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thebookscript's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so so good.....I was spellbound, horrified, captivated and heartbroken. These characters were completely rich and full and I absolutely adored Angelo and Eva. I have been able to read so many historical fiction books recently and this was my first look through the eyes of those who survived in Italy. It was horrific to read that all of the devastating events that took place in this book were true. But that's why I love historical fiction. It's a glimpse of real history with the heart of a story. I was so happy to receive this recommendation. This was my first book by Amy Harmon and definitely not the last!
_enlivresque_'s review against another edition
1.0
Malheureusement cela ne l’a pas fait avec moi. J’y ai vu beaucoup de lenteur et le thème des prêtres en Italie ne m’a pas du tout intéressé.
Cependant le thème de le 2nd guerre mondiale et la solidarité qui est développé m’a beaucoup plu. A certain moment j’étais en apnée pour les personnages.
La relation entre Angelo et Eva est incroyable. Je pense que c’est d’ailleurs un des gros point positifs de cette histoire. Amy Harmon sait raconter l’Amour de toute sorte ( familiale, amitié et couple ).
Et cette justesse des mots pour décrire ce sentiment m’a donné envie de sortir de ma pal ce que murmure le vent.
Cependant le thème de le 2nd guerre mondiale et la solidarité qui est développé m’a beaucoup plu. A certain moment j’étais en apnée pour les personnages.
La relation entre Angelo et Eva est incroyable. Je pense que c’est d’ailleurs un des gros point positifs de cette histoire. Amy Harmon sait raconter l’Amour de toute sorte ( familiale, amitié et couple ).
Et cette justesse des mots pour décrire ce sentiment m’a donné envie de sortir de ma pal ce que murmure le vent.
barbaraf's review against another edition
5.0
After finishing Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan I was tempted to find another WWII book set in Italy. From Sand and Ash was the perfect segue and just as engrossing.
Eva and Angelo have grown up in Florence like siblings but soon realize their affection is something more. Eva Rosselli is Jewish and an accomplished violinist. Angelo Bianco is an American born Catholic who was born without part of his leg. He was sent to Italy after his mother died to live with his grandfather, Santino, and enter the priesthood. He enters the seminary just as Hitler is coming to power. After all hell brakes loose in Florence, raids begin, and Jews are being rounded up. Angelo promises Eva's father Camillo (Babbo) that he will watch over her.
He convinces her to come to Rome and hides her in a convent. The two of them risk there lives helping other Jews hide throughout the city with the help of the Catholic church and it's network. Suddenly Eva is forced into working for the Nazi command after they find out she speaks German. She risks her life by stealing gold from them and passing along information. "Sand and ash. The ingredients of glass. Such beauty created from nothing. It had been something Babbo had marveled about and something she’d never understood. From sand and ash, rebirth. From sand and ash, new life. With every song and with every prayer, with every small rebellion, Eva felt reborn, renewed, and she vowed to press on. She vowed to push back, to make glass from the ashes, and that courage was a victory in itself."
Angelo and Eva fall deeper in love and Angelo is tormented by the choices he must make. Eventually Eva's truth is revealed after she is forced to play her violin for a German audience and she is deported. Angelo vows to find her and make good on his promise to her father.
This book is filled with many wonderful and inspiring quotes. Too many to list. Some attest to the ironies of life and love, others to hope and salvation and others to right and wrong, good vs. evil. Angelo, now a priest, has to decide whether his devotion to God is greater than his love for Eva. We also meet other characters who give themselves selflessly to the cause and risk everything so that justice can be done and other lives saved.

Eva and Angelo have grown up in Florence like siblings but soon realize their affection is something more. Eva Rosselli is Jewish and an accomplished violinist. Angelo Bianco is an American born Catholic who was born without part of his leg. He was sent to Italy after his mother died to live with his grandfather, Santino, and enter the priesthood. He enters the seminary just as Hitler is coming to power. After all hell brakes loose in Florence, raids begin, and Jews are being rounded up. Angelo promises Eva's father Camillo (Babbo) that he will watch over her.
