The Taster

 The Taster  by V. S. Alexander   320 pages

Amid the turbulence of World War II, a young German woman finds a precarious haven closer to the source of danger than she ever imagined - one that will propel her through the extremes of privilege and terror under Hitler's dictatorship . . . 

In early 1943, Magda Ritter's parents send her to family in Bavaria, hoping to keep her safe from the Allied bombs strafing Berlin. After an interview with the civil service, Magda is assigned to the Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat, and only after weeks of training does she learn that she will be one of several young women tasting the Fuhrer's food, offering herself in sacrifice to keep him from being poisoned.

Perched high in the Bavarian Alps, the Berghof seems worlds away from the realities of battle. Every bite is nerve wracking, but Magda gradually becomes used to her dangerous occupation. Equally dangerous is voicing her misgivings about the war, but her love for a conspirator within the SS, and her growing awareness of the Reich's atrocities, draw Magda into a plot that will test her wits and loyalty in a quest for safety, freedom, and ultimately, vengeance.

I love historical fiction, especially differing perspectives of the same event, proving time and again that reality is never black and white, but many, many shades of grey.  The Taster delights in the promise of young love, exposes aspects of Hitler on a personal level, depicts the dangers of living with paranoid personalities, and most importantly, examines the moral dilemmas and desperate decisions required by those living through war.

Posted By:   Regina C.   (submitted to Jen 5/21/18)