“Love. It is the most important, the only important thing”

OK! So first off you need to be warned that one of those small ‘handy’ packets of tissues is definitely not going to be enough to mop up all the tears you will shed over this book!

Now I need to know why I haven’t read any of this author’s previous books and how can I go about fitting them all into my crammed reading schedule, whilst allowing plenty of time to savour the scope and range of the storylines and the beautiful writing which demands to be read and digested slowly and at ease.

To pin this book down to one specific genre is so difficult, as it really is a sensory feast, which will evoke so many different emotions, whilst touching on a multitude of social and cultural mores: The strength and resilience of women; the enduring power of love and family; the prejudice of race and skin colour; the despair and desperation engendered by arranged marriages and polygyny; the hellish consequences of two World Wars on a single generation – The list goes on, yet each element is dealt with in a sympathetic but straightforwardly honest way, as the many strands are carefully and cleverly woven together, until it is difficult to tell where one ends and another begins. Author, Renita D’Silva has a naturally lyrical cadence to her writing which, whilst it in no way diminished the impact she wanted her words to have about some very important issues, told the story in way which flowed and washed over me gently and with the lightest of touches, which belied the desperate intensity between its pages.

In the same way that most novels will either be predominantly character or plot driven, this storyline also adds an amazing third dimension, that of being location driven, offering up as it does, a strong and superbly detailed sense of time and place, which fully immersed me in its wonderfully described array of sights, sounds and smells, conjuring up a strong essence of its people, adding a lovely feeling of depth and range to the work. Whether it be the harsh realities of an English landscape torn apart by two wars, with its strong and stoic population somehow united in their inherent prejudice against race and colour. Or the stark contrast of an Indian society, divided by wealth and position, which holds women in little esteem as individuals with either minds or needs of their own. Armchair travellers will revel in the detail and visuality of the writing – and no need to leave the comfort of your own living room!

A vast, seamlessly multi-layered and exquisitely textured plot, which is rich in atmosphere, is lovingly delivered with authentic perception, consummate ease and total confidence, by an author who truly believes in her storyline and is totally invested in the cast of characters she has created to tell it. Well defined and developed, sometimes raw and vulnerable, emotionally complex, addictive and animated, often searching for a sense of belonging, these were people I could totally connect with, relate to and invest in, even though the Maharaja was definitely one person I could love to hate!

A secret between two lovers kept until it could harm no more, this family saga which spans two World Wars, two continents, four generations and almost ninety years, as seen through the eyes of and told in the voices of a grandmother and granddaughter, Clara and Indira, is a beautifully structured storyline, which I didn’t want to end, as despite a natural conclusion having been reached, I still had so many unanswered questions, which would probably have doubled the length of the book and really would have been me just being plain picky and nosy.

For me, what makes reading such a wonderful experience, is that each and every story takes me on a unique and individual journey, so I strongly recommend you read this one for yourself and see where it leads you!

Another brilliant novel.
I was hooked from the first page in this dual timeline novel that took me on an emotional yet awesome journey from World War 1 to modern-day India, holding on to a secret, that could bind a family together or completely fracture their facade.
Five awesome stars

The War Child by Renita D'Silva

📓Genre: Historical Fiction
Star: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🔖Stories having wars as the backdrop often have a thick veil of sadness and pain overshadow the main plot. But with this book, the core story is strong enough to stand out on its own.
🔖During the second World War, Clara Knight, an orphaned teen, is forced to work as a war nurse in order to pay for her expenses. In a time riddled with grief and loss – she nurses back an Indian doctor, Dr. Anand Goel.
🔖Years later, while on a trip to India as the nurse for a young boy, Clara once again meets Dr. Goel, the the-then personal physician of the Maharaja, and the feelings she had felt all those years ago resurface almost at once.
🔖The story is divided mainly in two segments – the plot alternating between two separate timelines and generations. The dual perspectives of Clara,back during the war, and Indira, during the mid 1990s – present a very different and contrasting picture, which the author has skilfully merged toward the end.
🔖The emotional depth shown is commendable, specially how the writing style itself has a profound sense of tragic beauty.
🔖In totality, all historical fiction lovers will enjoy reading this book on love, loss, hope and rediscovering one's roots.

🔸Final Verdict: Great Read
🔸Book Cover: Apt for the story.
🔸Writing Style: Emotional, heartfelt
🔸Character Development: Good

✨Many thanks to Bookouture (Publisher) and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

#TheWarChild #NetGalley #arc #bookreview

Brilliantly written! I was completely immersed in the story from the first page.
Emotionally gripping, it will take your breath away.
Easily one of the best historical fiction books I've read this year.
A captivating time split novel from the first world war in England to modern times India.
A devastating secret that was held in for decades begs to be told and explained .
Will the telling become heartbreak for the family or bring them closer together and show the importance of strong family bonds?
Highly recommended!

