An absolutely enjoyable book. Plenty of action; lots of twists and turns.

It was very accurate historical fiction. When I lived in Europe for 10 years I was in Belgium and the places they talk about They were spot on.

Strong characters – – great story.

A gripping wartime tale. I have really been getting in to this genre recently and this one didn’t disappoint. A nice welcome change to always reading thrillers.

Based on the reviews and the book description, I was really looking forward to reading this book about Belgium during WWI but this one was a struggle. It was difficult and confusing to follow and I felt very detached from the characters.

Sadly, this book just did not work for me. However, I'm sure that readers who enjoy historical fiction will find this interesting. I have to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this digital copy.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union for allowing me to read this book and give an honest opinion. I wasn't able to finish this book but thoroughly enjoyed what I did read. This is a book of Josephine, a woman who is trying to keep her family safe during World War 1. There is Arthur, an English solider who is trapped and is trying to figure out how to live his life. And then Franz, a German soldier who is regretting his action in the war in Germany's behalf. I wish I could have finished this book.

Fans of WWI fiction should give this a try. It's emotional and the characters resonate even though the writing doesn't sparkle. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was the first Gemma Liviero book I’ve read. Set in WWI German occupied Belgium, this book focuses on a young woman, Josephine, and her family as they attempt to flee the country. However, Josephine joins her brothers in the Resistance. She ends up meeting a British soldier, Arthur, who begins to help her and he has his own story and reasons why he joined the army.

Overall, I thought this was a heartfelt story of love, loss, and determination. The story itself was good, with some suspenseful moments and a lot of interesting historical details. But I never really warmed up completely to either Josephine or Arthur or their romance. I felt the characters and the overall plot weren’t as developed because there was just so much information and history written into this book. As someone who likes history and historical fiction, I did enjoy reading this book. even though it’s not perfect.

This was a heartbreaking story set during WWI in Belgium. The story mainly revolves around Josephine and her family's story.. I thought it was a well done account of the hardships of the times and repercussions of being part of the resistance. Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and author for opertunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is Historical Fiction at its very best. This book picked up the best bits from the world and wove an excellent plot around it. I enjoyed it so much that I might do a re-read soon enough.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book

I love historical fiction and this didn’t disappoint. A very different version of others that I’ve read, with the story taking place in Belgium during WWI. The German army invades the country, with their destination being To invade France and make Paris their headquarters. But they manage to plunder and murder their way through Belgium in their travel.
The story centers around Josephine and her family, that flee their small village, in an attempt to reach Holland. When the family takes refuge, Josephine and her brothers work with the resistance to help those fleeing, get to Holland. She encounters a wounded British soldier and as he recovers, he joins her in evacuating others. This story reflects the bravery and heroism of those working in the resistance.
This is a well written account of the sufferings of war and the sacrifices of those whose lives are impacted. Author Gemma Liviero creates interesting, strong characters, that bring the story to life and provides the reader with a realistic vision of war torn countries, and it’s people’s suffering.
My thanks to Netflix, Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. All comments reflect my own opinion, and I recommend it highly.

An excellent title fitting an excellent novel! Beautiful and poignant descriptions have kept me riveted to the story. Good and credible characterisation along with expansive research make this novel an informative and compelling read. Highly recommended.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this novel for free in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to this book because I love historical fiction, particularly that set during the First World War and thought that this would be something different as it was set in Belgium and the main character was a Belgian woman. The strength of the novel, I felt, came in the latter part of the novel after the characters of Josephine and Arthur met. However, I feel that, overall, the characters were somewhat two dimensional, mainly because there was so much subject matter crammed in- this would have made a superb historical saga.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5/5 stars

I believe that this was the first historical fiction novel I’ve ever read set during WWI. I really enjoyed the premise of the book and, for a good portion of it, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The book certainly starts out with a lot of drama and tragedy, which was essential for setting the scene.

