Sparrow Squadron: A Novel of World War II Inspired by True Events (Aelita's War Book 1) (English Edition)

A fast-paced mix of action-adventure, humour and tragedy inspired by the forgotten women fighter pilots of World War II.

Russia, 1941. The day the Germans invade, 16-year-old flying prodigy Aelya Makarova is giving flight lessons and thinking about summer vacation. Within weeks, her hometown is destroyed. When the Soviet Air Force starts recruiting women, Aelya knows how she can fight back: at the controls of a fighter plane.

But the Nazis aren’t the only foes she needs to face. Her female squadron is split by petty rivalries, male pilots treat them like a joke, and the perfect motherland she thought she was fighting for doesn’t exist.

Put to the ultimate test in the deadly skies over Stalingrad, Aelya must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice. Because risking her life is only the beginning. What her country needs isn’t a hero. It’s a killer.