Courage and sacrifice meet in an unfamiliar part of WWII.
My rating: ★★★★☆
Germany, England, Russia, Japan—I know all the familiar areas of the WWII maps. But Denmark? Not so much.
Reading the author’s note made this book all the more interesting. The inspiration came from a Danish aristocrat and Olympian rower who ferried Jews to safety in Sweden. Sundin’s development of that inspiration is deft and imaginative. I always enjoy double-identity stories (part of why I have one in my novel Patriot at the River, and it was fun to watch Henrik/Hemming switch between personalities. That’s a lesson in character voice right there.
Lessons Learned
One of my favorite aspects of this author’s writing is always the research she weaves in so seamlessly. I learn something every time. This time, it was the reaction of the Danes to the German invasion, along with a lot of other details—Nobel Prize medals being dissolved for the duration of the war to protect the gold from the Germans, for instance, or the underground papers and sabotage.
The story involves characters who already know the Lord, but as with many of Sundin’s other books, they wrestle with hard decisions and complicated lessons, more than the typical “can they trust God to give their romance a chance.” Leadership, standing up to oppression, and resistance are all under discussion, and stories like this always make me wonder what I would do if called upon to “do wrong for the sake of right.”
The romance is fairly passionate, as Sundin’s usually are. However, I really appreciated the fact that instead of drawing out the drama by focusing on the secrets and misunderstandings as much as possible, the characters actually addressed the issue in a responsible manner and discussed the hurt and confusion caused by their choices.
Not for the faint of heart
This book does deal with some hard things, including several scenes featuring the Gestapo and some description of torture. The reminders are historically accurate and sobering, and I know Sundin did not go to the full extent of what happened to prisoners of the Third Reicht. But sensitive readers (such as myself) will want to exercise some caution.
There’s also a bit of the “woman proving herself in a man’s field” storyline, which is generally not my favorite. But I do think that overall, this story does a good job portraying gentle strength that takes a stand without undue aggression.
Will you enjoy The Sound of Light?
Yes, if you like Christian historical romance in a unique setting with quite a lot of courage, heroism, and danger. (You’re more apt to enjoy it if you also enjoy a hefty dose of romance.) I’m thankful there were (and still are) men and women who bravely take a stand in the face of evil.
Buy The Sound of Light on Amazon (affiliate link)
If you enjoyed this book review of The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin, you might also enjoy my book review of With Every Letter by the same author. Read here on Goodreads, or join my email list for book recommendations, a free short story, author updates, and more.
Do you love stories of heroism & sacrifice?
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.