I really loved Amanda Dykes' debut, Whose Waves These Are. She tends towards dual timelines and multiple POV. This one was similar, with rich details and multiple timelines. Set the Stars Alight centers on Lucy Clairmont, whose childhood was full of magic and stories of the high seas which lead her to become a marine archaeologist. Her friend, Dashel, comes into her life to help her piece together a mystery.

Simultaneously, the story flips back to a separate timeline 200 years prior, to another boy, another girl, and their friend that are lead into love and then war. Both storylines are rich with imagery, wonder, and imagination, but the flip flop can be a bit jarring.

While Dykes' prose are lyrical and lovely, I personally don't love dual story lines and found it slow and almost confusing at times, even knowing they would weave together eventually. I'm sure this one would be appreciated by readers of books like The Keeper of Lost Things, Night Circus, other dual storyline books, and more patient readers in general.

Amanda Dykes has blown me away with another phenomenal split time Christian fiction book!

Dykes has done a wonderful job of taking a story from the past and weaving it in with a modern story and seamlessly tying them together. The characters were realistic and made me kinda sad that they were not real. The timing of the way Dykes made the timeline play out was perfection - just enough tease to keep you going, highly anticipating the next chapter.

I loved the nod to her previous book, Whose Waves These Are. While the books are not related, it is nice to have authors link their books together.

I look forward to Amanda Dykes’ future books!

I received a complimentary ebook, but was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Hero or Betrayer?

This book has two stories in one that each take place in different time periods. The first is that of Lucy. She was raised by a story-spinning father who filled her childhood, and that of her friend Dash, with fairy tales and imagination. As an adult, she has become an academic who studies marine life. Two things occurred in her childhood--the death of her mother, and Dash's move to a different country--that caused her life since then to be edged with sadness. Most recently, she has lost her father, as well.

While Lucy attempts to solve the over century-old disappearance of a ship, Dash steps back into her life, fifteen years after he left it. She is stunned to see him again, and unsure how she feels about the now grownup Dash. As they work together to solve the mystery about the ship, Lucy feels like she has walked into one of her father's tales.

The other story is Frederick's, and how something he once thought was the best thing in his life, might have become the opposite. He finds himself with the dilemma of helping someone else, but by doing so, he will ruin his own life—what will he choose?

I love that the meaning of John 15:13 is highlighted in this clean tale. Vivid descriptions of the countryside and people allow you to clearly see them in your mind's eye. The beautiful prose in this complex story made some parts more difficult to understand than it needed to be. I recommend this 4.5-star book to those who enjoy intricate, wonderfully crafted tales.

Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, Set the Stars Alight, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner.

I usually read books very quickly. However, every once in a while a book comes along that I take a long time to read because that book has such a beautiful story, and I want to savor each and every word like a exquisite tasting dessert. I want to know what happens next, but I'm content to just linger on the page I'm on and not rush as quickly through it as possible. Amanda Dyke's Set the Stars Alight was that type of book. Beautiful. The story, the stories within the main story, the way the author weaves everything together, the descriptions that incorporates all the senses-- all of it is beautiful. When I finally did reach the end, I almost cried because I wasn't ready to leave the story. Set the Stars Alight was definitely one of my top favorite books that I've read this year. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction, historical fiction, romance, stories within stories, and truly beautiful stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set the Stars Alight is a book that sets itself apart from the rest. The author successfully pulls in the reader from the first few sentences of the book and keeps the reader in with her strong use of literature and her gift of story-telling that transcends both time and culture. The resonating themes of both storytelling and redemption through selfless sacrifice are entwined around the literary skeleton of stars and astrology (I myself learnt quite a few things about stars and their constellations while reading this book, but most of all, I was amazed about the beauty of the galaxies and God’s role in orchestrating their existence.) From Dash’s unchecked obsession with the heavenly bodies to Lucy’s father’s knack at storytelling, there is never one dull moment in Set the Stars Alight. In fact, from page one, I was already resonating with the characters. Already anticipating the next sentences, plot twists, and essentially, almost four hundred pages of reading material.

Definitely a recommended read for anyone looking for quality Christian literature.

I have no words. I am quite literally speechless. Usually when I finish a book, I just want to ramble on about it, and I have that same urge with this one, but I’m just not sure that I can find the words to possibly do it justice!

This book is an absolute work of art. A masterpiece. It’s quite simply the most one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read!

It’s written in the most poetic way - full of whimsy, imagery and wonder - speaking right to the heart. It’s a book to relax into, soak up & ponder in your heart. And yet it speaks to the mind also - not a single word is wasted. Every word is in it’s place for a reason. There’s a mystery to be searched out and unravelled.

Yesterday I shared a quote from the book and I’m going to share it again here, as therein lies the power of this book.

