Set the Stars Alight

By: Amanda Dykes

Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio

Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Lucy Clairmont's family treasured the magic of the past, and her childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. But when tragedy strikes, it's Dashel, an American forensic astronomer, and his knowledge of the stars that may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she's discovered in her family home.

Two hundred years earlier, the seeds of love are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a secret sea cave, while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time.

As Lucy and Dash journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers - and the healing - they so desperately seek.

©2020 Amanda Dykes (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

❤️❤️❤️

Enjoyed this book so much! Great listen. I think I’m going to listen again right away.

The perfect story!

I absolutely loved this book - I was deeply invested in both tine lines and thought Amanda Dykes did a masterful job of weaving the truth of the God who sees and pursues into the story. 10/10 recommend!

A lyrical tale of light and faith

A lyrical tale that completely swept me away to England and a small coastal village.

The storylines were expertly woven as the story progressed to a beautiful and satisfying ending that left me with tears. Amanda Dykes truly has a gift with storytelling and description. I adored the stories told by Lucy’s father to her and Dash. I loved Lucy and Dash from the start and were rooting for them.

A wonderful novel that wouldn’t let me go long past the final page.

The narration was very nice.

Unexpected and interesting to the last word.

There were many twists and turns in the story which made it enjoyable. I would highly recommend this book to others.

Excellent

I love this epic story written so beautifully, it’s mysteries and wonder weaving through generations. It’s lessons of hope, light and possibilities.
And the narrators is perfect. A real tresure!

Beautifully poetic

B o o k R e v i e w

Set the Stars Alight AmandaDykes, Author

Y’all convinced me to read (listen) to this one next and I WAS NOT PREPARED for the absolute beauty of the writing. Let me geek out for a minute though because for me it’s not just the story, but the poetic, immersive and masterful weaving of words that had me captivated from the first page.

- Let’s take a minute for the cover though because it’s so good. I honestly didn’t read a synopsis or blurb, I just wanted to read it for the cover.

- The characters were so solid, lovable and I felt so immersed in their world and struggles. The father and daughter relationship was especially beautifully done. It’s sometimes hard to truly connect with a character if they aren’t like you/haven’t gone though similar experiences, but with Lucy and Fredrick I felt like I was in their skin.

- The poetry found in these pages were enough for me to read ALONE. I’m pretty sure the story could have been bland (which it isn’t) for me to hang on every word. The narration was also beautifully done, which helped this magical experience. Dykes use of repetition, her wordplay with light/darkness and her characterization was 👌🏻.

Some favorite quotes:

“He is coming, and coming, and coming, and coming after you. In every sunset, in every snatch of birdsong In everything that stirs deep into you and makes you hungry for bigger things, eternal things. That is Him, pursuing you with tenderest grace. In the places so hard they wring your soul. In the places so beautiful they steal your breath. He is there, filling your soul, giving you breath.”

“Such freedom, to know our limits. And to know the God who has none.”

“I think it’s our duty to keep the stories, to pass them on. It is our duty—and our honor. 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.”

Beautiful and poetic with memorable characters and deep emotion.

Sweet but lacking

I wanted to like this book so much. I did enjoy a lot of it, but for me there were too many strands of story that just never took off, or needed a little more, or just ended abruptly. I didn’t feel connected or satisfied at the end of the book. It was enjoyable, just wish the story had a little more to it.
The narrator did a great job!