Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke audiobook

Gosh this book made me feel a lot of feels that were both sad, happy, mournful, exhilarating & thoughtful. It was both captivating and empowering to read this novel. Although it was slow in the middle, during the last 50 pages I didn't want it to end. I would love to see a novella about Daniel & Gretchen 20 years in the future since there are some loose ends (like their families and friends lives) I want clarified since I'm really curious. 4.25/5 stars, loved this book just like I did the first!

This is such a unique and gripping story. I loved it just as much as the first one. Video review to come!

4.5 stars. I really just love how the author weaves true historical facts and events in with wonderful fictional characters that you really care about. Characters that don't make it through everything unscathed, they suffer tragedies and losses and even permanent debilitating injuries. And for the most part, they do act the way you would think people really act. Even if there is still some of the silly stuff that people in love in books seem to do. And it was like watching the Titanic movie, you rooted for the people, even knowing that in the end the really bad things, like the boat sinking or in this case Hitler rising to power, are still going to happen. Even though you know if they do prove what they try to prove, it won't actually end up saving Germany and all the people in the Holocaust, you still root for them to do what they can. You can read my full review at Lisa Loves Literature.

Prisoner of Night and Fog, Anne Blankman’s incredible debut and part one of her duology, seemed at times too good to be true. Extensively researched, clever, and deeply emotional, it explored a time some would rather leave forgotten, the darkest time in Germany’s history. Blankman gave us front row seats to Hitler’s rise to power, seen through the eyes of one of his darlings, a young girl he’d taken under his wing and treated as a favorite niece. But the events in Prisoner of Night and Fog took Gretchen away from the man she knew as Uncle Dolf, and in Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, the two are bitter enemies, and Gretchen is sure she’d be killed on sight.Forced to leave her comfortable life in Oxford and return to Germany with Daniel, Gretchen is forced to face the demon from her past, the man she once loved deeply and trusted implicitly. This time, with her eyes wide open, she hopes to uncover the Nazi Party’s many conspiracies and stop Hitler’s rise to absolute power. Unfortunately, with the distance between Gretchen and Hitler, the book has lost some of its allure. We still see actual historical events, but this time we view them from afar, as would anyone else. We are not privy to insider information, not anymore, which means that we’ve lost our chance to learn more about the deterioration of his psyche. There’s still plenty to admire about the book, but that part, the part I admired most in Prisoner of Night and Fog, is all but gone. Of course, the events in 1933 Berlin are still thoroughly researched and presented in a wonderful blend of fact and fiction, which makes this book highly educational as well as entertaining. The work Blankman has finally put before us is impeccable. She did her job and she did it well, finding the perfect balance between history, fiction and character development. We left Gretchen and Daniel in a very good place last time, but while life seemed to be looking up for Gretchen, Daniel has had a far more difficult time. Although he was safe, Oxford hasn’t been kind to him as everything that made him the extraordinary boy Gretchen fell in love with was roughly taken away. Friendless and unable to be a proper journalist, he spent his days in sadness and loneliness, but was determined to hide it from his girlfriend. Goying back to Germany brings light to their difficulty, and in Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, their uncertain future causes a substantial rift between them. Nevertheless, our two darlings never turn their back on each other and they constantly work in perfect sync to bring down the Nazi Party. Minor faults aside, Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke is a perfect conclusion to this story. Blankman set the bar pretty high, but she was more than up to the challenge. I can’t wait to see what she’ll give us next.

