From Sand and Ash

Rating: 5/5 stars

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: December 1, 2016

Pages: 384

Synopsis :

Italy, 1943 — Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.

As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood. Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn.

With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church. But Eva can’t quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe.

With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.

Review:

I can’t believe I had never heard of Amy Harmon until recently! She first caught my attention on Bookstagram when someone posted about one of her other books. Curious, I looked her up and discovered she had an impressive backlist. That’s when I found From Sand and Ash.

I will admit that it was actually one of Harmon’s other books that initially piqued my interest more. However, From Sand and Ash became available on Kindle Unlimited with a free audiobook download. I needed a new audiobook at the time, so I thought, “Why not?” Little did I know what I had signed up for.

It didn’t take long for me to become completely captivated by the characters and their story. This book is achingly beautiful. I felt spellbound the entire time I was reading and listening. I found myself taking long walks just to hear what happened next. Before even reaching the halfway point, I knew this was going to be a new favorite.

Harmon’s approach to writing a WWII novel set in Italy was especially compelling. I’ve never read a WWII novel set in Italy. Of course, I knew from history classes about Italy’s involvement, but I’d never seen it up close. It was eye-opening to realize that most Italians didn’t want to be involved in a war they felt no part of, yet were forced into it under a fascist state.

That doesn’t mean Italians were necessarily sympathetic to Jews, but it reshaped my understanding. I had also never thought much about Jewish Italians during this period, typically focusing on other parts of Europe when considering the atrocities of WWII. Harmon’s portrayal of Eva and her family offered a new perspective that broadened my understanding of history—an aspect of the book I deeply appreciated.

Unexpectedly, this novel also presented one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever encountered. I’m a sucker for romance in any genre. Eva and Angelo’s love grows alongside their lives, often leaving me on the verge of tears. Harmon balances their relationship perfectly—it is ever-present but not always the central focus. Through their story, she shows what a powerful, enduring love looks like, capable of withstanding some of life’s most harrowing moments.

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned earlier, Amy Harmon has an extensive backlist encompassing various genres. After reading From Sand and Ash, I have mentally put all of her books on my TBR. One that I am really looking forward to is her newest release, Where the Lost Wander. I also can’t wait to try some of her fantasies!