‘All stories - the very best ones, anyhow - may be full of fairy tales and nonsense and lore, but if they are to be lasting... they must have truth at their very core.’

And that’s what makes this book ‘so much more’ - all of those beautiful images, all the light that dances through the pages, all the stories that capture your heart, mind and imagination - all of it speaks to a deeper truth that is at its very core. And the book takes us on a journey with Lucy and Dash to discover that truth. A journey through joy and anguish, through fighting for light in dark places, and unravelling a years old mystery. And in doing so, despite its whimsical nature, it is somehow more real than anything else I’ve ever read. It has that same quality that the Chronicles of Narnia do, of being able to simultaneously be completely fanciful and yet somehow more real than real life itself.

Amanda Dykes is a master painter who uses her words as paintbrushes to create the most beautiful images right on the very fabric of your soul. And in doing so, teaches us the real meaning of story and points to a deeper truth within all of it. Within everything.

Once in a blue moon, you find something - sometimes a story, sometimes a song or a painting - that taps into that elusive longing in your soul that C.S. Lewis described as a ‘desire nothing in this world can satisfy’, something that gives you an elusive glimpse into the place where that desire is satisfied, that gives you a taste of home, a taste of the place where you truly belong. This is one of those and I somehow feel more whole for having read this story - which seems such an insufficient word to describe what is so much more than just a story.

Before today, I had two authors that stood alone in a category of their own - C.S. Lewis and Francine Rivers. I do believe Amanda Dykes has just joined that club. And ‘Set the Stars Alight’ has joined Narnia as my all time favourite book. (And Frederick Hanford has joined my list of favourite characters - his story moved me to absolute tears).

Oh my God!!! Absolutely no words would do this story justice. I loved it from the very start.
This book was an adventure, a journey through the lives of both Dash and Lucy and also Fredrick.
The author has a way with words that pulls you in, beautifully woven and so descriptive.
I love that these characters bonded over this love for words trusted God in the midst of their pain and found their way home by following the stars
This book is a boatload of emotions beautiful and so well written. I enjoyed every minute. You would too!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

If you are about to begin reading Amanda Dykes "Set the Stars Alight," I must advise you to clear your schedule. You will not want to put this one down. Lucy and Dash will have you on the edge of your seat just in time to hand things off to Frederick who hails from centuries before. The timelines are so masterfully woven into an amazing web that even after reading one must sit back and admire the author's handiwork.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

Amanda Dykes has done it again. Beautiful story-telling, well-rounded characters, and a setting that feels so real you want to book a plane ticket and visit as soon as you turn the last page. Although as a reader it's clear how the story will eventually end, the path to the ending isn't laid out. (I won't spoil it, but multiple unexpected moments made me gasp). My biggest critique would be that three or four minor plot points never wrap up. Because Dykes intentionally weaves so much together, those "missing endings" feel like an accident and were a little confusing/disappointing. However, it's a good read overall and one I would recommend. If you like this one, you'll definitely want to read her debut novel (Whose Waves These Are).

Such a wonderful and uplifting book! The story of Lucy Claremont and her childhood friend Dashel. Filled with wonder, stars and hope. It's an adventure when the two friends go in search of a lost ship and the years that followed. It's an example to all of us how we can all hold on to wonder even if darkness falls.

This is one of those breathtaking novels that leaves you sitting in awe. I hardly know where to start with a review, or how to put words together to even begin to adequately describe this glowing story.

It is an absolutely beautiful, beautiful story. This is one of those that could not be rushed in its reading. I loved it so much. I finished it with a bittersweet sorrow. I'm almost certain it will be a top read of the year for me.
This book is a lovely weaving together of two stories. And more layers than you can count. Stories intertwined between the two main stories. Poetry. And prose. Riddles and ballads.
Friendship. Loss. Sorrow. Hope. Love.


The story begins with Lucy. And Dash. It shows their childhood. Almost the kind that fairy tales come from, at least for Lucy. Then everything changes, and she is almost as much an orphan as her dear friend Dash.

Interwoven with the lovely characters is the detailed description of their lovely setting. Lucy grew up in a little glass cottage by a match factory. One that is now abandoned. Set in London (or England, somewhere). I just loved reading the descriptiveness of the setting. The author made it come alive before my very eyes.

As an adult, Lucy is so alone. She's forgotten the lovely stories told to her by her dad. But she's on a hunt, determined to find a long-forgotten ship, the Jubilee. So this story is also a treasure hunt, of sorts.

Then you have the story of Frederick. Of Juliette. Of Elias. This from a time about 200 years earlier. Their stories are also full of sadness. Anger. Loss.

But the stars. The light. The hope. How beauty can come from ashes. Diamonds from dust. Stars from darkness. Anything is possible. Expect the impossible.

