World War II Historical Fiction Series: Book 3
Publication Date: June 12, 2025
Inspired by a previously untold true story…
Following the Nazi invasion of Poland, 13-year-old Helena is imprisoned in the Warsaw ghetto, a squalid hellhole rife with disease and starvation. Yet, although the Nazis have destroyed her home, her life, and her future, they haven’t destroyed the only thing that truly matters — her family. Helena might be just a child, but she’s a fighter, and she’ll do whatever it takes to help her loved ones.
Making sacrifices no child should ever have to make, seeing horrors no child should ever have to see, Helena bravely battles on as her world crumbles amid random killings, slave labor, and deportations. And through it all, her compassion helps to protect her family. But then the Nazis unleash new horrors.
With the ghetto a raging sea of flames, explosions, and gunfire, Helena runs for her life only to hurtle straight into an unimaginable hell from which there seems no escape. And the Nazis are closing in. Can her love for her family give her the strength to survive?
Inspired by a heartbreaking true story of unbelievable courage, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit, The Ruins in Which We Bleed reveals that, even in the darkest of times, one person can make a difference through the greatest power of all — love.
If you didn’t know this was inspired by a true story, you would never believe it possible. Read The Ruins in Which We Bleed now.
A young Polish teen finds her life upended when German soldiers invade.
Inspired by a true story, author Steve N Lee details the experiences of Helena Sliwicka in The Ruins in Which We Bleed. Starting in 1943, the narrative shifts back to 1940, providing necessary context.
To say the events that unfold are horrifying would be an understatement. Many Holocaust stories focus on events that occur after people are forced into concentration camps.
Helena’s story, though, focuses more on what happens to Polish citizens who must try to live with ever-changing rules—from deathly outbreaks of illness to food shortages and forced labor, putting daily survival to the test.
Their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity make Helena a strong character. Despite the Nazi’s efforts to destroy the ghetto, the desire to survive continues. Underground bunkers and random Resistance efforts illustrate courage in a time when threats are everywhere.
Without any spoiler alerts, the story’s impact is best conveyed in the ending. As a reader, I don’t have to like it, but I can appreciate the author’s method.
The Ruins in Which We Bleed brings to life the struggle of a Polish girl caught up in the German invasion.
I’ve hand-fed a wild orangutan in a rainforest, explored exotic locations such as Machu Picchu, and sparred with a monk at a Shaolin temple. As you can tell, I love seeking out extraordinary adventures. So what more appropriate profession could I find than writing — creating wondrous worlds filled with fascinating characters? I’ve been a full-time author since 2016 and write in multiple genres — you’ll find my books crammed with either adorable mutts who’ll melt your heart, justice-seeking antiheroes, or heartbreaking tales inspired by true stories from the Holocaust. I pen my novels in the North of England, where I live with my Polish partner and two stray black cats who turned up in our garden one day and liked it so much they moved into the house. So whether you love to curl up with heartwarming tales about lovable dogs, gritty, action-packed thrillers, or heart-wrenching stories from history’s darkest hour, I hope you’ll join me on my literary journey.
Thank you for sharing Helena’s story with your readers. Much appreciated.