He convinces her to come to Rome and hides her in a convent. The two of them risk there lives helping other Jews hide throughout the city with the help of the Catholic church and it's network. Suddenly Eva is forced into working for the Nazi command after they find out she speaks German. She risks her life by stealing gold from them and passing along information. "Sand and ash. The ingredients of glass. Such beauty created from nothing. It had been something Babbo had marveled about and something she’d never understood. From sand and ash, rebirth. From sand and ash, new life. With every song and with every prayer, with every small rebellion, Eva felt reborn, renewed, and she vowed to press on. She vowed to push back, to make glass from the ashes, and that courage was a victory in itself."
Angelo and Eva fall deeper in love and Angelo is tormented by the choices he must make. Eventually Eva's truth is revealed after she is forced to play her violin for a German audience and she is deported. Angelo vows to find her and make good on his promise to her father.
This book is filled with many wonderful and inspiring quotes. Too many to list. Some attest to the ironies of life and love, others to hope and salvation and others to right and wrong, good vs. evil. Angelo, now a priest, has to decide whether his devotion to God is greater than his love for Eva. We also meet other characters who give themselves selflessly to the cause and risk everything so that justice can be done and other lives saved.

caitywithac's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic
I Loved this other take on World War Two. Also the added subject of religions and faith. I Highly recommend.
I Loved this other take on World War Two. Also the added subject of religions and faith. I Highly recommend.
oneanjana's review against another edition
4.0
“Sand and ash. The ingredients of glass. Such beauty created from nothing. It had been something Babbo had marveled about and something she’d never understood. From sand and ash, rebirth. From sand and ash, new life. With every song and with every prayer, with every small rebellion, Eva felt reborn, renewed, and she vowed to press on. She vowed to push back, to make glass from the ashes, and that courage was a victory in itself.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Another heartwarming and heartbreaking book by Amy Harmon! Like always, I love her writing style, lovable characters, the not-too-much-but-super-sweet kind of romance and smooth storytelling.
This book is set in WWII but focuses about Jews in Italy, which is often forgotten when talking about WWII. It tells a story about Eva and Angelo, they raised together and bond like own family, but they have different religions. Eva is a Jew, whereas Angelo was raised to be a priest. When the Jews’ life in Italy began to be difficult because of the Racial Laws for Jews, they fled to Rome and fought the Germans in their own way.
Compared to other Amy Harmon books I've read, I think this book has a much slower pace. I was even considering to DNF. It gets better only after they move to Rome, which was about 50% in the progress. So, please be patient if perhaps you also feel the story is not progressing. One more thing that bothers me was that the ending is quite unrealistic and predictable. However, as usual, the ending is very heartwarming and touching.
As well as my adoration for Amy Harmon's writing style, I also always love reading her Author's Notes. From there, I know that she always does in-depth research for every story, and even some characters were actually real people. I highly recommend if you want to read historical fiction books about WWII set in Italy.
jennchandler's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this. A few romance scenes, but nothing explicit, which I greatly appreciated. Good characters and story. Also, often historically accurate.
tlt19's review against another edition
5.0
I am fascinated by the WWII and enjoy (if that's the right word!) historical fiction books centred around this time period. This one is based in Italy and shows the atrocities that happened. There were a few coincidences that were a bit hard to believe but I'll forgive the author of these as it was a good read and generally well representative of the time period.
timitra's review against another edition
5.0
From Sand and Ash
From Sand And Ash is an epic love story that spans almost two decades. It follows Angelo Bianco and Eva Rosselli, a Catholic priest and a Jewish woman and is a beautiful coming of age story. It is also one of the most gut wrenching things I have ever read and also one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. The author did an amazing job not only in crafting this story but also in creating a delicate balance between dark and light, depressing and heart warming. I loved it and cannot recommend it enough.
From Sand And Ash is an epic love story that spans almost two decades. It follows Angelo Bianco and Eva Rosselli, a Catholic priest and a Jewish woman and is a beautiful coming of age story. It is also one of the most gut wrenching things I have ever read and also one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. The author did an amazing job not only in crafting this story but also in creating a delicate balance between dark and light, depressing and heart warming. I loved it and cannot recommend it enough.