✨🚣🏻♂️🧜🏻♂️🛩️ “The Sound of Light” (2023) 🛩️🧜🏻♂️🚣🏻♂️✨ – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Language: English
ISBN: 0800736389
ISBN-13: 978-0800736385
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Copenhagen, 1940
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--and makes the dangerous decision to print resistance newspapers.
As Else hears rumors of the movement's legendary Havmand--the merman--she also becomes intrigued by the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse. Henrik makes every effort to conceal his noble upbringing, but he is torn between the façade he must maintain and the woman he is beginning to fall in love with.
When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell Books (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through their Revell Reads Blogger Program. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
I came to enjoy Historical Fiction and Historical Romance quite hesitantly. But, when I did find stories I enjoyed, I ended up looking for more books in the genre.
Admittedly, one favorite time period is World War II (WWII). And, Sundin was one of the first authors to plunge me into the genre with her Sunrise at Normandy The Land Beneath Us. I loved it so much, I added the first two books of the series to my TBR.
I also won a copy of When Twilight Breaks, but I haven’t been able to read it yet. Though one note – two of the characters from that book; as well as characters from Until Leaves Fall in Paris appear in this book as well, though t not until near the very end.
Are those two books needed before this one? I would suggest it. I did read Until Leaves Fall in Paris at least.
The cover of this one stood out. There is something haunting, ominous, and inspiring about it. And, I like that the author gives us the title connection on page 35 – it comes from the Aheldfeldt Villa – Lyd af Lys (The Sound of Light).
I also liked the different perspective – the Danish perspective of WWII. In school, I didn’t get much of a WWII lesson, and I started learning about WWII between 7th and 12th grades. I was “homeschooled” for 11th and 12th. Though, some students didn’t get too much of a lesson while in school. And, since my maternal grandfather, who served in WII (along with Korea) died before I was four (4) – I didn’t get his stories either. Thus, reading books set in the time is much like connecting with him.
On an interesting note, one of Henrik’s sisters is Margrethe, that happens to be my maternal grandfather’s grandmother’s name. My great-great grandmother who came over from Bavaria (Germany). I don’t know if her name is pronounced as Sundin has it in the back of the book though – but, that does help give me some idea. It is also nice to see the name again.
I love being able to dive into that time and see all aspects of the war – even the less favorable ones. This is one perspective I didn’t even know about.
Sundin introduces us to:
🔬 Else (Danish/American physicist)
🚣🏻♂️ Henrik (Henning – nickname; Hemming – assumed name; Havmand – legend name)
✡️ Laila (Jewish mathematician)
🏡 Fru Riber (runs the boarding house)
🗂️ Svend (Henrik’s friend and contact in Sweden)
As well as those at the lab (Mortensen, Wolff, Gebhardt, Bohr), and the shipyard (Koppel, Skov, Rasmussen). There are quite a few miscellaneous support characters as well, such as the Thorups at Lyd-af-Lys.
Though with all the characters, readers only get two (2) POVs – Henrik and Else’s.
Sundin opens in 1940 when the Germans (Nazis) seem to roll into Denmark without a shot fired. It basically falls within two (2) hours. It is alarming, though Svend is ready to leave for Sweden given his views. He has to leave his wife and children behind. Yet, when the story picks up in chapter two – three (3) years later, they are with him.
Henrik has carved out an identity as Hemming Andersen, also known as the Havmand (merman) due to his rowing messages back and forth between Sweden and Denmark. He gives up his nobility for the cause. Ironically, he works for his father’s company.
Else is a physicist and one of the lucky ones due to her dual nationality – Danish/American. Though, she starts seeing and hearing about certain atrocities. Laila, her friend and fellow boarder, wants to help the movement.
By this time (as of December 1941), America enters the war.
Else has her own issues at the institute with Mortensen, and it is over dinner that simple Hemming gives Else advise. While Fru Riber tells Else she won’t get married with how she talks, Hemming encourages her to use big words.
He also get a new mission – some of the Danes are not going to sit back quietly anymore, even at his father’s shipyard.
Even Else gets caught in the resistance. She wonders if it is right to do wrong to do right. [I absolutely loved this part], but is encouraged by Laila leaving her job to work for an “illegal” paper.
Henrik/Hemming soon starts falling for Else, but he has his secret. In addition, Fru Riber is a cause for concern for all living at the boarding house.
Koppel, at the shipyard knows there is something more to Hemming. But, he trusts the man. He trusts him enough to help enlist him in the resistance as he’s the most level-headed. Henrik doesn’t want to lead, afraid he’ll turn into his father.
It gets even more interesting and intense when Henrik finally tells Else the truth. And, after she finds out, there is a moment her “scientist” side helps him (and herself) out. She finds the “constant” between all three of his identities:
Nobility
🏰 Henrik – noble by birth and upbringing
🧜🏻♂️ Havmand – noble by deeds
🚣🏻♂️ Hemming – noble by character
But, the Nazis soon crack down, even instituting a death penalty for certain acts. It is clear to Else and Henrik, they have to act – each on their own ends.
Henrik learns a stunning truth, and the Gestapo then closes in on both Henrik and Else.
I absolutely loved Henrik, especially as Hemming (the oaf). I truly think he found himself in that “identity”. His interactions with Else, as well as Laila, were probably his true self only seeming like a part because of his experiences.
For me, the physics part of the plot did seemingly drag this a bit, and I felt a bit lost. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the idea of the character being smart – however, it bogged down the story a bit. Thankfully the short chapters helped the story move and keep me from feeling too bogged in one place. And, Sundin has a way of writing that at times, feels like the reader is in the story as well. [As of note, it was intense towards the end].
It isn’t until about halfway through that the “action” picks up and I really got interested in it from there and wasn’t able to put this down. It became an intense, exciting, suspenseful read during one of the most haunting periods of time.
And, the rescue of the Danish Jews to Sweden? True. The vast majority were sent to Sweden and saved.
There is an interesting scene on page 254 where Else is telling Laila about the pastor standing up to the Nazis. He states that the persecution of the Jews is wrong because Jesus was Jewish. As, Laila points out, a convenient fact most Christians forget.
I wanted to jump up and cheer at this point. And, as someone who is Jewish-Christian for that reason – it was such a wonderful, validating moment. I truly praise Sundin for going that route in this book and touching it with brutal honesty. It is the first time I’ve really seen that.
I truly ached for a “conclusion” scene between Henrik and his father. There was so much I wanted to see with them. I also ached for those who in 1943, thought the war would be over by the next year (1944). The German occupation of Denmark didn’t end until the allied victory – May 5, 1945. As Paul and Lucie (from France) are seen towards the end, it is worth noting that the Paris occupation ended August 25, 1944.
I do thank the author for including a “glossary”/pronunciation guide in the back. I didn’t refer to it much, I was really caught up more in the action than words and names. Though, it is fascinating how close some words are to other languages.
As this is from a primarily Christian-based publisher, there will be some themes of faith – these are centered to the characters and not part of the plot.
I’m definitely looking forward to Sundin’s next release. Fans of the author and/or genre might want to check this one out.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, and the popular WWII Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Sarah lives in California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.
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