Lucy Clairmont’s family treasured the magic of the past, and her childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. But when tragedy strikes, it’s Dashel, an American forensic astronomer, and his knowledge of the stars that may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she’s discovered in her family home.Two hundred years earlier, the seeds of love … are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a secret sea cave, while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time.As Lucy and Dash journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers–and the healing–they so desperately seek.
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I have so many thoughts and emotions swirling inside me having just closed the back of the book on the story of Set the Stars Alight. Where do you begin for a review of a book that brings to mind the wonder of The Hobbit (for the adventure) or even The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (for the childlike wonder). I feel like Set the Stars Alight is on a plain far above me with a message so profound, hidden amongst the words, that is deeper that I can ever truly comprehend.
Lucy and Dash have childhoods that are bound together at early ages that God had to have set in motion before the beginning of time. Lucy’s parents grabbed the little girl heart in me and wished they could’ve been mine. They were love, and joy, and goodness for Lucy and subsequently, Dashel.
And then we fade to the early 1800s and meet Frederick, Juliette, and Elias. A story of lives intertwining that I never could’ve predicted and a love so deep and almost, dare I say, sacred, that it blew me away! How words can spill forth from an author to make me feel and understand the depth of a character’s love and thought process so completely was surprising to me.
It seems to me, as beautiful as the cover of this book is, that it should be bound in cloth or leather as though it was written in 1802 and not released 2020. It captures ideas and moments like the stories of yesteryear and it filled me up as I read the words!
I couldn’t decide whose story I wanted to keep reading. I was so invested in the current time of Lucy and Dash’s search for the Jubilee, but then I couldn’t wait to get back to the 1800s of Frederick, Juliette, and Elias. Frederick and Dash were so similar in the essence of who they were at their core. They were profound in how they viewed the world and those closest to them.
There probably isn’t another novel in which I have so many sticky notes with quotes I want to share. My heart soared in parts of the story and hoped beyond hope at other points. I welled up with tears a couple of times with either a heart so full or near to breaking! Listen, the book pulls out all of your emotions. It’s unavoidable.
I realize I’m being incredibly vague in regards to anything specific, but the story is so full of bits and pieces, large and small, that to say too much would be to give away what should be left for the reader to discover! All I can say is, “Who’s ready to go exploring some sea caves?”
*I am on Amanda’s launch team and this is my personal opinion.
I finished this story several days ago and have not written a review yet because I just don’t think the words in a review can do it justice. I have seen Amanda Dykes books recommended by so many people that I knew that I just had to give them a try. This is the first book I have read by her, but will not be the last. I am not typically a fan of historical fiction, but have found that I enjoy a split timeline with modern day. From reading this book, I have found that this author has perfected the art of connecting the past to the present. I cannot even begin to describe the beauty of her writing. It is so poetic. She draws the reader in to these almost magical places and you feel like you are right there experiencing the adventures right along side the characters. In my opinion, this is definitely one of most well-written books of 2020.
Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for an e-book of this story. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Amanda Dykes has once again written a magical, delightfully exquisite split-time novel that completely captivated me. With a setting in England and two stories aligning in different centuries—early 1800s and contemporary—the author has masterfully unfolded the stories layer by layer until they meld together perfectly for a powerful ending.
The characters are carefully drawn, realistic, and very endearing, and the stellar cast of secondary characters adds to the mystical charm of the tale. Richly painted settings, descriptive storytelling, and fascinating historical insight brought the story to life. The author’s lyrical, poetic prose enchanted me with its beauty and brilliance.
“Outside, the air slapped his cheeks with coolness and cleared his head.”
“And now . . . it felt like home again. Because family, gathered from odd corners of the earth and pieced together in growing friendship, was here.”
“This was a place of impossible. And what a beautiful impossible it was.”
There is a great spiritual depth to this book, with themes of Biblical truth, family, hope, healing, and the worth of a single soul. I found myself highlighting sentences and whole paragraphs, and when I finished, I immediately wanted to read it again to savor it and find the hidden layers.
“A single life can make more of a difference than we can possibly imagine.”