4.5-5 starsPrisoner of Night and Fog was Anne Blankman’s highly impressive debut and one of my favorite books of last year. I have been dying to read the sequel ever since finishing it. Daniel and Gretchen are characters I’ve grown to truly care about, and I knew they still had a difficult road ahead of them. She is the niece of Adolf Hitler and he is a Jewish boy. Though they escaped from Germany together at the end of PoNaF, they are living with borrowed names, and Daniel, once a passionate and determined reporter, is now writing meaningless columns for a society newspaper. When he gets word that his family back in Germany is in trouble, he doesn’t hesitate to make his way back to them, despite the very real possibility he could be killed. Gretchen, though happy with her new adoptive family and on her way to becoming a psychoanalyst, would never let Daniel go it alone and so follows him. Right back to where the monster lives, the very man whose electric blue eyes still haunt her every nightmare.After loving PoNaF so much, I was desperate to feel the same about Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke. It’s one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read, and I had faith that Anne Blankman would give her readers a worthy conclusion. She doesn’t disappoint. Like the first book, CoBaS is set around real facts and figures during the rise of Nazi Germany, but the heart of the story is fictional. It’s beautifully woven, at times romantic, haunting, terrifying, sad, thrilling, and finally uplifting. In the larger picture we know how this story ends – how history plays its awful self out – but we ache for Daniel and Gretchen to somehow win their peace. When they find themselves back in the very place they thought they’d never return to, my fear for them became a palpable thing. This part of history is not yet when Hitler has fully risen to power, but he’s right on the cusp, and the Nazi party is already committing heinous crimes in his name. This wouldn’t be a story if Daniel and Gretchen were kept safe, so I was a nervous wreck throughout the whole book. When an author can make me feel so emotional and care so deeply about her characters, I know I’ve discovered something special and worth savoring. In CoBaS, we learn more about Daniel – about his family and his dreams – and I have fallen even more in love with him. He is brave, courageous, and selfless, always willing to put others above his own well-being, and that’s doubly true for Gretchen. If it’s in his power, he will keep her safe, but he also sees the strength in her and never diminishes it. Toward the middle of the book their romance takes a rather heartbreaking turn, and I was extremely worried about their future. They both want to pursue what they love – for Daniel that means worthy news reporting and for Gretchen that means studying psychology – and they’re not sure if they can do that together. Me being me, I wanted true love to prevail, but I also understood the obstacles they faced – and that’s if they were to make it back out of Germany alive. But beneath their doubts is a love that is made of strength, devotion, and sacrifice. The way Anne Blankman allows her characters to express their hearts – whether it’s Daniel’s outward pleas to Gretchen (one of the most romantic scenes I've ever read), or the way each of their actions speak louder than words, or how Gretchen constantly thinks of what a good man Daniel is – is such a heartwarming thing to me. They will do everything they can for one another, and I believe in the love they share completely.Of course, the romance isn’t the only thing to love about this book. Though it is the thread that ties everything together, there’s also a very thrilling, heartbreaking, and scary story. Daniel has been accused of murder, and he refuses to leave the country without at least trying to clear his name. He has always been a seeker of truth, so he will do whatever it takes to make things right… and hopefully stop Hitler and the National Socialists once and for all. Needless to say, I was terrified for him and for Gretchen, for the beatings they were likely to face in the future. Keep some tissues handy and prepare yourself for some despicable, unspeakable things. It makes me sick to think that this is our history, but Anne Blankman doesn’t shy away from it. She clearly has done her research yet again. As for the man himself, Adolf Hitler, though he is not so much a character in CoBaS like in the first book, his presence is still felt everywhere and Gretchen’s fear of him permeates the pages. He is still this giant figure in her head, and though she knows better than anyone how his mind works, he’s still a virtual puzzle and an unknowable evil.If you haven’t yet started this historical fiction duology, I demand you put everything else on hold. These books will fascinate you, pull at your heartstrings, and, if you’re like me, bring tears to your eyes. I fell in love with the story and its characters. Somehow, though it’s one of the most horrific periods of history, I didn’t want to leave Daniel and Gretchen’s sides. They will stay with me for a long time to come. ***Special thanks to Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner and the publisher for sending me an ARC.***This review can also be found at Love at First Page.

A bit slow to start, and more romance than I would have liked (with my stone cold heart) but still suspenseful from about half way onwards, and filled with horrible Nazi brutality. I especially like reading the Author Notes at the end once I'm done, because the plot in Blankman's stories are so closely interwoven with history and real life events that it's impossible not to have another level of respect for her storytelling even after reading.

