Synopsis:

“Nobody wants to die, Hannah. But these children… they haven’t even lived yet. And you have a chance to save them. The question is just: are you brave enough?”

Hannah Stern is a twenty-seven-year-old nurse, who takes a position at Vienna’s esteemed psychiatric hospital Am Steinhof, accompanying her estranged half-brother’s son, Willi, with whom she soon forms a close bond. At first the hospital seems like a safe haven—a beautiful, airy, spacious place of healing and recovery.

But the hospital has secrets. And they are darker than Hannah could ever have imagined. Children are disappearing—not to be healed as promised, but taken somewhere else. Somewhere terrible.

And when Willi’s own life comes under threat, Hannah knows she must act, despite her own fears. When she discovers one of the other nurses is also trying to help patients escape, Hannah becomes determined to help in any way she can.

But she is only one person, fighting against a horrific, overwhelming regime. And to save even just one life, she must risk her own…

---

What To Expect:

You can expect themes of sacrifice, love, and human value in this WW2 historical fiction. It is a heavy yet inspiring book about a lesser known part of the war.

---

Content Warnings:

Language: None

Sexual Content: None

Violence: Moderate to Heavy – Sexual abuse (not detailed), medical abuse, neglect, murder

Substance Use: Mild to Moderate – Mostly medical settings or casual

Prejudices: Heavy – Antisemitism, xenophobia, ableism

Religious Themes: None – Discussions about intrinsic value of human life

Other Topics: None

---

Please keep in mind that some things may be missed in content warning reviews and this is meant to be a general overview without spoilers. Use your own discretion with the information provided to make the right choice for you! View our guideline here.