Wolfsangel - Liza Perrat

'I glance across at my granddaughter, who wears the bone angel necklace these days. She's gripping the pendant between her thumb and forefinger as I used to; as countless kinswomen of L'Auberge des Anges did before us. I touch the spot where it once lay against my own breast, feeling its warmth as if I were still wearing the little sculpture.

I wonder again if my daughter and granddaughter truly understand what that heirloom endured with me through those years of the occupation...'

I really enjoyed reading Liza Perrat's first novel, Spirit of Lost Angels, which forms the beginning of her trilogy, 'L'Auberge des Anges', and I was quickly drawn into this second novel too, soon becoming caught up in the story and reluctant to stop reading. In the opening part of the narrative set in 2012, Celeste Roussel is looking back at the decisions she made in her past which still cause her pain. Then we are taken back to 1943, to the little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne in a France then occupied by German forces. Celeste is one of the local villagers, a brave, clever and determined young woman, yet also at times naive, who wants to assist the Resistance like her brothers, but when she finds herself falling for Martin Diehl, a German officer, she feels conflicted. The bone angel necklace that has been passed down through the women in her family to Celeste is a talisman and gives her strength just has it has done to generations past. 

The novel depicts the bravery of resistance that many ordinary people displayed in those terrible times. The author has evidently researched this period well and has created a vivid, believable backdrop against which her engaging, honest tale is told. I read in an interview with the author that the region of France in which this novel is set was indeed occupied by German forces during WWII. I could imagine in my mind the little village and its inhabitants, I could feel something of the immense bravery required of those in the French Resistance, and I could sense the danger and around them; the storytelling takes you there, into the hearts and minds of the characters. I felt admiration, shock and sadness as I read this story; the awful truth of some events during wartime is not avoided here. This is an absorbing, well-researched and well-written novel ideal for anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction and like Liza Perrat's previous novel Spirit of Lost Angels there are courageous female characters at the heart of the storyline. 

Wolfsangel boasts an evocative, attractive cover design too. Incidentally, I'd certainly recommend reading Spirit of Lost Angels because it's a very good read, and because you'll appreciate the connections of the family and the necklace, but you by no means have to read it in order to read and follow the story in Wolfsangel. Exciting to now anticipate the arrival of the third book in the trilogy! 

Thank you to the author for kindly sending me a copy of this novel for an honest review. 

Author links - twitter @LizaPerrat | website

Published by Triskele Books

Other blog reviews -
Pen and Paper | Jaffa Reads Too | Lovely Treez Reads | Random Things |

Tuesday Intro: Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea - every Tuesday, sharing the first paragraph (or a few) of a book you are currently reading or thinking about reading soon. Visit the blog here to join in.

I'm reading Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat.

I really enjoyed Spirit of Lost Angels, by the same author, and I've found myself drawn into this story very quickly too and keen to see what happens next. 

First paragraph

'We gather in the cemetery, before the ossuary, with the straggle of other remaining survivors and their families. Our heads dipped, the mayor beings his memorial speech to commemorate the tragedy that became a legend around these parts; the evil that part of me still believes was the result of my own reckless actions.'

Synopsis

Seven decades after German troops march into her village, Céleste Roussel is still unable to assuage her guilt.

1943. German soldiers occupy provincial Lucie-sur-Vionne, and as the villagers pursue treacherous schemes to deceive and swindle the enemy, Céleste embarks on her own perilous mission as her passion for a Reich officer flourishes.

When her loved ones are deported to concentration camps, Céleste is drawn into the vortex of this monumental conflict, and the adventure and danger of French Resistance collaboration.

As she confronts the harrowing truths of the Second World War’s darkest years, Céleste is forced to choose: pursue her love for the German officer, or answer General de Gaulle’s call to fight for France.

Her fate suspended on the fraying thread of her will, Celeste gains strength from the angel talisman bequeathed to her through her lineage of healer kinswomen. But the decision she makes will shadow the remainder of her days.

A woman’s unforgettable journey to help liberate Occupied France, Wolfsangel is a stirring portrayal of the courage and resilience of the human mind, body and spirit.

Spirit of Lost Angels - Liza Perrat

‘I wondered how much longer I could continue such an existence.’

This is a gripping historical read about one woman's personal story during violent and changing times in 18^th Century France.

Victoire is our heroine in this moving tale of love, passion and sadness, set in revolutionary France. She has grown up in poverty in the little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, where she has seen her mother executed and her father tragically, cruelly and carelessly killed. She then finds herself in Paris, suffering at the hands of her employer, then enduring further horrors.

At times Victoire is driven to deep despair at her situation and the losses she has suffered in her life. Even when she is feeling less low, the threat is always there: ‘I feared la melancolie would creep upon me again – the sadness that seemed ever poised to spring on to my back and wrap its malevolent arms around me for the slightest reason.’

Yet despite this deep sadness, she is stoic and brave, for at times he has to be in order to survive. As the force for change and revolution grows, Victoire will need all her strength if she is to play a part in creating huge change in her country and overthrowing the current corrupt regime. Throughout the tale, Victoire regularly thinks about the angel pendant made of bone that she once wore, and gave away in the hope that it would be a link between her and a very special person one day. 

The author introduces a great cast of characters, some in Lucie-sur-Vionne, many in Paris, whom Victoire meets and who impact on her life in different ways, all contributing to the person she becomes. I very much enjoyed the interaction she had with these characters, in particular in Paris.

The author has evidently undertaken her research to bring this novel to life, full of detail of the times to add authenticity, but never overwhelming or distracting from the progression of the exciting storyline. As a result I felt transported back to this time period, it was brought to life for me, and I could clearly and vividly imagine the places and situations in which Victoire found herself.

Liza Perrat has written a compelling, strong and beautiful debut novel with a spirited, engaging heroine and convincing historical detail which I really enjoyed reading. The plot keeps moving throughout; the story is pacy and exciting. I was drawn into the story and I grew to care deeply about Victoire and what happened to her, and I found myself rooting for happiness to come to her and for a better life to be around the corner.

Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in a series of novels under the title ‘L’Auberge des Anges’, which is wonderful to hear because I would be very keen to read more from this author.

Reviewed by Lindsay Healy

Triskele Books 
Thank you to the author for kindly sending me a copy of this novel to read and give an honest review.
Find out more about Triskele Books here. 
You can follow the author on twitter here @LizaPerrat and visit her website here.