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman - 4.5/5 starsAlright, I'll admit it! Historical fiction is officially my favorite genre and I loved the way the author added all these fictitious elements in the book to make the plot extremely action packed! In the conclusion to this epic duology, Gretchen and Daniel must return to Germany after their near escape from Hitler in the first book. They managed to escape the grueling tortures that were in their way and escaped to England where Gretchen found a real family. They treated her like one of their own and sent her to school to pursue her dreams of being a psychoanalyst. Her passion in this field was sparked after the discovery she made back in Germany when she was in love with the forbidden Jew.After the tragedy that struck Daniel, he leaves for Germany, leaving his love behind. The break in their communications made her anxious and she made the bold decision to head to Germany to prove her beau's innocence. She knew what dangers lurked if she set foot in her homeland. She knew how Hitler wanted her dead for her betrayal and the destruction of her pure Aryan blood. But even her own death did not phase this brave protagonist to make the journey back to her homeland to aide in the investigation of the death of a prostitute. The progression of the plot was amazing and had always kept me on edge. It was extremely hard to put this book down.Characters:There were several new characters that were introduced in this book which was a blessing and also the recurrences of some familiar characters like Eva and Gretchen's mother. The reunion with her own mother was appalling. I did not expect her mother to have gone such hardships and losses in such a short period of separation from her daughter. The way Gretchen and her mother exchanged words were cold and it was obvious that they could not overcome their current situations to the point of agreement. The reunion between former best friends was also beautiful and sad at the same time. A beautiful disaster so to say. The way they embraced each other and the care they had for one another is the epitome of friendship. We are also blessed with new characters who sky rocketed this book's plot above and beyond. I loved the addition of Friedrich and Brigit who were rescuers and helpers in providing proof of Daniel's innocence. Writing:The writing was clear and precise and extremely focused. I loved how the author took time to research on the actual history before adding in the fictitious elements. Bravo to that Anne Blankman. The plot was detailed and the flow of the plot was great. I enjoyed the author's interpretation and creativity in this novel. No complaints at all.Recommendations:HELL YES! I'd recommend anyone to pick up this dulogy and indulge in its awesomeness.

An Electronic Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for review. Quotes have been pulled from an ARC and may be subject to change.I was perusing Edelweiss for some book covers when I decided to checkout the review copies. HarperTeen always has e-ARCs for review and I always want each and every one of them but when I saw this book there, I knew I had to read it already.This book.. It had my heart pumping and my forehead sweating. I felt all the feels and was also freaked out all at the same time. Being on the run from Hitler will have you paranoid. When your country is turning into something no one can recognize, and you have to look over your shoulder the entire time.. This is what Gretchen was going through, through her eyes we experience the terror and the immediate pressure to topple the Nazi regime. We all know how it ends in real life, but in this fictional world, I kind of wanted a different ending. Gretchen and Daniel are just so sweet to one another and I dare say they are both loving and very mature and considerate of each other's feelings. Being in that world and what they had to go through, I love that it drove them to take action and to do something even if it meant their own lives were at risk. Very brave.The writing is still as wonderfully written in the sequel as it is here. You immerse yourself in her words and her life and forget everything else. That's what Blankman does well. And her research is just as strong here too. I wanted a twist ending but I knew I was just being hopeful. Grab this one if you're looking for an intense nail-biting read set in WW2.

I didn't know this was a duology. :'D I will miss these characters, but I couldn't be more happy right now!

