The Collector of Burned Books marks Roseanna M. White’s debut with Tyndale House, and it’s everything fans have come to expect: rich characters, immersive historical settings, and meaningful spiritual depth. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris, this novel explores the power of words and how literature shapes minds, challenges regimes, and preserves truth when darkness tries to silence it.
“Books didn’t burn. Books ignited. They lit the burning in others. Not with paper and match. With ideas.” ~ Roseanna M. White
Synosis
Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list … and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.
For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.
Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.
“Words form the foundation of society. Ideas create culture. Control them, and you can control … everything.”~ Roseanna M. White
I was captivated by this story from the prologue. The plot was suspenseful and emotionally complex, driven by characters who felt vividly real. Corinne was fearless and outspoken yet tender and fiercely loyal. In contrast, Christian’s journey was more of an inward arc of healing and trust. Their chemistry was electric, and watching them grow individually and together was an inspiring reflection of what it means to risk everything for what’s right.
Roseanna M. White masterfully wove timely themes into this historical backdrop with sensitivity and wisdom. The Collector of Burned Books will challenge readers to consider how censorship impacts society. It will also remind us that we can engage with differing perspectives without compromising truth or causing destruction. This novel is a grace-filled call to unite our divided world through understanding and preservation.
While I found the mid-chapter point-of-view shifts between Corinne and Christian jarring, it was a small price to pay for an otherwise seamless and powerful narrative.
“We never know who will live, or for how long,” she’d said. “But he’s alive now. So love him.“~ Roseanna M. White
The Collector of Burned Books is a memorable story that entertained while delivering a powerful message that I hope will encourage readers to listen to people’s opposing opinions without always needing to debate or persuade their thinking. We don’t have to agree on everything to live at peace with one another. By listening with Christ-like love, we can respect our neighbors and cultivate deeper relationships that will challenge our perspectives and push us to grow.
I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction and anyone seeking a story that pushes boundaries and courageously challenges prejudice.
“Because that was the funny thing about books—the more you tried to ban them, the more brightly they burned in the hearts and minds that found them anyway.“~ Roseanna M. White
*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.*
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My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Positive content: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Godly content: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Language:
Sexual content: ⭐️
Violence: ⭐️
Age: 14+
