The Sound of Light is a beautifully moving, harrowing, enchanting and powerful story set in WWII German-occupied Denmark. Author Sarah Sundin's gorgeous writing took my breath away, enveloped me fully in the story and inspired deep thought.

Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt is crucial to the Danish Resistance so must keep his true aristocratic identity hidden. He boards at a house with several other people including kind physicist Dr. Else Jensen. His quiet strength appeals to Else who is eager to do more research at her job but is constantly undermined and ridiculed. Else's closest friend Laila is also a boarder and an honest encourager. With conditions in Denmark growing more desperate every day, all have vested interests in resisting however they can. But who can one trust in a time of deception, secrets? The price of survival is high.

There is so much of interest including the stunning Denmark setting, taut workplace atmosphere, desperation of the Jews' plight, the role of physics during WWII including the atomic bomb potential, the contributions of women in the era, the importance of standing up for oneself, sacrifice and the beautiful, beautiful relationship of Else and Hemming. Not only that but the author addresses obeying the law of man versus obeying God and asks whether a person should go against the law for the greater good.

Looking for an original Christian Historical Romance with substance and a powerful punch? You need this. I could not possibly recommend it more highly. Do read the author's notes and pronunciation key at the back, fascinating and helpful. This is more than a story...it is an unmissable experience.

My sincere thank you to Revell and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this exceptional book.

A great read! I fell in love with the characters and story. A few late nights reading way past my bedtime. Love a book that keeps me reading.

Let me preface this by just saying: wow. I may very well have a new favorite Sundin novel. I loved the first book in this series, and although I have yet to pick up a copy of the second, I couldn't wait to dive into book three. And it certainly did not disappoint. From the first three chapters, you're rooting for the characters, you're hoping they have a happy ending, and you're definitely not ready for the emotional rollercoaster Sundin will bring you on. There are super impactful themes of forgiveness, the heartbreak and horror of what happened in WWII, the resilience of a people trying to stay free from a war they didn't want involved in, and the brilliantly overwhelming response of the Danish people when the Germans announced their plans to round up Jews in their land. It's based on a real evacuation, which was even more compelling for me to read, personally. The characters are easy to empathize with, the story is gutwrenching and hope-filled, and it's an absolute masterpiece. A very quick read if you're sucked into the story.
**I read an advanced copy in order to share my review; all thoughts above are my own!

Immersive, brimming with Danish culture and customs this story will transport you to German occupied Denmark.  This story was well researched, brilliantly written, and in a wartime setting you don't commonly read about.  It was very interesting that the Danish people were allowed so many freedoms that were just not extended to other occupied nations. I loved the parallel between Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid and the not so little Havmand. 
Once again, Sarah Sundin created characters I wanted to cheer for as they battled for courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable dangers. Themes of forgiveness and the moral dilemma of "doing wrong, to do right" run throughout the book.  The glossary of terms was at the end of my digital copy, and I discovered that I pretty much pronounced everything wrong throughout the book *insert giggling*. Other than discovering I'm horrible at reading Danish words I enjoyed learning about a new country and that the Havmand was based on a real person who rowed Jews to safety in Sweden.

This was only my second Sarah Sundin novel.  I've also read Until Leaves Fall In Paris.  Both are stand alone. Although there is a brief cameo of characters from Until Leaves Fall In Paris and When Twilight Breaks, you don't need to read either to completely enjoy this story.

Read if you like novels with:
🧜‍♂️ WWII setting
🧜‍♂️ Culturally rich writing
🧜‍♂️ Reluctant hero/heroine
🧜‍♂️ Emotional Scars
🧜‍♂️ Redemption

Thank you, Sarah Sundin, Revell Books and Net Galley for the complimentary DRC of this book. I was not required to give a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved this new read, and was delighted to find a preview for a new book at the end!

This is a love story, of Country, of freedom, of ones fellowmen, and between Else and Hendrik, and it did not disappoint.

I've read several WWII stories lately, but this was the first that takes place in Denmark, and I loved how the author wove this read, using a Baron and a Scientist!

As I was reading, I found I was holding my breath as danger entered, and as these caring people do all they can to thwart the evil that has landed in their Country!