“In a world as dark as this, people forget how to see the light, so we need to remind them by telling the truth, paying attention. . . setting the stars alight.”
This author’s debut book, Whose Waves These Are, was my favorite book from last year. I’ve recommended it to countless people and even bought several copies to give for gifts. I’m sure Set the Stars Alight will be one of my top reads from this year. It’s bound for my keeper shelf. For a delightful, enchanting, beautifully written story, you’ll want to grab this one and savor every word.
If I could give this book 6 stars I would! This novel blew me away with it’s lyrical prose, descriptive language, originality, and ability to hold my interest. It was whimsical, yet intelligent. And can I say, being a writer who sets books in England, how much I loved the setting? I have to admit the English setting is what drew me to this book, but as I read, I became engrossed in the story – I wanted to find out what happened to the characters from 200 years ago as well as those from current day. It wasn’t hard detaching from real life and diving into the pages of this well-written book. If you’re in need of a good story – one of romance, adventure, wonder, friendship, and inspiration – pick up Set the Stars Alight and hunker down with a cup of Earl Grey tea!
Set the Stars Alight by Amanda D is a book that I had to get my hands on. I hope you will want to, also. This is a realistic story, yet stirred into it are the timeless allure of magical inklings, coupled with family ties swelling and shrinking. Love slowly takes root and blossoms, yet is carefully guarded until the right time. And the wondrous fact is, that this is actually true of both subplots of this amazing novel, which comprise this split-time tale.
One portion of our adventure concerns Lucy, born to a clockmaker in London in recent times. Lucy’s warm, welcoming family time is built around tales spun by her enigmatic father and amended by her jovial mother. Dash, a young misfit, American boy, is welcomed into their familial atmosphere. Suddenly, life flips and flops, and Lucy finds herself alone and floundering with only her marine interest to keep her afloat.
The second saga is a melodrama about a young son of a military hero in the war against Napoleon. Frederick tries hard to make his father proud, but loyalty and fate interfere.
Split-time stories depend upon the author’s fantastic ability to draw two separate, believable strands, at first totally disparate paths, then cause them to become parallel roads, then bring those parallel roads into an obvious intersection where the highways then become one. I had trouble suspending disbelief in some points. I wanted more communication in others. Some issues dragged on too long between people because of a fear of communication that I didn’t find realistic.
So, I thought this was a great book, but it stopped short of the terrific level of Ms. D’s debut novel. Still a very worthy read. Get ahold of Set the Stars Alight and judge for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinions, which are solely my own.
Notable Quotables:
“When things seem dark…that’s when you fight for the light.”
“The God of the stars . . . He is coming, and coming, and coming after you. Always. The heart of a father who will never forget his daughter.”
“But it started with smaller things, which bigger things built on again and again until the big betrayal no longer felt like a plunge to him. It was a small—almost natural—next step.”
“‘Impossible?’…The word had been gifted to them all their lives as a challenge. A lens to see wonder where others saw walls.”
My review will be live on my blog on Friday July 17th! 🙂
Here’s Why You Should Read Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes:
* Have you ever adored every. single. character in a book before? Every. Single. One?
* “It’s England. Scones are everywhere.”
* The setting, the story, the people…everything is so wonderfully vivid!
* What a uniquely layered, completely captivating reading experience!
* Clara’s “wireless intermet”.
* So much hope. So much light. This story is such a gift!
* And, oh wow what a perfect cameo appearance by Whose Waves These Are !!
* Set the Stars Alight is pure storytelling magic!
* This book is amazing!
Do not miss this story! Set the Stars Alight is available now – purchase today at http://www.bakerbookhouse.com or http://www.christianbook.com .
While I did receive a complimentary electronic copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley, I purchased my own paperback, which is the version that was read for this review. Had I finished the NetGalley copy, a positive review would not have been required. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
I anticipate that Set the Stars Alight may take its place as my very favorite book of 2020. In my opinion, it will be extremely difficult to surpass this beautifully written story. I have found each and everything I have read by Amanda Dykes to be filled with wonder and a magical, lyrical style that makes me want to immerse myself into the story and stay forever. Each of her tales is better than the last.
