Yours Is the Night, (Paperback)

This is a book to be savored and thought upon not rushed. It contains so much food for thought and brings into reality The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. This story is told from multiple POVs but works cohesively. I love the depth and prose of the story and the characters worm their way into your heart. The courage and bravery that each held inside them and the light that was brought forth in each brought me to my knees so to speak. From the tragic battlefields of the Great War to two hearts that beat as one this is a story of loss, love, new life, and the realities of the aftermath of war. You will feel like you are engulfed in the trenches at times and your heart will bleed and tears will fall unknowingly but it is a story you feel this author must tell. From uttered prayers to transforming truth you will be swept away. I look at that beautiful cover and see the compass that points to our true north Our Heavenly Father. Thank you Amanda for another keeper to be treasured as it is woven intricately amid the strings of my heart. I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

Dear Readers, don't miss out on this exquisite story. This redemptive tale shakes the soul and quivers every heartstring. Each character goes through an enormous and wondrous transformation, and I believe you'll love their growth, healing, and renovated hearts as much as I have. Dear Yours is the Night, how do I love Thee? Let me count the ways… I love Your hope, Your journey, Your soul recoveries, Your heart repairs, and mostly Your light and love that shines from beginning to end. Dear Amanda D, the Argonne not only changed the Seventeenth Band – it changed me. The spirit of this story is built from pain, beauty, sacrifice, and redemption. The characters begin with hearts as void as spent shell casings, yet they are each transformed and shined to a sheen by the comradery, understanding, sacrifice, and love they encounter during The Great War. I laughed, cried, gasped, grieved, and rejoiced as I witnessed the lives of Matthew, Mira, George, Jasper, and Henry. I connected with each of them and grew to love the nuances of their souls. They feel like my friends. My comrades. My family. My Seventeenth Band. This is why Amanda D is one of my favorite authors. This is why any book she publishes automatically goes on my must-read list. I loved discovering the inspiration of this story in the Author's Notes in the back of the book. What a beautiful tribute to those forever honored at Arlington. With smart writing, emotive style, extraordinary characters, and a significant message, Yours is the Night delivers an explosive story of redemption that will echo forever in my heart. Dɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: I ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ.

Truly, this is a beautiful story in the truest sense of the word, one of courage, sacrifice, unselfish love, and seeking the Light amidst the staggering darkness of the Great War. While the very first chapter of this book brought me to tears, later parts made me full-on crybut the good kind, like good rain falling on thirsty soil. Or soul, as the case may bebecause of the beautiful brokenness-yet-healing in its pages, so real to this life. A friend recently commented that AmandaDykes is a true old-fashioned storyteller, and that captured the tone of her novels so well for me. It explained why I often sense that I am reading a classic when I read Amandas books, even when theyre brand newI get an echo of the same feeling as when I first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or The Hobbit, though her books are not fantasy...maybe Gene Stratton Porter too. It is that sense of curling up by firelight to listen to a master storyteller spin a tale, and the knowing that this story is one that goes deep, that matters and will last. Yours is the Night is one of these, and especially poignant in this centennial year of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose history I really had not known till this book. Be prepared to be touched, moved, and inspired to hold onto hope and light in whatever real-life darkness you might be facingfor there is One there in it with you, who never slumbers nor sleeps.

Sometimes there's a dark so thick you just know that the God who made light with His own two hands with just His words is going to plunge right into that dark to find you. You remember that, Mr. Matthew." This book. This is a book I've wanted since I first heard about it because the author has earned her place as an auto-buy author for me. If you're looking forward to this one, and maybe, just maybe, wondering if the story can possibly live up to the hype in your mind, let me relieve you by saying Yours is the Night is, at the same time, all that we've anticipated and far more. That heart-tugging prologue lets us know that there's an emotional ending coming. But the journey--the JOURNEY is worth the tears. And isn't that just like life. In that poetic way of hers, Amanda D. introduces you to the Seventeenth Band. Matthew, Jasper, Henry, George (hilarious George)...and Mira too, because she certainly earns her place in their band. As you walk with them in France, you find yourself in those WWI trenches. In a mysterious forest haunted by song. In the midst of hope and light to combat the night. To live with you in the night. I was, of course, shedding tears by the end, but those tears were born from acknowledgement of the sacrifice others made long ago--and still make today. This isn't a story to be missed or skimmed. This is one to savor, line by line. And the little nuggets sprinkled in from her other two novels are so fun! (Side note: I'd love to be a fly on the wall while the author writes because, man, does she have a talent that must be intuitive and God-given as much as attained through practice and study. I'm in awe.) *For transparency's sake, I'll tell you I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. But all this gushing is absolutely my own opinion!)

YOURS IS THE NIGHT is set against the dark days of WW I but is an amazing story that shimmers, including courageous souls, generous hearts, noble spirits, and the fight for light. A reader might have concern about reading a tale set during war, especially since Amanda is known for bringing characters and settings to life. I've read many books set in wartime and some have left me feeling assaulted. But Amanda is almost unique in her ability to keep the story real while finding and focusing on glints of light and life that not only balance out intense images but make the tale a thing of hope and beauty. Her cast of characters is diverse and I've fallen in love with every one of our band of travelers. Each is unique, likeable, and has no intention of joining the war. But as we journey with them, each is impacted by an aspect of the conflict and must deal with it or be crushed by it. This book contains all the powerful writing we've come to expect from Amanda, filled with imagery, symbolism, and SURPRISES. Join the journey through fear and fog of war, yearning for life and love and peace, and most of all discovery. I heartily recommend YOURS IS THE NIGHT. And you may, like me, even want to begin carrying a box of matches with you.

Im not sure that Ill be able to adequately describe the beauty of yours is the night. First of all, the writing just feeds your soul. I cant even decide if it was the incredible storyline or the amazing characters that kept me turning pages. I became so engrossed in the characters struggles, their lives and their ability to persevere. The book was obviously well researched and all of that simply added to the tale. What I appreciated most about this book was the layers of the story and the depth of the faith lessons for me. Against the backdrop of the Great War, I found a hope filled story about pursuing light and life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to fight the good fight. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

AmandaDykes has an elegant way with words that resonates to your very soul. She is a storyteller of the highest caliber. Her words are sure and true and beautiful, bringing light from the darkness that was war. The author continues to amaze me with her eloquent words to describe a story none of us should forget. A story of faith, selflessness and courage in a battle for freedom. The scene of using fireflies in lanterns so the enemy would not discover the soldiers may seem slight, but the author uses it to show us how God is light and He dispels the darkness. It is told from five unique voices but that just adds perspective and shows how each character grew and was sustained in a devastating period of history. Mira is dubbed The Angel of the Argonne by the soldiers who hear her singing in the night: It was the only thing I had to give. To bring a small bit of life to a lifeless place. It is a rich story of God prevailing, of honor for the fallen and of hope in the future. I am awestruck by the words in this book. It is a fitting tribute to those who fought in the Great War. Beyond 5 stars for me. *I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

Yours Is The Night is a beautiful story of love, friendship, and war. I will admit, I had a little bit of difficulty getting the characters in this book straight, but once I figured out who was who and what was happening, the pages flew. I couldn't get enough and tried very hard to be patient and let the story blossom. The author has a way of drawing you in with her words. Of making you want more. Of helping you see the story, feel the story, love the story! Cheering for a little family in the woods and a band of brothers who each have their lessons to learn, their futures to grow into. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Beautiful, lyrical, enchanting, uplifting are just a few of the words I find to describe the writing style of superbly talented author