You don't want to miss this one, and now I can't wait for the next!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

ORDINARY PEOPLE OVERCOMING EXTRAORDINARY ODDS!

Each year there are a handful of authors whose new releases I eagerly await. Award-winning author, Sarah Sundin is always near the top of my list of authors. Her newest release, The Sound of Light, is a passionate story of ordinary people overcoming extraordinary odds. It is the type of novel that will move you deeply. You will find yourself immersed in a WWII story that is captivating and spellbinding. Sundin has created characters that will inspire you with their determination to make a difference regardless of the cost. She also gives insight into life during the Occupation and the true evil that took place during that time. Mainly it is a novel filled with faith-faith in friends that will stand with you no matter what happens, faith in working towards a common goal, trust in love against all odds, and most importantly, an unshakable belief in the Almighty God to see them through what was the darkest part of history. Put this novel on the top of your List!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Revell & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

The Sound of Light is a compelling story from start to finish.

Set in Denmark during WWII, from the perspective of those who called Copenhagen home, this story is a page-turning tale of courage, self-belief, resilience, love and bravery. The narrative includes fascinating references to Danish myths, language, and culture, and is rich in detail, with captivating characters you root for. It was intriguing to read a WWII piece of fiction set in Denmark, a less prominent viewpoint found on the shelves.
I was utterly caught up in the story, drawn in by the two well-crafted main characters, Else and Henrik, and their individual efforts in acts of resistance and through their gradual growing connection to each other. Sundin had me emotionally connected to them and their family and friends; it was heartening to read of the resilience and courage of the Danish people. With an easy flow of writing and excellent pacing, with the tension rising and falling, I was entirely absorbed for two days (fastest I’ve finished a book in a long while).
This is an inspiring story of a people standing up and taking action in a time of terrible risk. In a few words Sundin evokes a harrowing heaviness in the reader when referring to the persecution of the Jews, a few sentences here and there that really hit home with the reader, her words expertly crafted. This book swept me up and didn’t let go until the end. To me, this is historical fiction at its best.

Another amazing read from Sarah Sundin. I absolutely love her writing style and her unique ability to find the most beautiful historical stories and write about them in a captivating, educational and thought-provoking way. The Sound of Light transported me to 1943 Denmark, where Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt assumes a new identity for the Havman, or Merman, in order to row secret messages to Sweden so as to aid the Danish resistance against the German occupation. Henrik's changing of identity introduced powerful themes such as family, humility, and most importantly, courage - as did Else Jensen's story, the secondary character in The Sound of Light. Henrik and Else's relationship was darling, and their unique outworkings of courage was really well written and thought provoking.

I really appreciated this book and loved the story of the Havmand, as well as the general takeaways from this read of forgiveness, hope, bravery and courage. This was one of those books that was difficult to put down, and had me totally captivated. One of Sundin's best - she outdoes herself yet again!

Thank you so much to Revell, and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I purposely picked this book as my first for the year because I knew Sarah Sundin would get my year off to a good start. And she exceeded my expectations. I love how, even though every one of her books takes place during WWII, she teaches me something new with each one. Her characters and perspective are always fresh and new, which is difficult with a niche genre. This book takes place in Denmark, whose experience of the war was one I'd never heard of. Incorporating the Little Mermaid statue that is there off the shore as part inspiration, she builds on the legend of "The Havmand" - the merman - who was a courier between German-occupied Denmark and non-occupied Sweden. The occupation of Denmark was also different in that it was civil for the first several years. So, the Danish viewpoint was definitely a unique one to have! This book follows Henrick, the son of a baron who determines when Germany invades on his 30th birthday that he needs to do something different than his playboy lifestyle and becomes the legendary Havmand. We also get to know Else, an American Physicist with Danish grandparents who is living and working in Denmark. As the Danes hear more about what is happening in the rest of the world, many of them choose to fight back against the Germans, risking their own peace to help in the allied effort. Filled with wonderful characters, some mystery and drama, a very sweet romance and a satisfying conclusion, this book is one of Sundin's best (and she's written some pretty stellar works!). Fans of the author's When Twilight Breaks and Until Leaves Fall in Paris will be glad to see some familiar faces show up at the end as well (though you won't be lost if you haven't read those). This was a fabulous start to my reading year and this is one I can heartily recommend to fans of historical fiction. Special thanks to Revell and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Brilliant. This is for sure one of my favorite books by Ms Sundin. It’s also the first WW2 book I’ve read in Denmark or the Scandinavian area and it was amazing both in the history that I’ve never heard of, in the way Ms Sundin unfolded the story of Henrik and Else. It was so hard to put down and enormously captivating. It doesn’t hurt that a good chunk of my ancestry is Swedish and Danish as well so I was doubly invested. ;)