Although many reviewers have remarked on the sense of wonder and light that emits from this book, I can only agree. Wonder just seems to be the right word and no other one will do to describe how I felt when reading it. This author has a powerful gift that touches the very soul and Set the Stars Alight was just what I needed to read during the dark days of this summer.
Set the Stars Alight is story-telling at its best. Quotable lines abound on nearly every page. I highly recommend reading it for the sheer beauty of its words but its story is worthwhile and offers a ray of hope to all who enter in.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Set the Stars Alight is unlike any Christian fiction book I have read! I had difficulty getting into the modern day story line at the beginning of the book, but the 1800s storyline pulled me in and kept me reading. This is a beautiful, well-crafted story filled with wonder and hope, truth and loss, sacrificial love and faith. Ms. Dykes has a remarkable “way with words”! With her lyrical, expressive prose and sensory imagery, she seamlessly executes the dual-storyline technique. Her characters are engaging and memorable, and the romance in both storylines is heartwarming. Before I read this book, I had never heard of maritime archeology or forensic astronomy and was amazed at how these two sciences are woven into the story evidencing the author’s extensive research. I highly recommend this book especially for lovers of historical Christian fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Amanda Dykes has a beautiful way with words, that’s for sure. I loved the rhythm and flow of this book, and the symbolism of light strewn throughout. I also really enjoyed watching the two stories–present and past–evolve, each with their own separate thread that, in the end, was woven together beautifully. Well done! I can’t wait to see what comes next!
This novel is full of substance and layers. It is slow moving and thought provoking, and that is how it should be read. This is not brain candy you can gorge your way through. This one needs time to simmer and ponder. The writing is literary and beautiful. It is magical and full of wonder.
Lucy and Dashel have grown up hearing wonderful stories from her watchmaker father. Amid these stories, Lucy has become fascinated by the mystery of the HMS Jubilee and the traitor who disappeared on this ship right before he was to be hanged for his crimes during the Napoleonic wars. She has become a marine archaeologist in order to investigate this mystery. And Dashel, who has become a forensic astronomer, decides to use his special skills to help her along. The reader gets to discover this story in two ways, first by watching Lucy and Dash as they work to discover the mystery and second through reading the story of Frederick and how he became an infamous traitor to his country.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The beautiful writing sucked me in to the magic of it. I loved the themes of story and truth, the layers of meaning, and the subtle Christian undertones. I would recommend this to anyone who is in the mood for something distinct to savor.
“I can’t shake the feeling that we’ve somehow found ourselves right smack in the middle of one of his tales. But instead of hearing it, we’re living it.”
Lucy Claremont’s beloved father was a story teller extraordinaire. Mesmerizing his young daughter and her best friend Dashel Greene with fireside compendiums, Lucy and Dash often wondered where the truth disappeared and the fairy tale began. Eventually Dash left London to follow his dreams and Lucy became stuck in hers, until in the midst of crippling grief hope reappears and an age-old mystery grabs hold of her heart. It seems that the old watch maker knew how to “set the stars alight”, after all.
What a luscious story! Impossible to describe, yet quite impossible to ignore. Words sing off every page, while harmonizing with characters who are so beautifully painted into their settings that readers will instinctively gape at their loveliness. The height and depth of this story’s implications are immeasurable, for “God is the pursuer of your heart, Lucy, . . . . In every sunset, in every snatch of birdsong. In everything that stirs deep into you and makes you hungry for bigger, eternal things. . . . . He is there, filling your soul, giving you breath.”
This author has the unique ability to take what is seen, and gently fashion it into an imprint of what is unseen, in order to leave a lasting impression on the hearts of her readers in a deeply personal way. It will be nearly impossible to gaze into the heavens, without recalling this story.
Magnificent!!
I seldom wish I had more stars to rate a book, however, Set the Stars Alight is one of the best stories I’ve read. Ever. I almost feel like I should put off reading anything else for a week or a month or two so as not to be overly biased! So prepare yourself for some gushing here!
The first thing I noticed was the wonderful way in which the writer wielded words. (Sorry, it just came out that way!) The phases wrapped my soul with a sense of nostalgia, peace, hope, warmth, and contentment. It was truly magical, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once!
