This book took more of a struggle to get into than is usual for me with Mrs. Dykes’s books. However, once I hit chapters nine and ten, I was duly immersed and could no longer put down the book. I think it was the vast amount of history given in the early chapters of both eras that slowed the progress for me. Once each thread got past the history and finally focused on their present-day stories, this book was completely mesmerizing. I would have loved to see this story as a duology: one book for Frederick and the second for Lucy.

I adored the name Dash, and it suited well the character, not for speed but for warmth and caring.

I loved the contrast of light and dark in this story. Very nicely done!

The cover was absolutely gorgeous.

Content: alcohol, unwed leads living together in a cavern home

I enjoyed the split timeline on this one, with reading about the present day and then the historical side of the story. A bit dry at times, I still enjoyed the story.

Synopsis:

Lucy Clairmont's childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. When tragedy strikes, Dashel, an American forensic astronomer may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she has discovered in her family home. 200 years ago, seeds of love are sown between a boy and girl while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time.

Review:

This book was a beautiful blend of history and mystery. I also enjoyed the dual timelines and how they wove together to create an incredible story. I enjoyed learning more about marine archaeology and forensic astronomy as well - I wasn't aware of these professions before! A book about family, friendship and love - I'm sure anyone would enjoy!

Amanda Dykes is one of my must-reads. Set the Stars Alight follows dual timelines to deliver a strong depiction of the Father's love. With vivid settings, memorable characters, and strong emotions, this story will sweep you away.

A moving novel full of themes of light vs. darkness. Amanda Dykes' rich prose transports readers to England in two timelines. My favorite part was probably the epilogue. :)

This was a bit of a different read for me, but overall I really enjoyed it. It was well written and interesting.

Amanda Dykes is not a new to me author, I have only read one of her books Whose Waves These Are, which I absolutely loved.

This was an audio read, coming in at 12 1/2 hours and narrated by Shiromi Arserio who is a new to me narrator. Stellar job!

It isn't a secret that I enjoy dual timelines and here was the case again. In current day Lucy Claremont is fascinated with the high seas, she grew up in a story filled world where her father kept her entertained with stories and legends. With riddles that gave a fairy tale feel.

Two hundred years ago a boy named Frederick tells his story of the high seas, a girl named Juliette and a cave.

This was an interesting story spanning years with family time, tragedy, heartache and separation. Connecting the dots to this 2 timelines was intriguing and while usually I like one era more than the other, here I enjoyed both equally. Set the Stars Alight is a well written, mysterious time in history. The cover speaks volumes of the stars, the sea and the power of the past to heal in the future.

The writing style just wasn't for me and I kept finding myself disengaging with the story. It was a slog to get through but I am sure that this will have a home on many readers' shelves and that they will love this story.

Right off the hop - I completely chose this book by the gorgeous cover! It's absolutely beautiful.

Le sigh... I wish I could read this again for the first time. It was so whimsically written that I loved it from start to finish, cover-to-cover. Amanda Dykes is a new-to-me author and I am so glad I was accepted to receive an advanced copy.

I hardly give 5 stars as a book really needs to be exceptional.... if I could, I'd give more than 5 stars to this one. It truly was a magical story that transported me from the first page.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Dykes and Bethan House Publishers for providing me with an eARC of this publication which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

A very well written story with great characters that keeps you involved to the very end. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
I love alternating historical fiction timelines, and I'm wondering why I waited so long to read this one. I know I'll be getting to her latest book soon now. In the present time, Lucy is looking for a missing ship - and the other timeline shows the reader what happened. It's a story of love and loss. Friendship and sacrifice. It's also a story about parental wisdom and how what we learn as children from our parents can impact us for a lifetime. I enjoyed both timelines of this story and the way they played off of each other. Each was so well written, and I had no issues picturing anything in the past timeline which primarily takes place on a ship. The friendships are well written, the feelings are true, and at every turn, Dykes subtly points the reader back to the Creator of the stars.

This is a beautifully written story of wonder, love, loss, and hope. A dual timeline story that paints a beautiful picture of laying down your life for another and how God’s everlasting love will change your life. A mixture of the past with the present that will light up your heart with all the stars in the sky.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I got about 1/3 of the way into this book and just lost interest. I wanted to like it, but it just didn't capture me. The characters started off compelling, but they lost luster quickly. I'm not sure what the final straw was for me, but somewhere the interaction between the historical characters just soured me and I quit reading and haven't gone back for months. I may pick it up again in the future to try another read, but I may not.

I've made a couple attempts to read this one. I LOVED the author's first book, but this one failed to keep my attention no matter how hard I tried. I attempted both the ebook and audiobook. There were a few parts where I would feel myself getting sucked in but then I could feel myself slipping back out. I was really looking forward to this one so I feel bad that I didn't love it but it just wasn't for me.

Amanda Dykes writes stories that are meant to be savored. They are layered, immersive, and so well written. This is a time slip and I ended up loving both stories equally. I also loved how the two stories tied together so beautifully!

I really enjoyed Dash and Lucy’s story and how Lucy’s family took Dash into their lives. The secondary characters really added to their story. During the first half of the book, I didn’t want to leave Dash and Lucy, but as I continued to read, I become so absorbed in Frederick’s story that I didn’t want to leave that one! He had such a sad childhood, but the kindness shown to him by Juliette’s family made such an impact on him that it completely changed the course of his life. I loved how selfless he was.

I will say this story took me a minute to get into, but once I did I was hooked. I also felt like Juliette could’ve been a tad warmer to Frederick towards the end of the story.

All in all, I highly recommend this beautifully written story and I’m looking forward to reading whatever Amanda Dykes writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I also purchased my own copy. All opinions are my own.

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.