Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new release and my review below...
All the Lost Places
By Amanda Dykes
Historical Fiction, Romance, Inspirational
Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 400 Pages
December 13, 2022 by Bethany House Publishers
Summary
When all of Venice is unmasked, one man's identity remains a mystery . . .
1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn't until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.
1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.
Advance Praise
“This lyrical dual-narrative historical from Dykes (Set the Stars Alight) dives into the histories of Venice, Italy, and Venice Beach, California.”— Publisher’s Weekly
"Introspective, surprising, and achingly beautiful."— Booklist starred review
"Dykes's pen is fused with magic and poetry. Every word's a gentle wave building into the splendor that is All the Lost Places, where struggles for identity and a place to belong find hope between the pages of a timeless story."— J'Nell Ciesielski, bestselling author of The Socialite
"Luscious writing, authentic characters, and an ending that satisfies to the core of the spirit, this novel is another winner from Amanda Dykes."— Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning author of Freedom's Ring and Hope Beyond the Waves
My Review
ALL THE LOST PLACES is one of those stories that flows lyrically and takes you from historical San Francisco to Italy with a story(Daniel) within a story (Sebastien) within a story (The Book of Waters). Those who enjoy lyrical historicals about characters who are searching for their place and who they are in it will enjoy this beautifully written narrative.
This story reads almost like prose in places. The writing is beautifully done with details that immerse the reader in this historical world. Both characters are interesting and very introspective as is the way their stories weave together. There is also a touch of romance and inspiration. The story's main focus are these two men who are trying to find who they are and their place in the world.
This is very much a lyrical tale at a very slow pace. I think for me, it isn't necessarily my kind of book. I felt like it didn't really get moving until maybe a third of the way through the story and by then I was forcing myself to continue reading. It is a wonderful tale, but something that struggled to hold my interest. However, this is just my own preferences. The writing was quite excellent.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This is a truly beautiful story. It is a story that is slowly paced and definitely in the lyrical category, so I'd only recommend it to those who enjoy such stories and have the time to savor it.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
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About the Author
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