Welcome to my stop on the Revell Reads blog tour for The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin! This standalone WWII novel explores themes of hope, resilience, and restoration within an occupied Denmark setting.
If you’re a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend checking out Sarah Sundin’s two most recent novels that have a connection with this one: When Twilight Breaks and Until Leaves Fall in Paris.
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 another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.
The Sound of Light concludes Sarah Sundin’s recent group of standalone historical romance novels with WWII European settings, all linked in a small way by a group of three Harvard classmates (the heroes of each story). This story delves into the true-life Nazi occupation of Denmark (I learned so much!) and the brave men and women who resisted oppression and chose perseverance in the face of evil.
As in several other Sundin novels I’ve enjoyed, the professions of the protagonists are important and fascinating. In this case, Else’s physicist role makes me want to know more about the real history and science of her time.
Central to this novel of Light are the hero and heroine and their romance, both keeping secrets of roles in resistance and both with an undeniable attraction rooted in friendship. I like the pace of their friendship as it develops, quietly and with honor. Henrik’s secrets limit his communication and openness with Else much of the time, but her ability to see his integrity and fall for the *heart* underneath it is a beautiful, endearing element of the story. And oh, when truths come out, they have some great romantic moments (ahem kisses) in the middle of the danger. Their journey to each other and a happily ever after is fraught with realistic threats and a sense of the triumph and importance of hope.
Beyond the romance aspect, a tale of resilience and restoration emerges through threads of challenge (spies and Gestapo and sabotage!) and through secondary characters (Else’s Jewish friends and Henrik’s estrangement from his father). These themes tie together neatly — and readers of Sundin’s other 2 preceding stories will be happy to see the brief glimpse of those beloved characters.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a “Wren” in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France–including those of her own family’s summer home–in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.
The Green Mockingbird 