Into the Cauldron

This is another book that I am extremely grateful that I was able to get an ARC copy from the author (Lee Jackson), his publisher (Severn Rivers Publishing), and the fine folks at NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.

This series of books details how one family's fate weaves into the larger tapestry of World War II's vast expanse. In this book, the Littlefield siblings fight on multiple fronts - Normandy, the push through France following Operation Dragoon, London (primarily through the actions of Betchley Park), the Battle of the Philippine Sea (through the invasion of Saipan and the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot), and finally on the homefront on Sark Island.

One of my major issues was that I had only read two of the (now) seven-book series (the first and the seventh). This is not an issue with the book but an issue of my oversight of the series.

An overview of how the story of the Littlefield family plays out in this book is as follows:

The Dame of Sark, the Littlefield matriarch, faces starvation on Sark Island, while Lance grapples with the Wehrmacht on French soil. With every step shadowed by death, his sole goal is to liberate Paris and prepare for the final assault on Germany.

In London, Claire deciphers enemy communications, her work pivotal in shaping the battlefield. Meanwhile, Jeremy leads a band of refugees through the treacherous Vercor Mountains, nursing the hope of rejoining the battle against the Germans. Across the globe, Josh prepares for a decisive amphibious assault as momentous as the one at Normandy.

With World War II raging, the Littlefield’s stories intertwine with old and new friends alike. As narratives converge, the tension escalates, culminating in the decisive Battle of the Bulge in the dense Ardennes forest—with the family ready to pay the ultimate price to tilt the scales of war.

On a five-star scale, I think that based on the epic tale that Lee Jackson manages to weave the story of the family into the expansive tapestry that was World War II, I would have to give this book a solid four stars. I think that the picture of an excellent author of fiction is the ability to take an event in history and successfully balance the personal stories of his characters into that true event. I believe that this author would be a definite favourite for those aficionados of historical fiction.

As with all my literary ramblings, these are just my five cents worth.

Once again, Lee Jackson provides remarkable insights into World War II, focusing on events occurring in the European theatre, primarily in France. The book not only focuses on the specific actions connected to the Allied invasion of Normandy and the freeing of Paris, it allows the reader to experience these events and many others through the eyes of the Allied high command, of individual soldiers, and of the French resistance. The book's characters are heroic, realistic, courageous, and believable. I cannot wait to read the next installment of this saga!

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

This is the 7th book in Lee Jackson’s After Dunkirk series, but only my first experience reading any of the author’s books. I struggled initially as I learned the characters and the story's direction. Once I got a handle on the author’s writing style and became fully immersed in the setting and the Littlefield family dynamic, I got an excellent education about the various battles of WWII in the European theater. As I read the book, I found that much of it had a mixture of historical fiction and a history textbook, which was unexpected. However, as the story progressed, I found myself pleasantly surprised. Seeing the war as my father and uncles may have seen it during a time of rationing, horrors beyond imagination, through the eyes of the families that faced the worst of what humanity can do to one another, I felt the book was worth the week it took me to read it.

This is as much an educational treatise as it is historical fiction. The operational pieces left me bewildered by all the planning the higher-ranking officers must have had to organize and carry out. I found the book tedious in some spots and informative and realistic in others, with settings that brought this epic war to light. Many readers who are not WWII scholars might struggle to read some of this. I would have viewed this book differently if I had read the first six books.

Because of its length, technical prose style, and wordiness, it earned 3.5 stars overall. This is not a light reading or an easy, breezy beach read. This book is for you if you want something educational with a hefty dose of reality.

I thank the author, Severn Rivers Publishing, and Net Galley for the free advanced copy. This is an honest and voluntary review and mine alone. Give this book a chance. I think many lovers of WWII historical fiction will go back and reread it. Starting at the beginning of the series may be better than picking up seven novels in a row.

I LOVE THIS SERIES! I have been unable to put this series down from book one. The detail is incredible and my grandmother, who was 13 when The Blitz began says, "It's like I'm right back in London under the dining table with mom and my siblings hoping we won't be hit!"

I'm deeply attached to the Littlefield family and I can't WAIT for the final installment.

Walk along side the members of the Littlefield family and experience World War 2 as if you were there. All of the books in the After Dunkirk series have transported me to battlefields. I have seen the interworking of Bletchley Park. I have worshipped the members of the SOE and the members of the resistance. Tears have flowed with no end in sight as I witnessed the atrocities.

Into the Cauldron and numerous battles taking place on the same day. This glimpse had me in awe of those that kept track of it all. Battles weren't just on the land. I had forgotten how badly personalities clashed during the war. The author had me believing that the conflicts and sneakiness were constantly creating problems. It is amazing anything got done.

Traveling along side SOE operatives had me wanting to hide. The details of the invasion of Vecors will forever be burned in my mind. What was done to the resistance members and citizens in the area, even if exaggerated since this is a historical fiction, ripped my heart out. To watch those that survived keep going, never wavering was inspirational. As the allies advanced on the nazis I cheered. There was hope written on the pages, and even though I knew the outcome, I couldn't help but become invested in their emotions, their successes.

I closed the book with a better understanding of the complications of the war. I closed the book with the same question I have always had. How could one human treat another human with such disregard? I closed the book wondering how we could put such little value on life.

I closed the book wondering if there will be another book. I can't stop thinking about all of the Littlefields and those they love. Do they survive? Do they find some sort of happiness? Will they be like my relatives and refuse to talk about what they went through? I am so grateful to the author for writing such detailed stories. His words have allowed us to gain understanding of the past.