Some books crawl inside you and take root, staying with you long after you read the final page, and Set the Stars Alight is one of those. This is one of these books that left me speechless, but I’m going to do my best to share my thoughts.

The novel itself features two perspectives, Frederick Hanford, a Regency-era Admiral’s son, and Lucy Clairmont, a modern-day marine archaeologist. Between Lucy’s storyline and Frederick’s, Dykes leads the reader on a magical journey as Lucy, “The Matchstick Girl,” tries to solve the mystery of the HMS Jubilee, a ship that went missing two centuries ago.

This book has everything: magic, adventure, romance, and mystery. And the way Dykes weaves Frederick’s and Lucy’s stories together is phenomenal and masterful. She drops hints and clues throughout, bringing the reader into the mystery as Lucy strives to unravel it.

I’ll just warn you: this book is hard to put down! Not just because of the mystery but also the characters.

First you have Lucy, whose relationship with her parents is endearing. Dykes manages to immerse you into the family. So much so that when tragedy strikes, you really feel it with Lucy. Then there’s Frederick whose childhood is almost the opposite of Lucy’s. And you can feel the difference. Seeing the two grow up not only adds to their characterization but also draws you closer to them.

Then you have the supporting characters. Of all them, Dash is definitely my favorite. From the gangly boy to the grown man, Dash gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go. (I think he may be my new book boyfriend.)

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the spiritual themes of truth and sacrifice. Dykes weaves in these threads naturally without sounding preachy, and there were so many times in the novel I found myself reminded of God's majesty and His Son's sacrifice without her even having to mention it (although there are a few points where she does, and since you're already thinking about it, it doesn't hit you over the head.)

Overall, Set the Stars Alight is an unforgettable book you’ll want to reread as soon as you turn the last page.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

This book was amazing! I enjoyed this author’s first book, but it wasn’t amazing. Written in first person present and a time slip. Just not my favorite. When I had the opportunity to get an advance copy of this one, I thought it would be a nice book. Boy. I was wrong.
This book is engrossing. I literally could not stop reading this book. Even though it is a time slip. I was highlighting things in chapter one and never looked back! I almost never highlight in fiction! The theme is one that is incredibly timely. The author could not have known what would be happening in the world, but it is such a fitting thing! Do yourself a favor and get this book!

“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.”

I will be purchasing a paperback copy of this book. It is too good not to share with everyone.

This book has so much going for it--there are wonderful characters (both the main and secondary characters), two storylines (the contemporary one with Lucy and Dash, and the one set two hundred years ago, with Frederick), each of which is compelling, a mystery, family dynamics of both the heartbreaking and heartwarming variety, sweet stories passed from Lucy's father to her and Dash, love stories, and so much more--and it's all wrapped up in this beautiful writing style. There are lots of great authors in the world, but only a few of them have this almost mystical storytelling ability, and Amanda Dykes has it. This is one of those books that you want to hurry through because you HAVE to know what's going to happen but that you also want to read slowly so you can savor every single bit...and that you then want to go back and re-read as soon as you finish. Very, very well done. This will be very well-loved by many, many readers.
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

To be 100% honest, there were several times at the start of this book that I nearly gave up on it. I just could not seem to get invested in the story at the start and the slow moving pace was just doing little to grab me. Still, I don't like not finishing books and upon reading other reviews, I decided to give it a fair shot and keep on reading. If you likewise find yourself in this position, I encourage you to keep on reading. I, for one, am really glad I did!

As I said, the story got off to a bit of a slow start, and honestly the pace of the story remained fairly slow throughout. We were given a lot of information, and I couldn't see how it all fit together or why all that story was necessary... but the more I read, the more I began to see the bigger picture and the more I enjoyed the story. In the end, I actually fell in love with this beautiful story, spanning hundreds of years. It's certainly not your quick and easy summer beach read... but it is one that will make you think. After finishing, I cannot believe that I almost gave up on it!! It has a bit of mystery, a bit of romance and just really fantastic writing that gives this story--- even those taking place in present time--- a truly timeless feel! This is definitely one worth checking out...and sticking with!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

This was such a lovely story.. Amanda Dykes spun a really pretty story in Set the Stars Alight. The plot was engaging, the characters were relatable, and the writing was just so beautiful. Dykes can really paint a picture with her words and it definitely suited the fairytale-like story.

