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Zion Covenant #1
Vienna Prelude
Predating the events of The Zion Chronicles Series, Vienna Prelude opens in pre-World War II Austria. Elisa Lindheim, a violinist with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, is of Jewish heritage but has adopted an Aryan stage name. Thus she is able to travel and play in Germany even though a 1935 law forbade Jewish musicians to do so. Her dear friend Leah, a cellist already introduced to Thoene readers in A Daughter of Zion, and her husband Shimon must escape Austria or perish in the coming Holocaust.
John Murphy, a reporter for the New York Times in Berlin and Austria, becomes linked with English politicians in a plan to overthrow Hitler. Elisa and John's mutual connections with the Jewish Underground entangle them in a web of intrigue, danger, and conspiracy that neither could have known.
John Murphy, a reporter for the New York Times in Berlin and Austria, becomes linked with English politicians in a plan to overthrow Hitler. Elisa and John's mutual connections with the Jewish Underground entangle them in a web of intrigue, danger, and conspiracy that neither could have known.
461 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1989
431 people are currently reading
8498 people want to read
About the author
Bodie Thoene
215 books1,336 followersBODIE AND BROCK THOENE (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 45 works of historical fiction. These best sellers have sold more than 10 million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake Thoene, Luke Thoene, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake Thoene, Luke Thoene, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 689 reviews
January 10, 2009
I am not going to write about all nine books in the Zion Covenant series (which I have read), but I enjoyed them immensely and learned a ton. They are historical fiction novels written by Christian authors. I learned an enormous amount about why Hitler managed to do what he did and got a much better feel for life during that time without being totally depressed by the raw language that some authors use.
June 16, 2016
"Vienna Prelude", set in Austria and Germany during 1936-1938, is marketed as a Christian novel and, since I'm not a Christian, I didn't know what I'd think about it but decided to give it a chance, because of the many glowing reviews. And yes, the novel clearly is Christian and contains discussions about God and faith, as well as good and evil, and even heaven and hell, but for the most part it doesn't come off as preachy and as a reader you can choose to agree with the religious aspects of it, or to just view them as part of the characters' way of dealing with their problems and the situations they find themselves in. My one complaint might be the author's tendency to fall into the simple "good vs. evil" mentality when trying to explain the motivation of the nazis, instead of trying to describe the real historical and sociological causes behind antisemitism and the rise of the Nazi party in Germany.
But the story is fascinating, "Vienna Prelude" is a captivating read. It has strong characters finding themselves in the midst of the political turmoil and the increasing spread of violent antisemitism outside of Germany into neighboring Austria at the time leading up to the Anschluss. The novel also shows how the International community (mainly British and to some extent American) failed to do anything about the situation. The story drew me in and kept reading for hours at a time, wanting to know what would happen next. There were a few "convenient coincidences" at certain plot points but not enough to really complain too much about. "Vienna Prelude" is a good historical novel that can be enjoyed regardless of ones personal religious beliefs.
But the story is fascinating, "Vienna Prelude" is a captivating read. It has strong characters finding themselves in the midst of the political turmoil and the increasing spread of violent antisemitism outside of Germany into neighboring Austria at the time leading up to the Anschluss. The novel also shows how the International community (mainly British and to some extent American) failed to do anything about the situation. The story drew me in and kept reading for hours at a time, wanting to know what would happen next. There were a few "convenient coincidences" at certain plot points but not enough to really complain too much about. "Vienna Prelude" is a good historical novel that can be enjoyed regardless of ones personal religious beliefs.
September 6, 2011
I stepped out of our car at the rest stop on the long drive from Sacramento to LA. The music playing in front of the MacDonald’s was so light, so happy, focused on love and feelings. But suddenly it all seemed so frivolous. People milled in and out of the glass doors, wandered to and from their hot, sticky vehicles. They all seemed to blissfully unaware. Didn’t they understand the deeper things in life? Was it just all about themselves?
You see, I’d just read a stirring chapter in Vienna Prelude. And to me at that moment, I was walking among the everyday folk in America and Great Britain, among the kind of people who figured that anything that was not New York or London wasn’t worth a thought about. I felt like John Murphy, from the story, who’d despaired at the isolationist attitude running through the Allies. They didn’t know a Holocaust was coming, and did they care? Only the few, exiled Churchill and beaten Eden, saw what we know now.
But it was this book which gave me this perspective. It was this piece of fiction that spoke fact like I’ve never felt it before. There are many times in this book where I’ve cried, where I’ve been enlightened, where I have joyed or sorrowed in events so real and poignant. It is not a book of mere entertainment. It is a book to make you grow and understand. What it teaches ranges from the political to the spiritual. From this book, I’ve learned and understood the political feelings before the war. I’ve learned how people could crowd the streets to cheer Hitler. I’ve learned how one could hope in a place like Dachau, I’ve learned how the danger of isolationism can lead to another Holocaust. I’ve learned how small a person could feel when he is living in times like the late 1930s, when he knows what is coming, but can do nothing to stop its evil advance. And I’ve placed a greater meaning to the Christian idea of “hoping in the Lord.” Hope is such a little thing to people like us who are financially and politically secure, but to those people, hope was something tangible. My perspective has been shifted so I can see and appreciate the deeper things by seeing myself in their shoes and asking, how would they see this?
In critique, the style of the writing is perfect, vocabulary changes from character to character, and one reads it as though it were a movie. The narrative was a little heavy, at first, as Thoene gave us backstory and background. Around 70-80 pages into the story, things begin to really get moving, and from there, it doesn’t stop much. Amazingly, there is no long lull in the middle that has come to every other story I’ve read. Thoene does a marvelous job of pacing, mixing humor, irony, and tragedy in a rich, complex blend of perfect poignancy.
