Once upon a time there was a much-loved girl who grew up in the light and love of her father's stories. A young friend often joined them and could almost claim her home as his own. The two grew up and went their separate ways in life, but Lucy never forgot Dash. After her father's death, his e-mail saved her from feeling all alone in the world. Now, on the verge of a career breakthrough, Dash shows up in Lucy's life once more and offers his services.

Their mission is to locate the lost ship Jubilee, which disappeared without a trace two hundred years earlier. With their own knowledge and hunches, combined with local folklore and her father's tales, Lucy and Dash set off on an adventure that will lead them to make discoveries about the past... and the future.

Running alongside Lucy and Dash's story is that of Frederick Hanford, a boy in the early 1800s whose life is marked by loss and sadness. After one glimpse of joy, Frederick vows to spend his life protecting that goodness. The journey will require sacrifice upon sacrifice, but Frederick does not balk from the task he gave himself so long ago.

This split-time novel is full of wonder, with rich and beautiful themes. The author's lyrical writing style is so fresh, yet something in this story reminded me of the classics. The slow-moving scenes require patience and perseverance, but the payoff is pure delight. I could see this thrilling lovers of story no matter their age. If you are willing to dig into a book a little deeper than what is normally required, this is one I would recommend to you.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes is a book that I had to get my hands on. I hope you will want to, also. This is a realistic story yet stirred into it are the timeless allure of magical inklings, coupled with family ties swelling and shrinking. Love slowly takes root and blossoms yet is carefully guarded until the right time. And the wondrous fact is, that this is true of both subplots of this amazing novel, which comprise this split-time tale.
One portion of our adventure concerns Lucy, born to a clockmaker in London in recent times. Lucy’s warm, welcoming family time is built around tales spun by her enigmatic father and amended by her jovial mother. Dash, a young misfit, American boy, is welcomed into their familial atmosphere. Suddenly, life flips and flops, and Lucy finds herself alone and floundering with only her marine interest to keep her afloat.
The second saga is a melodrama about a young son of a military hero in the war against Napoleon. Frederick tries hard to make his father proud, but loyalty and fate interfere.
Split-time stories depend upon the author’s fantastic ability to draw two separate, believable strands, at first totally disparate paths, then cause them to become parallel roads, then bring those parallel roads into an obvious intersection where the highways then become one. I had trouble suspending disbelief in some points. I wanted more communication in others. Some issues dragged on too long between people because of a fear of communication that I didn’t find realistic.
So, I thought this was a great book, but it stopped short of the terrific level of Ms. Dykes’s debut novel. Still a very worthy read. Get ahold of Set the Stars Alight and judge for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinions, which are solely my own.
Notable Quotables:

“When things seem dark...that’s when you fight for the light.”

“The God of the stars . . . He is coming, and coming, and coming after you. Always. The heart of a father who will never forget his daughter.”

“But it started with smaller things, which bigger things built on again and again until the big betrayal no longer felt like a plunge to him. It was a small—almost natural—next step.”

“‘Impossible?’...The word had been gifted to them all their lives as a challenge. A lens to see wonder where others saw walls.”

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Amanda Dykes brings readers an incredible book that binds together two stories two hundred years apart that will engage you to the very last page and hold your thoughts captive long after you’ve finished.

