*Blog Tour: Those who are Loved by Victoria Hislop

*complimentarycopy Today I'm on the Blog Tour for the fabulous Those who are Loved by Victoria Hislop.

Athens 1941. After decades of political uncertainty, Greece is polarised between Right- and Left-wing views when the Germans invade. 

Fifteen-year-old Themis comes from a family divided by these political differences. The Nazi occupation deepens the fault-lines between those she loves just as it reduces Greece to destitution. She watches friends die in the ensuing famine and is moved to commit acts of resistance.

In the civil war that follows the end of the occupation, Themis joins the Communist army, where she experiences the extremes of love and hatred and the paradoxes presented by a war in which Greek fights Greek.

Eventually imprisoned on the infamous islands of exile, Makronisos and then Trikeri, Themis encounters another prisoner whose life will entwine with her own in ways neither can foresee. And finds she must weigh her principles against her desire to escape and live.

As she looks back on her life, Themis realises how tightly the personal and political can become entangled. While some wounds heal, others deepen. This powerful new novel from Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop sheds light on the complexity and trauma of Greece's past and weaves it into the epic tale of an ordinary woman compelled to live an extraordinary life.

My thoughts?

I read this fabulous book in one sitting. I was totally and utterly engrossed in the story and wonderful Themis.

The story is set through the German occupation of Greece, the civil war and a military dictatorship and follows Themis's life. Her family and childhood growing up is a rowdy one as her brothers and sister have their own very firm political views. 

The story opens in 2016 when Themis is an old lady surrounded by her husband and family and later on that day, with two of her younger grandchildren, Poppi and Nikos she makes the decision to go back in time and tells them what her life was really like. She decided to walk the communist path and became a fighter during the civil war. She faced real hardship and a brutal island prison regime when she's caught. She forms a friendship at prison with someone who has her back and in turn Themis does something life changing for them in return. 

The history inter-weaved throughout the story is fascinating and the author very cleverly blends fact and fiction. It's an absolute triumph of a read and one of my favourite books this year.