Book Review
Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes
Last year, I received a copy of Amanda Dykes book, “Set the Stars Alight” and I fell in love. (If you haven’t read it, go order a copy here!) So when I heard that Yours is the Night was coming out this year, it quickly became one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. Now, the problem with most anticipated reads is that sometimes, you hype them up so much in your head beforehand, that when you actually read the book, it pales in comparison. But let me tell you, this was NOT a problem with Yours is the Night. This book completely met all my expectations for a beautiful story full of hope and light.
Amanda writes in a way that is lyrical and magical. Her words chip away at the darkness and spill light through the cracks and crevices of the characters’ broken stories. I’m not the type of reader to highlight sentences in novels, but if I was, this book would be filled. There were so many times I had to stop and simply soak in the beauty of a phrase or paragraph. (Keep reading for the rest of my review!)
About Yours is the Night:
(From the publisher) 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.
**Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. All opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Reader’s Thoughts:
Yours is the Night is set during WWI (a favorite timeline of mine) and gives voice to five main characters. Each of the characters perspectives leaves us with a story of wounded hearts transformed. While I particularly loved the characters of Matthew (for his heart and desire for truth) and the army chaplain George (for his accidental humor and more apparent search for God), I was equally immersed in each of the storylines. Peeling back the bits and pieces of these bruised souls, this story is ultimately one of light conquering darkness. Our hope is grounded in the One who owns the night, just as He owns the day.
I love the way that Amanda takes faith-based messages and so clearly layers them into her stories. While I think her last book is still my favorite, I really enjoyed the slow character journey in this one. There was a beautiful balance here between the realities of war and these soul-searching glimmers of light. Yes, there was the grittiness of trench warfare and it’s lasting impacts. But there was also a picture of unlikely brotherhood forged by difficulty, and themes of romance, family, sacrifice. And always, always hope.
As a fan of historical fiction, I was also intrigued by the parts about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This aspect was genuinely moving, but also factually interesting. I really appreciated Amanda’s author notes at the end and her sensitivity to this subject.
Four stars and a hearty recommend for this beautiful book. I can’t wait to see what this author has in store next!