Lana's War: A Novel

Written by Anita Abriel

Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky

From the author of the “fast-paced, heartbreaking, and hopeful” (Kristin Harmel, author of The Room on Rue Amélie) The Light After the War, a riveting and heartfelt story of a young woman recruited to be a spy for the resistance on the French Riviera during World War II.

Paris 1943: Lana Antanova is on her way to see her husband with the thrilling news that she is pregnant. But when she arrives at the convent where he teaches music, she’s horrified to see Gestapo officers execute him for hiding a Jewish girl in the piano.

A few months later, grieving both her husband and her lost pregnancy, Lana is shocked when she’s approached to join the resistance on the French Riviera. As the daughter of a Russian countess, Lana has the perfect background to infiltrate the émigré community of Russian aristocrats who socialize with German officers, including the man who killed her husband.

Lana’s cover story makes her the mistress of Guy Pascal, a wealthy Swiss industrialist and fellow resistance member, in whose villa in Cap Ferrat she lives. Together, they gather information on upcoming raids and help members of the Jewish community escape. Consumed by her work, she doesn’t expect to become attached to a young Jewish girl or wonder about the secrets held by the man whose house she shares. And as the Nazis’ deadly efforts intensify, her intention to protect those around her may put them all at risk instead.

With Anita Abriel’s “heartfelt and memorable” (Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author) storytelling, Lana’s War is a sweeping and suspenseful tale of survival and second chances during some of the darkest days of history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jan 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797118871

Anita Abriel

Anita Abriel was born in Sydney, Australia. She received a BA in English literature with a minor in creative writing from Bard College. She is the internationally bestselling author of The Light After the War, Lana’s War, and A Girl During the War. She lives in California with her family.

Reviews for Lana's War

[Brenda Shealey Steele · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So very interesting from start to finished! Sad how humans can hate based on darkness of mind.

[desiree_reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Decent WWII novel. Likable heroine, beautiful descriptions of the topography that make one wish they could visit. More Women's Fiction than Literary or deeply-researched Historical Fiction. Recommended for those who enjoy historical settings and lively female leads.

[jynell-71874 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The dress on this cover... it's just... gorgeous! I don't think I could pull it off, but I'm so attracted to this cover! It feels so elegant... And THEN I read the summary and knew I had to request it! Thank you @AtriaBooks for allowing me to read this and offer my honest opinion!

First, I cannot imagine going through what Lana goes through in Lana's War. Her internal war is certainly traumatizing and heartbreaking. This leads her to taking the risks necessary to potentially help the resistance.

This is a breathtaking view of the internal workings of WWII. It's emotional, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. If you're someone who loves historical fiction, read this. I don't want to give it all away though. It published yesterday, so be sure to get your copy now!

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in the French Riviera during WWII, this novel includes romance, espionage, secrets, and glamorous parties. Lana is an exiled Russian noblewoman who was raised in France. After her young husband is killed by a Nazi, Lana joins the French Resistance and hopes to hunt down the officer who murdered her husband. She's sent to Nice, to pretend to be a Nazi supporter and to seduce secret out of Nazis at glamorous parties. If this book has a flaw, it's the clear discomfort with the glamorous setting during otherwise gritty and traumatic war. I did appreciate the focus on southern France, which is a nice change from the many novels set in WWII Paris. Highly recommended for fans of WWII-era historical fiction.

