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The Book of Uriel: A Heart-Breaking and Unique WW2 Story of Jewish History and Folklore Kindle Edition

by Elyse Hoffman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 467 ratings
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"An otherworldly tale with indelible characters in a realistic wartime setting. Hoffman's novel sublimely fuses world history and Jewish folklore."–Kirkus Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“A truly unique work of fantastical, historical fiction set in Nazi Germany that will keep readers engaged and invested in the characters and their fates.”–Booklife by Publisher’s Weekly

B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree

In the fires of World War II, a child must save his people from darkness...

Ten-year-old Uriel has always been an outcast. Born mute in a Jewish village known for its choir, he escapes into old stories of his people, stories of angels and monsters. But when the fires of the Holocaust consume his village, he learns that the stories he writes in his golden notebook are terrifyingly real.

In the aftermath of the attack, Uriel is taken in by Uwe, a kind-hearted linguist forced to work for the commander of the local Nazi Police, the affably brutal Major Brandt. Uwe wants to keep Uriel safe, but Uriel can't stay hidden. The angels of his tales have come to him with a dire message: Michael, guardian angel of the Jewish people, is missing. Without their angel, the Jewish people are doomed, and Michael's angelic brethren cannot search for him in the lands corrupted by Nazi evil.

With the lives of millions at stake, Uriel must find Michael and free him from the clutches of the Angel of Death...even if that means putting Uwe in mortal danger.

The Book of Uriel is a heartbreaking blend of historical fiction and Jewish folklore that will enthrall fans of The Book Thief and The World That We Knew.

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  1. Print length
    317 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    January 26, 2021
  5. File size
    5157 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

Uriel finalist award

Kirkus review

Booklife review

Devoured pages review

In the fires of World War II, a child must save his people from darkness...

Editorial Reviews

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A mesmerizing work of historical fiction. The author has magically combined history with fantasy, resulting in an irresistibly engrossing story. Hoffman is a born storyteller, and she executes her ideas in a sound, beautiful way." --Readers' Favorite

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "'The Book of Uriel' is a story that could become a cult classic! It has all the imaginings of 'Pans Labyrinth' and all the emotions of 'The Book Thief'...If you like historical fiction mixed with fantasy, this one may be for you."--Devoured Pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This book was thrilling and downright addictive. Setting it down was not an option after I picked it up. Uriel's story is absolutely gripping. A story of bravery and sacrifice, that takes the reader on an emotional journey."--Jessica Belmont

About the Author

Elyse Hoffman strives to tell historical tales with new twists: she loves to meld WWII and Jewish history with fantasy, folklore, and the paranormal.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08NZYJGB9
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Project 613 Publishing (January 26, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 26, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5157 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1952742064
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 467 ratings

About the author

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Elyse Hoffman

Elyse Hoffman

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Elyse Hoffman is a best-selling author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. Having studied WWII since the age of thirteen and with interests in fantasy and Jewish folklore, she loves to combine them in her writing. Elyse started writing novels at fourteen and finished her first historical fiction work at fifteen. She studied English, History, and Law at George Mason University. In her spare time, she loves to read, work on pretty keyboards, and hang out with her co-authors - her Goldendoodle Ari and her ex-feral cat, Echo.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
467 global ratings
Exceeded my expectations
5 Stars
Exceeded my expectations
When I started reading “The Book of Uriel,” I had no idea how it would impact me. The book exceeded my expectations and turned out to be a profound, wonderful, tragic, and grand tale of good vs. evil.Set against the backdrop of WWII, the story centers around a mute boy and a linguist as they embark on a quest that will change their lives. The author also embedded fantasy elements with angels and Jewish folklore that works so wonderfully in the tale. I also adored the side stories that the author puts through Uriel like, “Simon the Fool” and “Fish in the Barrel.” The plot also has beautiful illustrations that made me feel like I was reading a classic fairy tale. However, that doesn’t mean that the book is for children. Even though the author tells the story straightforwardly, the book also contains some dark, gruesome situations and scenes. Some of the scenes particularly shocked me, like when Major Brandt tortures his prisoners.Moreover, the characters were terrific. Uriel is adorable in the lead, and my heart went out to him. The author represented him wonderfully as a mute child, where he wishes he could be like others. I also loved his relationship with Uwe and thought it was the highlight of the tale. The author balances Uwe and Uriel’s storyline nicely, where you feel like you are reading two different stories, but they merge well in the end. Uwe’s storyline is raw, where he faces the evil of men, whereas Uriel has to go on a magical quest to free Michael after making a deal with the Angel of Death. There was never a dull moment in the tale.Overall, “The Book of Uriel” is a beautiful historical fantasy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
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Top reviews from the United States

