An atmospheric and absorbing story of two sets of characters and the threads that tie their stories together.

I tried several times to get into the story and each time the 2020 timeline totally threw me off because of the book being written beforehand and completely being unaware of the whole covid mess.  England with meetings and people hopping from town to town to visit each other was just a bit much.  Pet peeve anyway, because authors setting stories gently in the future can’t drop little realistic hints about the current times, and the story feels more generic than realistic.  I had to keep pretending it was 2019 to get through the story.  This continual “check the facts at the door” every time we flipped back to modern day kept snapping me out of the story and is part of the reason I didn’t add a fifth star.

I love the cover...it’s the sort of cover you buy a book for, and it’s even prettier in person.

I identified most with Lucy and Dash.  The historic timeline was occasionally vivid but incomplete, and having to infer certain things happened was a bit of a letdown at the end.

The writing style is beautiful and carries much of Dykes’s trademark poetic touch in the prose.  I’m eager to read her next book and already preordered a copy at the bookstore.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy.  A favorable review was not required.

Title:  Set the Stars Alight
Author:  Amanda Dykes

Ch: 47 plus epilogue

Pg:  363

Genre:  Christian fiction dual time

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Bethany House

 

This one was my first Amanda Dykes book but it want be my last. I listened to the audio book and I think it added to the experience. Though it did take a bit for me to get use to the dual time slips but once I did I was hooked on both stories.

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes is a mesmerizing novel and should be in a category all its own. Is it historical, time slip, literary fiction, contemporary fiction, or inspirational fiction? To me, it was all of those. With characters on a quest and a tender love story that ties it all together, this book will certainly touch your heart. It will open your eyes to the majesty and love of God the Father as well. I highly recommend this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

My husband and I enjoyed listening to this book on a long car trip.
The narrator was fantastic!! Differing voices seemed no challenge to her. Her telling of the story increased my enjoyment.
I had previously read Whose Waves These Are by this same author. Her style of writing is beautiful, IMO. 
I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction. Dual storylines increased my enjoyment.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

I am rendered speechless.


But considering this is a written review, I should probably try to put my cartwheeling thoughts into some semblance of order. I opened this book and stepped into a world as magical as the one I passed through when I ducked under the snowy branches with Lucy as she entered Narnia for the first time. This is a world where an old clockmaker weaves tales in the sky and lights passion and questioning wonder into two young souls. He paints stories in their hearts and onto their memories, that for the time being, are wonderful adventures but merely stories meant to pass the evenings by. 



Until one day, when the fires of the old clockmaker's hearth have long grown cold and his tools have gathered cobwebs, do the two souls meet again....drawn together by the stories that were merely stories... or were they? A genius of the stars and a sleuth of the deep, these two hearts from worlds apart join their hands and minds as they begin putting together the pieces of a secret long held.... A secret as magical and terrible, as exciting as it was ancient, and as healing as it is difficult. A secret in a story as truthful as it is fantastical....



This is a story that will settle deep into your mind and settle forever into your thoughts. It is a story that, long after you have flipped the last pages, your mind will return to in fond remembrance and brushes of awe, a story that will, I think....never quite finish. 



A hundred stars, Amanda Dykes. Bravo.

Where do I even start with this review?! I first read Amanda's other novel a year or so back, and it was INCREDIBLE and so I was really excited to start this one. Amanda is one of my new favorite authors: her books are incredible & the storytelling is immaculate.

As with the first book, the story is told in two separate parts: one set in the past, and one set in the present. As the story progresses, the link between the two sets of stories and characters gets stronger and stronger, until they merge into one. While Dykes' two novels are not in the same series, the way they are presented are very similar.

In this book, the story is set split between the early 1800s and present time (2020), and there are two storylines. The historical line covered the story of Fredrick Hanford, while the modern storyline covers the story of Lucy and Dashel, the girl within a loving family and the parentless boy they took in. The two stories seemed to be separate for the first half of the book, but by the second half/last third, the way they would come together started becoming clearer and clearer, until by the end, the way the storylines intersected and it's incredible!

I was personally partial to Lucy and Dash's storyline, but I also just as invested in Fredrick's storyline: both were so vividly told, and the relationships, characters, and story so well developed that it was just so good to read. My favorite character was probably Lucy's dad, who was a watchmaker but who also told stories & encouraged Lucy and Dash to pursue knowledge and to tell stories.

