Authentic history, realistic struggles, and heartwarming characters come together in a rich, uplifting tale of courage and faith.
My rating: ★★★★★
Christian fiction set in the American Revolution? Sign me up!
Spark of the Revolution is a wonderful beginning to a new series. Authentic history, realistic struggles, and heartwarming characters come together in a rich, uplifting tale of courage and faith. Soja brings the tension of colonial Boston to life through characters who face hard choices about what they believe and what they’ll risk for it.
Slow burn
As the title indicates, the Boston Tea Party is considered by many to be the “spark” that lit the fuse of the Revolution. But that fuse was in many ways a slow burn, and this story shows that well, both in the romance and the narrative tension. Josiah and Patience are so sweet together, but there’s much more to this story than romance. It has its share of sad moments, and it’s not, for the most part, a fast-moving story. But the pace fits the rising tension of Johnny Tremain’s Boston, which is painted in vivid historical detail and the perfect smattering of period dialect.
This story doesn’t shy away from the complexity of colonial politics, and we see first-hand the variety of loyalties, attitudes, and beliefs that gave rise to the Revolution. This includes the way religion and faith were inextricably woven into the struggle—your choice of meetinghouse was often a statement of your political beliefs as well as your religious beliefs, whether you intended it or not. Cameo appearances by real-life Patriots are an added touch, along with historical figures who formed the basis for some of the characters.
Fresh twists on old tropes
Bad-father stories aren’t usually my cup of (smuggled) tea. Too often, such stories devolve into stereotypes or justification for rebellious behavior. Not so in Spark of the Revolution. Patience doesn’t always make the right choices, but she does her best to do the right thing, and the tension between her and her father was realistic rather than overdone. Most of all, I loved how she finally found the peace she needed in her heavenly Father. It was sweet to see how her influence and the Word of God drew Josiah back to his faith, and I appreciated that their relationship didn’t cross too many lines before they were in agreement in such a vital area.
I also loved the friendship Patience developed with her new stepsister. That dynamic is another one that’s too easily stereotyped. Soja did a great job showing the initial tension and hesitation followed by Patience’s decision to look beyond her own feelings and reach out. Will is the perfect older-brother character, and I’m so excited to see more of him in his own story. His involvement in the Patriot cause really amps up the family tension, but it also provides a great setting for Patience to sort through her own beliefs. And that scene where he tells her she doesn’t have to choose between his love as a brother and what she believes is right—my heart.
And the Tea Party scene was perfection. So much historical detail, and so much emphasis on the solemn choices these men made, the risks they took, the honor they showed in their protest.
Does Spark of the Revolution ignite your interest?
Spark of the Revolution is the kind of book I wish more authors would write. If you love Christian fiction filled with historical authenticity, realistic characters, and threads of true biblical faith, Spark of the Revolution is definitely one for your to-read list. (It’s perfect for readers who have enjoyed my novels Preacher on the Run and Patriot at the River.) The romance is sweet and wholesome, the setting comes alive with careful detail, and courageous faith and Christian growth shine gently throughout the story. Highly recommended!
Buy Spark of the Revolution on Amazon (affiliate link)
If you enjoyed this book review of Spark of the Revolution by Megan Soja, you might also enjoy my book review of The Shenandoah Road by Lynne Basham Tagawa. Read the review here on Goodreads or join my newsletter list for book recommendations, a free short story, author updates, and more.
Do you love early American history?
Christian historical fiction series For Liberty & Conscience brings you faith-filled adventures bursting with courageous characters and biblical truth amid the danger of America’s founding. Click a cover for details or see all books here.
Happy reading!
Jayna Baas is the author of Preacher on the Run and director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. Learn more about Jayna here or join her email list for more recommendations.