Essentially, this is a story about how two children grew up together, grew apart, and found their way back to each other. However, just treating it as such would be doing it a disservice. The themes of selfless love and sacrifice were weaved into the story, especially in the earlier timeline, building a beautiful tale worthy of a bard.

I especially liked how Dykes paced both timelines, having them unfold in tandem, while still reserving a climax for the modern-day timeline at the end. Although I guessed how things would fall into place, it was still a good read because of how it unfolds. All in all, a very satisfying read.

Diversity meter:
-

If I could, I would give this book ten stars. (Or seven stars plus more - you will have to read the book to find out more about that). From the early pages, I was caught up in the story and the characters. I think what is beautiful about it is the fact that it really cannot be categorized. There is an element of fantasy, mystery, history, friendship, family and a smattering of romance. There is also a spiritual element that is woven throughout the book that connects our stories to God's plans. The word choice was exceptional. The research was well-done and created a believable plot. Having the book set primarily in London and in England also added a fascinating element.. I had never heard of a forensic astronomer before, and I enjoyed learning about that profession.. The lead female protagonist's interest in navigation and maritime archaeology was also intriguing. What else was interesting was the concept of connection - how do we relate to those around us. Woven throughout was also the quality of heroism which essentially is the willingness to give up your life sacrificially for another. Her character's choices made me ponder if I would have the same attitude. This is a book that I will read again, and I might even appreciate the beginning more now that I now what details to look for because of knowing the ending. I have read many, many books in my day, and I would rate this title in my top five. Excellent!

A big thank you to the author, Bethany House Publishers and to Net Galley for allowing me to read an advanced copy. I tremendously enjoyed this book, and the strong opinions are my own.

Oh man was this the book for me! A maritime mystery (hellooooo), two POV/timelines, a sweet romance, legends, caves, family, faith...Set the Stars Alight had it all 🌠 The writing style was very accessible but also had depth and beauty to it as well. I personally enjoyed the book because I love anything that has to do with the water, and I also think I would have devoured this as a 15 or 16 year old. The beginning especially has the fanciful mood of even a middle grade book.
•
All that being said, it wasn't perfect...the author really sat heavily on the idea of allegory. I felt like she didn't really trust her reader to catch on to the concept maybe? One part of the plot seemed a bit silly and as fancy as the modern-day MCs jobs were, they weren't actually used in any way to solve the mystery? Or maybe I missed something.
•
Critiques aside I really enjoyed it! I plan to read more from this author 👍

Set the Stars Alight
by Amanda Dykes
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Romance
Pub Date 30 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 31 Aug 2020

Yes, read this book! Yes, I will recommend it to our patrons! And Yes this is a 5-star book.
I love Bethany House Publishers and the authors. This was a great read for me because I love historical fiction and contemporary fiction. Thanks to Net Galley and Bethany House for the ARC.

Amanda Dykes is a gifted writer who pens beautiful stories of mystery, love, and sacrifice.
Set the Stars Alight is a scrumptious book to be savored. As I slipped from one century to another, the story twined together as a beautiful masterpiece. The setting is incredible and the characters found their way into my heart. I love Dash and Lucy and cheered them on in their search for truth. Dykes gave the folks, who live in the community Lucy and Dash travel to, interesting quirks and stories. I felt like I was sitting at the table with them drinking tea. This is a well done time-slip novel. If you enjoy historical fiction and contemporary fiction this is the perfect read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read Amanda Dykes’ newest book almost two weeks ago (thank you, NetGalley) and I still haven’t written the review because, well, I just don’t have words for how beautiful it is! Seriously. It’s just gorgeous…it’s lyrical and enchanting, heartbreaking in some places and so inspiring and uplifting in others. Every little detail feels perfectly placed and meaningful in a way that honestly astounds me. Last year, Amanda’s first novel—Whose Waves These Are—was my favorite book of the year (and it's right up there with some of my favorite-of-all-time books), so needless to say, I had crazy high expectations…and I’m so thrilled that Set the Stars Alight exceeded them by far!

