Yours is the Night - Amanda Dykes

A mysterious song in the forest...

A discovery in war-torn France...

A journey toward hope.

Matthew Petticrew’s childhood was hard, but the realities of the trenches of the Great War  bring a whole host of horrors.  One night he and two companions hear a singing voice, a sound of beauty in woods behind the lines.  Before long others hear the singing, and rumours of an ‘Angel of Argonne’ spread through the trenches. An angel who leaves wreaths on unmarked graves.

 

Mireilles grew up in the depths of the Forest but when war reaches her home it takes almost everything from her.  When Matthew and his companions find her, they begin a journey which will change them all. And perhaps, bring light into the darkness.

 

I can’t think of a suitable word to adequately describe this novel. Fabulous, wonderful, gripping and emotional all seem somehow lacking.  It’s a book which deals with loss, love, transformation, sacrifice, courage and faith.  Each character has their own issues and failings and must overcome their own challenges.  Faith is wonderfully integrated throughout as a ‘theology of life’  learned in the fields, gardens and stables of the USA and on the battlefields and roads of France and Belgium.  

 

Amanda Dykes’ books are wonderfully written and powerful and this is the best yet. It deepens and becomes richer and more immersive as the story progresses.

Written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the interment of the Unknown in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia on November 11, 1921, this is a fitting tribute.

  

Amanda, thank you so, so much for writing this novel.  I truly hope it reaches an enormous readership, and it absolutely deserves to win every writing prize there is.

"what if what we believe to be our shortcomings, our oddities, are actually purposeful quirks that suit us for the moments we were made for?"

Oh, and whoever commissioned and designed the cover, it is absolutely beautiful and perfect.

To read an extract, click here: Yours is the Night - Extract

9780764232688, Bethany House, Sep21 (UK)

Crowned Worthy - L G Jenkins

Dysoptian fiction isn’t at all a regular choice of mine, so it’s somewhat surprising that I found myself reading another book from this genre.  

 

Ajay Chambers is outwardly on the up, with a high profile job, a host of merit-making friends and high-born girlfriend Genni.  Despite his successful life, he is restless and unsatisfied.  Ambition in Tulo’s City is on another scale with those who are ‘Worthy’ working constantly to score merit points to elevate their status.  Ajay’s ambition began young, and he carries an explosive secret with him – a secret becoming harder and harder to keep.  And all is not well with Genni, either.

 

It took a while to get into this as I didn’t find Ajay very likeable for a long time. I did warm to Genni though and her longing for expression through her gift for painting. There’s a huge and dramatic shift in pace quite late on, where the feel of the story changes. This is book one and it ends on a cliffhanger.  I hope this means that some of the untied threads will be tied in the next book!

 

There are plenty of things to think about here – the pressures of achievement and expectation, work, relationships and the effect of the over domination of technology, as well as living a truthful life.  My only hesitation is that the other option in the book – living in the ‘Unglorified’ district known as the Side and following the Guiding Light, doesn’t, at this stage of the story at least, appear very appealing!  I wait with interest to see how the story develops.

9781912863709, Malcolm Down Publishing, Feb21