Sisters of tge Midnight Sun by Fiona Valpy

 

Told in two timelines 2005 and the 1940s both stories carry grief and the trying by both women to survive a wave of sadness. 

Ruby has come to Scotland in the aftermath of losing a beloved twin sister. She is trying to come to terms with her loss and believes a change of scene will help. Hanna a survivor of the Nazi regime, also lost a sister in the dreaded camps, but before that lost her parents. Hanna a member of the Resistance is sent to Scotland for training and meets someone whom she is attracted to, but their paths get diverted because she has to move back to the Shetland Islands, where she does the dangerous work of being a radio operator. 

The stay in Scotland is healing for both women. Nurturing a small Croft which was a a small holding, was not easy under the constant threat of a neighbours expansion plans but the two women are determined to carry on.

Initially starting as a story of survival under an oppressive regime, it evolves into a story of friendship and care which was very touching to read.

Sent by Ballantine for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.