I loved the richness of these tales. I had the feeling that each word was carefully chosen, polished, placed exactly in its proper place, in a revealing of a treasure beyond description.

All of it is just so very beautiful. This is one of those stories that will stay with me for a long time, one that I will hold close.


Five out of five stars


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! There were a few parts that were a little Hallmark-movie-channel, but mostly I’d say this book did exactly what the author intended—instilled a sense of wonder and made the impossible seem possible. The book follows two storylines, one historic and one contemporary, both stories of long-awaited love. I honestly enjoyed the historical storyline more. This book has a little of everything without delving into violence, sex, or foul language. There are smugglers, strong women, swashbuckling sailors fighting battles valiantly for their King, loving families and the constant gentle undercurrent of an all-encompassing Love.

I appreciated that this book was completely clean. The characters relied on God and scripture in hard times, they looked to the created world around them for beauty and wonder, and they sought out wholesome adventures. Like I said, there were a few points where the reader was kindly asked to suspend reality and enter the world of Hallmark perfection. But for someone who generally doesn’t enjoy Christian fiction, especially Christian romantic fiction, I thought this was a fun, joyful little read. This author is clearly very talented and I will be hunting down her other books in the near future.

Just imagine...

This is the second full-length novel that I have read by this author. I have also read other novellas written by her. So, I knew that Set the Stars Alight would most likely be written in a beautifully poetic style, full of whimsy and wonder. What I didn’t foresee was that this tale would be one of the best stories I have ever read. And I have read a lot of stories.

Set the Stars Alight is an intricately woven dual-timeline novel, with both timelines entrancing me equally. That is almost unheard of for me. I usually have a distinctly favorite timeline when I am reading a book that travels from one time to another in its storytelling. I loved these stories equally.

I finished this book hours ago and cannot stop thinking about the characters in both timelines. I am enthralled with their love stories and the way in which the author connected the characters and events. I simply want to pick this book up and read it for the first time again, so that I can experience once more the wonder of the tales that the watchmaker told to Lucy and Dash.

The author not only wove two beautiful timelines together, but she also gently and clearly pointed to the One who weaves all things together, even from the beginning of time. I can’t say enough good things about this book or express how much joy it brought to my heart to read it.

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

I loved this book! The dual timelines worked very well together, and the interesting yet vulnerable characters were also good and relatable. Especially Lucy, who grew up in a world of books and stories, largely isolated from the outside world. I also had no idea that forensic astronomy was (or that there even was such a thing) before reading this novel. Yes, it exists: and its awesome. The investigation of events through the position of the stars.

I also loved the details the location: admission: I have a strong personal connection to East Sussex. Not the particular area covered, but the country in general. So yeah, this aspect of the novel was something of a big deal for me.
The spiritual message was excellently delivered, especially through people struggling to find their identities and their place in the world. Lucy and Frederick, though living centuries apart, are indelibly connected.

There are two or three things I didn't like. One was the inevitable Americanisms. Second was the idea of Frederick, the son of an admiral entering the navy as 'powder monkey'. I did not buy it: I think he would have got a commission and started out as a midshipman at least.

Second, I really didn't care for the audiobook narrator. She was good in places, but her accent was terrible. I mean atrociously bad. Rendering characters who were meant to be from East Sussex with what varied between a West country and an Irish accent was unforgivable. Worthy of the worst fake movie accent.

Thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and ARC of this title. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.

We've all heard the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover," and I am going to be honest, that with this book I completely judged it by the cover, between the stars and the sea, based on the cover, this was a journey that I wanted to go on. Not knowing anything about the author, Amanda Dykes, I dove into a story full of wonder and the magic of story telling. The cover speaks volumes, but the story within will pull you in to its depths and take you on a beautiful journey through the generations.

Lucy has always loved the story of the lost ship the Jubilee, and the mystery shrouded around it, her childhood friend has always had his head in the stars, after years apart they have found themselves back together on a journey to find the Jubilee and piece together their past along the way.

Set the Stars Alight is a truly captivating book, I loved the juxtaposition of seeing what was happening in the present with Lucy and Dash and then seeing what had happened in the past and how they were both related. Amanda Dykes writing style is simply captivating and I cannot wait to see what other stories she has to share. I absolutely loved this book, and plan to revisit it again.

I have received this book complimentary from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Set the Stars Alight, the newest novel penned by Amanda Dykes was my most anticipated release of 2020. After reading and reviewing her debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, I was excitedly anticipating this newest story. Imagine my delight to begin this story and discover myself immersed in a creative, imaginative new tale.

Amanda Dykes is truly a gifted author who has a magical way with words, carefully weaving stories from two different eras that become epic, heartwarming adventures while simultaneously engaging readers and delighting them with a story well crafted.

