Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

I have mixed feelings about this novel. Overall, I liked the story. The idea of friends in youth being separated for years and then reconnecting is a nice story, as is the solving of a centuries old mystery. I liked the characters, Lucy the spunky and tireless questioner and Dash, the heroic star gazer.

I felt the plot was way too complex. We readers deal with two time periods which is fine. Characters within each time period have memories and dreams, however, adding another time element to each of the two major time periods. (At least I think they were dreams. They were italicized.) I found the stories the watchmaker told were enigmatic and I had trouble making sense of them. Near the end of the book, Lucy thinks, “The pieces did not all fit neatly together.” (Loc 5519/5993) My thoughts too. I did feel the plot was too complex, with the story/riddles and the many “coincidences” that were required.

Dykes has a lyrical way of writing that made this novel entertaining even if it was hard to believe the whole concept was plausible.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Amanda Dykes is a former English teacher and author of Whose Waves These Are , a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, as well as three novellas. You can find out more at www.amandadykes.com. Photo credit: Michael Pettrey.

Bethany House, 368 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

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