The writing style was also incredible: it was so poetic yet not slow at all (it was a little bit slow to get into at the beginning, but only for the first 3 or so chapters). The imagery is incredible and the writing is so weighty and rich and the whole book was just so good. While it's a Christian fiction book, I would consider this more an "adult novel" than Christian fiction (at least in my mind, it's not a "girls on the cover romance" kind of Christian fiction but rather some adult person who reads a chapter or two from a book on their nightstand kind of book if that makes sense lol).

All in all, I LOVE this book, and I also highly highly recommend Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes. The storytelling in them are incredible & they are for sure books worth reading

I liked the story’s sometimes rich language and occasional resonance. Unfortunately, the book came up in my TBR pile just after a loss and since the story is heavy with loss in the opening 8 percent, I set the book aside. But that wasn't the only reason I decided to move on.

I found omniscient POV. The characters were difficult to connect to. The split-time story includes both past and present story lines, which I generally enjoy. Unfortunately, the contemporary story line held on to a historical voice, which seemed odd. There were several instances of “began to” and repeated verb phrases like “were coming” or “been studying.” Those are small things, but they flagged for me in their repetition. 

Overall the first part of the story was hard to follow; as I didn’t read on, I don’t know if it becomes easier. Also, since I read the ARC, it’s possible some of those issues were reworked during the rewrite stage. 

Though this novel wasn’t for me, I wish the publisher and author all the best.

This story was definitely beautifully written. This author is my ‘out of my comfort zone’ challenge with the way she writes. I loved how her historical story symbolizes Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

Though I really enjoyed this author’s first book, I found myself bored with this one. The Historical plot took a while to get into and while I have connected better with the modern day characters, the subject matter was, for me, not very interesting.

Other readers loved it though, so if you like the lyrical type of writing style and you loved this author’s debut, definitely give this one a try.

This book is not what I was expecting at all! I though it was going to be a time travel story but it wasn't. It was a wonderful woven story about looking back in past and seeing for what it was. I love Lucy. She's smart, kind, and knows what she wants. Her friendship with Dash is truly amazing. I loved how they grew up together and then went their separate ways but eventually come back to each other. I love how the author brings the past to life and tells their story as if they were a live today, and how they unknowingly left clues for Lucy and Dash to find. This is truly an amazing story if you are into adventure books. The ending will leave you speechless! Happy reading my friends.

Goodness. I’m not sure I have the words to fully express the beauty of this book. Set the Stars Alight by Amand Dykes is a masterfully written time-slip novel with one timeline set in present-day England and the other timeline in the early 1800s in England or aboard a ship belonging to its Navy.
This story is magic. Not the pick-a-card kind of magic, but the light-your-eyes-and-heart-
-with-wonder kind of magic. All the tales regaled in the Watchmaker’s cottage. All the impossible places visited. All the lessons learned. Imaginations stretched. It creates an atmosphere of tangible magic--the contagious kind. 
The mysteries and truths of this story are the kinds that broaden the limits of our hopes and dreams. When nothing is impossible, hope and wonder rule the day.
Set the Stars Alight is one of my favorite books from this year. I absolutely loved Lucy and Dash’s story, especially all the fantastical tales Lucy’s father told by firelight in their humble cottage. And Frederick’s story, while marked with heartache, is still incredibly beautiful in its persistence of nobility and selfless love.
I would highly recommend this book to any fan of Christian fiction, especially if you are a fan of time-slip novels.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A deep compelling novel that will keep you hooked until the end. Recommended to those who like dual time lines.

This was a lovely book! I really enjoyed the beginning (which doesn’t usually happen for me) and also the middle but I had to put this on hold for a little while due to personal reasons. Nothing wrong with the book though! I’ve heard wonderful things and I expect nothing less so hopefully I’ll be returning to this story sometimes soon!

