A Song for the Stars

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

TODD, ILIMA

A SONG FOR THE STARS

Inspired by a true story

Hawaiian Islands, 1779

As the second daughter of a royal chief, Maile will be permitted to marry for love. Her fiancé is the best navigator in Hawaii, and he taught her everything he knows -- how to feel the ocean, observe the winds, read the stars, and how to love.

But when sailors from as ranger place called England arrive on her island, a misunderstanding ends in battle, and Maile is suddenly widowed before she is wed.

Finding herself in the middle of the battle and fearing for her life, Maile takes John Harbottle, the wounded man who killed her fiance, prisoner, and though originally intending to let him die, she reluctantly heals him. And in the process, she discovers the man she thought was her enemy might be her ally instead.

John has been Captain James Cook's translator for three voyages across the Pacific. He is kind and clearly fascinated with her homeland and her people -- and Maile herself. But guilt continues to drive a wedge between them: John's guilt over the death he caused, and Maile's guilt over the truth about what triggered the deadly battle -- a secret she's kept hidden from everyone on the island.

When Maile is tasked with teaching John how to navigate using the stars so he can sail back to England, they must also navigate the challenges of being from very different cultures. In doing so, they might also find the peace that comes when two hearts become one.

My Review:

published in 2019

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story but I quickly became engrossed in Maile's seemingly ideal island life...until things go terribly wrong. Suddenly her future is upended and the simple, predictable rhythms of village life are tragically distorted by fear, rage...and hate.

A stunning historical novel set in an era and a location that I know very little about save some vague memories from grade school history classes about explorers. It's brimming with vibrant descriptions of the culture and geography -- and what makes it extra special is that the author has taken inspiration from her very own ancestor's story to create this one!

I'm grappling over what to say in a review without giving anything away (and, personally, I think that book description is waaaay too detailed.) So what I will say is that I was riveted from the very first page. Emotionally engaged to the point that I felt like I lived each moment with these characters. 

Action and romance and heartache aplenty. Along with the sheer wonderment of the world we get to see through Maile's eyes. There's such a reverence for family and tradition and living in harmony with nature. I came away from this read feeling awed and inspired. 

A rich blend of historical facts and imaginative fiction.

Oh, and I listened to the audible edition narrated by Justine Eyre (one of my all time fave narrators!) Amazing performance and made the storytelling that much more enjoyable.

Please note: While not a Christian Fiction selection, this book is a completely clean read and has a wonderful message on forgiveness.

Goal Update: #4 Read more new-to-me authors, #5 Diversify my reading

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Song for the Stars, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the Draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 30 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck