Amanda Dykes is back with a tale of love, redemption, and discovery of self in a beautiful tale set amongst the historic canals of Venice.
Dykes infuses beauty and poetry into every element of her storytelling. I'm always amazed at the amount of heart and soul that streams out of her narratives. Dykes, by far, is one of the most talented storytellers in her genre today.
Honestly, if I could only recommend one historical novel from the last 12 months this would be it.
While I'm usually drawn in by a character in the fictions that capture a piece of my heart, with All the Lost Places it wasn't so much a character but a question -Who am I? Dykes draws on the tensions between the weight of the past and the hopes of the future throughout the plot with each character holding to the central question of identity. From Sebastien's mysterious origins as an infant in a basket on the canals of Venice, to Daniel's life of loss and regrets, to Venice herself shifting and flowing against the plans of stronger forces each story draws readers back again and again to that query of who am I and who can I become.
That's not to say the characters aren't strong as well. Sebastien, Daniel, Marianna, Vittoria, and the Guild each hold their place as Daniel seeks to find the lost book detailing the life of Sebastien Trovato.
The character pairings balance each other well and are engaging, well thought out characters. But this is one of those novels where it's the story shines beyond its characters long after the last page is finished.
5 out of 5 stars
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