Kostya

He survived genocide. Nazis. Stalin. Now he's being hunted.

Kostya is a Ukrainian boy who endures brutal Nazi forced labor, Allied bombings, and Stalin's enslavement in the Ural Mountains. When WWII ends, the danger doesn't. He's sent to a Soviet filtration camp. These were extreme and often fatal.

To escape in 1946, he races across Russia with the secret police closing in — jumping from trains, hiding in bombed-out barns — while falling in love. The romance will pull your heartstrings. But survival forces an impossible choice: break a promise he cannot betray, or lose everything.

A gripping TRUE STORY of resilience, integrity, and extraordinary courage. KOSTYA is one of the greatest stories you will ever read.

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5-STAR EDITORIAL REVIEWS...

"If you are looking for a historical novel flavored with drama, thrills, gritty realism, and suspense, KOSTYA is a must-read. Here, Zimmerman weaves a compelling, visceral tale of survival, resilience, love, sheer luck, fate, and sacrifices. The raw, dynamic prose transported me back to the 1930s-40s Europe, giving me a glimpse of the harsh circumstances Ukrainians faced under Stalin's rule and World War II. The vivid imagery captured the setting and mood with cinematic precision. As I followed the events from the famine to Mariupol's invasion, and Kostya's stints in the German and Russian labor camps, I got a clear image of the suffering that innocent casualties of the war were exposed to. I must applaud Zimmerman for delivering this heart-stopping and incredible story in such an intriguing way. It would make a great historical movie. I will definitely read this story again. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment."

Advance Copy Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

"The prose is strong. The descriptions in particular enchanted me. I felt like I was in each place Kostya visited. The author really did a good job presenting the world of the time periods presented. Dialogue is also quite good. Conversations flowed well, and the difference in speaking voices between characters was quite fun to read.

I found the romantic relationship Kostya experienced quite charming. Sometimes the closest relationships are the ones formed by chance. Their youthful willingness to love in a world of cruelty was quite well done."

Advance Copy Reviewed by GrimDaniel blog
 

"The final part of the book is the most gripping and exhibits a detailed knowledge and understanding of the way a regime driven by fear and corruption enables ruthless individuals to cover up the most heinous wrongdoing.

Throughout the book Kostya's sense of integrity and his dedication to the values instilled in him by his parents and grandparents are foremost. Often tested to near destruction, his will to persevere in his quest to return to Mariupol and discover if his family have survived remains central to his every action. In the final stages it is strengthened, but not derailed, by the love of a young woman who assists his escape from the Russian authorities. She is just one of several well drawn characters who play key roles in Kostya's journey. Whether supportive or determined to out-manoeuvre him, they are all fully developed individuals. There are no obvious stereotypes."

Advance Copy Reviewed by Frank Parker for Rosie's Blog