Oh my! What a fantastic read this was! Having read Ms. Dykes first book and knowing how she likes to slowly reveal each piece of her story’s puzzle, I was so excited to read what I knew would be a complex but wonderful story. It begins with a young girl named Lucy Clairmont, who is the only child of an older couple. She is the light of their life and is deeply loved, though not spoiled. Her father is a clockmaker whose ability to weave together a story is incredible and those stories are central to Lucy’s upbringing. They welcome into their home a shy young man named Dashel Greene, who is fascinated with the stars and the heavens. The clock maker teaches the children of the love of God and how He is always in pursuit of His children. Lucy and Dash grow up as the best of friends and do everything together until Dash leaves for college. The loss of Dash in her every day life is hard for Lucy, who has just lost her mother as well. But he agrees to write and keep her apprised of his experiences. This goes well for a time but as both Lucy and Dash become engrossed in their studies, their friendship takes a backseat. Things between them are resurrected when Lucy’s father dies and she must decide what she will do now. Her degrees in marine archaeology were driven by her dream of finding the sunken wreckage of a ship known as the Jubilee. But to search for her dream takes money that Lucy doesn’t have. Her only chance is to find enough evidence to convince the grant committee of the soundness of her theories. Dash provides help in his offer of a temporary home along the Sussex coast while Lucy compiles her evidence and research. Though reticent, Lucy comes to Stone’s Throw Farm and will find friends she didn’t know she needed in her life. Together she and Dash will search the area and the stars in hopes of finding Lucy’s long held dream. They might also find love if they can recognize what’s been right in front of them all along. Paired with this story is the one of three people in the 1800s. Fredrick is a young man hounded by his father’s expectations who befriends a family on his father’s estate. But when tragedy happens and Juliette blames Fredrick for her father’s untimely death, Fredrick vows to spend the rest of his life making it right. When Juliette’s best friend Elias and he are press-ganged aboard an English ship in the war against France, Fredrick sees this as his chance to make good on his promise. He will do everything he can to keep Elias safe and return him to Juliette, even if it requires his life. As the years pass, Fredrick and Elias move up in their careers aboard the ship. Elias manages to save enough to marry Juliette and buy her a home. Fredrick is both miserable and happy about this but is determined not to let anyone know. When Elias makes some poor decisions that endanger his life, Fredrick sees his chance one again to repay Juliette for the burden of her father’s death. But Fredrick is not the only one who longs to make their mark on the world and he will soon come to know that loves comes in all shapes and sizes and from the most unexpected places. This is only a very tiny taste of the wonderful writing that is in this story. I don’t think there is a way to describe how good it was without giving away some of the best parts of the story. Your heart will ache with Lucy, Dash, Fredrick and Juliette as you journey with them through the hardest days of their lives. You will also weep with joy and laugh out loud at the conclusions of each story. Please, oh please! Get a copy of this book and read it very soon. I cannot tell you how much better you will be after reading this amazing work. It is very clear that God has His hand on Ms. Dykes and is telling others of His love through her writing. I will most certainly be getting a copy for my shelves and recommending this book very highly to everyone. Here’s hoping Ms. Dykes will have another marvelous book out soon!

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Wow. I have no idea where to start with this review. I feel as though I could read this story over and over again and still get lost in the spell it weaves, still find myself discovering details and wonders that slipped by me in previous readings.

From the first page, I knew I was in the hands of a master storyteller—which, as it turns out, is exactly where characters Lucy and Dashel find themselves as they grow up listening to Lucy’s father’s stories: “And so began the gift. Dad giving, and giving, and giving them stories. True ones, made up ones, and some a mysterious mingling in between. In his hands, the simplest things become wonders, miracles, the stuff of fairy tales, because “‘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.’”

This story is all about seeking those things that shine brightly in the darkness, and I was as enraptured by Lucy and Dash’s story in the present as I was by Frederick’s story two hundred years earlier. The plot was intriguing in its own right, but Dykes’s prose is a work of art. It’s lyrical, perfectly nuanced, and when coupled with this particular story, achingly beautiful. Lucy and Dash were such unassuming characters in many ways, yet there was incredible depth to their characterisation. I adored them and their relationship, from the way it began all the way through to where it ended up.

And yet it is Frederick’s story that is the heart of this story, and on that I will say little because it must unfold exactly as it does in the book. It’s like Lucy’s dad always said, “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.” I just love that paradox, and I love that while Frederick’s story is the truth Lucy and Dash were seeking, there are even deeper, greater truths at the heart of this story for those who take the time to mine for them.

Take the time to mine this story for each and every star it sets alight. You will be nourished and enriched!

In short, it’s a total work of art. Amanda Dykes’ split time novel is captivating, tragic, unexpected, satisfying, and it touches on the themes of both familial and sacrificial love. Her writing is so poetic and it’s been a long time since I have appreciated that kind of writing.