Vienna Prelude has left me with images and scenes that I’d want to remember all of my life. So many are powerful, so many have such meaning and purpose. I’ve truly learned so much, experienced so much, felt and understood so much that I could never have gained from mere history books alone. Richness and depth are my criteria for beauty, and Vienna Prelude is beautiful indeed.
“Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan” (JS Bach)
What God has done is rightly done.
You see, I’d just read a stirring chapter in Vienna Prelude. And to me at that moment, I was walking among the everyday folk in America and Great Britain, among the kind of people who figured that anything that was not New York or London wasn’t worth a thought about. I felt like John Murphy, from the story, who’d despaired at the isolationist attitude running through the Allies. They didn’t know a Holocaust was coming, and did they care? Only the few, exiled Churchill and beaten Eden, saw what we know now.
But it was this book which gave me this perspective. It was this piece of fiction that spoke fact like I’ve never felt it before. There are many times in this book where I’ve cried, where I’ve been enlightened, where I have joyed or sorrowed in events so real and poignant. It is not a book of mere entertainment. It is a book to make you grow and understand. What it teaches ranges from the political to the spiritual. From this book, I’ve learned and understood the political feelings before the war. I’ve learned how people could crowd the streets to cheer Hitler. I’ve learned how one could hope in a place like Dachau, I’ve learned how the danger of isolationism can lead to another Holocaust. I’ve learned how small a person could feel when he is living in times like the late 1930s, when he knows what is coming, but can do nothing to stop its evil advance. And I’ve placed a greater meaning to the Christian idea of “hoping in the Lord.” Hope is such a little thing to people like us who are financially and politically secure, but to those people, hope was something tangible. My perspective has been shifted so I can see and appreciate the deeper things by seeing myself in their shoes and asking, how would they see this?
In critique, the style of the writing is perfect, vocabulary changes from character to character, and one reads it as though it were a movie. The narrative was a little heavy, at first, as Thoene gave us backstory and background. Around 70-80 pages into the story, things begin to really get moving, and from there, it doesn’t stop much. Amazingly, there is no long lull in the middle that has come to every other story I’ve read. Thoene does a marvelous job of pacing, mixing humor, irony, and tragedy in a rich, complex blend of perfect poignancy.
Vienna Prelude has left me with images and scenes that I’d want to remember all of my life. So many are powerful, so many have such meaning and purpose. I’ve truly learned so much, experienced so much, felt and understood so much that I could never have gained from mere history books alone. Richness and depth are my criteria for beauty, and Vienna Prelude is beautiful indeed.
“Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan” (JS Bach)
What God has done is rightly done.
January 12, 2023
I appreciated the historical research and backdrop presented in this story and how it occasionally left the main characters to show a key scene in history with Churchill, Hitler and/or Franklin. Kudos for how well this was laid out.
The story itself was pretty good too, with a lot of plot and/or action happening. More of a "Hallmark Movie" feel to it, so possessing a somewhat predictable story-line with a leading female who's obviously gorgeous and a few love quadrangles thrown in, of course. What was unlike Hallmark, however, was how this book went a little passed the line of morality standards that Hallmark follows (see Cleanliness below). By the third book, I felt that the authors had pushed it a little too far for my comfort (and I was losing interest in the new characters and the bunny trails they were making away from the main characters I wanted to read about).
Ages: 17+
Cleanliness: Even though the books in this series are published by a Christian publishing house, I didn't really think they felt all that Christian. The characters may mention God once or twice but it's fairly trivial and most of the characters certainly don't live an obvious Christian lifestyle. If you think of these books as perhaps just cleaner fiction with non-Christian characters, you might not be disappointed.
There is drinking and smoking mentioned throughout, and characters getting drunk to drown their sorrows. There is kissing, lustful glances, and thoughts of adultery/fornication (not detailed or explicit). Lingerie is mentioned. There are characters thinking of suicide as a way out. There are about two swear words in each book (b*tch is one of the words used).
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
The story itself was pretty good too, with a lot of plot and/or action happening. More of a "Hallmark Movie" feel to it, so possessing a somewhat predictable story-line with a leading female who's obviously gorgeous and a few love quadrangles thrown in, of course. What was unlike Hallmark, however, was how this book went a little passed the line of morality standards that Hallmark follows (see Cleanliness below). By the third book, I felt that the authors had pushed it a little too far for my comfort (and I was losing interest in the new characters and the bunny trails they were making away from the main characters I wanted to read about).
Ages: 17+
Cleanliness: Even though the books in this series are published by a Christian publishing house, I didn't really think they felt all that Christian. The characters may mention God once or twice but it's fairly trivial and most of the characters certainly don't live an obvious Christian lifestyle. If you think of these books as perhaps just cleaner fiction with non-Christian characters, you might not be disappointed.
There is drinking and smoking mentioned throughout, and characters getting drunk to drown their sorrows. There is kissing, lustful glances, and thoughts of adultery/fornication (not detailed or explicit). Lingerie is mentioned. There are characters thinking of suicide as a way out. There are about two swear words in each book (b*tch is one of the words used).
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
July 25, 2011
Here is another holocaust story, but from the viewpoint of pre-World War II. We already knew that Hitler was wicked and evil and conniving. This book shows us just exactly how wicked and how evil and how very conniving he was. It makes you want to shake the English and the Americans and say, "Pay attention!" They could have stopped him, they could have prevented all his take-overs, they could have shed light on his hatred. But they didn't. And thus, we have the sad and tragic happenings of the late 1930's and half of the 1940's that affected not only Europe, but the entire world. It changed everybody's lives. HE changed everybody's lives.
This takes us from 1936 to 1938, and from Germany to Austria, back to Germany, France, England, New York and finally into Czechoslovakia. Our main characters are a successful German Jewish businessman who has embraced Christianity, his family and those who protect them, and most especially his daughter and all the men who fall in love with her. She lives in Vienna as an Aryan, she plays the violin in the most important orchestra, and she is spectacularly beautiful but naive. As the events unfold, she has to grow up and face facts. It's hard on her, and it is harder on us as the readers to watch it happen.
I read this for book club. It's quite long, and I believe it could have been edited down somewhat and still have the impact. But it is a story told with integrity and great attention to detail. It's very eye-opening. Good for book club discussions.
This takes us from 1936 to 1938, and from Germany to Austria, back to Germany, France, England, New York and finally into Czechoslovakia. Our main characters are a successful German Jewish businessman who has embraced Christianity, his family and those who protect them, and most especially his daughter and all the men who fall in love with her. She lives in Vienna as an Aryan, she plays the violin in the most important orchestra, and she is spectacularly beautiful but naive. As the events unfold, she has to grow up and face facts. It's hard on her, and it is harder on us as the readers to watch it happen.
I read this for book club. It's quite long, and I believe it could have been edited down somewhat and still have the impact. But it is a story told with integrity and great attention to detail. It's very eye-opening. Good for book club discussions.
November 27, 2021
I loved Thoene's Zion Chronicles, and this first book of the Zion Covenant series gives me much to anticipate about the rest of the series. I relish Thoene's blend of tension, character development, and descriptive details that bring history to life. The way the book explains the lead-up to WWII and the Holocaust is really elucidating, but it never loses the immersive quality of great fiction.
November 12, 2016
Methodical, dry writing style; a stilted third-person narrative
Had to force my way through this book. I usually enjoy historical novels, but not this one. When, oh when, will I ever run across a "Christian" novel worth reading? Oops! Nevermind! Please don't start recommending any to me! I'm going to give Gilbert Morris a try, but otherwise I'm giving up on the genre!
I'm tempted to say the author should have stuck to newspaper or periodical reporting, or perhaps non-fiction books. But honestly, I'm not convinced she would have survived that with any success. There's simply no beauty to her prose. I'm currently in the middle of Ann and John Tusa's classic The Nuremberg Trials. There's more eloquence in every page of that non-fiction account than I found in Thoene's entire novel.
And plot, [groaning] where do I start? The basic idea was fine, but the details, oy vey! Romance novel machinations, unnecessary melodrama in parceling out historic background (Really! If it happened before these events, then can't you just put it in one paragraph instead of this forced spacing of the related sentences, one every few pages?), and a sub-plot event lifted straight out of the old "Thomas Crown Affair" movie. I could go on ad-nauseum!
And a few of my pet peeves:
1. You know you're in love with him because of the effect of his first kiss? Aaaaaaahhhhh!
2. It must be God's will that you're to be with him because you keep running into him? Really???
3. You're a Christian, but you never once read your Bible? You just pull all your faith and belief out of the air? (Oh, excuse me, out of the music? So impressive!)
4. You're a Christian, but that's no big deal, not really important, since every nice person who's dying peacefully flits off toward the stars, Christian or not.
Lastly, an apology to the lovely and dear friend who recommended this series; though I didn't care for the novel, I'm still Christian and I still love you!
Had to force my way through this book. I usually enjoy historical novels, but not this one. When, oh when, will I ever run across a "Christian" novel worth reading? Oops! Nevermind! Please don't start recommending any to me! I'm going to give Gilbert Morris a try, but otherwise I'm giving up on the genre!
I'm tempted to say the author should have stuck to newspaper or periodical reporting, or perhaps non-fiction books. But honestly, I'm not convinced she would have survived that with any success. There's simply no beauty to her prose. I'm currently in the middle of Ann and John Tusa's classic The Nuremberg Trials. There's more eloquence in every page of that non-fiction account than I found in Thoene's entire novel.
And plot, [groaning] where do I start? The basic idea was fine, but the details, oy vey! Romance novel machinations, unnecessary melodrama in parceling out historic background (Really! If it happened before these events, then can't you just put it in one paragraph instead of this forced spacing of the related sentences, one every few pages?), and a sub-plot event lifted straight out of the old "Thomas Crown Affair" movie. I could go on ad-nauseum!
And a few of my pet peeves:
1. You know you're in love with him because of the effect of his first kiss? Aaaaaaahhhhh!
2. It must be God's will that you're to be with him because you keep running into him? Really???
3. You're a Christian, but you never once read your Bible? You just pull all your faith and belief out of the air? (Oh, excuse me, out of the music? So impressive!)
4. You're a Christian, but that's no big deal, not really important, since every nice person who's dying peacefully flits off toward the stars, Christian or not.
Lastly, an apology to the lovely and dear friend who recommended this series; though I didn't care for the novel, I'm still Christian and I still love you!
August 10, 2022
4.5 stars ✨
A must read for everyone. We just never forget the horrors these people have gone through. Bodie Thoene had crafted a remarkable, incredibly haunting story that I will not be forgetting easily.
It did lag a bit in the middle which made that part feel slow, and I didn’t spend a lot of time reading those pages. But overall, it was a thoroughly gripping read. Highly, highly recommend!
A must read for everyone. We just never forget the horrors these people have gone through. Bodie Thoene had crafted a remarkable, incredibly haunting story that I will not be forgetting easily.
It did lag a bit in the middle which made that part feel slow, and I didn’t spend a lot of time reading those pages. But overall, it was a thoroughly gripping read. Highly, highly recommend!
June 27, 2014
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil - is for good men to do nothing. Edmond Burke
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold - is for people of Good conscience to remain silent. Edmond Burke
Set in 1936 Austria in Vienna, known for its people and their love of music and culture, and a large Jewish population as was true with most European countries during hitters rise to power. Hitlers army has just broken the Versailles treaty of 1918 by rearming and occupying the Rhineland and making it apart of Germany. This was a breach of the treaty and should have had a strong response from England, France and Italy. Their lack of response was a signed invitation for hitler to occupy all German speaking people, including Austria who wanted to remain an independent nation free of Germany. After Austria he would occupy Czechoslovakia and Poland. His only hesitation was what measures would the League of Nations take. During this time he was starting to deal with the Jewish problem.
The German Jews were already escaping from Germany to governments that they thought was safe from hitlers reach, such as Austria, Czechoslovakia and immigrating to England, the United States and Palestine. All nations were forewarned of the upcoming horror inflicted on Europe and particularly the Jews by reading a copy of hitlers mein kampf which was first published in two volumes in 1925 and an abridged copy in 1933 from which Winston Churchill read. I suppose that the English and French thought what was happening was little to pay for freedom.
This is the story of what one Jewish family went through to escape from Germany and stay intact. This is also centered on members of the Vienna philharmonic orchestra and the lives of mostly the Jewish members. This is a story of undying courage of individuals stepping up and helping innocent people escape certain imprisonment, torture and ultimately death. This is a book that identifies the horrors and instability of NAZI controlled Germany. Mans inhumanity to Man. This book also points out that not all Germans were nazis or pro nazis. Hitler was evil and vile and he brought out the worst and evil in all his minions. Prejudice and hate is a cancer will eventually eat up and destroy its victims.
England, France and the United States did nothing and remained silent.
Italy and Japan allied itself with the devil and Russia made a non-aggression pact with satan and invaded western Poland while hitler occupied eastern Poland. And then invaded Russia. You just don't know who you can trust, do you Stalin.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold - is for people of Good conscience to remain silent. Edmond Burke
Set in 1936 Austria in Vienna, known for its people and their love of music and culture, and a large Jewish population as was true with most European countries during hitters rise to power. Hitlers army has just broken the Versailles treaty of 1918 by rearming and occupying the Rhineland and making it apart of Germany. This was a breach of the treaty and should have had a strong response from England, France and Italy. Their lack of response was a signed invitation for hitler to occupy all German speaking people, including Austria who wanted to remain an independent nation free of Germany. After Austria he would occupy Czechoslovakia and Poland. His only hesitation was what measures would the League of Nations take. During this time he was starting to deal with the Jewish problem.
The German Jews were already escaping from Germany to governments that they thought was safe from hitlers reach, such as Austria, Czechoslovakia and immigrating to England, the United States and Palestine. All nations were forewarned of the upcoming horror inflicted on Europe and particularly the Jews by reading a copy of hitlers mein kampf which was first published in two volumes in 1925 and an abridged copy in 1933 from which Winston Churchill read. I suppose that the English and French thought what was happening was little to pay for freedom.
This is the story of what one Jewish family went through to escape from Germany and stay intact. This is also centered on members of the Vienna philharmonic orchestra and the lives of mostly the Jewish members. This is a story of undying courage of individuals stepping up and helping innocent people escape certain imprisonment, torture and ultimately death. This is a book that identifies the horrors and instability of NAZI controlled Germany. Mans inhumanity to Man. This book also points out that not all Germans were nazis or pro nazis. Hitler was evil and vile and he brought out the worst and evil in all his minions. Prejudice and hate is a cancer will eventually eat up and destroy its victims.
England, France and the United States did nothing and remained silent.
Italy and Japan allied itself with the devil and Russia made a non-aggression pact with satan and invaded western Poland while hitler occupied eastern Poland. And then invaded Russia. You just don't know who you can trust, do you Stalin.
December 1, 2012
'Vienna Prelude' by Bodie and Brock Thoene is a prequel of a six book series. The story concentrates on Jewish life in Germany and Austria during 1933 through 1936. I learned quite a bit about the reaction of the Austrian government to the takeover by Hitler. I didn’t know about the protest about the protest of the Austrians even though there was no hope of rescue from England and United States. I was very impressed by the words and actions of Churchill and Eden and some of the Austrian statesmen.
The main characters are Elisa Linder aka Elisa Lindheim, a concert violinist whose father was raised as a Jew and John Murphy, an American reporter. The story has many minor characters but it was easy to keep them straight. Both characters were very emotional and not able to communicate their hurt and disappointment to each other so there were plenty of misunderstandings in their love story. Even though I was interested in their story throughout the book, I ended up fascinated by the story of the fall of Austria, and mostly of Vienna. The characters were painted very real and the story was vivid.
My main negative criticism is that the book’s font was tiny the book was long. I think that there could have been more edited to reduce the size of the book. I did feel like I would like to read the other five books sometime to find out what happened to all the characters of the story. Did Otto reform? Did Elsa’s father survive? Did the two continue to have turbulent lives?
Also, I thought Elsa’s life could have been simplified. She could have fewer loves. I see now that this book was written to show case what was happening to a German Nazi, a county man not carry too much about politics and the American reporter but it got so I was impatient with Elsa because she couldn’t make up her mind!
I recommend this particular part of the series to people who want to learn more about other countries that Nazi Germany took over before and after. The font verged on beginning too small for me to read and I think that may prevent me from reading the rest of the series.
The main characters are Elisa Linder aka Elisa Lindheim, a concert violinist whose father was raised as a Jew and John Murphy, an American reporter. The story has many minor characters but it was easy to keep them straight. Both characters were very emotional and not able to communicate their hurt and disappointment to each other so there were plenty of misunderstandings in their love story. Even though I was interested in their story throughout the book, I ended up fascinated by the story of the fall of Austria, and mostly of Vienna. The characters were painted very real and the story was vivid.
My main negative criticism is that the book’s font was tiny the book was long. I think that there could have been more edited to reduce the size of the book. I did feel like I would like to read the other five books sometime to find out what happened to all the characters of the story. Did Otto reform? Did Elsa’s father survive? Did the two continue to have turbulent lives?
Also, I thought Elsa’s life could have been simplified. She could have fewer loves. I see now that this book was written to show case what was happening to a German Nazi, a county man not carry too much about politics and the American reporter but it got so I was impatient with Elsa because she couldn’t make up her mind!
I recommend this particular part of the series to people who want to learn more about other countries that Nazi Germany took over before and after. The font verged on beginning too small for me to read and I think that may prevent me from reading the rest of the series.
August 10, 2014
This book can be slow at times, but I kept reading because there was always something about it that made you need to know what happened next. Since there are so many books about people's lives during World War II, it was nice to read something about how it was for people in the "prelude" before it started. This book uses real names and people involved in politics at the time and gives lots of information about the situation and feelings between European countries. The two main characters are an American journalist, John Murphy, and a Jewish violinist, Elisa Lindheim. Because of all the changes happening in Europe they are both forced into difficult situations and have to make crucial decisions regarding themselves, their jobs, and their families. Lots of crazy things happen and the book does a good job depicting the internal struggles of the characters. One thing I wish was different is that I wish the authors had made some of the political characters more prominent or told us more about their lives so that when it was necessary to describe political interactions there would've been more personal interest.
September 10, 2009
I loved this book. I loved how the history wrote itself among the lives of the characters. It is thrilling, fast paced, and full of grief and longing. Takes place in one of the most tragic times of history, in the most beautiful of places. As a musician, I loved how music was weaved in, and the specks of romance all along the pages. 5 STARS!
February 22, 2020
This is probably one of the best books I have read in a while. It is powerfully written and puts the reader right into the middle of the most terrifying period in Europe. It was hard to put this book down, and I was anxious to find out what would happen next. This is the first in the series, and while it ties up some loose ends, there are plenty left to leave me wanting to read the next book now!
November 29, 2016
Actual rating more like a 3.5. Surprisingly good for a Christian romance novel. The historical aspects were well-researched and well-presented through the viewpoints of various characters. The writing is engaging in the sense that I always wanted to turn the page and the book is quite suspenseful at times. It had me on the edge of my seat towards the end.
The writing is NOT engaging in the character department. I couldn't sympathize or connect with any of them, which I blame on the author's under-developing of most of them as well as the lack of diversity and depth. Elisa, in particular, felt very flat. For a good portion of the book we know only that she is a talented and pretty (the pretty part is harped on a lot) and is getting over a disappointing affair with a German officer who jilted her. But other than that? We know next to nothing of her personality. This can be said of every character in the book really.
As far as the romance goes, that was poorly done as well. There's lots of insta love and drama-for-the-sake-of-drama.
The Christian aspects were pretty subtle. Which I could appreciate, were it not for the fact that it felt like the author wanted the label but didn't actually want the faith of her characters to influence their actions much. Which it doesn't. They occasionally pray or mention church going, but when it comes to life decisions God doesn't seem to have much to do with it. (An exception would be Marta and Karl Wattenburger, who are strong in their faith.) Perhaps their seeming lack of faith will be worked on later in the series? Is is supposed to be a character issue? (We wouldn't know, given the aforementioned lack character development.) In particular, I had a problem with the way the author portrayed two Christian characters, Elisa and Karl, as both engaging in blatant sexual sin. Karl lusts after his brother's wife and Elisa has slept with Thomas, but neither seem to feel any shame and these things were not presented as being problems. Also, when Thomas invites Elisa to sleep with him later in the book, she turns him down, not because his offer is wrong, but because she no longer feels all fluttery when she sees him. I don't expect Christian fiction to be squeaky clean, with characters who are overtly pious and never sin, but I do expect it to deal with the issues in a realistic and appropriate way. It wasn't dealt with period here.
All in all, it was fun to read but definitely not great literature. I might read the sequel, as this one ends on a partial cliffhanger.
The writing is NOT engaging in the character department. I couldn't sympathize or connect with any of them, which I blame on the author's under-developing of most of them as well as the lack of diversity and depth. Elisa, in particular, felt very flat. For a good portion of the book we know only that she is a talented and pretty (the pretty part is harped on a lot) and is getting over a disappointing affair with a German officer who jilted her. But other than that? We know next to nothing of her personality. This can be said of every character in the book really.
As far as the romance goes, that was poorly done as well. There's lots of insta love and drama-for-the-sake-of-drama.
The Christian aspects were pretty subtle. Which I could appreciate, were it not for the fact that it felt like the author wanted the label but didn't actually want the faith of her characters to influence their actions much. Which it doesn't. They occasionally pray or mention church going, but when it comes to life decisions God doesn't seem to have much to do with it. (An exception would be Marta and Karl Wattenburger, who are strong in their faith.) Perhaps their seeming lack of faith will be worked on later in the series? Is is supposed to be a character issue? (We wouldn't know, given the aforementioned lack character development.) In particular, I had a problem with the way the author portrayed two Christian characters, Elisa and Karl, as both engaging in blatant sexual sin. Karl lusts after his brother's wife and Elisa has slept with Thomas, but neither seem to feel any shame and these things were not presented as being problems. Also, when Thomas invites Elisa to sleep with him later in the book, she turns him down, not because his offer is wrong, but because she no longer feels all fluttery when she sees him. I don't expect Christian fiction to be squeaky clean, with characters who are overtly pious and never sin, but I do expect it to deal with the issues in a realistic and appropriate way. It wasn't dealt with period here.
All in all, it was fun to read but definitely not great literature. I might read the sequel, as this one ends on a partial cliffhanger.
February 25, 2015
Being that this is an older book, I'm surprised it is so good and haven't really heard of it until now.