First of all, I have to compliment Dykes on creating such an interesting way to start the story. Dash and Lucy were immediately a hit with me - both going on different journeys, and yet it seems like the stars connected them. When they met years later, and Dash pops into the scene in this bravo knight and shining amorish kind of way, I was giddy inside. And his job title? Well that literally had me searching google to see if it even existed lol. (side note - I love it when authors add this kind of quirky stuff to their stories)

But then you also have this historical romance blooming, and I didn't know which direction I wanted to read more. I think at the end of the day, I connected with Lucy and Dash more, but really it was such a well rounded story that it's a hard choice. Dykes connected all the dots between the two stories in a fabulous way - one that just left me in awe. What a beautifully written story that had my attention to the end! And what an ending by the way. The last few chapters had me at the edge of my seat.

I highly recommend reading this book, preferably in one sitting :) I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dash loves the stars. Lucy loves the sea. And her father loves stories. Dash is a lonely boy, Lucy is the Matchstick Girl and they both grow up under the sound of stories.

This book, this writing, it's exquisite, it's lyrical, maybe even whimsical, but yet it there's a draw to this story. It picks you up and pulls you in and leaves your rooting for all the characters, even crusty Sophie. 

Listen to a few lines: "...no way of knowing what's true and what's fabled over time."....As if stories changed and grew, facts and twists sprinkling upon them like sweet white confectioner's sugar from Clara's sifter."

"I think it's our duty to keep the stories, to pass them on. It is our duty - and our honor. In a world as dark as ours, we - that is, people - forget how to see the light. So we remind them by telling the truth, fighting the dark, paying attention...setting the stars alight. There are things shining brightly all along, if we will notice."  I'm not sure what all is being said here, but I like the idea of stories, of passing them on, of fighting the darkness. This year has been a year of darkness for many people and we have a job to do, to set the stars alight with the love of God in our home, in our community, in our state, where ever we are called. 

Two stories, two timelines intertwine in this story and it's not until the end that you really learn how it all fits together. But Frederick Hanford is an amazing man who took literally the verse in the Bible, "Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." He was willing to do that in the hope that his friend would find joy and hope. Now that's not a spoiler because I'm not saying that is what actually happened, but ..... you will simply have to read it for yourself. 

I received this book from Bethany House via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.

Such a cute story that is filled with characters to love, a setting described in such a way I want to be there and leaves me wanting more not because the story is incomplete but because I didn't want it to end.

Can I please give this book 10 stars?
It was simply fabulous and absolutely delightful!

I throughly enjoyed every moment of my reading  of this title. Wow. So good!

Author Amanda Dykes pulled the time lines together so seamlessly and created characters you couldn't help but care for.
And not only that, but she beautifully intertwines a reminder that our stories matter, that our inner most longings draw us to the light of the One who Created us, to the Light of the World!

This book is a gift, please don't miss out on it!

***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***

This is a story with two timelines. The contemporary timeline follows Lucy and Dash, the historical timeline follows Frederick. 

Lucy and Dash grew up together. Now Dash is helping Lucy unravel the mystery behind an acclaimed traitor of the Napoleonic War, Frederick. 

The story is beautifully written. The romance between Lucy and Dash slowly grows out of their common past. And the epilogue wraps both story lines up nicely.

I enjoy Amanda Dykes' books and Set the Stars Alight does not disappoint. It may be one of my favorite books by her. I am giving it a very well deserved five plus stars.

Wonderful. Fantastic. Beautiful.

There wasn't a second of my reading when I doubted this was a five-star gathering of words. Yet again, author Amanda Dykes has crept into my heart and planted a story that feels otherworldly because it's always pointing to the divine. Can our stories make a difference? Be a gathering of light that consistently leads to the Light of the world? Yes. 

If I were to ever write a book, I would want it to feel the way this book feels--full of pure emotional wonder. I'm in awe, reader friends. This book is such a delight.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. All expressed opinions belong to me.

Sigh . . . what do you say about a book that takes your breath away with its lyrical beauty?  I love the beauty of the written word as told through the pen of the talented author, Amanda Dykes.  Set the Stars Alight took my breath away and left me yearning to know more about these characters.  I equally loved both past and present story lines and how the historical story was weaved into the theme and symbolism of the contemporary story.  I don't want to say too much and give the plot away, nor do I want to tell you the theme.  Part of the richness of this story is the readers journey to discover that theme through the lives and stories of the characters.  I would love to see these characters again, and I will be thinking of these book for days to come.  I didn't think Amanda Dykes could top her first novel, which I adored, but her new novel is just as exquisite as the first.  I hope to read many more of her books in the years to come.