A split time novel, you will cry and rejoice with each set of characters and believe the impossible that happens.
I thought about this story days after I finished and I’m guessing you will too!

Wow! Amanda Dykes blew me away with her latest release. Set the Stars Alight has multiple stories that weave together despite the generations that separate them.

Wonder. Light. Stars. Oceans. Longing for a place to belong. Longing to be loved.

I highly recommend this book and suggest you put Set The Stars Alight in your TBR pile!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Set the Stars Alight is unlike any Christian fiction book I have read! I had difficulty getting into the modern day story line at the beginning of the book, but the 1800s storyline pulled me in and kept me reading. This is a beautiful, well-crafted story filled with wonder and hope, truth and loss, sacrificial love and faith. Ms. Dykes has a remarkable “way with words”! With her lyrical, expressive prose and sensory imagery, she seamlessly executes the dual-storyline technique. Her characters are engaging and memorable, and the romance in both storylines is heartwarming. Before I read this book, I had never heard of maritime archeology or forensic astronomy and was amazed at how these two sciences are woven into the story evidencing the author’s extensive research. I highly recommend this book especially for lovers of historical Christian fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

“I wonder if it’s even possible to overestimate the significance of a single life ... Words spoken, hearts changed, a meal provided to a hungry sojourner - who knows? Who knows how far everyday actions reach? It’s incredible when you think of it.” - "Set The Stars Alight" - Amanda Dykes
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This novel is a heady reading experience - from the literary writing, to the celestial theme of stars and stargazing, to the intricately crafted dual timeline. The author’s 2019 debut novel "Whose Waves These Are" is a favorite and Stars exceeded my lofty expectations.
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The present-day storyline features Lucy and Dashel who grew up together, drifted apart in young adulthood, and reconnect at a crucial moment. The second timeline, 200 years earlier, features Frederick, son of a bitter Navy admiral, who finds meaning in the stars and with people of a very different lot in life. Read literally, Stars is an incredible novel, but when considered a parable, this book tells a deeply meaningful story of love, sacrifice, and redemption.

Thank you Bethany House and Netgalley for the egalley. All opinions are my own.

Lucy Clairmont grew up hearing seemingly disconnected stories from her father, along with her childhood friend, Dashel. Now, both grown up, Lucy is a marine archaeologist, and Dashel is a forensic astronomer; their career paths have now intersected and brought these two old friends back together, to a place where the past, their childhoods and their stories come together in a way to bring closure to the past and a future they could have only hoped for.

Wow! Another winner from Amanda Dykes! This was a beautiful weaving of past and present, with delightful, complex characters in both timelines. A split timeline is best when you're both disappointed to leave the timeline you are currently reading, but you're also impatient to find out what is happening in the timeline you're returning to. This book successfully makes you feel entrenched in both the historical tale and the contemporary companion.

I loved watching Frederick's tale develop in the past, even while watching Dash and Lucy discover how the puzzle pieces they'd been given fit together to complete the picture of the lost ship and the infamous Traitor. The supporting characters in both the past and the present, including the presence of Lucy's father through the stories he'd gifted Dash and Lucy, and the occupants of Stone's Throw Farm (which I desperately want to visit!) made the tale richer and left me wishing for more of their stories. This is a book that I wish wasn't a stand alone novel!

I'm not always a split timeline fan, but I give this book 5 stars!

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Whoa. That's my honest opinion...this book was way more than I expected and hit me right in the feels. Lucy and Dashel's story is one that will not soon leave my mind or heart. I haven't read Dykes' work before, but I aim to remedy that by reading "Whose Waves These Are" after this book!

Powerful imagery, lyrical writing, lovable, but imperfect characters, "Set The Stars Alight" begins with a romance between Lucy's parents and develops into the love story between Lucy and Dashel and the stars.

Every chapter is full of places yet unseen and characters that are relatable and at once magical. The challenge of finding a lost ship is woven within the main characters' childhood and leads to a reborn adventure when they become adults drifting in the mundane. Lucy takes those dreams from childhood and becomes a marine archaeologist, while Dashel becomes a forensic astronomer. Their love of the sea and stars will ultimately bring them back to one another as their personal galaxies collide. The research and investigation of the missing ship brings a new level to their relationship with each other and healing to their pasts.