Lucy’s parents were storytellers. The tales and riddles they shared with Lucy and Dash were delightfully related to the mystery. The kids quoted Shakespeare to one another, despite Lucy’s loathing of the bard. And they all played with puns prolifically. One of the characters was a poet and thus provided more fun with words.
Lucy attempted to solve the mystery of the Jubilee, a prison ship that had been stolen and then disappeared with a traitor on board. Frederick, the traitor, lived his story before my eyes during the Napoleonic Wars. Starting from the time he lost his mother to an illness when he was yet a boy. The parallels between his loss and ensuing loneliness and Lucy and Dash’s own were so touching! I loved the way Dash and Frederick, separated by centuries, both found their home by seeking the stars.
A strong faith message pervades the story. The characters never questioned God’s existence. While they struggled trusting God through hard times, the knowledge of His love and the trust that He was carrying them and in control was always stronger than their troubles.
My heart probably experienced the full gamut of emotions as I read, moving from empathy to smiles to giggles to heartache to fear and back again to hope. This is a story of overcoming grief. Of hope. Of sacrificial love. Of finding the way home. Of having the Light in your heart.
I won’t even quantify who should read Set the Stars Alight. YOU should read it. If you are considered a you, grab a copy today and prepare to be delighted!
Read my review of Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
“This was a place of impossible. And what a beautiful impossible it was.”
In the first chapter of Set the Stars Alight, I was charmed. By the second, I was enthralled.
I loved everything about this book. The characters—from the watchmaker’s daughter to her friend who lives with his head in the stars to the landowner’s son who makes the ultimate sacrifice for a friend—the imagery, the beautiful story set inside the stories that Lucy and Dash grew up on.
This author transcends the dual time/time split stories from the depths of the sea to the heights of the stars, and every moment of the journey is wonderful and amazing and awe-inspiring. Set the Stars Alight will be on my favorite books of 2020 list.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Deeply evocative. Dykes is a masterful story weaver and I was touched in deep places by the love, sacrifice and restoration conveyed in these intertwining stories. The language is powerful and beautiful and so many lines are still floating in my mind for further exploration. Lucey and Dash in the contemporary setting and Frederick, Elias and Juliette in the early 1800’s command your full attention as they have a magical story that rivals any legend sung by the bards. You will not be disappointed by this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.
Amanda Dykes has a signature style for sure. It’s poetic, lyrical, a bit whimsical, and wholly her own. It feels a bit like magic, but somehow all of the layers come together into something true and beautiful.
The modern day storyline involves watchmaker’s daughter, Lucy, with a heart for the sea, meeting and befriending Dash, a boy with a heart for the stars. Though time and circumstance pull them apart, later the stars and the sea bring them back together to solve a historical mystery. Lucy has set much of her academic life as a marine archaeologist on finding out what happened to a ship that disappeared two hundred years ago. Dash, an expert in his field, just might be able to help her find the answers that she needs.
Two hundred years ago, near the coast of Sussex, Frederick is the young son of a grand estate, learning everything there is to know about ships and sailing. At the same time, he craves freedom and a place to belong. As his story entwines with that of a shepherd’s daughter and another local boy, the layers build gently until the reader is left wondering where the thread began and what could Dykes possibly do to unravel this tale. Yet, she does so with finesse and ease. Though the historical story took me a bit longer to settle into, but its depth grew with each scene, and I was soon eager to know how things turned out for these characters.
The way everything relates to the present day story is well-woven tale indeed. There is such a sense of whimsy to her stories and so much charm, including fairytale-like stories, hidden paintings, secret caves, mysterious church bells, and so much more. You really just have to read it to appreciate it in all its winsome goodness. There is a substantial amount of grief, but Dykes never leaves out hope. In fact, I would say that her stories are often about acknowledging the hope’s light, even when it’s unseen, holding onto grief and hope equally, realizing there is beauty in both:
“The One who is coming…and coming…and coming after you. Fighting for your heart. Every breath a gift. He sets the stars alight, my girl. And we open our eyes to this in benevolent defiance of the dark…by remembering. Take note. Live deeply.”