This book! My goodness, THIS BOOK! Last year, I read Prisoner of Night and Fog and fell head over heels in love with it. It was rich in history, was written masterfully and had a cast of characters that basically settled in my heart. There was absolutely no doubts that I would be reading Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, but did I think it would live up to all of my expectations? Maybe not, but Anne Blankman just blew me away with this phenomenal sequel that has rocketed her to the top of my favorite authors list.While the world building and story telling is outstanding in this series, the characters are the heart and soul of Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke. I have grown to care just so much about Gretchen and Daniel and I wanted nothing more than for them to have be happy by the end of the book and Anne Blankman doesn't make their journey a smooth-sailing one. To me, this book, more specifically Gretchen, is the embodiment of character development. Gretchen has always been a fierce girl, but she has also been rather naive at times. In Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, all traces of her innocence had disappeared. She was brave and willing to fight very hard to protect the people that she loved and cared for, the events of Prisoner of Night and Fog having seasoned her character. Her strength came from deep within her and watching that bloom was a beautiful experience for me as a reader. Gretchen is, without any doubt, one of the best female protagonist I have ever come across. Together with her, was the brilliant and perfectly complementary Daniel. Daniel basically represents every boy I want out of a YA romance. He's the good boy with a heart of cold who is loving, protective and just plain endearing. When you meet Daniel, it's hard not to want him all for yourself because this is a boy who will steal your heart and make you wish every YA book boy was like him.The relationship between Daniel and Gretchen is a work of art. This is a relationship that is based on mutual respect for each other. One of my absolute favorite things about their romance has always been how they never undermine each other. Instead of putting each other down whenever a difficult situation arises, they support each other and work together to achieve their goals. Do you know how rare it is to see couples working as a team in YA? It's something that consistently bothers me, so I was so pleased with how Anne Blankman handled their relationship so beautifully. The sweet moments between them were like beacons of light in this otherwise dark book. Speaking of dark book, Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke had me sweating profusely because of how nervous I was. I was at the same time excited and terrified to see what would happen next and let me tell you, Anne Blankman put these characters through hell and more, but it was all worth it. Hitler was more of a background character in Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke as opposed to Prisoner of Night and Fog, but the mere mention of his name was enough to have my blood curdling. Once again, I really loved Anne Blankman was able to so tactfully blend together elements of fiction and real life history to craft the book. The amount of research and talent that it takes to blend those two together is not something easy at all. Seriously, this author is terrific and can't wait to see what she has up her sleeves next.I have so much more to say about Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, but I'm going to refrain from saying more because it truly is a series that you need to experience yourself. I just don't know what else to say other than READ IT and EXPERIENCE the brilliance of one of my all-time favorite series.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars ‘It was starting. What Hitler had always promised – the Party and Germany were becoming one. The union that she had once thought sounded so perfect. Now it terrified her.’ The year is 1933. Gretchen and Daniel have managed to extricate themselves from the dangers of Germany and have been slowly rebuilding their lives in England. Their lives are far from perfect and they both miss their families, but they’re at least safe. When Daniel receives a telegram with terrible news about an incident involving his family he rushes back to Germany without a second thought. Gretchen, being unable to remain sitting in safety while constantly wracked with worry, packs her bags and follows him straight back into danger.Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke centers around the mystery behind the factual Reichstag fire. Gretchen and Daniel feel that if they can expose the lies surrounding the fire that they can hopefully put a stop to Hitler’s rise to power. I actually knew very little about the fire prior to this read so a little investigation of my own was needed. It was shocking to learn just how important that fire became in establishing Nazi Germany because as a result of the fire, Hitler was able to get the Reichstag Fire Decree passed which subsequently suspended civil liberties of German citizens. This Decree remained in effect throughout WWII, technically legalizing many of Hitler’s actions according to German law. That time in history will never cease to shock me.This second installment in the duology was a solid one with the inclusion of actual historical events adding some legitimacy to this tale. The characters seemed to be constantly placing themselves needlessly in danger but I can’t decide whether it was actually or the fact that we know the outcome of it all made it just seem like a lost cause. Akin to horror movies where people are constantly making the worst possible decisions and you’re screaming at them to stop, I was begging them to stop from the very start when Gretchen and Daniel both travel back to Germany and right into Hitler’s dangerous hands. But considering it from their point of view, they may have understood the danger as it was during that time, but they couldn’t even begin to understand just how terrible it would truly get.Equally knowledgeable and thrilling, this is a must-read for historical fiction fans. What I loved most about this duology is how interesting it was to read a story that was set well before the war, just as Hitler was first gaining power. While we are all cognizant of the occurrences of WWII, it was still hard not to hope that Gretchen and Daniel would actually succeed.I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I received a free copy via edelweiss for review purposesIn Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke Gretchen has settled into her new home in England, but follows Daniel back to Germany when he receives a telegram telling of a family emergency. Not long after, Daniel is wanted for murder. Gretchen has to call upon her old Nazi allies whilst trying to avoid getting caught by Hitler, and both Gretchen and Daniel stumble upon a dark conspiracy taking root in the heart of Germany. Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke is the highly anticipated sequel to Prisoner of Night and Fog. However, for me, Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke did not reach my high expectations, and the first half of the novel dragged. This doesn't mean I did not enjoy it because it quickly picks up in the second half and the reader is once again dragged into a suspenseful plot of political intrigue that's familiar from the first book.One aspect I really loved about Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke is the realistic strain that has developed in Gretchen and Daniel's relationship. They're both questioning whether they should be together, what's best for themselves and each other, and after everything they've been through in Prisoner of Night and Fog, and now Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, it was refreshing to see this sort of relationship and emotional recession. Then there's the nitty gritty stuff that develops throughout, the mystery and suspense and the political intrigue and dangers. It fits all seamlessly together and is built upon the history we know today. Overall, once again a fantastically researched novel with a serious emotional depth. However, it did not reach the high standard set by its predecessor but still well worth a read for fans of the series.

