Book 2: A Song of Sorrow
Juliette’s world is turned upside down when her half-Jewish lover takes her to a Nazi rally. Stunned by the terrifying power of Hitler’s charisma and Peter’s fanatical devotion to the cruel dictator, Juliette rejects the man she loves. But nothing in Juliette’s privileged life has prepared her to face the horror of Kristallnacht, when her innocence is shattered and revenge becomes an obsession. The Nazis invade her homeland, and Juliette joins the Belgian Résistance, risking her life because she believes her skills as an opera singer will fool the Nazis and the Gestapo officer determined to arrest her. Thrust into a chaos of violence and espionage, how long can Juliette fight the oppressive system threatening the world before it destroys her?
If you enjoyed the suspenseful and thrilling World War II stories of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or The Huntress by Kate Quinn, you will be captivated by Juliette’s journey in this compelling tale of courage and strength.
Loved it! 😍
A beautiful fictional setting in which musicians and artists used their skills to help save lives.
I enjoyed the characters in this book and the very real emotions they portrayed. I’ve read numerous fiction and non-fiction books set during World War II but what set this one apart for me is the way the author portrays his characters, revealing the emotional and physical toll that their heroism takes on them.
Juliette’s willingness to use her fame as an opera singer to help people escape the claws of Nazi Germany was powerful and touching. As a musician myself, I appreciated the author’s discussion of her artistry and passion for singing.
The only thing that kept this from being a five-star read was the fact that it felt a bit rushed. A Song of Sorrow moves through a lot of time and occasionally glosses over major events. But it’s a powerful story of the cost of doing what is right in the face of massive evil.
REVIEWED BY Mary Jo Laupp