I’m excited to bring a new release to the blog this week! I’ve heard Sarah Sundin’s name for years, but never took the time to read any of her books until I saw this one come along. I don’t know exactly what triggered my interest in The Sound of Light. I’m pretty sure I heard some author friends I admire mentioning her work close to the time this book was being publicized, but I can’t be certain. Either way, I remember being excited to finally get to try her work, and I was not disappointed—this was an excellent read, and I’m super grateful I had the time to read it while our family was on holiday recently!
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About the book:
When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.
American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research–her life’s dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement’s legendary Havmand–the merman–and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide.
When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin offers pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.
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My thoughts:
If you’ve been following my reviews much at all, you’ve probably picked up the fact that I’m a decided history fan. I was pleasantly surprised when I got into this story—not only was it set in Denmark, and I haven’t read many stories set there, but it was also about the war effort in Denmark during World War II! One of my favorite books as a child was Number the Stars, and though that is also set in Denmark, it only covers a tiny portion of the timeframe this book covers. The history side of this story was amazing, and I’m hoping to find more books about Denmark’s resistance efforts in the future if I can.
One part of The Sound of Light that really surprised me was the physics lab! I don’t know how much of the physics in this book was based on true history—most of it certainly felt plausible, anyway—but that’s something I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered in a book before, which made it fun to read about. I’ve read about many different occupations, but pairing physics work with resistance efforts made for quite a unique setting.
I was pleasantly surprised by the romance. In the end, nothing was as descriptive as it could have been (there were a few paragraphs dedicated to some hugging and/or kissing scenes), but it didn’t end up being that much. I was thankful for where Sundin drew the line with her description.
The one thing I struggled with in this book were the destructive things some Christians planned as part of the resistance. I don’t think they ended up killing anyone (not that I can remember, anyway), but they were ready to, if necessary, and I don’t believe that’s something a Christian should be doing. There was also a lot of lying that went on to cover up the resistance work, even between family members. This is understandable, but I still don’t agree with their decision to do that.
I don’t think I read the back cover copy before requesting this book for review. I know I saw the author’s name, and the cover drew me in, and the recommendation laying fresh in my mind was enough to make me want to try it. In retrospect, it probably would have been good to read the synopsis first . . . but thankfully, in the end, that didn’t matter. This was a good read. I’m wishing there could be a sequel to this story, but I know that isn’t always possible. Sigh. I’m looking forward to whatever Sarah Sundin comes out with next!
Conclusion:
This was an inspiring look at people who were willing to risk their lives to help others. It wasn’t always pleasant, but overall, this is a well-written, gripping story.
Verdict: I’m giving it 4.5 stars out of 5.
Have you read any books about the Danish resistance during World War II?
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