The focal points of the resistance in Denmark, the community and care of its people, the way they pulled together to save its own Jewish population, and the inspiration from a real story of one of its members rowing both intelligence and people to safety was nothing short of incredible.

Henrick’s and Else’s story had me fully invested in them both and what they were trying to do for their country as well as each other. The progression of self-awareness, self-sacrifice and forgiveness were beautiful. It was also refreshing how honest and forthright they were, not playing games or holding grudges at any point but saying what they meant and inspiring the best in each other. And the result of Henrik’s relationship with his father. Loved this one so much.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are expressly mine.

A 5-star historical fiction read with references to Little Mermaid and featuring a daring Olympian?!

Author Sarah Sundin knows exactly what constitutes binge-able historical fiction and ensures that those essential ingredients star in her ‘gold standard’ novels.

When the Germans sweep in and quickly take over Denmark, American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research, a life dream of hers. Can she rise to the occasion and find her voice? Meanwhile, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt realizes he needs to exchange his nobility and fame for anonymity and assume a new identity so he can secretly row messages across the waters to Sweden. Can he go unnoticed in his quest to aid the war effort?

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Else and Henrik. My inner STEM geek was excited at having a unique perspective on wartime fiction. I truly appreciated Sundin’s spotlight on the big things accomplished by this tiny nation during the war.

I appreciated Sundin drawing my attention to:

✔️why the Germans didn’t force the Danish government to impose antisemitic laws
✔️ the role physics played in the war
✔️the way war robs people of options and leaves them with a single choice - to survive
✔️the rescue of Danish Jews and daring resistance stories
✔️the theme of light and the duality of light
✔️the predicament of whether it’s ever “right to do wrong to do right”
✔️the two faces of silence; cowardice and courageousness
✔️the Niels Bohr Institute
✔️forgiveness and morality
✔️people who put others before themselves to aid the war effort
✔️STEM characters; mathemetician and physicist
✔️a nobleman with Olympic talent aiding war communication with Sweden

Fascinating historical fiction with strong female characters, STEM characters and a sweet romance made this stand heads above other recent reads.

I was gifted this spectacular book by Revell and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

"The Sound of Light" is a Christian romance set in Denmark starting in 1943. Else's a brilliant physicist but didn't stand up against authority even when unjust. When her new boss gave her only busywork and bad-mouthed her, she gracefully accepted it as a way to learn humility...though he's out to ruin her career. Henrik (posing as Hemming, an uneducated manual worker) encouraged her to speak up against this injustice. Else also found the courage to fight injustice by helping print resistance newspapers. They began to fall in love despite their secrets, but Henrik worried that she was falling in love with a man that didn't exist. He's also worried that he's harsh like his father and unsuited to leadership, but Else helped him to see how much he's changed.

Since both were doing resistance work, there was the constant danger that one or both could get arrested, tortured, and executed. The historical details were woven into the story and brought the story alive in my imagination. It was interesting to see how differently things went for the Danish people. The characters were well-developed, had complexity, and acted realistically to events. They felt like real people who really lived through these events. Henrik and Else were engaging characters who helped others and supported each other. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable historical romance.

What an amazing story!

I love how epic and real Sarah Sundin's stories are. Her characters are ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the direst of circumstances, and the same happens in this story.

This story is set in Denmark, which is not a country we hear a lot of during WWII. Else is an American physicist and she decides to stay in the country when the Nazis invade. Henrik/Hemming is hiding in plain sight with another identity and pretending to be a simple laborer while working for the resistance.

