Ashes pays tribute to a friendship irrevocably altered by the horror of World War Two and the courage of two young women, one a gentile and the other a Jew, whose bond endured. The story is inspired by the experiences of the author’s family in Belgium and is narrated in the first person by eighteen-year-old Simone Lyon, daughter of a renowned WWI Belgian national hero. When the story opens in July 1939 Simone and her father, General Joseph Lyon, are living peacefully in Brussels, a country known for its neutrality. When she meets playful Jewish teenager, Hava Daniels, and strikes up an instant rapport she is embraced by Hava’s generous family and never stops to consider their differences or the Jewish faith of the devout clan. Simone is wrapped up in thoughts of books and Hollywood despite her father urging her take more interest in the wider world with her only knowledge of war informed by reading Gone with the Wind. So when things change rapidly in the spring of 1940 both young women and their country are frighteningly unprepared..

As German troops advance on the city of Brussels Simone and Hava are separated from their respective families and forced to flee their country together in hope of a passage to safety. When Hava’s religion sees the firm friends cruelly torn apart in Dunkirk Simone vows never to forget her and determines they will be reunited. Once troops descend into Brussels the pace of the story accelerates and covers a lengthy period, ultimately going on to follow Simone and her eventual return to a free Belgium following four years under Nazi rule. The book covers the entirety of WWII and by focusing on the girls friendship it skims the surface of the enormity of the devastating changes going on in the world and fails to make apparent the monumental horror of day-to-day life. Big events such as the Battle of Dunkirk and the years which Belgium spent under Nazi rule deserve greater recognition than a bit part in a story and I found much of their journey a little too superficial. The book primarily concentrates on Belgium’s involvement in the war and knowing little about the country’s involvement I enjoyed this focus and learned a great deal.

The writing is straightforward and pretty sterile and for me it was lacking in emotional resonance. I never felt actively involved in the story and failed to warm to, or invest in, either Simone or Hava. Both girls felt extremely immature and I found it hard to believe that given Simone’s fathers military career and Hava’s faith that they would never have considered the possibility of a war and been so unprepared for it. I struggled to envisage either of them doing anything but panicking and given they were both a little dimensionless I never had the belief required for what should have be a far more heart-wrenching story. I also had an issue with Simone using the clout of her father’s Croix de Guerre to ease her journey to and ensure her safety when so many ordinary citizens were struggling without this privilege.

Whilst I found Ashes a competent story of friendship, courage and resilience in treacherous times I felt distanced from the horrors on the page largely due to the clinical writing. I had mixed feelings about the epigraphs at the start of each chapter and whilst some brought home the horror of an ongoing war and sent a shiver down my spine (quotes from politicians etc) many didn’t seem particularly relevant to the events that followed or hit home. The abrupt ending also left me with reservations and I doubt that Simone and Hava’s story will stick in my mind over and above so many more powerful novels highlighting the plight of the Jews in World War Two.

I felt this novel had promise, Belgium pre WW2, a young girl Simone de Lyon is the daughter of a Belgian general, known for his single handed defence of Belgium during the First World War. She forms a strong bond with fun loving Hava Daniels a local jewish girl and their love of all things Hollywood, Clark Gable and opera. Their life in Brussels feels safe and untouched from the horrors going on in the world however all of that is to change. Alongside the narration of their daily lives comes added news items and quotes from the key leaders of the countries involved. I found this added to the novel. Their escape from the city was nail biting and I was there with them as they fled. I did feel as though the final quarter of the book was hurried and it spoilt it a little for me.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and publishers for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review

Simone Lyon is the great Generals daughter, living a privileged life in Brussels with her Father , 18 year old Simone enjoys burying herself in books. One day while volunteering at the Red Cross Simone meets Hava,

When Belgium is invaded by the Nazis Simone and Hava run from Belgium, following the girls throughout world war 2.

A really good book I throughly enjoyed it.

Flight from Evil

Simone is the daughter of a Belgian hero of WW1, Hava belongs to a family of Polish Jews. In 1939 in Brussels they become close friends, united by their love of literature, music and theatre. At 18 years old they are both gloriously naïve, delighting in their happy and gentle adventures in a gilded and beautiful time, but around them Europe is succumbing to war as Hitler builds up his power, sends his armies into eastern Europe and threatens the west.

When war begins and Belgium is invaded the two friends attempt to escape. The reader is swept up in the bombing of Brussels, attempts to escape by train, by bus, by foot. The girls enter Dunkirk in the company of British Tommies, dine in a seafood restaurant as the evacuation takes place, sleep in an hotel room given to them by a fugitive Jew. Again and again the power of Simone’s name, daughter of the general, allows them safety and passage, but a story like this must also have its share of tragedy.

