Fighting and Independence in Echoes of War | Book Review

【 ECHOES OF WAR 】

Beautifully Italian and fiercely passionate.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Tania Blanchard
Published: September 2021
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 448 (paperback)

Content warning (click to see)

war — grief — death — pregnancy — natural disaster

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this

Quick thoughts
This was such a beautiful story about finding your place in the world and fighting to keep it once it’s found. I loved the characters and the book really felt like it captured the beauty of Italy.

Why I loved it
Giulia is a very passionate individual and it makes it really easy to love her. From the beginning of this book, she butts heads with her dad who doesn’t want her to learn herbal medicine like her nonna.

Of course, the story is all about her doing just that and doing herself proud, as well as her family. Coming from a poor family, her father is also determined to see his daughters married off so they are safe – something Giulia and her sisters really doesn’t want.

It’s this back and forth tug of war between Giula’s sense of duty to her family and following her own dreams that makes this book so enjoyable. She’s constantly walking the fine line between both in the pursuit of happiness.

Not to mention that the strong family ties in this book are beautiful and something to be treasured. Even more so knowing that the inspiration for this story is based on the author’s own family history.

I also really loved the portrayal of Italy in this story. From the small insertions of Italian words to the food the characters make, this book took me straight back to Italy and its warm, rustic summer vibes.

This book is also very sad, there was a lot of grief and loss in it (being wartime and all) and it was hard to let so many characters go in so many tragic moments.

Final thoughts
If you like your historical fiction and want a book set in WWII without the war actually being forefront and centre, this is for you. The main themes are family and standing up for yourself, but with all the drama that a wartime setting brings.

Grab a copy!