There are many layers to the story and I was ecstatic to be able to read the book early, thanks to Bethany House and #NetGalley.. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful puzzle! Amanda Dykes has woven together a story of hope, love and the impossible. It was a joy to follow Lucy and Dashel as they searched for the Jubilee following clues and riddles her father had given them in the form of stories. The themes of sacrificial love, hope and forgiveness intertwined the two stories, hundreds of years apart. An inspiring read, full of wonder!

I seldom wish I had more stars to rate a book, however, Set the Stars Alight is one of the best stories I've read. Ever. I almost feel like I should put off reading anything else for a week or a month or two so as not to be overly biased! So prepare yourself for some gushing here!

The first thing I noticed was the wonderful way in which the writer wielded words. (Sorry, it just came out that way!) The phases wrapped my soul with a sense of nostalgia, peace, hope, warmth, and contentment. It was truly magical, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once!

Lucy's parents were storytellers. The tales and riddles they shared with Lucy and Dash were delightfully related to the mystery. The kids quoted Shakespeare to one another, despite Lucy's loathing of the bard. And they all played with puns prolifically. One of the characters was a poet and thus provided more fun with words.

Lucy attempted to solve the mystery of the Jubilee, a prison ship that had been stolen and then disappeared with a traitor on board. Frederick, the traitor, lived his story before my eyes during the Napoleonic Wars. Starting from the time he lost his mother to an illness when he was yet a boy. The parallels between his loss and ensuing loneliness and Lucy and Dash's own were so touching! I loved the way Dash and Frederick, separated by centuries, both found their home by seeking the stars.

A strong faith message pervades the story. The characters never questioned God's existence. While they struggled trusting God through hard times, the knowledge of His love and the trust that He was carrying them and in control was always stronger than their troubles.

My heart probably experienced the full gamut of emotions as I read, moving from empathy to smiles to giggles to heartache to fear and back again to hope. This is a story of overcoming grief. Of hope. Of sacrificial love. Of finding the way home. Of having the Light in your heart.

I won't even quantify who should read Set the Stars Alight. YOU should read it. If you are considered a you, grab a copy today and prepare to be delighted!

This is a hard review for me to write. I absolutely loved Amanda Dyke's Whose Waves These Are. It is one of my all time favorite books. This book, not so much. Ms. Dyke's writing is poetic and lyrical and a joy to read. I think perhaps because I am a fast reader and her prose must be savored that I just hardly can slow myself down enough to truly appreciate it and take it all in.
Also the dual timeline was confusing for me. The switching back and forth was uneven and challenging for me to follow.
I loved the magic of the story though and the symbolism and wonder of it all. I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy historical and dual timeline stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read it, the opinions are entirely my own.

An amazing story masterfully told encompassing all of my favorite elements: adventure, history, family, mystery, inspiration, and tender romance. This was a perfect read to savor on summer evenings. I didn't want it to end!!
An instant add to my favorite books list!
"Let the story begin..."
The dual timeline worked well to bring the mystery to light and develop the characters' relationships. It moves easily between the contemporary setting in London and Channel coastline, to the early 1800's and Napoleonic War years, dropping intriguing clues along the way. It had me guessing at connections to the past and hoping for good outcomes for all of the main characters. The author's writing style flows right along, pulling the reader into the story with almost a dreamy quality sometimes.
This is indeed a story full of wonder, light and hope. It was truly inspirational, powerfully illustrating sacrificial Christ-like love without being "preachy". Other underlying themes include courage, friendship, faith growing in adversity, and the power of story. I loved the tender romances that developed slowly, rooted in friendship, mutual respect, and shared childhood experiences. I enjoyed the epilogue with a nice wrap up to both ends of the tale.
Highly recommend! Great read from start to end! 5+ stars

“This was a place of impossible. And what a beautiful impossible it was.”

In the first chapter of Set the Stars Alight, I was charmed. By the second, I was enthralled.