And just to nerd out as a writer for a sec: I remember saying to an author friend last year that the writing in Whose Waves These Are felt somehow wild and free. Which might sound silly, but that’s how it felt to me. And I would say the exact same thing for this story. I think as writers, it can be so routine to labor over the technicalities of sentences and paragraphs and structure and follow a bunch of story crafting rules–and none of that is wrong. It’s good! And I’m definitely not saying Amanda Dykes is breaking all the rules or disregarding grammar or anything like that. But it just feels like this story and the writing go beyond rules. Every once in awhile, I’ll read a book where you can almost feel the author’s intense labor—the polish and punchiness. (Again, not necessarily a bad thing.) But in this one, I felt the author’s heart. I mean, I'm sure it took immense labor to write it!! But it was like listening to a song versus just reading the lyrics. I don’t know if any of what I just said makes sense. But bottom line, the writer in me is just blown away…and also inspired to let myself write with a little more freedom and wonder.

Speaking of, this story is threaded with wonder all the way through. And I adored that!

Basically I loved every little thing about it. And I am now more interested in stars and sunken ships than I ever would’ve guessed I could be. Also, Dash is adorable. :)

Here's the deal, about a trillion years ago, a writer made sure I had a copy of her novella Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale. Which was just one long string of achingly beautiful imagery tied up with a Christmas bow. She had also written another novella called Tin Can Serenade and I kept wondering what the heck was wrong with the publishing world because where were the FULL LENGTH AWARD WINNING NOVELS. Well, I was a die hard fan. Everything this author touched turned to poetry. Frig, even her pinterest page was art.

And then I was asked (privileged) (squealed) to endorse her full length debut "Whose Waves These Are" and I watched, rapt, as everyone slowly fell in love in the way I knew they would when you become breathless at a depth of talent that makes you blink twice and sit there in awe. A talent that makes you giddy to be alive when people can write stories that will just thrill the world over. And you feel blessed that there are people who were challenged to handle the words and arrange them to light hearts the world over and slowly flicker warmth that starts in your toes and moves up: that's a Dyke's story, timeless and old as words themselves, seeking cracks to extol all that we need to know about the depth of humanity and winsomely told as if she is creaking up a log to a campfire as you put another marshmallow on a stick.


Anyways, enough back story:

Meet the watchmaker's daughter, Lucy, who lives in a world of story: her father unfolds the streets and legends of London to her so that everything is a riddle wrapped in a fairytale: from the winding, murky Thames, to the churchbells to the stars. So adamant is he that she be shrouded in a word of story, he tugs in a Lost Boy who might just be from the Second Star on the Right and Straight on til Morning , and into her cloistered world comes enigmatic Dash: for nights of lavender shortbread and tea and a way to trace the constellations he pursues while shoving his glasses up his nose.


A million stars ago, a boy named Frederick Hanford looked out to the sea and knew his destiny was wrought in smoke and oakum and knew that the great vessels that filled the harbour would be where he would find his glory. But, nearby a young girl and a cave and a shepherd and churchbells threaded through his life.And as he grew, so did his fate become intertwined with Elias, and with Juliette, and his first sacrifice of many found him saving her from a press gang and before his time, and with an unlikely ally and brother, he sets to sea, wrapped up in a sea shanty, the subject of infamy, an unlikely mystery to be solved centuries later...


