This post contains affiliate links. I can’t remember where I heard of Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina, but I’m always interested in good fiction set during World War I because there isn’t much I’ve found, especially considering how much World War II literature is available. At just 192 pages, this is a short but powerful read.
About Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina
Renia is an 18-year-old countess who works in the medical field. World War I has taken everything from her–her family, her fiancé, her lifestyle. She goes to work and then walks miles home, though the physical structure of “home” now is but a shell of what it was. With a blizzard approaching, she declines a doctor’s offer to stay in town to ride out the storm and chooses to go home instead. That decision changes her life.
She returns home to find her house is no longer empty–instead, two Polish men who are fighting for the Russian army are there. She must survive a blizzard while invaders are in her home. They will demand her limited food and her assistance, but how can she assist the enemy and keep herself safe?
The story is told while Renia is on trial for “disrupting the war effort.” The tension builds throughout the story, but the verdict is no surprise.
My Thoughts on the Book
I enjoyed this book, especially since I find it challenging to find good books about World War I. However, the opening of the story is confusing, and I almost gave up at that point. However, subsequent chapters were easier to understand, so I’m happy I continued with this book. Overall, I was happy with the story.
I give Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina 4 out of 5 stars on the Mom’s Plans’ scale.
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