Nicole
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
Happened upon this book by accident. But what a great read. I enjoyed the story line and history mixed together.
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Gavin
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2023
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A perfect blend of history and religion and a touch of the mystical. I couldn't put it down. The writing was excellent, and kept me hooked. There's no point in rehashing the storyline here as you can read that in the description. It's just good, really good.
2 people found this helpful
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Angela Soto
4.0 out of 5 stars I was pleasantly surprised.
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
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When I started this book, I had just had to DNF a book, which I hate to do! As I started reading, I thought, "Oh, no. Another DNF. Determined not to do that, I kept reading. Before I knew it, it was totally engrossed in the story. But I wouldn't really call it historical fiction, although it does refer to Nazi mistreatment of people. I would call it more of an adventure. Uriel is totally unforgettable! His prose is so revealing. Uwe surprised me several times. The stories are just fun to read, and Uriel seems to always be just ahead of big trouble. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because of the slow start. I recommend it.
One person found this helpful
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Abbigail Holmes
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute & Sad & Happy - All At The Same Time
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023
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When I start reading this book I really didn't expect what followed. I did expect the dark story because it started with a massacre of the village and with only one survivor, a small boy Uriel, who can't speak but writes beautiful stories in his precious notebook.
When the notebook is taken by Uwe, the translator who is forced to work for the Nazis, and Uriel is left to die, the first plot twist occurs and suddenly the whole story about Uriel becomes something between a real story and a legend about a small boy who can't speak but can write and fight.
The end made me cry, so be aware of it. And those tears were party happy party sad tears, and that was the reason I called this story cute, happy, and sad at the same time. Because it is and it is definitely with reading.
2 people found this helpful
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Kitten Pretty2
5.0 out of 5 stars A story of light in a dark time
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023
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This neat little book shares the revelatory story of a child without a voice sent to proclaim the goodness and liberating nature of G-d. Uriel undertakes 5 difficult tasks that rebalance the terrible effects of the German army, especially Major Brandt, in a small area of Poland. Written in a clear clean language the story has universal appeal. It transcends time and place. I have already recommended it to friends who can appreciate its luminous qualities. The simple cartoons add another dimension to the layers of stories. It is not an easy read mentally but a blessed one spiritually.
2 people found this helpful
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Richard Guidi
5.0 out of 5 stars captivating
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2023
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A refreshing read! I really enjoyed this book. A great story and very well written, while capturing your heart. Thank you
2 people found this helpful
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KathleenJB
3.0 out of 5 stars A Story of Fantasy Set in Poland
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
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I seldom read fantasy, but I do read a lot of historical fiction. Although unique in some ways, many elements in this book were very similar to those found in the Harry Potter series—centaurs, a serpent, finding five items to save Michael (like finding horcruxes to destroy Voldemort), to name just a few. I felt like this book was better suited for a young audience as the writing style was juvenile and basic. It was a diversion from my usual choice of books where I expect much more history than fiction—or fantasy, in this case.
2 people found this helpful
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Laurie Steely
4.0 out of 5 stars Really good
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
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It's just a really good book I would recommend it to someone who wants to learn about the holocaust ok
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and engaging
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
A wonderfully crafted novel as seen through the eyes of a child. Although 10 yrs old and mute, Uriel the young Jewish boy is the hero of this wonderfully crafted tale of the evil and horrors of Hitler's atrocities against not only the Jewish people but also the Polish people. Even though antagonist towards each other, through Uriel, these 2 groups work together to take on the evil of Hitler letting love and grace shine through.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Judy Wright
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2024
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What a brilliant story i really enjoyed it I've never read anything like it before a really good story good read
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R. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read.
Reviewed in Australia on May 31, 2023
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Though this story is based on Jewish folk tales, it brings home the realities and horrors of war, the danger of prejudices and how human beings can be capable of great good or great evil. This is a really lovely story of an orphaned mute Jewish boy in Poland during the time of German occupation. His encounters with angels and his determination to do good lead him to help deliver his people. Though the story is set in terrible times, we're not left feeling heavy, but with a sense of hope and thankfulness. I really enjoyed this story, plus this is one of the few e-books I've read that has no typos, misspellings or grammatical errors! Yay!
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D
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read Uriel is also listed as an archangel I believe
Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2022
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Read this in less than a day great read touches your heart
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AL Malik
5.0 out of 5 stars Something different
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2023
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I didn't know what I chosen to read until I started to get into the first few chapters. Having read other novels from this author and had enjoyed them, I quite happily sat down read and was soon so engrossed that when I found it was more of a feel good fantasy story with the inevitable happy ending, I was enjoying it so much that I just had to see it through to the end. Many years have passed since I have read what I would class as a child's book. However I enjoyed it tremendously.
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