Lucy survives tragedy and finds herself losing her father's stories,even as his watch ticks in her pocket, even as her family is taken, even as Dash returns to America and their close bond is severed. In adulthood, she is determined to follow the legend of the missing ship Jubilee as well as excavate the hidden story of Frederick Hanford, traitor to England. While pitching a proposal for a research grant to excavate the Jubilee in Greenwich, she is overtaken by Dash, now a forensic astronomer who knows that the stars can guide the way to hidden treasure and sunken ships.


Together, they map the stars and the sea and the ringing of nearby churchbells to marry legend with truth and unfold a story so gut-punchingly beautiful that your stomach will ache. In the meantime, they sew up the years that gapped between them and swap their own tales: Lucy ticking through time, as London crept on, Dash orbiting his beloved stars even while his heart was tucked with her on earth.

Resplendently told in a long ebb of poetic prose, Set the Stars Alight is thematic and resonant with achingly wonderful imagery and a truly brilliant sense of place.

This is the best type of yarn. Dykes is one of the most naturally gifted storytellers I have ever encountered and her imagination in the sewing of this fantastically rich and ultimately creative tale is nothing short of genius. Dash, sleuth to the stars, Lucy who gazes up through a film of tragedy, their future as certainly written as the long stanzas dedicated to the traitor man Hanford in meta after meta form of storytelling in storytelling: all reading so fluidly words slip through your fingers and you're up at 1 am and just giving in and finishing it in one fell swoop.

I mean who.... WHO... would think of throwing so many hallmarks of the western tradition and oral narrative into a blender and come out with this? Fairy tales and rhymes, sea stories and legends, sheep and ocean and stars. It is testament to the vast world in her mind that she can convey all with such wonderfully brilliant and surprising turns. Each character is worth deep-heart investment in and each chapter is a surprise and because she writes with such an ease and flourish, her descriptive writing is so mind blowingly good that she makes it look easy.



Dash thinks of Lucy as an M4 -a terminology in astronomy that tells us the stars sing. Lucy was told by her father in childhood that she is the light that gets in, Dash finds that in constellations a million miles away that cannot sneak out their sound. Dykes sings. There's no other word for how her words flow so perfectly together in meticulous arrangement.

"But the meaning beneath the letters, the words with a heartbeat and a soul, was for Elias. Frederick drew strict boundaries around the stubborn thing that beat in his chest."

"But he'd blown onto the farm like a rogue window, voice rough and deep with gravel, full of story and lore"


"And he looked back, a mirror of her questions"

"Her breath came quick as if her lungs knew the words she meant to speak could cost her much."

"Tradition is like oxygen around here, you see. So every year, the Shepherd's bells ring and we remember. "

"As if every moment between then and now had been leading up to this, the homecoming of their hands."

"If all the sorrow in the world could gather up and land in side a single soul, it had done so in Dash."

"Juliette took flight where there was no sky. This was a place of impossible. And what a beautiful impossible it was."



I mean it helps that so much of this is my natural catnip: sea stories and London and churchbells and romance. But underscored by the fact that all are lovingly held in the clutch of a master.

I once read a review that said the author "writes like an angel"

I never knew what that meant. But that's because I hadn't read Amanda Dykes yet.

