Black Fox One is an eye-opening story about Germany’s propaganda against the Jews during World War two. But it is also a love story of two people divided by war and hate.

Lies and secrets were the foundations of this war, a war ignited and fed by ignorance and manipulation, and normal people on both sides of the coin suffered. This is the premises of Black Fox One. The author’s empathy and research can be seen on each page as the story came to life and you get to know the SS officer, the “Fuchsjager”.

Ava and Jonas were ripped apart and found each other once more at the height of the war. The chipping down of lies came at a cost, and the questions of which side to choose remained throughout this heartfelt story.

“They lied to me…they lied right to my face. My teachers, my comrades, they all lied to me!” Jonas Amsel said.

Black Fox One, the moniker of a fierce leader, brings the suffering of the Jewish people's home. The entire team of black foxes was a menace in the German army and one they void to destroy at all costs.

“You’re a loyal SS man, an Aryan. Don’t forget your nation, no matter what happens. At the end of the day, Germany must come first. Deutschland Über Alles!” Dieter Amsel.

With two goals on his mind, the one, to find his one true love and own a “Ehrenring”, Jona, a national socialist’s mind, was set on the task at hand. Not knowing what will happen when he continues. But when Jonas was confronted with a different truth he believed, he had to make a choice.

Since this book is written from Jonas’ perspective alone, it was difficult to know Ava’s thoughts. Yet I could summarize that she had a difficult time in the time they were apart. Though she had to be bitter, I found her endearing character relatable. She knew who she was and made no excuses for it. Her quiet and sometimes explosive nature was a powerful beacon for Jonas’s character. If not for her gentle tutoring unconventionally, Jonas would have stayed lost.

The strong bond of love is an ever-present string that holds it together.

The writing is clear and to the point. The descriptions lively as the author shows the story in apt ways. Adding additional dimensions to a very harsh time in our history.

“I was lied to, he thought, and in the name of that lie he had killed. Murdered. Nausea took hold of him, and he almost collapsed. He was angry. Angry at his father who had lied to him, at the nation which had lied to him, at the lying system he had served.” ( )

I’ve been addicted to this series from book one, and somehow, it’s just gotten better! Hoffman has mastered bringing the historical setting to life, transporting the reader back in time. The characters are believable, with a lot of depth and nuance even the “bad guys”. I can’t help but marvel at how human she makes everyone feel, and how she manages to paint morally gray characters that you’d love to hate, but just can’t bring yourself to. The story moves along smoothly, with enough tension that you’ll find it difficult to set down for even a moment. A brilliant masterpiece of historical fiction, set in a time and place fraught with danger at every turn. ( )

4.5
Book source ~ TWR Tour

Jonas Amsel and Avalina Keller grew up together. When they were teens they started a relationship while planning to serve Germany in its quest to purify the world of the Jews. As Jonas was rising in the SS ranks and was ready to propose, Ava and her family disappeared. Jonas, thinking they were kidnapped by Jews, became the Fox Hunter in hopes that one day he’d find his beloved and her family being held captive by the Black Foxes, a rebel group helping Jews escape. He had no idea what he was in for.

Wow. Elyse Hoffman really knows how to rip out your heart, patch it up, and shove it back into your chest. Don’t get me started on how gut-twisting the subject matter is. Because let’s get real here. There is no way to make the Holocaust a fluffy read. However, and this is important, the author knows how to get the reader to look at a different side of things. An important side that often gets overshadowed - everyday people resisting the Nazi Party. While the story is fictional, I can truly believe there were those just like these characters in this and her other books. People fighting for what’s right, with their lives if needed.

With wonderful characters, great writing, and a tough subject matter, this is a tale well worth reading. A standalone in the Project 613 series it can be read by itself, but why would you? Check out the other stories and see how they briefly interact. I’m beginning to suspect that each piece appears to be part of a greater whole. I’m looking forward to reading more! ( )