Pub Date 24 Aug 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This author is one of my favorites She creates wonderful stories, and her descriptions of things, poetic.
This is the story of Clara which starts in WWI, and who becomes orphaned at 15 after an air raid, which kills her mother.
With her character we will go from England to India and back. So many things happen to her, from becoming a nurse out of necessity during WWII, and becoming friends with an Indian Dr who was injured in England while serving in the British army. He made her think of her father who had loved India and always told his family wonderful stories, and that he would take them there one day.
When Clara gets a request to be a private nurse for a young sickly boy, she jumps at the chance as the family is being assigned to India, and Clara's dreams to visit that country seem to be coming true.
On the boat she once again runs into the Indian Doctor she had nursed those many years ago.
Wonderful story, of her journey and that of the people she meets. I did think there was too much neediness in the character at times, but despite that it was a wonderful read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book.

What an absolutely beautiful read! This book is everything I could want in a story. Full to the brim with with wonderfully authentic characters, and with a heart wrenching storyline, this book is right at the top of best reads for 2021.

In a bomb shelter during WW1 Clara's mother gives her a St Christopher necklace to keep her safe and protected. This was the last time Clara saw her mother, she was killed when a bomb landed. Having no other immediate family she went to live with Aunt Helen. To help pay for her keep she worked in the local hospital and it was here she first met Anand Goel, an Indian Dr, injured during the war. Years later she travels as a private nurse to a young boy heading with his parents to live in India. On board the ship taking her to her new life she meets Anand again while he works for the Maharajah. Clara and Anand work closely together and she has to hold back her growing feelings for him as he is happily married.
The other side of the timeline is set in 1995 and we meet Indira who is CEO of a company, a career woman, who selfishly has left all the caring of her son to his father to the detriment of their relationship. When she hears her father has had a heart attack she has to suddenly rethink her whole life.
I enjoyed this book, I felt for Clara during some of the hardest times of her life. I didnt take to Indira at all at the beginning, only by the end of the book she redeemed herself. The ending was lovely
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Fifteen-year-old Clara Knight is pulled from the rubble of her home after an air-raid only to discover she’s an orphan and is being sent to live with her estranged Aunt Helen. In an effort to help with living expenses, Clara starts nursing in a local hospital. When her colleagues refuse care to a medic with the Imperial Service Troops simply because of his skin colour, Clara is horrified. She personally nurses Anand Goel back to health and in doing so changes the course of her life.

A few years later, when given an opportunity to become a nurse to a sick young boy whose family is relocating to India, Clara jumps at the chance. On the ship, she serendipitously meets Anand again and he becomes her destiny. Since they’ve last met, he’s become the Maharah’s physician and is in need of Clara’s help nursing the Maharanis.

I was completely gripped by this epic tale of sacrificial love; I laughed, cried, and searched out my husband to remind him how much I love him. I was moved beyond words – awestruck at the ability of this author, new to me, to place me in the middle of the action. I could feel the searing heat and deafening sounds of the bombing, smell the exotic aromas of India, hear two little boys crying for Clara and was acutely aware of the tension between the two main characters.

In light of recent pandemic experiences, I had a deeper understanding of the horrors of the Spanish Flu. I entered in to the horror and heartbreak of the soldiers who managed to survive the war only to succumb to the flu. When reading about the daily funerals, full cemeteries, and old-wives tales of cures, I was reminded of similar headlines of recent days. Lines such as “the Spanish Flu is highly contagious and it doesn’t discriminate,” had a deeper meaning for me now that we’ve experienced the threat of Covid. I nodded with understanding at Clara’s friend’s mother’s cure of choice – “a small swig of brandy every night is the thing to keep this horrid epidemic at bay.”

I loved learning about the Maharah and his maharanis! With such vivid descriptions, I could almost hear and feel my sari swishing as I walked within the palace walls.

It was good to read the message in the subplot about illness forcing us to rethink our priorities and I was amazed at how the two plots were sewn together in the final third of the story. The author highlighted endurance, determination, and the far-reaching stretches of a mother’s love in this multi-generational tale spanning 1916 – 1995.

I am thankful for encouragement to pick up this book again after ditching it twice. I struggled with the shifting timelines and settings. Once I read for enjoyment’s sake, rather than trying to piece it all together, I found myself unable to set this book down. I’ll be sourcing out D’Silva’s backlist now that I know she effortlessly transports readers to another time and place and capably brings history alive.

“Love. It is the most important, the only important thing.”