I should start by saying I rarely give a 5 star status to a book. This had many things going for it before I even started: highly recommended by someone I totally admire, trust and respect for her literary opinion, it set during WWII which is a favorite time period in which to read and the main character is a musician, of which I am also.
That said, this book blew me away. It was well written but more than that the suspense nearly killed me and my family. Toward the end of the book I could not shower, take care of my home or children and found myself neglecting duties simply to FIND OUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!!!!!! The last 20 pages were during dinner time and I was laughing out loud at the absurdity of me reading while my children talked to each other because I simply could not put it down! What a horrible parent!!! It had been such a LONG time that I had experienced a book like that. So, the writing was great, the historical information was excellent (not preachy or boring but informative and very important to the STORY) and kept me in suspense for nearly the whole book.
If I had one complaint, it would be the fact that three men fell deeply in love with the main character at first sight. Really? All three men??? I get that she was beautiful and talented and smart but I found it unrealistic and frankly annoying that all three men fell deeply in love with her. When I finished I understood why, but still. Annoying.
ABSOLUTELY will recommend to others (though I'm probably in the minority who hasn't read it!).
I should start by saying I rarely give a 5 star status to a book. This had many things going for it before I even started: highly recommended by someone I totally admire, trust and respect for her literary opinion, it set during WWII which is a favorite time period in which to read and the main character is a musician, of which I am also.
That said, this book blew me away. It was well written but more than that the suspense nearly killed me and my family. Toward the end of the book I could not shower, take care of my home or children and found myself neglecting duties simply to FIND OUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!!!!!! The last 20 pages were during dinner time and I was laughing out loud at the absurdity of me reading while my children talked to each other because I simply could not put it down! What a horrible parent!!! It had been such a LONG time that I had experienced a book like that. So, the writing was great, the historical information was excellent (not preachy or boring but informative and very important to the STORY) and kept me in suspense for nearly the whole book.
If I had one complaint, it would be the fact that three men fell deeply in love with the main character at first sight. Really? All three men??? I get that she was beautiful and talented and smart but I found it unrealistic and frankly annoying that all three men fell deeply in love with her. When I finished I understood why, but still. Annoying.
ABSOLUTELY will recommend to others (though I'm probably in the minority who hasn't read it!).
February 22, 2008
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The historical facts are accurate, and incorporated into the story to give perspective.
Although this isn't really a romance novel, it does include romance elements. As with many (of the few) romances I've read the bone-headedness, misunderstandings, incorrect assumptions, of the would be lovers is frustrating at many places, is agonizing to the point where it's almost unbearable. That they just couldn't figure out they were both crazy about each other. I just wanted to jump into the story as smack the protagonist in many places in during the story.
I did like the characters, although I found the main character, Elisa, annoying in places. She seemed to be imperfect and flawed (in my opinion) in ways the author didn't really intend (see "bone-headedness above). But I cared about the characters, and enjoyed the way the story helped make the events leading up to the occupaton of Austria personal.
Although this isn't really a romance novel, it does include romance elements. As with many (of the few) romances I've read the bone-headedness, misunderstandings, incorrect assumptions, of the would be lovers is frustrating at many places, is agonizing to the point where it's almost unbearable. That they just couldn't figure out they were both crazy about each other. I just wanted to jump into the story as smack the protagonist in many places in during the story.
I did like the characters, although I found the main character, Elisa, annoying in places. She seemed to be imperfect and flawed (in my opinion) in ways the author didn't really intend (see "bone-headedness above). But I cared about the characters, and enjoyed the way the story helped make the events leading up to the occupaton of Austria personal.
August 11, 2022
I enjoyed this book, and felt that the author did a good job of communicating what life was like in the beginning stages of events leading up to WWII. I appreciated the historical aspect giving insight into various attitudes of everyday people as well as politicians in the countries involved (as well as some yet to be involved). The plot kept my attention, with some twists and turns along the way.
If you're expecting a Christian book (it's published by Bethany House Publishers), I wouldn't have classed it as that. The theology, which wasn't very clear, seemed to lean more towards Roman Catholicism. There were also multiple uses of the word "God," and you couldn't always decide if they were using the Lord's name in vain or actually voicing a plea (prayer) to God. A few incidents of evil or immorality could have been toned down or eliminated entirely, and not hindered the story at all.
I would give the book a 3.5 rating, if I could.
If you're expecting a Christian book (it's published by Bethany House Publishers), I wouldn't have classed it as that. The theology, which wasn't very clear, seemed to lean more towards Roman Catholicism. There were also multiple uses of the word "God," and you couldn't always decide if they were using the Lord's name in vain or actually voicing a plea (prayer) to God. A few incidents of evil or immorality could have been toned down or eliminated entirely, and not hindered the story at all.
I would give the book a 3.5 rating, if I could.
March 6, 2019
One of the best historical fiction books I have read, I have a feeling this will become one of the best historical fiction series that I have read. :-) The Thoene writing team combines intricate historical research and details - from the types of desserts sold at specific Vienna cafes in 1936 to the hotels housing foreign reporters in Berlin - with many fully-orbed characters who each have their own unique storyline and - usually - hidden history that gradually unfolds through the story and connects them to each other. This novel not only brings history to life in a way unparalleled by any other authors I have read, it also brings a timely warning for the present time in which we live.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
July 12, 2011
This was the first thing I ever read by the Thoenes. I read the entire series, and I was totally blown away by it! The historical accuracy and the delightful characters got me more interested in WWII than I ever had been before. I love the fact that the Thoenes cover the war in a way that you often don't see. This is one of those books that has stuck with me over the years. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good historical read with a Christian touch.
February 7, 2018
During the Hitler invasion of Austria. Elise a violinist with the Vienna Philharmonic, was thourly
Surprised when she received a rare violin from the concert master in his dying moments.
