"The Fountains of Silence" delves into the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War and the oppressive Franco regime through the eyes of a young American in 1957 Spain. Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil executive, embarks on a trip to Spain with his family, where he becomes captivated by the country’s turbulent history and the mysterious Elena. The novel intertwines Daniel's personal journey with the painful realities of the Spanish people under a regime marked by fear, silence, and repression.

Sepetys does an excellent job of immersing readers in the historical context, using vivid details to bring post-war Spain to life. The themes of memory, truth, and survival are poignant, and the emotional depth of the characters is well-crafted. The multi-perspective storytelling—switching between Daniel, Elena, and other characters—offers varied insights into the impact of the regime on both individuals and families.

However, despite the strong setting and thematic richness, the novel’s pacing felt slow at times, especially as it built toward the revelations of the plot. Some of the characters felt underdeveloped or not fully explored, which detracted from the emotional payoff of certain moments. Additionally, while the historical context is incredibly important, there were moments where the narrative felt more focused on the historical aspects than the personal arcs of the characters.

While the pacing and character development may leave some readers wanting more, the book's ability to highlight the complexities of a turbulent era makes it worth reading for fans of historical fiction.

A well researched, deeply moving insight into life in Franco’s Spain after the civil war. Beautifully described characters who draw you in and a plot that evokes the time and place. I just love this writer’s work.

This is maybe my FAVORITE book by Ruta! I always love how she tells stories of little known tragedies and events from history, but this one was incredibly fascinating to me. The characters are so realistic and her world-building feels so accurate. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about Franco's dark reign over Spain.

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys is about a time in history I didn't know anything about. Just blown away by this story! Set in Spain in 1957 during the rule of General Franco. You don't hear much about what happened in Spain after WWII. You know a book is good when you start searching for more information. Really enjoyed this book!

Fabulous historical fiction of Spain under Franco, and the personal details of people who were harmed by the cruelty of the racism. I love Rita’s writing, reading all her books. She has a deft touch with details that brings historical information to life. Like the orphanage issues I never knew about in Spain. And the eye witness accounts she put in each chapter as a front page account. Truly amazing research.

I enjoyed how the author incorporate historical fiction in this story. I believe this book is beautifully written and will leave you heartbroken (of course in a good way).

The Fountains of Silence excerpt provides readers with an incredible, brief insight into the Spanish Civil War. Leaving the readers wanting more and inevitably purchasing the full copy. Ruta Sepetys' carefully crafts each sentence beautifully. I for one am delightfully excited to get my hands on a copy of The Fountains of Silence.

Sepetys once again finds a little-known slice of history and not only brings it to the attention of us all, she makes us care about the time and want to know more. In The Fountains of Silence, we learn of the duality of Spain under Franco. He wants tourist dollars and trade from western democracies, but doesn't want to allow his citizens any choices. The lingering effects of the Spanish Civil War are still felt over 20 years later through the pseudo-caste system created and punishment of the families of the defeated Republicans. The Nationalists, led by Franco, persecuted those who had fought against them as well as their families into the next generation.

Ana, our heroine, is the daughter of Republicans and she and her family scrabble for a living any way they can. Daniel, an American teen who visits Spain with his family stays at the hotel where she works. The two meet and become close. Daniel is an aspiring photographer who manages to take some not-quite-government approved photos while he is there. His parents adopt a baby girl as well and the family returns to Texas. Ana loses her job because of her association with Daniel and he thinks about her frequently after his return to the U.S. Years later, Daniel's sister wants to visit the land where she was born and Daniel and Ana are reunited. This one has a happy ending, with a twist. Readers of Sepetys' other works won't be able to put this one down either.

A big thank you to the author Ruta Sepetys, , the publisher Philomet and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

I recieved the first chapter of this book from NetGalley for review and was so intrigued by it that I purchased the book.

It is a book about former fascist Spain during Franco's tenure. It takes place in the 1950's when Spain has realized that they need outside economic support from other countries and opens their country to foreign investment. Spain had oil reserves and so had many Texas businessmen come to court them. Most of the story takes place in and around the main tourist hotel in Madrid and illuminates the atrocities that were being perpetrated on the Spanish people. It details the harsh living conditions of the native people in contrast to the effortless lives and excesses of the foreign visitors and investors. The main characters are a poor Spanish maid and a young Texas man who has aspirations to be a news photographer.

It is an excellent book about a subject of which I knew little. I would highly recommend it.

Like everything else this author writes this book is well researched and the story beautifully presented. The action moves quickly with a little tension here and there and the ending is meaningful. I highly recommend this book.

I have read every book that Ruta Sepetys has written and I will continue to do so. She is magical on the page and makes history come alive!

Beautifully written! Such a wonderful writer with many stories to tell. I highly recommend this for YA and up, every reader!

This sampler had me hooked, I’m definitely going to be reading this book now. First book by the author that I’m reading and I loved the writing style!!

A very realistic and compelling view of the true effects of war on those who have to carry on. I was spellbound.

This story drew me in from the first page. I really enjoyed the author's previous book (Salt to the Sea), and I definitely look forward to reading the rest of this book -- beyond the sample.

It was an alright sampler, but i wasn`t blown away by it or very much interested in the story as much as i`d like. But that happends.

Thank you to NetGalley for the excerpt of The Fountains of Silence by Rita Sepetys. This book will suck you in right away. I loved the writing style. Based in Spain during the 50’s well after The Spanish Civil War but while Franco is still in power, there are a host of interesting characters which leave you wanting more in just 8 short chapters. I will be reading the full book as soon as I can get my hands on it,,

I was definitely interested in this sampler. It was written in a style that will take a bit to get used to. But the subject is something that I think I might be interested in reading more about.

Daniel Matheson and his family travel to Madrid in 1957. While his parents rub shoulders with the rich and elite, Daniel takes his camera and tries to find an authentic picture of Spain. Ana, a young woman working at the hotel, meets Daniel and begins to fall for him. Trying to keep a balance between family loyalties and her heart, Ana slowly begins to let Daniel into her life.

This was an engaging, and dynamic book. The characters felt very realistic, and the tension between real life in Spain and the superficial version presented to outsiders was fascinating. My biggest criticisms is that the time jump was very jolting. It did not feel as if the second half of the book was as well done as the first. The book also abruptly ended. It definitely needed a few more chapters or an epilogue. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

I have heard nothing but great things about this book from all different types of readers and was excited to try a snippet. I am still excited to continue with the full length book. I liked the combination of history with compelling characters and plot. Can't wait to read more!