Yours Is the Night

MESMERIZING! “The night is not to be feared. For the God who fashioned it did so with care. Knowing these days you would not sleep. Promising to draw near in the very midst of that night. When you do not slumber, neither does He.” Rarely does an author manage to to take your breath away with each and every one of their novels, yet this author has managed to do just that! First came her multiple award winning novel WHOSE WAVES THESE ARE in 2019 and then SET THE STARS ALIGHT in 2020. Now she is gifting readers with the mesmerizing novel YOURS IS THE NIGHT. From cover to cover, YOURS IS THE NIGHT will totally and completely encompass you and keep you entranced as you read this incredibly moving story set during WWI. It is the story of four ordinary men - a Captain, a soldier (a true “man among men”), a chaplain and a war correspondent - and a woman, “The Angel of Argonne”. This novel is a brilliantly painted word illustration of these ordinary people believing in a call and a cause much higher than themselves. They are willing to sacrifice everything - including their very lives for the sake of freedom. These characters exemplify the the characteristics of bravery, hope, leadership, comfort, compassion, the drive to continue against all odds, and each with the willingness to sacrifice his/her life for the sake of the others. In the midst of the horrors, the darkest nights and realities of war, the author inserts an epic love story. It is this love story that gives the four ordinary men, extraordinary strength and courage to overcome the myriad of obstacles in their path. This is a novel that will stay with you long after you have closed the book. I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence. I have preordered a copy for my own personal library as well.

“Sometimes there’s a dark so thick you just know that the God who made light with His own two hands – with just His words – is going to plunge right into that dark to find you.” I love this fabulous novel! If one is a fan of Christian historical fiction set in WWI Europe and have time to read only a few novels, make this one of them! The author is a master storyteller whose prose sings with beautiful melodies and lyrics. Her writing plumbs the depths of the human heart, especially hearts bent towards the Lord. This is a novel to be savored slowly, to not miss one minute of wonder. The main characters are engaging and fascinating, who meet and travel together through France because of The Great War. One man ties all four of them together, Jasper, a military hero of Matthew’s when he grew up, who had served with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Without Jasper, their lives would have been much different. Three men are serving the US forces, each facing their own challenges and fears as they see the worst of war. We spend the most time with Matthew, a soldier, with glimpses of his childhood and details through the last several months of the Great War. One man, Henry, is a reporter sent to write about the US troops in battle. The third is George, a chaplain and source of frustration and humor. From a wealthy British family, he was sent to Harvard by his family to be a minister, as clergy were not required to fight. A young woman, Mira, is French; she lives in and was raised in the Forest of Argonne. The three men had been sent into the forest to get timber to put in the trenches and give them a break from the horrors of their first battle. They heard a beautiful voice in the woods and saw that someone had put pine wreaths on graves of soldiers. She is called the Angel of Argonne, as nobody had yet seen her. Meeting her would change the lives of the three men. When they find her, the reporter figures out who Mira’s family really is, a history even she is unaware of. As Germans near the forest, she must go somewhere safe, as her little chalet is no longer hidden or safe. Jasper gives the three men permission to escort Mira to Paris, then complete another errand before hurrying back to the trenches. She has another secret, one that she hopes nobody, especially Matthew, would discover. There are many things to appreciate in Yours is the Night. One theme is choosing the remains of an unknown soldier to be entombed and protected for all time in Washington DC. The characters are very human, each with flaws and each with untested gifts prior to their meeting. Mira and Matthew have beliefs about God that are tested and tried throughout, as are the beliefs of Jasper, Henry, and George. Seeing the devastation of war was a harsh reality. They grew so close, they formed their own “Band”. It was a joy to see how each grows through their experiences. I keenly felt their losses, victories, and fear, as well as joy, humor, and even love in the atmosphere of death. I highly recommend this magnificent novel of history, love, fear, and faith in WWI France to those who appreciate Christian historical fiction and how darkness can never overcome the Light. From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.