Her friend Leah knew all about the violin and the magic of it’s case .
Elise became part of the underground risking her life and the lives of her friends and family .
She is able to protect innocent children by what the violin case revealed.
Surprised when she received a rare violin from the concert master in his dying moments.
Her friend Leah knew all about the violin and the magic of it’s case .
Elise became part of the underground risking her life and the lives of her friends and family .
She is able to protect innocent children by what the violin case revealed.
August 15, 2022
I read a lot of historical fiction, but it's usually an entirely fictional story set in a historical period of time and place, but the history is not the main focus. This novel is historically rich. The lives of these characters are completely immersed within the context of the events of the day and I feel like I was in Vienna and traveled with the characters. This novel completely overshadows every other work of historical fiction I've ever read. Superb.
April 5, 2016
A story set in Vienna, Austria before the start of WW II, during Hitler's rise to power. It is full of great characters and wonderful history, and you get caught up in the story as the people of Austria see their world slowly dissolve into Hitler's ambition. I loved it, and can'twait to read the rest of the series.
October 24, 2011
This is one of the most stirring WWII stories I have ever read. The characters are immediately engaging, and the circumstances at once original, alarming, and fulfilling. It's Book One of the Zion Covenant, and I am thrilled to see that I will be staying with these rich, desperately compelling characters through four more books in the series.
January 17, 2008
Love, love, love this book. But WWII and what everyone went through is completely fascinating to me.
March 14, 2020
I love a good historical novel the Thoenes are my favourite author. I love how they don't heroise either side that you get all perspectives that they don't tend to preach
January 29, 2024
I’m not sure how many times I’ve read this series 🤷♀️, but I do know it’s been over 10 years & I loved it just as much as I remembered ❤️
“In the cold, the filth, & the stink of Dachau, Theo Lindheim found a moment of consolation in the recitation of the old professor. He was suddenly glad that he was the man being beaten, instead of the man who swung the lash. There was something holy and sacred in the foul swill and the crust of bread that they were fed each day. In the dust of the rock quarries, their lives became a cathedral dedicated to a righteous God. It was better, somehow, in Germany these days, to die behind these walls. Because all souls are eternal and the hell of Dachau would only last for a brief moment in time, it was better to suffer now than to cause suffering.
From that night on, Theo was no longer afraid. The fierce hatred he felt for the well-fed SS officers and guards settled into a quiet pity. “Burn your book of Aryan Magic!” he wanted to shout. “There is a hell, more fierce than Dachau, and it lasts forever!” But he did not speak to his tormentors. Instead, he spoke quietly of the end of suffering to those who were tormented and dying in this place. Every night, like the priest and the cantor, he moved among the moaning men, a shimmering light of hope. they died in his arms. They died with the names of wives and sweethearts on their lips. They died with kaleidoscopic visions of color and stars and hope dancing before their eyes. And unlike Faust, their tormentors could not reach them in the morning.”
So good! 🙌
“In the cold, the filth, & the stink of Dachau, Theo Lindheim found a moment of consolation in the recitation of the old professor. He was suddenly glad that he was the man being beaten, instead of the man who swung the lash. There was something holy and sacred in the foul swill and the crust of bread that they were fed each day. In the dust of the rock quarries, their lives became a cathedral dedicated to a righteous God. It was better, somehow, in Germany these days, to die behind these walls. Because all souls are eternal and the hell of Dachau would only last for a brief moment in time, it was better to suffer now than to cause suffering.
From that night on, Theo was no longer afraid. The fierce hatred he felt for the well-fed SS officers and guards settled into a quiet pity. “Burn your book of Aryan Magic!” he wanted to shout. “There is a hell, more fierce than Dachau, and it lasts forever!” But he did not speak to his tormentors. Instead, he spoke quietly of the end of suffering to those who were tormented and dying in this place. Every night, like the priest and the cantor, he moved among the moaning men, a shimmering light of hope. they died in his arms. They died with the names of wives and sweethearts on their lips. They died with kaleidoscopic visions of color and stars and hope dancing before their eyes. And unlike Faust, their tormentors could not reach them in the morning.”
So good! 🙌
February 17, 2025
"Mutta hän ei kiduttajille. Sen sijaan hän puhui hiljaisesti kärsimysten päätymisestä niille, joita kidutettiin ja jotka kuolivat täällä. Joka yö hän edesmenneitten papin ja kanttorin tavoin kulki valittavien miesten joukossa säteilevän toivon valona. Heitä kuoli hänen käsivarsilleen. He kuolivat huulillaan vaimon, lasten tai mielitietyn nimi. He kuolivat nähden silmissään värejä ja tähtiä ja toivoa. Ja toisin kuin Faustille oli käyvä, heidän kiduttajansa eivät enää aamulla yltäneet heihin."
3,5/5
Bodie Thoenen Wienin alkusoitto kertoo Elisa Lindheimistä ja hänen läheisistään, kun he yrittävät selvitä Natsi-Saksassa vuosista 1936-1938. Tarina esittää natsi vaikutteista Itävallassa ja siitä kuinka se vaikutti juutalaisiin.
Thoenen kirja on hyvin kirjoitettu. Tyylistä minulle lukiessa tuli mieleen musta-valko elokuvien melodramaattinen esiintyminen. Teos, vaikka vahvasti kristitty, ei ole saarnaava tai valistava. Thoene saa tästä muutaman pisteen.
Thoene luo miljöönsä hienosti. Kirjan yksi tärkeimmistä puolista on se että se on perustunut Natsi-Saksaan ja Itävaltaan. Teos esittää hahmot loistavasti näissä taustoissa ja kansallissosialismin nousu on erinomaisesti esitetty. Vaikkei teos olisikaan tarvinnut ameriikkalais-miestä pelastamaan, apua tarvitsevia eurooppalaisia hädästä.