I found this sequel to be even more rewarding than its predecessor. Gretchen's voice is far more developed and mature, though just as vulnerable, which enabled me to instantly connect with her in a way I hadn't in Blankman's debut. What's more, the romantic tribulations that she and Daniel must face alongside the thrill of the historical time period they are thrown into made for a truly enlightening and exhilarating read. Extremely well-written and sure to satisfy fans of the first novel, this is not a sequel--or author--to be overlooked.

“I don’t know much about psychoanalysis, but I don’t believe that we can blame our actions on our upbringings. If we could, then nobody would be responsible for anything they do.” This book was beautifully written.I cried so hard reading this book.The pace of the book was much quicker as compared to the first one. As it deals with Daniel being accused of a murder, the whole pace of the book was chasing time.Which made me so anxious and at the edge of my seats in every chapter.As they journey back to Germany, all I ever prayed was them not to be recognised but it was hard considering Daniel is a wanted man and Gretchen being Hitler's "niece"The story of course focus more on the side of Daniel.We see the side of him we never get in the first book.How he is crumbling down as compared how strong he tend to look in the first book.It was heartbreaking seeing confessions after confessions of what Daniel is feeling.As he is a Jew, with what he has face, what his family has face and to see it all happening so fast and him not being able to do anything was so ahrd.The tension between Gretchen and Daniel was written nicely as an understanding of what people could face during the war.I like the part between Daniel's explanation of how being with Gretchen alone was not enough.In the beginning I thought it was selfish but after hearing his reason I understand.Anne has written the plot line so flawlessly of mixing the fiction story of Gretchen and Daniel together with the real life events of war.The way the events was being written and description and explanation being read, was scary.It feels like I was there myself, I could feel how my heart was beating and my palms sweating.I thought to myself, if only reading about it was scary, I couldn't imagine people who were there experiencing these times themselves. Towards the end of the book, i was bawling so much.I like how the story ended.It didn't end with just the war ending.It didn't end with just a happily ever after.Because its historical fiction, knowing in reality what did happen and all.So i understand and appreciate it was not really a happy ending.But a good ending.It shows there is still things to mend, problems to be taken care of, healing to be made and a reason to fight.“I know how they'll feel. As though the world should stop rotating or the sun shining or the rain from coming down. When those things do happen, they won't be able to believe it. Because they'll think that the world should be different, now that their loved one has been killed. But the world won't be different. They will.”

A really great sequel, still as dark and haunting as the first book