A mysterious song in the forest . . .
A discovery in war-torn France . . .
A journey toward hope.
The trenches of the Great War are a shadowed place. Though Platoon Sergeant Matthew Petticrew arrived there with a past long marked by shadow, the realities of battle bring new wounds--carving within him a longing for light, and a resolve to fight for it.
One night, Matthew and his comrades are enraptured by a sound so pure, a voice so ethereal, it offers reprieve--even if only for a moment. Soon, rumors sweep the trenches from others who have heard the lullaby too. "The Angel of Argonne," they call the voice: a mysterious presence who leaves behind wreaths on unmarked graves.
Raised in the wild depths of the Forest of Argonne, Mireilles finds her reclusive world rocked when war crashes into her idyllic home, taking much from her. When Matthew and his two unlikely companions discover Mireilles, they must embark on a journey that will change each of them forever . . . and perhaps, at long last, spark light into the dark.
On the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier comes an emotive tale inspired by the courageous soldiers of World War I.
My Thoughts
It is always the most daunting of tasks to try to find the words to tell of an Amanda Dykes novel because there are none that truly do justice to the breathlessly beautiful stories she gives us. But this will be my attempt to at least give you the barest glimpse into this newest gift so that you will be persuaded to pick it up yourself.
Normally I fall in the less is more category when it comes to points of view but even though there were five I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Each character embedded themselves into your heart and together wove this intricate tapestry of a story that would have been incomplete without each of them. They each had there own story arc and character growth but they also formed unbreakable bonds with each other that were beautiful to see.
Mira and Matthew were the main focus of this story and they both had had quite the unique journey to the point at which they met and their meeting was like all of the puzzle pieces of their lives falling into place. I loved watching them build a trusting relationship that slipped seamlessly into love.
I loved the way the author drew attention to The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as we approach the 100th anniversary of when he was finally laid to rest. And while she didn’t fictionalize him or try to put a name on him she did give us a glimpse of what it was like for those who wonder if the unnamed soldier could be their soldier.
This story captured me wholly and I lost myself in it every time I picked it up.
Like I warned at the start these words don’t even begin to encompass all that is inside this amazing book and I cannot recommend that you read it (and all of Amanda Dykes’ other books) as soon as you possibly can!
Amanda Dykes's debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY award. She's also the author of Set the Stars Alight and three novellas. A former English teacher, Amanda is a drinker of tea, dweller of redemption, and spinner of hope-filled tales who spends most days chasing wonder and words with her family. Find her online at www.amandadykes.com.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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