Lost Souls of Leningrad by Suzanne Parry follows professional violinist Sofya (“Sofi”) and her teenaged granddaughter Yelena (“Lena”) as they navigate the events leading up to, during, and after the brutal and infamous 1941 Siege of Leningrad . Having rekindled her old love with Admiral Vasili, Sofi gains valuable insider information that war is coming. As such, she and Lena compile food, cash, and supplies for whatever hardships the future may bring. The tip off proves literally lifesaving as they come to rely on these stores during the siege in the winter of 1941-42.
I couldn’t help but compare Lost Souls to The Siege by Helen Dunmore, which became an instant favorite for me with its masterful writing. I will try to judge Lost Souls on its own merit despite the natural similarities of exploring the same subject matter. A lot of Parry’s writing was telling vs showing, some events glossed over, yet I still felt the book to be a page turner at times. We’re told some important plot points up front, and others sprinkled throughout, sometimes seeming as random exposition. That said, I was still engaged with the characters and their heartbreaking struggles. Parry does not sugar coat the brutality of the siege, nor the violent carnage of war. TW for violence and gore, as there are a handful of such moments. In the face of such inhumanity, Sofi and Lena struggle to hold onto their own. A somewhat predictable turn of events befalls Lena, but I actually found it a bit of stretch considering the state of her health during the siege, but in retrospect it was all a plot point for the reunification of Sofi and Vasili.
Overall I enjoyed the story (as much as one can enjoy such subject matter,) or should I say I enjoyed the glimmers of heartbreaking humanity and hope in the face of such despair.
Suzanne Parry’s concurrent sequel about Lena’s mother during the war, The Communist’s Secret, will be released August 5, 2025.
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