AUTHOR: Amanda Dykes
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: *****
From the back cover:
Private Matthew Petticrew arrives in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces, an arrival which a war-weary France desperately hopes will help to end the turmoil. Having faced unthinkable things on the front, he is captivated by the sound of a lullaby, sung by a voice so pure he knows he must have imagined it. But rumors sweep through the trenches like wildfire, dubbing the voice "The Angel of Argonne," a mysterious presence who leaves behind wreaths on unmarked graves and footprints in the war-pocked soil.
Raised wild in the depths of the Forest of Argonne, France, Mireilles finds her world rocked when war comes crashing into the idyllic home she has always known, taking much from her. When Matthew discovers Mireilles, three things are clear: She is alone in the world, she cannot stay, and he and his two unlikely companions might be the only ones who can get her to safety.
My review:
The title of this book is taken from the first line of Psalm 74:16, “Yours is the day, yours also the night.” Set in war-torn France, Yours is the Night contains a mesmerizing combination of nightmarish darkness and ethereal light.
Matthew and Mireilles (Mira) are the main characters, but their story wouldn’t have happened without Matthew’s unlikely companions, Englishman George, who tried to escape war by training and failing as a chaplain, and Henry, the reluctant journalist.
Plucked from the relative safety of normal life, these three young men embark on a mission to save the young woman dubbed the Angel of Argonne. Their journey together yields changes in their characters and unexpected moments of beauty.
Each person is well drawn with unique speech patterns and personalities, so I felt as though I knew them well and would recognize them if we met. Faith is a quiet yet powerful force moving each to his destiny.
Yours is the Night is a story that lingers long after the book is closed and earns five stars. I was given a copy of this book by Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing Group. All opinions are my own. Highly recommended.