[janarose1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

When Lana's husband tries to hide a Jewish girl, a Nazi soldier shoots and kills him. Overwhelmed with grief, Lana miscarries. Months later, she is recruited by the resistance. After traveling to the Riviera, Lana is partnered with Guy, a man with his own tragedies.This book was a bit predictable and boring. The characters were a bit flat and one dimensional. I did love the setting of the book, but otherwise found this one a bit lacking. Overall, 2 out of 5 stars.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lana’s War is Anita Abriel’s second historical fiction novel set during World War II.Discovering she is pregnant, Lana Hartmann (née Antanova) hurries through the streets of occupied Paris, anxious to share the happy news with her husband, a music teacher. She is horrified when she finds her husband being questioned by the gestapo and devastated when she witnesses his callous execution while trying to protect a young Jewish girl. Miscarrying their child that same day, Lana staves off despair by volunteering at a convent where she is offered an opportunity to join the resistance. Eager to honour her husband’s sacrifice and save Jews from the Gestapo, Lana accepts and is sent to the Riviera region of France. There Lana is asked to trade on her Russian heritage and, as Countess Lana Antanova, help Swiss resistance member, Guy Pascal, with his efforts to smuggle Jews out of the country.I like that Abriel has chosen a setting for her novel in an area of France usually overlooked in WWII historical fiction, which tends to favour Paris or the French countryside. Nice, and its neighbours including Cannes, St. Tropez, and Monaco, are part of the French Riviera, on the south east coast of France. Just 30km from the Italian border, Nice was occupied first by the Italians, and then the Germans before being liberated in 1944.When Lana arrives in November, 1943, she is surprised that the city seems largely unaffected by the war. Unlike in Paris, stores are open and well stocked, and the casino’s, hotels and cafe’s are well patronised, though the place is overrun with German soldiers. Abriel ties the plot of her novel in with the escalation against Jews in the area, where Lana is tasked to learn the timing of upcoming raids, giving them an opportunity to evade being sent to Drancy Internment Camp. I liked the premise which promised adventure, tension and romance, unfortunately the execution fell short for me.I liked Lana well enough but I didn’t find her to be a particularly consistent or convincing character. While her motivation for her choice to work with resistance is strong, and she’s obviously intelligent, given her education, she doesn’t seem wise enough to be so adept at espionage. It’s also a bit of a stretch that within days of her arrival she has four men essentially in love with her. I did like the romantic attachment Lana formed, but I wasn’t keen on how it played out. Lana’s relationship with Odette, a young Jewish girl, however was lovely.Unfortunately, despite finding the broad strokes of the the story to be engaging, I thought the prose itself was rather flat, and a touch repetitive. Though I dislike the phrase, I also thought there was far more ‘telling than showing’ and as such, tension rarely eventuated, or fizzled out.A story of war, vengeance, courage and love, Lana’s War was a quick read, but for me, not a particularly satisfying one.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Horrible circumstances bring young Lana to the French Riviera, where she is now using her heritage to help the resistance. Her mother fled Russia before she was born, but she uses this to her advantage and becomes Countess Lana Antanova, and begins her work as a spy.This is a riveting page turning read, that you will need answers from one page to the next, and not know whom you can trust.Unfortunately, this is a fictional story, but based on what really happened during these dark times in history.We know the outcome of the war, but this book put faces on those who give the ultimate, and more, and there are surprises, yes, all the way to the last page. I never anticipated the ending, but thinking back to those times, yes, very possible!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Atria Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

[tamidale · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in World War II, this book takes readers away from occupied Paris, to the beautiful French Riviera. A location known for displaced “White Russians” and other wealthy individuals, the Riviera is still somewhat of a safe place for Jewish people. Unfortunately that is soon to change.Lana, the daughter of a Russian Countess who lives in occupied Paris, has recently witnessed her husband’s shooting by a German soldier. Still grieving, Lana is introduced to someone in the Resistance by a local nun, and is soon on a train to the Riviera to work as a spy in aiding the Resistance.As far as war hardships go, Lana has it easy, but she is still in the path of danger because she is associating with German soldiers in order to find out sensitive information. Lana has been teamed up with Guy, another resistance worker who is always nearby looking out for her safety.I found this a bit predictable, but still interesting. The ending did surprise me but I think book clubs would find it worthy of discussion.Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Let me start by saying…this cover is gorgeous!Lana’s husband has been shot by the Gestapo right in front of her. The stress of seeing the love of her life brutally murdered causes Lana to lose her baby. She is determined these deaths will not go unanswered. Lana joins the resistance and heads to the Mediterranean Coast. She is determined to save as many Jewish children as she can and to find the Gestapo agent responsible for her loss.Lana is a character I should have loved more than I did. I was not a fan of her stubbornness. It made her look stupid and a little selfish, in my opinion. But, that did not stop me from enjoying this read.I definitely loved the setting of the Mediterranean. I don’t think I have read a book set in WWII with this as a backdrop. Made it a very unique read. I also loved Guy Pascal. He is moody and he has some mysterious history.Such a unique and intense read! Grab your copy today!I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A multifaceted story which works most of the time. The opening salvo is almost too brutal and a few months and a few pages later the focus takes a huge turn from despair to commitment.Conscripted by a cause, wondering what It would feel like to have no one left and to worry about the future every day, knowing the challenges are almost insurmountable, there is no going back. Lana compares herself to a tightrope walker acknowledging that if she falls so many others will perish as well.Admittedly this may be a left handed comparison but midway through this book the Cary Grant mystery thriller “To Catch a Thief” was swirling around in my subconscious. Despite the stories being different there are interesting nuances and parallels - the setting of the French Riviera, people of wealth and privilege, hinting at romance amidst all the clandestine happenings. I allowed my imagination to run wild attributing good looks (emerald green eyes) and glamour to our protagonists - even their names drip it; Guy and Lana. There is a certain lightness to the writing which allowed me to enjoy the banter, the dialog and the constant tête-à-tête between the characters. Unfortunately the last chapter and ending left me with a big fat nothing.Thank you NetGalley and Atria for a copy