Many thanks to Sarah Johnson from Reading the Past
Sarah Johnson, reviews editor for the Historical Novels Review and esteemed review blogger was kind enough to interview me about Fables & LIes: A World War II Novel on her Reading the Past blog.
Sarah’s questions really made me think about both my writing processes and my research. I’m delighted she commented she’s never read a World War II novel like mine given Fables & Lies is not about great acts of heroism or battles. Instead it’s about the complex moral choices of German civilians in the Third Reich. It shows history can be wielded as a weapon, and courage can be found in the quietest acts of resistance.
Based on a true story, Fables & Lies explores WWII through the eyes of Freyja, a German museum assistant striving to protect her nation’s treasures while navigating love and loyalty amid the horrors of Nazi Germany. The book blends romance, suspense, and ethical dilemmas as Freyja discovers the moral corruption of the Regime, dark family secrets, and personal transformation in a world built on lies. The photo shows part of Priam’s Treasure from Troy held at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow (courtesy Wikimedia Commons) which is one of the priceless exhibits which Freyja strives to safeguard.
Sarah Johnson's review
‘With her new novel, Elisabeth Storrs moves from her familiar ground of long-ago Rome and Etruria, setting for her Tales of Ancient Rome trilogy, to WWII Germany—and her enthusiasm for the archaeology of the ancient world is carried forward here. Fables & Lies (The Book Guild, Apr. 28, 2026) centers on a woman from an ordinary German family, Freyja Bremer, who takes part in efforts to save invaluable museum artifacts housed in Berlin: a plotline based on a true story. Even more gripping is the deep dive into Freyja’s viewpoint as she gradually penetrates the fog of propaganda instilled into Germans for years by the cruel Nazi regime and awakens to a new and courageous purpose, one that involves considerable risk.
Emotionally involving and morally complex, Fables & Lies doesn’t hold back on its realistic view of the period, including Freyja’s family members’ individual stances toward the Nazis. It also demonstrates how deeply the regime infiltrated the archaeological field in an attempt to distort the historical record toward their racial ideology. I haven’t read another WWII novel like it.’
Fables & Lies - Plot in a nutshell:
WWII Berlin, patriotic museum assistant Freyja Bremer, marries SS scholar Kaspar Voigt to protect her father, unaware of his role in Himmler’s schemes. While racing to save the priceless Priam’s Treasure, she falls for archaeologist, Darien Lessing, who exposes the moral decay beneath the Regime’s myths. Her awakening leads her to aid a Jewish doctor, confronting moral corruption as she risks everything to safeguard truth, treasure and love amid chaos.
A must for readers who love thought provoking WWII historical fiction exploring the complexities of survival, moral conflict and impossible choices which feature thwarted love and a journey to enlightenment. Perfect for fans of Kelly Rimmer, Laura Morelli and Anthony Doer.
