Throughout The Huntress, war criminals attempt to justify their crimes: Anneliese tells Jordan she killed as an act of mercy, and several witnesses tell Ian they were either acting under orders or ignorant of what was happening. Why do they feel the need to justify their actions, even if only to themselves? Do you think any of them are aware deep down that they committed evil acts, or are they all in denial?
Jordan sincerely comes to love Anneliese, who is not just her stepmother but her friend. After learning the truth about Anneliese’s past, Jordan is perturbed that she cannot simply switch off her affection for the one person who encouraged her to chase her dreams. How do you think you would react if you found out a beloved family member was a murderer and a war criminal?
In the final confrontation at Selkie Lake, the team is able to capture Anna instead of killing her or allowing her to commit suicide, and she later faces a lifetime in prison for war crimes. Were you satisfied with her fate, or do you wish she had paid a higher price for her actions?
By the end of The Huntress, Jordan has found success as a photographer, Tony is a human rights attorney, and Ian and Nina are still hunting war criminals. Where do you see the team in ten years? Do you think Ian and Nina will remain married, or will Nina find a way back to Yelena, her first love? Do you think Jordan and Tony will stay together, or drift apart as friends? What about Ruth?
Read On
Further Reading
FICTION
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Night Witches by Kathryn Lasky
The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler
Piece of Cake by Derek Robinson
Daughters of the Night Sky by Aimie K. Runyan
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth E. Wein
NONFICTION
In Enemy Hands: Canadian Prisoners of War, 1939–45 by Daniel G. Dancocks
For You the War Is Over: American Prisoners of War in Nazi Germany by David A. Foy
In the Shadow of Revolution: Life Stories of Russian Women from 1917 to the Second World War edited by Sheila Fitzpatrick and Yuri Slezkine
Stalin’s Peasants: Resistance and Survival in the Russian Village After Collectivization by Sheila Fitzpatrick
Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times: Soviet Russia in the 1930s by Sheila Fitzpatrick
Margaret Bourke-White: A Biography by Vicki Goldberg
Hunting the Truth, a memoir by Beate and Serge Klarsfeld
The Polish Underground State by Stefan Korbonski
The Nazi Hunters by Andrew Nagorski
A Dance with Death: Soviet Airwomen in World War II by Anna Noggle
Wings, Women, and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat by Reina Pennington
Over Fields of Fire: Flying the Sturmovik in Action on the Eastern Front 1942–45 by Anna Timofeeva-Egorova
Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power, 1941–1945 by Von Hardesty
Hunting Evil: How the Nazi War Criminals Escaped and the Hunt to Bring Them to Justice by Guy Walters
Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles Under German Occupation 1939–1944 by Richard C. Lukas
Richard Dimbleby: A biography by Jonathan Dimbleby
Blood and Champagne: The Life and Times of Robert Capa by Alex Kershaw
Piece of Cake by Geoff Taylor
Praise for The Huntress
“With magnificently audacious heroines who will haunt you long after the final page, The Huntress is a powerful and groundbreaking story of sisterhood that puts women back into history where they belong. Without a doubt, the best book I’ve read this year.”
—Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author
“Quinn deftly braids the stories of a female Russian bomber pilot, Nazi hunters, and a young Bostonian girl staring down evil in the most unthinkable of places. The result is a searing tale of predator and prey, transgression and redemption, and the immutable power of the truth. An utter triumph!”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale
“Prepare to be spellbound! The Huntress masterfully draws you in and doesn’t let you go. Another brilliant work of historical fiction by the incomparable Kate Quinn.”
—Susan Meissner, USA Today bestselling author of As Bright as Heaven
“The Huntress left me breathless with delight. . . . Kate Quinn has created nothing less than a masterpiece of historical fiction.”
—Jennifer Robson, bestselling author of Goodnight from London
“The Huntress is a triumph of a novel! Nina Markova is a veritable force of nature who would have had the Night Witches themselves cackling with glee at her wild daring in this tale of revenge and justice, truth and secrets during the aftermath of the world’s most devastating war.”
—Stephanie Thornton, author of American Princess
“A thoroughly immersive page-turner, The Huntress captures readers from the first page, leading them on an explosive journey that shines a spotlight on the horrors of war and the legacy it leaves for those who survive. Impeccably written, richly detailed, tautly paced, and filled with compelling and intricate characters, Quinn’s novel is both poignant and thrilling. This book will take hold of you and stay with you long after you have finished. You don’t just read a Kate Quinn novel, you live it.”
—Chanel Cleeton, author of Next Year in Havana
“An impressive historical novel sure to harness WWII-fiction fans’ attention. . . . Laced with Russian folklore allusions and deliciously witty banter, Quinn’s tale refreshingly avoids contrived situations while portraying three touching, unpredictable love stories; the suspenseful quest for justice; and the courage involved in confronting one’s greatest fears.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“Well-researched and vivid segments are interspersed detailing Nina’s backstory as one of Russia’s sizable force of female combat pilots (dubbed The Night Witches by the Germans), establishing her as a fierce yet vulnerable antecedent to Lisbeth Salander. Quinn’s language is evocative of the period, and her characters are good literary company. With any luck, the Nazi hunting will go on for a sequel or two.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Quinn delivers a suspenseful WWII tale of murder and revenge. This exciting thriller vividly reveals how people face adversity and sacrifice while chasing justice and retribution.”
—Publishers Weekly
Also by Kate Quinn
The Alice Network
THE EMPRESS OF ROME SERIES
Lady of the Eternal City
The Three Fates (novella)
Empress of the Seven Hills
Daughters of Rome
Mistress of Rome
THE BORGIA CHRONICLES
The Lion and the Rose
The Serpent and the Pearl
COLLABORATIVE WORKS
A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii
A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudica’s Rebellion
A Song of War: A Novel of Troy