The writer’s style is simple and unadorned, but there is real power in the description of the girls’ attempts to escape together, much emotional involvement in their relationship, sorrow in aspects of the eventual outcome.

“Ashes” is the heartwarming tale based on true events by author Christopher De Vinck. Set in Belgium 1939, eighteen year old Simone Lyon is the Catholic daughter of a Belgium national hero, General Joseph Lyon. Her best friend Hava Daniels, is the daughter of a devout Jewish family. Despite growing up in different worlds, they are inseparable. Spring 1940 brings
Nazi planes and tanks bombing Brussels where they live and their resilience and strength are tested. Hava and Simone find themselves caught in the advancing onslaught and are forced to flee but even the most harrowing horrors cannot break the bonds of love and friendship of a relationship that never should have been.
The story starts quite powerfully and straight away the reader is subjected to the horror of war. We are then taken back to how Simone and Hava became friends and as the Germans invade Belgium shortly after, we follow their resilience and perseverance to protect each other and stay alive.
The girls really did capture my heart and their innocence was a joy to read. To say the book wasn’t riveting would be doing the story (and the authors writing) a disservice because just the nature of the story based on true events deserves high praise. However it was slow at times and the ending seemed a bit rushed. I did find the final closing chapter very emotional when we learned what finally happened and I admit to feeling quite sad when reading.
Simone’s and Hava’s friendship was remarkably poignant and the relationship between them was truly incredible and lovely to read. Highlighting the horrors of the Nazi invasion of a country thought to be neutral and the perils of being a Jew made this book a harrowing but heartwarming read. The author hopes to remind readers what it if feels like to be filled with compassion, dignity and love and I believe he achieved this. The historical facts/quotations at the start of each chapter were a nice addition and often were very informative.
If you enjoy character based stories with a backdrop of war then you’ll find this book is for you and apart from being a tad slow at times, I did enjoy and would read more by this author again.

4 stars

Inspired by a true story, this tale takes on the horrors of WWII without flinching.
Simone Lyon is the daughter of a decorated Belgium General from WWI; Hava Daniels is the daughter of a Polish Jew. They are great friends and innocent 18 year old s with crushes on popular film stars.
Then Germany invades Belgium, and they literally have to run for their lives..
Interspersed with historical facts, which I found interesting and relevant, this story is well worth time reading.

Belguim summer 1939.
Simone is the daughter of a French General , a hero from the First World War. Her best friend is Hava, a jewish girl
and they do everything together.
With Simone's father working away with the resistance,when Belguim falls to the Nazi's and Hava's family dissapears the girls try to escape. They get to Dunkirk but are turned back at the port and manage to get on the last bus out. They are safe but the bus is boarded by German officers looking for identification and Jews.
Can they escape and flee the Nazi's?
Two teenage girls on the verge of womanhood with all their lives in front of them. Two teenage girls with an indestructible friendship. Will it survive the war.

Absolutely harrowing account of two young girls caught trying to escape the Nazi invasion of Belgium. One is the daughter of a war hero and has done protection from society. Her best friend is a Polish Jew, so has no chance. Unfortunately the story gets side tracked with whimsical stories and random thoughts and memories so the plot sometimes gets lost. Could have been amazing, but gets distracted.

I am sorry to say that this book just didn't engage me at all and I hardly got beyond 10%. War fiction is my preferred genre and it is rare for me not to finish a book set during WW2. But the writing didn't draw me in and I gave up. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this title.

A brilliant thought-provoking tale set in a horrific time in history. It really brings home the effects of the horror at the time as well as the kindness of strangers in the most despairing of times. Highly recommended.

My first by this author but that’s what I love about NetGalley. A bit slow to start but then I couldn’t put it down. The story of 2 women, one a Jew and the other a Gentile during WW2 in Belgium and France. The end could have gone one of two ways and the author chose a fairly predictable One but that was ok. The truth is WW2 in Europe was harrowing and the author did not shy away from that. Thanks Christopher de Vinci and NetGalley.

Set during World War II, ‘Ashes’ tells the story of Belgian, Simone Lyon, (daughter of a World War I hero, General Joseph Lyon), and her Polish friend Hava Daniels, daughter of a devout Jewish family. Simone is of the Catholic Faith, but despite their religious differences, they are completely inseparable.

