at Vorkuta Gulag, this is a story of friendship, survival, strength, and finding purpose when the cards are stacked against you. Cilka is strong, smart, resourceful and caring. She often takes care of others before herself. It is her strength that draws people to her, and her ability to persevere in the most horrific conditions with a clear head that makes her succeed in everything she does. However, Cilka also has a secret she keeps from everybody around her, one that keeps her overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Cilkas Journey is also a story about her overcoming this guilt and accepting her past in order to embrace the present.

Cilka's Journey is everything I love about Historical Fiction. Heather Morris does an amazing job piecing together real events, places, and people, and creating a beautiful story. I highly recommend it. I was completely captivated by Cilka's Journey, it is tragic, yet beautiful and brings to light a part of history that I have had no prior knowledge of. Her extensive research shows in her writing about Cilka. A real woman whos story deserves to be told. At the end of the novel, Historical background information is included.