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A review by amandasbookreview
As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you, Kate Breslin, NetGalley, and Bethany House Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin takes place during World War I and there is espionage on all sides. Rosalind Graham escapes her guardian by working in a munitions factory in England. Her guardian treats her with little respect and has plans to marry her off to a cruel man. Her only friend is a co-worker named Tilly. One day, Rose leaves work early for a party and then her world gets turned upside down. The factory explodes and her friend Tilly is gone. But she has an opportunity. Her family thinks she died in the blast. She can escape her dreaded future by becoming Tilly. She moves to Scotland and begins work in another factory, saving until she can make her way to Canada. Alex Baird is an RAF captain but goes undercover to see who is targeting the factories. He hasn’t been home in some time since his brother’s death and is surprised to find a young woman renting a room from his family. He doesn’t trust her, but her kindness soon chips away at the wall he has built, but secrets could destroy everything.
Let me start off by saying that I love that this book takes place during World War I. World War I doesn’t seem as common as World War II novels. I love the settings along with the history behind undercover agents and women in munitions factories. There is even a little detail about Canary Girls–the women who worked in the munitions factories were dealing with so many toxic chemicals that it turned their hair and skin yellow. There is also the complexity of the storyline. Every chapter was like pulling back another layer of information that could lead to another twist.
There were a few things that could have been stronger in this story. For instance, there is a lot of back and forth and switching of points of view. Some of the points of view weren’t even main characters, I felt there could have been another way of incorporating them into the story. That constant switch was not a smooth transition, it really slowed down the pace of the novel. Then there is Rose. While I LOVED her development there is one thing that bothered me. I understand that this book falls under Christian Historical fiction but her guilt with God was a little much. There were several moments where she believed God would be angry with her for taking on Tilly’s identity and lying—even though it could have saved her life. Every bad thing that happens to her she believes that it is God telling her that she is in the wrong. Her only lie is her name change. She stands up for girls under her supervision, helps out the family she stays with, even saves lives but she was still full of shame. I am just saying…I don’t think God would have been angry for fleeing what could have been a harmful marriage.
Rant over. But I have to tell you about how much I loved Alex Baird’s family. They take Rose in as their own and they have such a strong family unit, despite the tragedy they have endured. I also loved Hannah, Alex’s little sister. Even though she works in a factory in the middle of a war, she is still a sixteen-year-old girl and desperate to still be a teenager. Overall, it was a delightful read and I will be checking out more of this author’s reads. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Let me start off by saying that I love that this book takes place during World War I. World War I doesn’t seem as common as World War II novels. I love the settings along with the history behind undercover agents and women in munitions factories. There is even a little detail about Canary Girls–the women who worked in the munitions factories were dealing with so many toxic chemicals that it turned their hair and skin yellow. There is also the complexity of the storyline. Every chapter was like pulling back another layer of information that could lead to another twist.
There were a few things that could have been stronger in this story. For instance, there is a lot of back and forth and switching of points of view. Some of the points of view weren’t even main characters, I felt there could have been another way of incorporating them into the story. That constant switch was not a smooth transition, it really slowed down the pace of the novel. Then there is Rose. While I LOVED her development there is one thing that bothered me. I understand that this book falls under Christian Historical fiction but her guilt with God was a little much. There were several moments where she believed God would be angry with her for taking on Tilly’s identity and lying—even though it could have saved her life. Every bad thing that happens to her she believes that it is God telling her that she is in the wrong. Her only lie is her name change. She stands up for girls under her supervision, helps out the family she stays with, even saves lives but she was still full of shame. I am just saying…I don’t think God would have been angry for fleeing what could have been a harmful marriage.
Rant over. But I have to tell you about how much I loved Alex Baird’s family. They take Rose in as their own and they have such a strong family unit, despite the tragedy they have endured. I also loved Hannah, Alex’s little sister. Even though she works in a factory in the middle of a war, she is still a sixteen-year-old girl and desperate to still be a teenager. Overall, it was a delightful read and I will be checking out more of this author’s reads. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.