Wienin alkusoitto hyppii ajallisesti erittäin paljon. Tästä syystä joskus tuntuu, että tarina on katkeileva ja tulee ulos jätetty olo.
Teos oli minulle ensimmäinen askel Natsi-Saksan maailmaan ja mielestäni se onnistui hyvin tuomaan minulle hienona, ja uskottavana, kuvana kärsimyksestä. Suosittelen teosta niille, jotka tahtovat kurkata 1930-luvun puoliväliin sotaa edeltäviin hetkiin, ja siihen kuinka se vaikutti juutalaisiin, itävaltalaisiin ja saksalaisiin
3,5/5
Bodie Thoenen Wienin alkusoitto kertoo Elisa Lindheimistä ja hänen läheisistään, kun he yrittävät selvitä Natsi-Saksassa vuosista 1936-1938. Tarina esittää natsi vaikutteista Itävallassa ja siitä kuinka se vaikutti juutalaisiin.
Thoenen kirja on hyvin kirjoitettu. Tyylistä minulle lukiessa tuli mieleen musta-valko elokuvien melodramaattinen esiintyminen. Teos, vaikka vahvasti kristitty, ei ole saarnaava tai valistava. Thoene saa tästä muutaman pisteen.
Thoene luo miljöönsä hienosti. Kirjan yksi tärkeimmistä puolista on se että se on perustunut Natsi-Saksaan ja Itävaltaan. Teos esittää hahmot loistavasti näissä taustoissa ja kansallissosialismin nousu on erinomaisesti esitetty. Vaikkei teos olisikaan tarvinnut ameriikkalais-miestä pelastamaan, apua tarvitsevia eurooppalaisia hädästä.
Wienin alkusoitto hyppii ajallisesti erittäin paljon. Tästä syystä joskus tuntuu, että tarina on katkeileva ja tulee ulos jätetty olo.
Teos oli minulle ensimmäinen askel Natsi-Saksan maailmaan ja mielestäni se onnistui hyvin tuomaan minulle hienona, ja uskottavana, kuvana kärsimyksestä. Suosittelen teosta niille, jotka tahtovat kurkata 1930-luvun puoliväliin sotaa edeltäviin hetkiin, ja siihen kuinka se vaikutti juutalaisiin, itävaltalaisiin ja saksalaisiin
January 14, 2025
This book was originally published in 1989 but I think it has held up quite well. It was published by a Christian publishing company (Bethany House Publishers) but I wouldn’t characterize it as overtly Christian. Elisa Lindheim is the main female character and while her father is ethnically Jewish, the family is Protestant Christian. There aren’t a lot of religious discussions but while Elisa’s father is held at Dachau, he has religious discussions and “services” with Jewish and Catholic fellow prisoners.
As the title suggests, the main setting is Vienna, Austria circa 1936 - 1938. Other locations visited include Berlin (where the Lindheim family home was), Prague, Munich and the Austrian Alps. Elisa is a violinist with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and their home location is the Musikverein; her best friend, Leah, is a cellist who marries Shimon, a tympanist. Leah and Shimon are Jewish and live near the Judenplatz in Vienna’s Jewish District.
Elisa was previously informally engaged to Thomas von Kleistman; his father and Elisa’s father served in the German military during WW1. Thomas breaks up with Elisa because of the Nazi laws prohibiting “Aryans” from having a relationship with Jewish people. Elisa meets and falls in love with an American journalist, John Murphy, although their relationship is not a smooth one during his book.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys what I call Hist-Rom fiction.
As the title suggests, the main setting is Vienna, Austria circa 1936 - 1938. Other locations visited include Berlin (where the Lindheim family home was), Prague, Munich and the Austrian Alps. Elisa is a violinist with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and their home location is the Musikverein; her best friend, Leah, is a cellist who marries Shimon, a tympanist. Leah and Shimon are Jewish and live near the Judenplatz in Vienna’s Jewish District.
Elisa was previously informally engaged to Thomas von Kleistman; his father and Elisa’s father served in the German military during WW1. Thomas breaks up with Elisa because of the Nazi laws prohibiting “Aryans” from having a relationship with Jewish people. Elisa meets and falls in love with an American journalist, John Murphy, although their relationship is not a smooth one during his book.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys what I call Hist-Rom fiction.
August 12, 2021
I really liked this book. The characters are good and the plot is too. I like the nice mix of fiction and fact-- you can also easily tell them apart. The facts are well-researched and truthful. The book may be slightly biased, but okay since it was written after the events are long over and the holocaust has been completely revealed. My only complaint is how sometimes the placing of the main characters in certain places and times, always in the center of things definitely works for the plot, but can seem so contrived. Particularly, the main female character was loved before by this character here, doesn't love this other character there, and now loves this last character somewhere else.
January 25, 2024
Brock and Bodie Thoene are masters in the realm of historic novel writing and this is the best one I've read of theirs so far. Still, they are such prolific writers, I have many more to enjoy. Their work is excellent. This is the first in the series that deals with World War II and the way the Jews suffered during that time. Elisa is an accomplished violinist with the Vienna Orchestra. She is blond and very Aryan-looking so most people don't know she is half Jewish. She goes by a shortened version of her last name also to seem pure Czechoslovakian. Her father is a war hero from the first World War and though he is revered, he ends up caught in the web of the Nazis. Elisa refuses to believe that Austria will be attacked by the Germans, and an American journalist who knows better, and who has fallen in love with her, tries to make her understand what is about to happen. This book is hard to put down. I enjoyed every minute of its complex issues and beautiful writing. The characters are well formed and the story-line is wonderful. A real must-read!
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