The Resistance Girl

Written by Mandy Robotham

Narrated by Antonia Beamish

Norway, 1942: She has lost everything to the Nazis. But now she fights back…

War rages, and, under cover of darkness, Rumi Orlstad and her fellow resistance fighters smuggle British agents, fugitives and supplies across the North Sea into Nazi-occupied territory.

One night, when he braves a storm to complete an ill-fated mission, Rumi’s fiancé is lost to the dangerous waters. Broken-hearted, she withdraws from the clandestine group, vowing never to let her loved ones put themselves in the line of fire again.

But months later, Rumi stumbles across a Nazi secret that lays Hitler’s plans for Norway bare, and she knows she has no choice but to risk her life for her country once more…

Readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and anything by Fiona Valpy will love this heartbreaking tale of the sacrifices ordinary people made to keep friends, family, strangers – and hope – alive.

What readers are saying about The Resistance Girl:

‘A standout story of the unsung heroes of WWII.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Such brave, strong, authentic characters. Five stars!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Another fantastic novel from Mandy Robotham. The characters leap off the page. Absolutely loved it!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Such a unique WWII read. Gripping and fascinating.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Compelling, gripping and emotional. Five stars!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Mandy Robotham is a born storyteller.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Enlightening, engaging, suspenseful and well-written. Highly recommend!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Exciting, suspenseful, tragic and romantic… I couldn’t stop reading.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow! Powerful and captivating.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

’A truly unforgettable story. Highly recommended.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I couldn’t put this book down! A whole new perspective on life during the war.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was holding my breath, and even shed a tear or two. A wonderful read!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9780008453435

Mandy Robotham

Mandy Robotham is a Globe and Mail, USA Today, and UK, Canadian, US and Australian Kindle Top 100 bestseller. She has been an aspiring author from the age of nine, but was waylaid by journalism and later enticed by birth. She’s now a former midwife who writes about birth, death, love and everything else in between. She graduated with an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes University.

Reviews for The Resistance Girl

[Kathleen Mackay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

fascinating insights into the depth of the Hitler regime. Thoroughly interesting book.

[Jeanni Waksel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I haven't heard much about Norway during the war nice to hear some other stories from other affected countries. Enjoyed the characters felt realistic to me. Would read again.

[mishker-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There's a dragon in me that might well breathe fire again. The Nazi's have invaded Norway, taking special interest in their genetic stock for the Lebensborn program. After losing her fiance to the Resistance, Rumi Orlstad doesn't want to take any more risks. However, when she completes the task of rescuing two Special Operations, Rumi is pulled back into the Resistance. One of the SOE operatives, Jens asks Rumi for help obtaining information, Rumi is quick to accept. Rumi soon learns of a friend, Anya, that was raped by a Nazi and has become pregnant. Anya is placed in a maternity home for unwed mothers and soon learns of the Nazi's plans for their children. Rumi and Jens work together to help rescue Anya and her child while the Nazi's are hot on their trail. The Resistance Girl is a story of hope, persistence and overcoming obstacles during World War II in Norway. I don't really know a lot about Norway's participation in World War II and I was really interested to find out what the Nazi's had planned for the Norweigen people and how they fought back. I was very intrigued by the Norwegian Resistance as well as the Lebensborn program. Through the changing viewpoints of Rumi and Jens with some interjections by the maternity ward housekeeper, I could clearly see how the Nazi's plans and the paths of resistance that the SOE and the Norweigan people were planning. I was immediately taken with Rumi's character. I loved her attitude and willingness to help. Rumi and Jens were both clearly grieving and showed this in very different ways. Together, they were able to move through their grief and use that to help others in need. . The suspense builds as the Nazi's became closer to finding out Jens' whereabouts and how the Resistance kept one step ahead. I could feel the fear, excitement and determination of Rumi, Jens and their allies as they outmaneuvered the Nazi's. Rumi and Jens' romance progresses naturally, while I could tell from the beginning that this would be part of the story, I enjoyed that it took a slower pace and allowed for healing within both characters. While Rumi and Jens do help some women in the Lebensborn program, it almost seems like an afterthought. I would love to know if there was an operation to rescue women from the program. This book was received for free in return for an honest review.