I hope I always take note, live deeply, and lean into the light. I hope we all do.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this novel from the publisher; this review is my honest opinion.
Set the Stars Alight transports readers into an unbelievable setting, with incredible characters and an enchanting story. Lucy Clairmont searches for a long-lost ship which disappeared centuries ago. But she stumbles on so much more as she follows a trail of breadcrumbs her father left her in the form of fairy-tale-like stories.
Set in two time periods, the story weaves the tale of the past with Lucy’s modern day search. She winds up being led by Dashel, her long lost childhood love, to Stone’s Throw Farm to search for proof of the infamous shipwreck. Amanda Dykes has a powerful writing style that creates deep and meaningful characters. I loved Lucy’s struggle to find herself as she connects with a town and people seeped in mystery. I fell in love with Dash, his quirkiness and genius bringing out the best in Lucy. The stories, both past and present, are seeped in imagery and themes of love and sacrifice.
The combination of Dash and Lucy makes the story rich. She is a maritime archaeologist, and he is a forensic astronomer. Together they take their childhood stories and piece them together to understand the legend behind the missing ship, the Jubilee. Their connection is deep as the waters and sky they search.
I will add that this story isn’t a quick read. I love to read as I fall asleep at night, but I had to stay awake and pay attention to absorb every word for the story to come together in my mind. I’ll probably be re-reading this one someday as there’s so much meaning and imagery in every word. I 100% recommend this to fiction lovers who want to be immersed in a beautiful and intriguing tale.
Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Have you ever had a story that kinda just hung in the air after you finish it? Like the last note of a powerful chorus echoing through an auditorium? This was that kind of story for me. There was something so deep and meaningful about the way this author wove God’s pursuit of our hearts with the fantastic stories of light in the darkness that were told to Lucy and Dash. Full review is at my website.
I received this book complimentary as a member of the author’s launch team. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are honest and my own.
Set the Stars Alight is an amazing story in finding the treasures God has for us as we discover our true passions. I adore the cover for Amanda Dykes newest novel Set the Stars Alight. What a beautiful cover! As for the story, I loved learning the past story before the present timeline learned the story. The story opens with us, readers, discovering the characters heart and early passions, then it moves into how those passions guide their future lives and love. Dash is a fascinating hero who loves the stars and everything to do with Lucy; whereas, Lucy wants to discover the reality of what her father’s stories mean. As someone who misses her father, I understand the hurt that can take over with a lost parent. The story is interesting, and the writing is wonderful. Overall, Set the Stars Alight is a delightful story with unique characters and unseen twist.
I received a complimentary copy of Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Amanda Dykes has written an interesting dual time story that will keep you trying to figure out the link between the two! Frederick Hanford lived 200 years ago and was a disappointment to his father, lord of the manor. You will follow Fred as he is pressed into service aboard the ship Jubilee as a young lad. Fred’s life is sad but full of courage and showing kindness to others –even being willing to give his life for a friend. Lucy’s life was full of love from both of her parents. Her father was a storyteller for her and a lonely neighbor boy, Dashel, who they shared their home with. Like Fred, Dash was always interested in the stars and grew up to become a forensic astronomer. Lucy loved her father’s stories of the high seas and became a marine archaeologist. No one knows what happened to the ship Jubilee and Lucy is determined to locate it. Lucy and Dash lose contact with each other over the years until Dash comes back to London to help her. You won’t want to miss this unusual and amazing story by Amanda Dykes! I received a complimentary e-book from Bethany House and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
This book took me a little bit to really feel connected but “Oh” once I did I could hardly put it down. I was so wanting to find out what happened next. A split-timeline that was heart-felt. I really was invested with both story lines and by the time it switched I was all “into” which one I was reading. I was really surprised about a certain incident but I don’t want to give too much away. I was so proud of a certain person and I don’t know if I could have done “that”. A love and loyalty as this is hard to find and it really happened with both stories. I loved Dash and Lucy, they were like a breath of fresh air, not too much romance but seemingly just right. The author knew just how to tie these stories together to give us hope and light.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.