I loved everything about this book. The characters—from the watchmaker’s daughter to her friend who lives with his head in the stars to the landowner’s son who makes the ultimate sacrifice for a friend—the imagery, the beautiful story set inside the stories that Lucy and Dash grew up on.

This author transcends the dual time/time split stories from the depths of the sea to the heights of the stars, and every moment of the journey is wonderful and amazing and awe-inspiring. Set the Stars Alight will be on my favorite books of 2020 list.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Amanda Dykes has a beautiful way with words, that's for sure. I loved the rhythm and flow of this book, and the symbolism of light strewn throughout. I also really enjoyed watching the two stories--present and past--evolve, each with their own separate thread that, in the end, was woven together beautifully. Well done! I can't wait to see what comes next!

In all honesty I have never read a book quite like this one. One that I wish I could give so many more stars than five to.
The book hits a dark spot but it claws it's way out of the dark, it's hope, it's light, it's inspiration .
I loved the character's and there's no doubt the author makes them come alive on the pages for us.
The imagery I had reading this, I was just in awe as I could picture everything so vividly .
After reading this my reading senses have been reawakened and I will perceive books on a deeper level now rather than just take them at face value and I appreciate the author opening up these senses for me again.
This book will live on in my heart as unforgettable!

Published June 30th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I have many thoughts about Set the Stars Alight. I love dual-time period stories, and the ties that bind them.

The contemporary side centers on Lucy Clairmont and Dashel Greene. Lucy is nicknamed the Matchstick Girl and Dash is as The Lost Boy. As a child, Dash gives her the nickname due to the fact that her bedroom was once part of a matchstick factory, and Dash is the Lost Boy, due to not having a sense of family until taken in by the Clairmonts. Lucy’s father, the ultimate storyteller, is who brings these two together and sets things in motion. I didn’t connect that well with Lucy, but mainly sympathized with Dash. Their journey, although touching, plays second fiddle (in my opinion) to the historical side of the timeline!

In the 1800s, Frederick, Juliette, and Elias are a truly memorable trio, though splintered and bedraggled in many ways. As they journey and grow from childhood to adults, their lives cross in unexpected, disastrous, and even surprisingly blessed ways. Frederick is an exceptional and unforgettable character and has left a mark on my heart. He is, by far, my favorite character in this book.

Last year I was introduced to Amanda Dykes’ writing and was wowed. Whose Waves These Are made a profound impact on me and is one of my favorite books. Set the Stars Alight is meaningful and cohesive with a much gentler pace.

With themes of family, honor, and sacrifice, Set the Stars Alight exemplifies the rewards of love and sacrifice, and the lasting power of stories and storytelling through the ages.

I was blessed to receive a complimentary digital copy of this book.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. Overall, I liked the story. The idea of friends in youth being separated for years and then reconnecting is a nice story, as is the solving of a centuries old mystery. I liked the characters, Lucy the spunky and tireless questioner and Dash, the heroic star gazer.

I felt the plot was way too complex. We readers deal with two time periods which is fine. Characters within each time period have memories and dreams, however, adding another time element to each of the two major time periods. (At least I think they were dreams. They were italicized.) I found the stories the watchmaker told were enigmatic and I had trouble making sense of them. Near the end of the book, Lucy thinks, “The pieces did not all fit neatly together.” (Loc 5519/5993) My thoughts too. I did feel the plot was too complex, with the story/riddles and the many “coincidences” that were required.

Dykes has a lyrical way of writing that made this novel entertaining even if it was hard to believe the whole concept was plausible.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I have read Amanda’s other writings – she just gets better!!

It is difficult to review this book without giving away spoilers – so I will endeavour to portray the sentiment somewhat vaguely to keep from revealing secrets.

I do like time-jump novels and this one did not disappoint. What captivated me was the unique way the author simultaneously threaded the history, the lives, the mystery/intrigue and the emotions of the characters through time. I connected with the characters in a deeper more powerful way. By connecting the emotions and personal development of the contemporary and historical characters the knowing of and intimacy with them was more thoroughly developed. It is rare to find a book that brings history to life, providing laugh out loud moments contrasted with the sting of tears.

Well done!!