Best Eastern European Literature Books of 2025

Surviving The Forest is a gripping Jewish historical fiction book that tells the true story of a family's journey during World War II. The story follows Shurka, a young woman who is forced to flee with her family to the dark forest to survive the brutal Nazi soldiers and their dogs. The book is a powerful tribute to love and resilience and highlights the strength of women during difficult times. The author's writing style makes the story feel personal, and the characters are relatable and memorable. Overall, Surviving The Forest is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction and a reminder of the power of hope and courage during dark times.

The Last Wish: Illustrated Edition (The Witcher) is a stunning hardcover edition of the story collection that introduced the world to Geralt of Rivia, a witcher who is a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. The book features eight gorgeous interior illustrations by award-winning artists. The Last Wish is a series that you can sink your teeth into, and it delivers on all the elements that make you love fantasy in the first place. Andrzej Sapkowski's writing is delightful, intense, irreverent, and compelling. This book is a must-read for fans of the Witcher series and anyone who loves fantasy and action-adventure books.

Rediscover the magic of Russian folktales with "Russian Tales: Traditional Stories of Quests and Enchantments." This beautifully illustrated book takes readers on a journey through the ornate palaces and birch forests of Russia, introducing them to unforgettable characters like Baba Yaga and the Fire-Bird. With a mesmerizing full-page illustration for each story, creamy paper, a ribbon page marker, and a handsome hardcover design, this edition is perfect for gifting and display. The book is perfect for folklore fans, readers interested in Russian culture, and collectors of illustrated classics. The illustrator, Dinara Mirtalipova, brings the stories to life with intricate contemporary art, making this book a must-have for any bookshelf.

The Fawn, a newly translated novel by Magda Szabó, tells the story of Eszter, a theater star forced to confront her painful past. Set in postwar Communist Hungary, the book is a tale of childhood, the theater, the collateral damage of the riven twentieth century, hatred, and a tragic tale of love. Szabó's psychological acuity and the translator's smooth prose make Eszter's story an unforgettable one. The Fawn is a powerful coming-of-age fiction book that explores the complex relationships between women of different ages and backgrounds.

A NEW YORKER “ESSENTIAL READ”. “Just as awe-inspiring as the Nobel judges claimed.” – The Washington Post. “Olga Tokarczuk is one of our greatest living fiction writers. . . This could well be a decade-defining book akin to Bolaño’s 2666.” –AV Club “Sophisticated and ribald and brimming with folk wit. . . The comedy in this novel blends, as it does in life, with genuine tragedy.” –Dwight Garner, The New York Times. LONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD. NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, TIME, THE NEW YORKER, AND NPR. The Nobel Prize–winner’s richest, most sweeping and ambitious novel yet follows the comet-like rise and fall of a mysterious, messianic religious leader as he blazes his way across eighteenth-century Europe.. In the mid-eighteenth century, as new ideas—and a new unrest—begin to sweep the Continent, a young Jew of mysterious origins arrives in a village in Poland. Before long, he has changed not only his name but his persona; visited by what seem to be ecstatic experiences, Jacob Frank casts a charismatic spell that attracts an increasingly fervent following. In the decade to come, Frank will traverse the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires with throngs of disciples in his thrall as he reinvents himself again and again, converts to Islam and then Catholicism, is pilloried as a heretic and revered as the Messiah, and wreaks havoc on the conventional order, Jewish and Christian alike, with scandalous rumors of his sect’s secret rituals and the spread of his increasingly iconoclastic beliefs. The story of Frank—a real historical figure around whom mystery and controversy swirl to this day—is the perfect canvas for the genius and unparalleled reach of Olga Tokarczuk. Narrated through the perspectives of his contemporaries—those who revere him, those who revile him, the friend who betrays him, the lone woman who sees him for what he is—The Books of Jacob captures a world on the cusp of precipitous change, searching for certainty and longing for transcendence.. In a nod to books written in Hebrew, The Books of Jacob is paginated in reverse, beginning on p. 955 and ending on p. 1 – but read traditionally, front cover to back.

Grey Bees is a political fiction book that portrays the modern conflict in Ukraine's Grey Zone, a no-man's-land between loyalist and separatist forces. The story revolves around Sergey Sergeyich, a retired safety inspector turned beekeeper, and his mission to take his bees far from the war zone. Along the way, he encounters various characters from both sides of the battle lines and must decide whether to use his moral compass to serve an unworthy cause. With warm humor and a strong moral message, this book provides a balanced and illuminating portrait of the ongoing conflict. Overall, Grey Bees is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking read that sheds light on the inhuman confusions of our modern times.

To Dream of Shadows by Steve N Lee is a heart-wrenching World War II historical fiction novel, inspired by a true story. The book portrays the forbidden love story of Inge, an 18-year-old Czech prisoner, and Heinz, an SS Sergeant who uses his position to help prisoners. The book takes readers on a journey of compassion, sacrifice, and the strength of the human spirit. The characters are well-crafted, and the storyline is engaging and emotional. This book is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Holocaust and the power of love during difficult times.

Mila 18 by Leon Uris is a gripping historical fiction novel that tells the story of Jewish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. The novel highlights the bravery and determination of the Jews of Warsaw who defied Nazi tyranny by facing Wehrmacht tanks with homemade weapons and bare fists. Uris's writing style is captivating, and he paints a vivid picture of one of the most heroic struggles of modern times. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II history and the resilience of the human spirit.

Vilna, The End of the Road is a captivating memoir that tells the true story of Sarah Shimonovitz, a Jewish woman who survived the horrors of the Holocaust. As the Nazis invade Vilna, Sarah's life is in grave danger, and she must navigate the treacherous landscape of collaborators and death squads to stay alive. When she is sent to an extermination camp, Sarah makes a daring escape and faces the harsh realities of the forest. This book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder of the atrocities of war.

The Schocken Kafka Library's new translation of Franz Kafka's Amerika: The Missing Person is a must-read for lovers of classic literature and fiction. The novel follows the story of Karl Rossmann, a young man banished to America after an incident with a housemaid. However, instead of finding redemption, he is thrown into a world of strange adventures and dizzying reversals. Mark Harman's new translation brings Kafka's vision to life, and E.L. Doctorow's words ring true: "Kafka continues to defy simplifications, to force us to consider him anew."