The Goddess of Warsaw: A Novel

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 3,049 ratings

Price: 21.25

Last update: 01-01-2025


About this item

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

“Utterly gripping. . . a transformative and immersive story so powerful and captivating that I could not put it down. . . . Truly one of the best books I’ve read.”—Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Lisa Barr's new historical fiction, The Goddess of Warsaw, gifts the reader with jaw-dropping moments worthy of a Tarantino film, a story that could not be more timely, and a heroine whose ferocity and valor knows no bounds.”—Natalie Jenner, author of the instant international bestseller The Jane Austen Society

The Goddess Of Warsaw is an enthralling tale of a legendary Hollywood screen goddess with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. When the famous actress is threatened by someone from her past, she must put her skills into play to protect herself, her illustrious career, and those she loves, then and now.

Los Angeles, 2005. Sienna Hayes, Hollywood’s latest It Girl, has ambitions to work behind the camera. When she meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous Golden Age movie star, Sienna sees her big break. She wants to direct a picture about Lena’s life—but the legendary actor’s murky past turns out to be even darker than Sienna dreamed. Before she was a Living Legend, Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis.

Warsaw, 1943. A member of the city’s Jewish elite, Bina Blonski and her husband, Jakub, are imprisoned in the ghastly, cramped ghetto along with the rest of Warsaw’s surviving Jews. Determined to fight back against the brutal Nazis, the beautiful, blonde Aryan-looking Bina becomes a spy, gaining information and stealing weapons outside the ghetto to protect her fellow Jews. But her dangerous circumstances grow complicated when she falls in love with Aleksander, an ally in resistance—and Jakub’s brother. While Lena accomplishes amazing feats of bravery, she sacrifices much in the process.

Over a decade after escaping the horrors of the ghetto, Bina, now known as Lena, rises to fame in Hollywood. Yet she cannot help but be reminded of her old life and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who escaped justice after the war. Her power and fame as a movie star offer Lena the chance to right the past’s wrongs . . . and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had.

A gripping work of one of history’s most heroic uprisings and an actress whose personal war never ends, The Goddess Of Warsaw is filled with secrets, lies, twists and turns, and a burning pursuit of justice no matter the cost.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Brad Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond fantastic!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
    Wow! Just wow! I cannot express enough how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book. These last eight months haven't been easy. With everything going on in the world and the unapologetic hatred directed towards the Jewish people, I never thought I would find myself in a situation even remotely similar to the characters in this book. Historical fiction is my absolute favorite genre, and Lisa Barr nailed it once again. I have never in my life finished an entire book in one day! I simply could not put it down. Thrilling, dramatic, heartwarming—it seamlessly blended it all and was compelling from start to finish.

    The richness of the characters is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Lena Browning/Bina Blonski is a protagonist who embodies resilience and courage. Her journey is profound, spanning from the 1930s to the 1950s and then to 2005. This wide timeframe allows the reader to witness her evolution against the backdrop of significant historical events. Each era is meticulously portrayed, making the reader feel the weight of the times and the personal battles faced by the characters.

    Barr's depiction of wartime moral ambiguity is both poignant and thought-provoking. The Goddess of Warsaw delves into the gray areas of human behavior during conflict. The characters often navigate situations where the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. Yet, through these trials, the stark contrast between the actions of good people and the cruelty of evil ones is vividly illustrated. The novel does not shy away from showing how war can push individuals to their limits, compelling them to make unimaginable choices. However, it also celebrates the indomitable spirit of those who, despite the chaos, retain their humanity and compassion.

    Her earlier books, Fugitive Colors, The Unbreakables, and Woman on Fire, were amazing as well. Lisa Barr is a tremendous author who captures strong women and the horrendous times of the Holocaust better than any writer out there. I couldn't imagine being an author right now during the current cancel culture, especially when the subject matter of the Holocaust is so routinely dismissed or outright denied. She, like her characters, is brave beyond words. But her words bring us incredible stories that would otherwise be lost to history.

    Bravo, Lisa Barr. You've done it again. The Goddess of Warsaw is outstanding!
  • frankiefuchs
    5.0 out of 5 stars An old Fashioned Potboiler
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2024
    This book pulsates with vibrant characters and heart pounding action. The antithesis of a modern book which is as ambiguous as possible. This story is propelled by drama and passion which weaves the past and present inexorably together. It abounds with the unlikely combination of a dark fairy tale and an exposition of the triumph of good over evil. I loved it. If only life resolves itself like this novel. That would be good.
  • Marcia
    4.0 out of 5 stars A powerful page turner
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
    The Goddess of Warsaw is both wonderful and sad. I couldn’t get enough of the book although there are parts that broke my heart. To read of the horror that the Nazis imposed on people just because a vile man wanted power absolutely sickened me. But the strength of the people fighting for themselves and others is uplifting. Almost a 5 star book but the real horrors of the world at that time stopped me from giving it that rating. I hope people learn from this book.
  • Lauren Baruch
    5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best books I ever read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2024
    Loved every page! It was suspenseful and beyond thrilling at every page. Could not put it down! Fabulously written. Stayed off social media to enjoy every minute of this book.
  • Nadine Foldes
    5.0 out of 5 stars a fabulous story of love, loss, pain, survival, revenge and triumph!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2024
    Beautifully written Holocaust story both horrific and captivating with a joyful amount of revenge! I could not put it down!
  • Elizabeth Harris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written and interesting story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2024
    This is not your typical holocaust story. This is not a gory or sad holocaust story. It is about love, giving your life for your beliefs, and how the few who survived the ghetto built a new life. Some through love and some through revenge.
  • Cynthia G. Allen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spellbinding!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2024
    I swore I would stay away from yet another Holocaust story, but the raves about this book made me surrender. And wow, I’m so glad I did. This story was so raw and real and it’s hard to put it down. Fabulous story of the strongest woman ever and her will to fight back against the Nazis, who killed her whole family in the war. She’s my hero. Don’t miss this incredible book.
  • deborahsgarden
    4.0 out of 5 stars Keeps your attention……but
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
    ………. for the first time, at least that I am aware of, I was surprised to find an historical error in one of my many WW ll reads. One sentence only but pretty major I think - the author indicates that the cosmetic mogul - Elizabeth Arden was Jewish. This is absolutely false. If anything she was probably antisemitic. Read about the famous feud between Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein who was a Holocaust survivor. Other than that surprise, the story was well told.

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