SET THE STARS ALIGHT by AMANDA DYKES is a poignant story of hope, friendship, courage and sacrifice, where lost souls find their "home" and are drawn, by their search for the truth, to the One who set the stars alight, and brought light into the darkness. Of course the study of the stars plays a bit part in the story.
The story takes place in two time frames - the present and the the early 1800's, both periods with their interesting characters whose history is mysteriously linked. There is a certain sadness running through the book and a sense of lostness in some of the characters. The author describes their feelings very sensitively and we are drawn into their joys and sorrows.
Lucy Claremont's father tells Lucy and her friend, Dashel Greene, a brilliant but lonely young boy who Lucy's parents treat as their own son, wonderful riddles, and also stories of the past which serve to inspire them in a special way and serve as breadcrumbs leading them to find what they are looking for. The story of the lost HMS Jubilee has made such an impression on Lucy that she studies Maritime Archeology and is determined to find the ill-fated ship. Dashel, who is a forensic astrologer, comes back into her life just when she needs him to help her with her search.
I am not going to tell you any more excepting to say that it is a worthwhile read..
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This is the first time I’ve read a book by this author.
The novel has a slow beginning and reads more literary in the first several chapters than the rest of the novel. It isn’t until near the end of the story the reader is enlightened as to why there was so much foundation laid in the beginning chapters. If you can handle the literary narrative style and the slow pacing, this is a story you’ll likely enjoy.
Due to the length and pacing of the contemporary opening, I almost gave up. My attention wasn’t captured until the author brings the reader into the historical story line, which wasn’t until chapter seven. Once I was thrown into the late 1800’s, the author presented a different vibe with the story of Frederick Hanford, future traitor of England (though there are literary style passages throughout the entire novel).
I wasn’t sure what to make of any of the characters. Frederick is a noble, though a self-depriving character who sacrifices his life for another because of guilt. He blames himself for the death of someone and spends the rest of the story trying to make it up to people who are undeserving – though I think that is the point of the novel in drawing a parallel with the Ultimate Sacrifice made for mankind. He carries a weight on his shoulders that isn’t his to bear and he reacts to a childish misunderstanding that sets him on a collision course to becoming a labelled traitor.
There are two characters from the historical storyline I liked, one due to his humour and ability to see past appearances and the other due to his kindness and love for others. The other characters, the ones which Frederick makes it his business to care for are hard to like and left me questioning Frederick’s reasons for continuing to protect them.
Frederick is a legend and in the contemporary story line, Lucy is a grad student looking for funding to unearth the location where the SS Jubilee disappeared piloted by Frederick Hanford. No one has uncovered the truth of why he betrayed England, nor where his ship was run aground. He disappeared into the night on the eve before he was to be executed.
Dashel Greene is a childhood friend of Lucy’s and a forensic astrologer. Combining their efforts they are able to uncover the truth of the Jubilee, its location and the story of its captain.
All the characters in the contemporary story are interesting however their quirks and differences tend to be a bit much at times.
Characters are well developed and descriptions are quite vivid, allowing the reader to envision the places mentioned in the story. The author has a unique narrative style and weaves the historical and contemporary stories well.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was really looking forward to this book. I loved the author's previous book, Whose Waves These Are. Unfortunately, this one really missed the mark for me. I just could not get into the either one of the plot lines. I can't really put my finger on why. I just felt disconnected from the characters and the story the whole time. I will definitely give this author another try, though.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for the purpose of review.

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it was the cover that really led me to choose this novel. It looks so full of adventure, mystery, and intrigue! The book does have some of that, but I had a hard time feeling like I was invested in it because I was never really able to connect or latch on to any of the characters. It switches back and forth between modern day and a few hundred years ago, following two sets of protagonists and they venture through everything life throws at them. In the modern day, our male protagonist studies the stars...and it is the stars that eventually help to guide everyone back where they belong.

I'm not usually one for historical fiction but the cover and blurb for this kept calling my name. Plus, I am trying to branch out from my normal genres. I did have a pretty good experience with this one and only had a couple issues overall.

The book has multiple point-of-views and parts have different time stamps. I always like multiple point-of-views because it gives an extra bit to the characters. I didn't mind it in this one either but I just never felt a connection towards the characters. The timeline was also a bit confusing at times as well.


I think my favorite part of this book (besides the cover, ha) was the plot. It was very unique and I loved all the references to different books like Shakespeare and Peter Pan. It's always fun to see references to books I know and have enjoyed. There is definitely quite a bit of action but there is also some slower parts as well. I think they balanced each other out though so it wasn't a big deal. There are also references to certain events that happened in the bible, obviously because this is labeled as Christian. I didn't have a problem with this and have read many that have but some just seemed to be kind of thrown in there. I don't know, some just felt like they didn't fit, if that makes sense.

Overall, I thought this was a fine read. I think I would have liked it more if I were able to connect with the characters but they just didn't leave any impression on me. I at least liked the plot so it wasn't all bad.