This is a story of hope and courage, both by individuals and a nation, of facing their oppressors and saving so many innocent people. I loved the history and how the relationship developed between Else and Henrik. And the ending, wow!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC, in exchange for an honest review*
Heartbreaking, memorable story.
I read the first book by Sarah Sundin back in 2019, A Distant Melody. I don’t think there was a book I didn’t fall in love with since then. So when I got approved for an early copy of her newest book, The Sound Of Light, on Netgalley, I was so excited and couldn’t wait to read the book. I have loved all of her books that I have read; however, The Sound Of Light has become my favorite book of hers. I couldn’t seem to get enough of this book, and just when you think you've reached an area where you could put the book down, you find yourself reading for hours. The Sound of Light you learn much about Denmark and WWII during that time. Another thing that I love about Sarah Sundin’s books is the history, and you learn through her books. You can tell how much research the author has done to write this book.
Henrick & Else. I loved their relationship from the start. I could tell there was a connection between the two, even before they did. Henrick gave her the courage to stand up for herself. I don’t think I saw them happier than when they were with each other. I hoped they would stay the same once Else discovered the truth about who Henrick was. I felt that, at some point, she would find out the truth about him. I thought that the characters that changed the most through the book were Else and Henrick, but then the two went through so much. I can’t even imagine going through what they did during WWII. The descriptions were breathtaking, and I felt there, enduring everything the characters were facing. The Sound Of Light is a book I highly recommend to history fans. This story will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

This is maybe my third or fourth book by Sarah Sundin, and I’m very impressed with her writing, especially the way she has so obviously done her research for the story involved. I love learning new things, and in her case, I believe all her books are about WWII, but different locations and aspects of the war.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Four and a half stars!

I really struggled to get into this book. Ultimately, I made it about halfway through the book and just could not go any further. Although the book did not grab my interest, I still think those that are interested in WW2 should give this book a go.

Something was missing from this book, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I would have liked to see more character development earlier on in the book and I think the characters back stories could have been more clearly explained. The male character was referenced by a few different variations of his name, which ultimately made it confusing to figure out who the author was referring to sometimes.

It has romance, decent characters, bravery and resistance against the occupation etc.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy.

I don't know how Sarah Sundin does it, but I stand in awe of her writing talent. This incredible story will not let you go until the last page.

I loved the characters of Hendrik and Else. How they found each other, the truth of who they were and what they were hiding, was brilliant! Their love story was sweet, romantic and oh, so swoon-worthy.

I was utterly floored by the depth of research involved with Else's character since she is a physicist. And the historical research, in general, was top-notch. Sundin knows her stuff, and it shows. You always learn something about history and feel like you are right in the centre of the action when you read one of her books.

The theme of forgiveness was strong in this book. Letting go of hate to get to where you can forgive someone who has wronged you was beautifully done and brought me to tears. Every scene in this book played like a movie. It was so engaging.

I stayed up until 2:00 am to finish this book. I could not put it down. Sarah, I think this is your best book yet. Well done!

The Sound of Light is a very well written WWII novel. I enjoyed the plot, well developed characters and the Denmark setting. If you enjoy historical books I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

If you are passionate about the WWII/Holocaust subgenre of historical fiction, this is definitely a book for you. In ‘The Sound of Light’ Ms. Sundin has superbly detailed life in 1943 Denmark during the German occupation, the resistance movement and the safeguarding of the Jewish population, subjects about which little has been written.
The Sound of Light is tagged as a Christian novel. There are minimal references to faith which are totally consistent with historical context. Denmark was an overwhelmingly Christian country. Jews accounted for only 0.2% of the population, somewhere between 7500-8000 individuals, a combination of native Danes and refugees from Germany and Eastern Europe. When the Nazis decided to remove the Jews in the early fall of 1943, the Danes, with short notice, organized a massive campaign to hide them and subsequently boatlift them to Sweden. The Nazis arrested only 470 Jews, all but 120 of which survived.
This was my second novel by Ms. Sundin, the first being ‘Until Leaves Fall in Paris’. This book is significantly better in terms of writing style, pacing and character development. I found myself ‘into’ the book early on, strongly invested in the very well developed main characters and attentive to all the storylines.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Revell, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

A fascinating WWII story! Readers will learn how differently Denmark was treated after it was invaded by Germany. Based on true events, people and places, this proves to be an interesting story. Both Elise and Henrik were courageous. The people involved in the resistance were brave and loyal to their cause. Very realistic story. Readers will want to read the author's note for added history. Highly recommended!