Set the Stars Alight is now a beloved favorite of mine because of it’s heartwarming characters, sweet love story, timeless narrative and lyrical words. The story pace is smooth, transitioning from modern day to the age of 1800’s pirates and warships and back again. This intelligent story offers a beautiful underlying tale of wonder, hope, friendship and sacrifice that both those with deep faith will enjoy as well as secular readers. As a Christian, I saw the profound truth in this story that was beautifully presented in a simple and endearing way. I dearly loved Lucy and Dash. All of the characters became characters written into my heart and their passion and grief were deeply felt. Set the Stars Alight is a story to be absorbed, reveled and herald. It is a now cherished one that I intend to keep through the ages and share with my children, right along with the classics of years ago.

I implore you to take a chance on this novel and see if it doesn’t impact you in one way or another. Both contemporary and historical fiction readers will enjoy it. This story is clean and appropriate for ages 13+.

This split time novel between the man who sacrificed his life for a friend and then mysteriously disappeared one night on board the prison ship, and the astronomer and researcher who set about to solve the mystery and find unearth his story, is intricate and enchanting on every level.
So much beauty and truth was woven into this story through different avenues: the watchmaker talking about time, the astronomer talking about the stars, the shepherd inviting a motherless boy into his fold, the admiral with his mourning dove, the sailor who sacrificed everything for another.
This book had me in tears with its profound beauty several times and jotting down quotes to remember along the way. I stopped in the middle to add the paperback to my Amazon wishlist (I read an ARC copy from Netgalley). It challenged me to think about how well I notice the light around me. It reminded me that in every detail of my life, God is pursuing me. It left me wondering how I can instill hope and wonder in my own children and how I can set the stars alight for those around me.
I enjoy books more that don't have villains or irritating people(✔️), books with happy endings (✔️), books that point to God and more specifically Jesus in non preachy ways (✔️), books where the man and woman fall in love but thats not the cure-all (✔️), and books where I enjoy the journey so much that I'm not tempted to skim to the end (✔️). Out of five stars, I'd give this one ten if I could.
(My only complaint is that Jesus is not actually named. He's referred to in unmistakable ways, but His Name has power and we shouldn't be afraid to use it).
All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

My goodness, what a story! When I had the pleasure of reading "Whose Waves These Are" last year, I was struck by the lyrical quality to the story, it had such a unique storytelling feel to it. I am happy to say this new book by Amanda also retains this quality. She is truly a gifted storyteller the way she weaves her stories-it's a quality I haven't seen in any other books I have read. I adored this story. Lucy and Dash were spectacular characters and I loved Juliette and Frederick as well. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this story. The story gripped me from the beginning and it did not let up once. I really can't do the story justice in this review. All I can say is read it for yourself-I highly doubt you will be disappointed. This one is going to stay in my heart for a loooong time to come!

I received this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to post a positive review. I also purchased a copy for my keeper shelf because it was wonderful.

I’m absolutely speechless at the beauty of this story. Set the Stars Alight is one of those rare books that speaks of timeless truth and light through the familiar refrain of story. It is one that will cause the reader to see the world differently. To see the intertwining Hope that binds humanity from creation to the cross with its message echoed in every longing for home and every story of redemption.

Through two equally compelling (and brilliantly intertwining!) stories, Amanda Dykes draws the reader in with her lyrical style. Lucy and Dash, in the present day, embody friendship, connection, and home. Their grief and longings feel relatable and realistic as they struggle with reconnecting, the consequences of missed communication, and the strength of their shared history. One that incorporates the tiniest hint of a fairytale played out in “real life” through shared story, light, stars, and seas

The historical thread of Frederick Hanford’s story and life twists its way through the pages with overarching themes of friendship, brotherhood, and sacrifice. To speak of the depth and meaning of his role in an act of selfless love would be too revealing. I’ll only say that his character is surprising and the most emotionally moving part of the story.

Through Lucy and Dash’s renewed connection and newfound countryside friendships, the legacy of Frederick comes to light; as does the inheritance of story and wonder Lucy’s own father has left in her heart.

With bright secondary characters and myriad layers of meaning connecting every element of every chapter, Set the Stars Alight has earned its place on my all time favorites list. I can recommend it to any reader as a tale both heart-wrenching and healing, incorporating adventure, intelligence, romance, and dreams with an overarching message of redemption.

Thank you to the publisher for the digital copy. I purchased my own print copy. This is my honest review.

In her poetic voice, Amanda Dykes weaves together an unforgettable tale that takes you to the stars, to the deepest oceans, while also grounding you on solid ground. This is one of those stories that you have no idea how the author came up with it and you know she has a gift. No review can do it justice.