Publisher: 27th October 2021 by HarperCollins Australia
Pages: 416 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: historical fiction, WWII
My Rating: 5 cups
Synopsis:
Readers of Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz and watchers of The Queen’s Gambit won’t want to miss this amazing debut set during World War II. A young Polish resistance worker, imprisoned in Auschwitz as a political prisoner, plays chess in exchange for her life, and in doing so fights to bring the man who destroyed her family to justice.
Maria Florkowska is many things: daughter, avid chess player, and, as a member of the Polish underground resistance in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, a young woman brave beyond her years. Captured by the Gestapo, she is imprisoned in Auschwitz, but while her family is sent to their deaths, she is spared. Realizing her ability to play chess, the sadistic camp deputy, Karl Fritzsch, decides to use her as a chess opponent to entertain the camp guards. However, once he tires of exploiting her skills, he has every intention of killing her.
Befriended by a Catholic priest, Maria attempts to overcome her grief, vows to avenge the murder of her family, and plays for her life. For four grueling years, her strategy is simple: Live. Fight. Survive. By cleverly provoking Fritzsch’s volatile nature in front of his superiors, Maria intends to orchestrate his downfall. Only then will she have a chance to evade the fate awaiting her and see him punished for his wickedness.
As she carries out her plan and the war nears its end, she challenges her former nemesis to one final game, certain to end in life or death, in failure or justice. If Maria can bear to face Fritzsch—and her past—one last time.
My Thoughts
Three months ago, I escaped the prison that held my body, but I haven’t found freedom from the one that holds my soul.
First line on the opening page of a new book and it took my breath away. If only I appreciated that this was indeed a sign of what was to come. The Last Checkmate is a deeply moving historical tale of survival. Yes, it's about war and all of its injustices but it is also about great friendships and love. It will take your breath away.
Many of us have seen or read the Queen’s Gambit and came in with high expectations of this latest chess offering narrative. You will not be disappointed. This is a heart wrenching tale of a young girl, sent to Auschwitz, who is a talented chess player and must indeed play for her life against an evil camp deputy.
The endgame has begun. My wits are my king, pain my queen, the gun my rook, and I am the pawn. My pieces are in place on this giant chessboard. White pawn faces black king.
There are many WWII stories and many of those involve the horrors of Auschwitz. However, this is not just another story along similar veins as its predecessors. There is much more to this tale and much of it has to do with the author’s fine writing style. The story moves fast, the characters similarly are strong yet flawed and the writing is so immersive that you will be there through the cold and hunger, through the despair and hope.
The Last Checkmate is beautifully written and I highly recommend it not only to lovers of historical fiction but in fact to anyone who appreciates a well written story.
Chess is my game. It’s always been my game. And after all this time, this game will end my way.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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