From Dust and Ashes by Tricia Goyer
Historical Fiction. 356 Pages. 4 Stars
Synopsis:
It is 1945, and a group of American soldiers liberate a Nazi concentration camp. Helene is the abandoned wife of an SS guard who has fled to avoid arrest. Overcome by guilt, she begins to help meet the needs of survivors. Throughout the process, she finds her own liberation–from spiritual bondage, sin, and guilt. Readers will be intrigued and touched by this fascinating story of love, faithfulness, and courage amidst one of the darkest chapters of mankind’s history.
My Review:
I’ve always been fascinated with WWII history. It’s actually what got me into historical fiction as a genre in the first place. And that opened a portal to many other periods in history and even developed into a love of history, which I never dreamed I’d have.
Among many things I appreciate about Tricia Goyer, her dedication to historical accuracy and authenticity is one of them. WWII is a tender time in our history, full of betrayal, inhumanity, and deep, deep pain. Tricia pays that tender time its due while still maintaining an inspirational thread to point readers to the light. She manages the delicate balance of the weight of WWII events and hope and it’s beautiful.
The first few pages of the book confused me a little. I was a little disoriented, but once I got my footing and figured out what was going on, I followed the story easily. It seemed to fly by, too. I remember getting to the last few chapters and realizing there were eighteen pages left. My heart sped up. I wasn’t sure how she’d wrap everything up and make it satisfying in time. But she did! I really enjoyed the different perspectives. And the characters were darling! I loved watching each of them grow and develop. It was beautiful to see how the story unfolded around each of them and threaded together.
And not only was the book historically accurate, but it’s hard to find accurate military books, too! I appreciated that it wasn’t all hype and unrealistic damsels in distress that military men break rules to go save. The story itself had enough engagement and intrigue rooted in history that it didn’t need false tension.
This is the first of Tricia’s fiction novels I’ve read, but it will most certainly not be the last.
As for content: there’s no swearing and no graphic violence. It is set in Austria during WWII, so there is weight and Tricia doesn’t shy away from showing the conditions of the concentration camps, the grief of the people and the war-torn land. She explores themes of anger, bitterness, forgiveness, healing, and second chances. There’s a sweet and mild romance. I’d probably recommend the book for maybe 15+
More:
Book 2 in the WWII Liberators Series is Night Song (5 Stars)
Book 3 is Dawn of a Thousand Nights
Book 4 is Arms of Deliverance
These books are standalones and can be read in any order, though Tricia suggests starting with Dust and Ashes if you’ve never read any of her books before. Check out the links for more info!
On GraceBought
Check out my thoughts on the next book in the series!
Night Song