“When Twilight Breaks” by Sarah Sundin is a historical novel set around the early days of Hitler’s rise to power in Germany. The author skillfully weaves in a lot of information about historical events, daily life, and the mindset of various parts of society. I enjoyed the new things I learned, and the book never felt like a history text. All of the information shared was a natural and easy-to-read part of the story. I particularly appreciated the viewpoint of Peter, a young man who sees some benefits to Hitler’s early policies and actions. I’ve always wondered how everyday people allowed and accepted Hitler’s later atrocities, and seeing this time in history through Peter’s eyes helped me understand a bit more of what things were like for average citizens during this time.
The romance between Evelyn and Peter was handled beautifully. Their initial meeting was a truly delightful scene, and I enjoyed watching them get to know each other, and try to understand each other’s viewpoints about the current events they were living through. I honestly believed what each person was thinking and feeling, and could understand their logic. The author wrote the entire relationship with empathy and beauty, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it.
Honestly, this is one of my favorite books of the year so far. The mix of fantastic characters, historical information, and romance is absolutely perfect.
Five out of five chunks of my favorite sharp cheddar!