Unfortunately, I think that with the introduction of Arthur’s storyline, the plot became a little convoluted and confusing. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for different perspectives and parallel storylines, but I wish the separation was a little more clear.

I also feel that the suspense and intrigue could have been ramped up quite a bit. There are some very suspenseful and riveting moments in this book, but I felt that the build-up to them could have been stronger.

That being said, the character development in this story is so rich, which I really enjoyed. I felt like I really knew each of the characters and became attached to each and every one of them. I love it when a novel can make me feel so much empathy for the main characters, and that’s exactly what Half in Shadow did for me.

Unfortunately, I felt that the setting and world-building were lacking a little in this novel. I love historical fiction so much because it gives us the ability to travel to a different time, and this just didn’t do that for me. While the descriptions of the battlefield trenches were quite detailed, I wanted a little more to feel like I was really in 1915 Belgium.

I also think this could have helped to clarify some parts of the plot. As a reader, it would have been easier for me to separate the different storylines in my head had the author given me a couple of sentences describing the physical setting where each scene takes place. These are small details, but with a complex plot, they can really make a difference.

Unfortunately, a big part of why this is a 3.5-star review and not a 4-star review is because of the ending. The ending was fitting, but I feel like so much was stuffed into the final chapter. I wish that the author had woven those final plot twists into the story a little more seamlessly. That way, readers get the chance to gain some closure on this story and the characters to whom we’ve become so attached.

Overall, I do think this book is worth the read. While the storytelling wasn’t perfect, I still enjoyed the journey it took me on. And the characters alone are enough reason to give Half in Shadow a chance.

I enjoyed it but it wasn't my favorite by Gemma Liviero. I loved all of her previous books but I had a hard time getting into this story. I would give it 2.5 stars. I didn't love the characters and at times felt the story was a bit choppy. It's a miracle Gene and Anya's safe house wasn't discovered sooner. It had to look suspicious with Josephine constantly coming and going, plus Gene and Xavier. The love story between Arthur and Josephine seemed out of the blue and forced. I do believe Franz loved Josephine. If it wasn't for him Josephine's family would never have survived.

Definitely give the book a try, especially if you enjoy historical fiction. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

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

Deciding to challenge herself, the author chose to write in a completely different style. While it is commendable to try something new, it’s also risky. I’m in no position to say whether it is successful or not; however, I’m not sure that I felt as much a connection to the characters nor the story this time. I wonder if the characters weren’t as developed as I thought they should be or if telling it from two different points of view and two different time periods was confusing for me?

Regardless, it was a dramatic and heartfelt tale that gave me perspective and made me appreciate the liberties and opportunities we have today. The author portrayed the bravery and resilience of the people, the uncertainty everyone faced as a result of war, and therefore, I was better able to understand the sacrifices, the expectation and duty. Liviero highlighted the ‘nobody wins in war’ theme by showing the atrocities and suffering on both sides.

Within the first few pages, the Descharmes family experience their first heartache of German-occupied Belgium. The devastating loss permeates through the home, through everything they do, and tints their future. For the boys, it drives them into the resistance movement and for Josephine, it drives her to seek employment at the Hotel Metropole. The loss creates tension that increases throughout the story especially when readers realize Josephine is serving German officers at the Metropole and then going to work against them by night when she helps her brothers in the Resistance. It all comes to a nail-biting situation when an officer offers to help Josephine while she’s helping people escape. The author shows how people in wartime made quick decisions based on few options and without the luxury of time to contemplate their repercussions.

Arthur Shine has also experienced loss – his son’s death affects him in a profound way. Contrary to what we’d expect, he enlists. The author uses this to show that we can do things during wartime that we wouldn’t normally do. I wonder if Arthur would have made this choice had he not been grieving? Was he thinking clearly or did grief confuse him?

War affects everyone differently. Nobody wins in war. Difficult decisions were made in haste. Message received.

I was gifted this copy by Gemma Liviero, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.