Publishes August 24, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Renita D’Silva, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Clara Knight has already lost her brother and her father so when she finds herself being pulled from the rubble of her home, the only survivor she finds herself shipped off to an aunt she barely remembers. Made to pay her way she is soon employed at the local hospital as a nurse where she meets Anand Goel, an Indian casualty of the war due to an administration error. As no one else is willing to nurse him Clara takes on this responsibility and without realising it at the time her life will never be the same again.
When she is given the chance to travel to India and become the family nurse Clara jumps at the chance and finds herself in the company of Anand again who is travelling as the doctor to a Maharaja. Over time she develops feelings for Anand but when they both betray his wife and her friend, Clara returns to England pregnant to bring up her son alone. As the war gets worse and Clara is faced with prejudices she makes the ultimate sacrifice to secure his safety.
The War Child will certainly tug at even the most hardened heart strings as you follow Clara and all that she has to deal with in her life. Due to circumstance, she has suffered so much loss in a short time that you can’t help but understand her need to grasp every opportunity to try to find happiness and that sense of family that has been taken away from her. So often she is unsure of herself yet when needed she finds a determination and resilience that sees her through the hardships of war with her ultimate sacrifice made for her son. Although she is not solely to blame for the situation she finds herself in there are times that I struggled to sympathise with her but as she faced the harsh truth of her actions it was hard not to feel sorry for her.
Throughout the book there is the side story of Indira a driven female executive in a male dominated field and although you know these two women are linked it is not evident exactly how until near the end. As the connection is revealed you can see just how they are so similar in their determination to succeed, sometimes at the expense of those closest to them. As she learns of her family’s past Indira hopes it is not to late to re establish those connections and find what is truly important.
Renita D’Silva has once again given her readers a colourful journey to India with her writing bringing forth all the sights, smells and images of a time gone steeped with family and traditions and the harsh realities of war that will draw you in and keep you gripped to the end

Such a thrilling read! A beautiful, sad tale of love, loss, betrayal and survival.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful dual timeline story. Very well written and researched. Excellent characterisation, evocative setting and emotional. Racism as a theme was addressed well, Refreshing to include part of the story in WW1 too. The timeline runs from 1916-1995 and follows Clara Knight through both World Wars and beyond. Lovely ending. Can definitely recommend to all WW2 historical fiction enthusiasts.
I was given a free copy of the book via NetGalley from Bookouture. Opinions are completely my own.

Loved this wartime duel storyline set in both modern day and during world war one and two, and also set in India and England we follow the story of Clara who loses her mother during the first world war and is forced to live with her estranged aunty and pushed into helping at the local hospital which she finds herself loving
A story line which follows Clara to India as a nurse for a sickly boy who would benefit from warmer climes and finds she quickly falls in love with the place she eventually becomes a nurse for the maharajas wives and also is reunited with an Indian man whos life she saved
This story takes us on twists and turns and has a fabulous ending
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down, wonderfully written and descriptive
Highly recommended

The War Child was an easy read. Through amazingly fluid writing and a great story line, you get engulfed in the storytelling until the end! A steady pace, nothing slow and nothing rushed. Perfect!
I loved this book – I lost my whole day reading – just couldn't bare to put it down!

So many things to like about this book: The writing, the characters and the story.

I am just going to give you my random thoughts about this book and you can decide for yourself.

Part of the story took place during WWI, which is not as usual for historical novels. The descriptions were so vivid that I felt like I was there. It made me want to visit India -the India in this book is different than what I have seen portrayed in movies.

Racism had a big part in this book, and parts of the book were actually shocking to me.

There was a dual timeline with two different people and then of course you find out how their stories come together. However, what I loved was that it took until the last 25% of the book before I figured out how they came together.

I thought the ending was excellent and I may or may not have cried a little. Just saying.. However, I did feel as if it needed just a tiny bit more of an ending - maybe a little epilogue??

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review. In fact, I will be looking up other books by this author #RenitaDiSilva

So many war stories center around the civilian bombings of World War II that we tend to forget that the same terrible things happened during World War I. Clara Knight’s childhood was fractured by the bomb that left her an orphan during the Great War. Now, as an adult, war has come to England again, and Clara is doing her part by nursing injured soldiers. When soldier Anand Goel is brought in to the hospital with life threatening injuries, the other nurses are scared of him. It falls to Clara, who grew up hearing her father’s stories of his life in India, to care for the young man. Their relationship, intensified by the war, grows intimate and Clara becomes pregnant, forcing her to make an impossible decision. This book left me in tears, it’s one of the best war stories I’ve read in years

In THE WAR CHILD by RENITA D'SILVA we follow the life of Clara Knight from 1916 to 1995, through two world wars and between England and India. It is an epic tale of sacrificial love, loss, betrayal, endurance and determination, in which the importance of family and getting one's priorities straight is strongly underlined, especially in Indira's case.
It is a worthwhile read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Author for this compelling advanced ebook!

The War Child..... I was hooked! This book was so beautifully done. Easy FIVE STAR READ!😍
Clara this brave, brave girl. I just adored this character. She is an amazing character. And one I grew to love!
The story WoW.... Where do I even start?
It was mesmerizing, interesting, beautiful, well done! I was hooked from.the very first page and I couldn't turn them quick enough!
I have only recently in the last couple months have grown to love historical fiction and I owe all that to Bookouture. (Thank You btw) and this HF is one for the books!
Amazing, unique, stunning..... You will just have to read this for yourself!

Again thanks NG, Bookouture and Author for this amazing advanced ebook copy!.

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