Historical Fiction Book Review: Chasing Shadows
About the Book
Title: Chasing Shadows
Author: Lynn Austin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Tyndale
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Publisher's Book Description
“For fans of bestselling WWII fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the neutral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequence.
Lena is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil countryside. Her faith has always been her compass, but can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death?
Lena’s daughter Ans has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden, filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy.
Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought Holland would offer. She finds love in her new country, but as her family settles in Leiden, the events that follow will test them in ways she could never have imagined.
The
Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected,
sometimes-heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the
surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and
love to carry us through.”
My Review
Chasing Shadows, by Lynn Austin, is a remarkable work of historical fiction. Set in the Netherlands during WWII, this powerful novel is engrossing and thoroughly moving as it tells the story of three women linked together through love and war. With unflinching skill, Ms. Austin leads the reader on an intense journey through horrific events that test the resiliency of the human heart and the human will to fight for significance and survival. Yet, this journey through and beyond tragedy and despair is strengthened and uplifted by honest moments of grace and gentle reminders that hope, healing, and restoration are ultimately made possible through God’s love and mercy.
Under the tyranny of an evil regime, the uncertainty of daily life in the Netherlands during WWII becomes unfathomable, especially for the persecuted Jewish people and those committed to helping them. It is within this setting that the characters come alive to the reader. These well-developed characters are authentic, vulnerable, and captivating. Their questions, their insecurities, their fears, their needs, and their desires are wholly believable, gut-wrenching, and inspiring. As they face unimaginable losses and uncertainties, they struggle with their faith and God’s specific purposes for their lives. Yet through it all, they demonstrate determination, perseverance, and courage as they bravely endeavor to help each other and save others during many dangerous situations brought on by the cruelties of war, racism, and selfish ambition. The opportunities, the choices, and the trials that the characters endure are intricately developed, and from them there unfolds a story that is truly surprising, enriching, and profoundly memorable.
Ms. Austin is an incredibly gifted author with a real talent for meaningful story-telling. In Chasing Shadows, she offers the reader a heartfelt and utterly touching story of loss, love, faith, and family. This is a novel that courageously explores humanity’s capacity for love and hate, hope and despair, self-sacrifice and cruelty, perseverance and struggle, and faithfulness and uncertainty. Within this book, the well-researched details and descriptions ensure that every moment spent reading this story is a thoughtful, immersive experience. From the gripping plot, to the extraordinary characters, to the compelling themes, this novel easily held my attention page after page. Chasing Shadows is a book I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys outstanding historical fiction.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.
About the Author: Lynn Austin
“For
many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels
and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her
husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used
the B.A. she'd earned at Hope College and Southern Connecticut State
University to work as a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the
Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It
was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that
Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of
writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early
experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her
ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains
her top priority.
Extended
family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion
between Lynn, her mother, grandmother, and daughter concerning the
change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the
inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along
with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and
archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles
of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue studies in Biblical
Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary.
She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take
part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This
experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then
she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels have won
Christy Awards for excellence in Christian Fiction: Hidden Places
(2001), Candle in the Darkness (2002), Fire by Night (2003), A Proper
Pursuit (2007), Until We Reach Home (2008), Though Waters Roar (2009)
While We're Far Apart (2010), and Wonderland Creek (2011). She was
inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2013. Fire by Night was
also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library
Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen
as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden
Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring
actress Shirley Jones. Ms
Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt
Batty in the film.” --Biography from Lynn Austin’s author page on
Amazon.com.
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