The girls, both 18 years of age, have rather innocent perceptions of life, they dream of meeting Clark Gable after reading Gone with the Wind, draw lines on the backs of their legs to make it appear that they’re wearing stockings, take picnics to the park - they enjoy life, but with war very much on the horizon, this will bring their rather privileged lifestyle, which until now, has been completely unaffected by the cruelties of life, very much to an end.

When France and Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, Belgium remained strictly neutral while mobilising its reserves. Simone listened to radio reports of the Germans invading other countries, but to her it all seemed so far away, she preferred to ignore the growing threat, and besides, Belgium was a neutral country so the Germans wouldn’t be bothering them!

How wrong she was - without warning, the Germans invaded Belgium on the 10th May 1940, and Simone and Hava found themselves fleeing without their families, from the death and utter devastation that had been wrought on their beloved city by the invading enemy. It’s easy to feel the terror of the people as they try to flee the bombs, the invading army, the horror, the chaos - but where do they flee to? With other countries being invaded, where do they go?

Their long and eventful journey, trying to keep one step ahead of the Germans, is told from Simone’s perspective, and it’s a journey fraught with danger, illustrating as it does, how war can bring out the very best in people, but also the very worst, with acts of unimaginable cruelty in pursuit of world power. Their journey together comes to end when they are separated in a most brutal and frightening way, but Simone vows that she will find her friend when all this madness is over.

There were parts of this novel that I really enjoyed - felt emotionally invested in, but then other parts felt rushed and impersonal, particularly towards the end - things happened without explanation, in an effort (it seems) to bring about a swift conclusion, but it did rather spoil my overall enjoyment of it, and that is reflected in my rating.

Different from my usual genre but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to end. Would love to read more by Christopher

An amazing book about true friendship in such terrible times.
The atmosphere of the book and times grabs you from the very first page..
The attributed epigraphs just add to the intensity of the read.
Two teenage girls on the brink of adulthood who should be looking forward to their lives are dragged into the horrors of the Nazi war machine and all its consequences.
A very moving book which I will not forget

wow. What to say a hard read but good a story of friendship and love. In the most traumatic times. The cover was good as was the story . 5 stars. Thank you Christopher de Vinck and Net Galley.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I found I struggled with reading this book - for me it was an average read, and one that didn’t wow or really engage me. I thought it slow going, often hard to follow and quite jumpy going from one event to another and I skimmed over some of the factual references included. I couldn’t really take to either of the main characters ....... and just don’t think this book was for me.

The author Christopher de Vinck has written a lovely and touching novel and is based around 2 women during the Nazi occupation of Belgium and France. in 1939
Simone and Have are best friends and are inseparable. Once the bombing of Brussels arrives in 1940 they are forced to flee. The friendship of a jewish girl and the daughter of a belgium war hero is tested to the limit. Will the terrible circumstances break the bond of friendship?
i found the book made me have lots of conflicting emotions. ranging from tears, hope, sadness all mixed up within the story.
Its a brilliant book and one i would definitely recommend for teenagers and adults alike

thanks to net galley for an opportunity to read an advance copy in return for an honest review
#Ashes #NetGalley

Bit slow to start, or maybe I just struggled to settle into reading for a while.

The story about a general's daughter and her Jewish friend set in the second world war. Tells the story of them escaping Brussels and of their memories together.

About a promise made and all the lives lost. About friendship and being a young woman alone during the war.

** Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A harrowing coming of age for two young women under the spectre of war. Based around real events and highlighting Belgium’s and then France’s occupation by German forces in May & June of 1940.

In Brussels Simone basks in the fame of her war hero father, Major General Joseph Lyon. Her best friend Hava is from a religious Jewish family. They obsess over Gone with The Wind and share a dreamy crush on Clark Gable. They deny caution about the pending war by picnicking and having fun.

The 10th May changes everything with German forces entering their city and the inevitable chaos ensuing. When Hava cannot find her family the girls are forced to consider the seriousness of Jews plight and so their journey begins.

From Belgium through France their battle to stay away from and ahead of the Germans consumes them. When Hava is confronted with declaring her identity, the story shifts again.

Does Simone ever stop chasing shadows...
Why no happy endings and why does this war have to be so predictable in all its horror.
Christopher de Vinck weaves a simple, but sorrowful tale of love and loss. I enjoyed this story thanks to #netgalley

This is a story primarily about friendship, an unlikely friendship between a Polish/Belgian and a Jewish young woman during WW2. What a deep and extraordinary relationship.
However it was a difficult book to read due to the style of writing and I also found it very slow going. I think it was just the way it was written and the fact that we were seeing events through the naive eyes of the girls, whereas we with our knowledge of looking back over history, know more about what was happening around them than they could see. All in all it was interesting but not necessarily enjoyable to read.