Dawn

Dusk #2

by Eve Edwards

Dawn is the sequel to Dusk, the epic wartime romance by Eve Edwards

London, Paddington Station, 22 October 1916

Sebastian reached in his pocket for the portrait of Helen he had drawn only last year. 'I'm looking for a young lady who came through here late last night.'

In the midst of the First World War, Helen Sanford, a young nurse, has disappeared. Sebastian Trewby is determined to find her so that he can protect her before his flight squadron calls him back for duty.

Helen knows that if Sebastian discovers her it could ruin him. Society wants to persecute her for her German heritage and she is threatened at every turn. Her only hope lies with those that love her, and the authorities are closing in...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Fiction, War

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2014

About the author

Eve Edwards has a doctorate from Oxford University and thinks researching a large part of the fun for writing historical fiction. She has visited Tudor houses, attended jousts and eaten Elizabethan banquets to get the sights, sounds and tastes right for this book. And, yes, she can testify that it is possible to eat neatly without the modern invention of the fork. She lives in Oxford and is married with three children.

Reviews

[The Book Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never, before reading this duology, have I enjoyed a romance novel.

Sometimes I enjoy romances that are a subplot to a story, like in Mortal Engines, but I hate books that are mainly romance.

I may have to take that back now.

The reason why I hate romance is because of all the kissing and love-at-first-sight and undying-love ridiculousness. I hate it when the love interest becomes the sole reason the main character exists. There is none of that here. Helen and Sebastian complement each other perfectly; Helen is a strong character who doesn't need saving all the time, and Sebastian isn't a controlling, stalking douchebag. In short, they are one of the cutest couples I have ever read about.

I absolutely loved Dusk, the first book in this duology, and I loved Dawn. A perfect ending to a very enjoyable and sweet romance.

[Gayatri · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War I was a horrible time of the year. There were a lot of lives lost and jobs taken. People were suspicious of anyone who had german origins no matter how much they helped their country. Helen was just one of the many people suffering. However, not all of them were so lucky as Helen was. Helen had a lover who was absolutely amazing. Sebastian did not care about what other people thought. He knew she was trustworthy and thats all that matters.
With friends backing them up though many died in war and got injured, Helen and Sebastian managed to get through all the rough times and reach the end of the war where everyone was finally treated equally and Helen managed to live her life without being scared of people accusing her without proof.
The two of them worked together to get their happy ending which was amazing.
This series was really good and it was soaked in history without you even realising it.

[Julie James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really sweet enjoyable historical love story for teens.

[Becca Housden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book worked so much better than the first one in the series, the characters were more engaging and exciting, and the plot really picked up.
The constant switching between timelines and characters was more effective now there was a plot tying Sebastian and Helen together, rather than their two plots running concurrently. Although, while the changing timeline made learning about a character’s death before it happened more gut wrenching as it came straight out of the blue, and made the reader nervously anticipate it happening, at other times, such as Helen’s time in prison, it really reduced the captivating of the story. The reader wasn’t worried about it Helen would survive prison, be released or even take the deal to travel to New York because we had already been shown a couple of months ahead when she is again living in her London home.
Overall though, this was a wonderful climax to the story, with just enough drama and trials for the love between the two characters to struggle against the odds, but never falter, which Eve Edwards always does beautifully.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I could not connect to the characters at all, and found this book surprisingly shallow in spite of the serious subject matter - I felt bad for the MC, but did not emotionally connect to her at all. I was also disappointed in how overtly perfect Sebastian was in this book, because he seemed entirely two-dimensional and stereotypical - he was most interesting at the beginning of the book and slowly became more and more redundant and predictable.

2.5 stars because the plot and pacing was fine. I was so relieved that the entire book didn't end up being Sebastian looking for Helen (we get that out of the way early on, thankfully) and that we got some likable side characters.

[Letizia Venturini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il mio pensiero si riduce a poche parole: non ho mai letto niente di tanto prevedibile.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful definitely the word I would use to describe this book if I was asked for just one.

Eve Edwards certainly knows how to do duologies properly. A duology is a two book series as opposed to a trilogy with three books. Some people also call them a duet. Though that's more singing in my opinion. Of course an author can also stuff up a trilogy. The only upside with a trilogy is if you don't quite get it with the second book you have the last book to adjust all those things and go out in a bang. If in a duology you don't quite make the mark there is no follow up book. So the reader is just left with an unfinished, dissatisfied feeling. I hate that feeling personally.

The second book has to feel like more than just a continuation of the first book. It must have it's own trajectory and build on the feelings of the first book. The characters must continue growing. And still have it's own theme while continuing the overall theme of the series. And Eve Edwards did that to perfection.

Both Helen and Sebastian were in different places than in Dusk. And she continued using the divided timeline writing. So past and present. Starting out with the present and then interweaving past scenes how they ended up there.

It just so sweet and pure and so free of unnecessary love drama is so prolific in fiction these days. And the two of them were so adorable with each other in taking care of each other. A joy to continue reading that after Dusk.

And I loved the depth to the historical side. It wasn't a war story both that bled into the story in a real way. I really felt the unsettled, fearful feelings Helen experienced. Where people wouldn't listen to her because all they saw was the 'German' part of her. We've all been labelled in our lives. And I loved that theme that it resonated.

Favourite moment: Either the art gallery scene or the Sutton's Farm dance scene.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book.

Really appealed to my inner history geek. So much historicalness within it that I loved especially focused on the homefront. It was interesting seeing how the people at home suffered during the war and to really see that anti-German feeling that was bubbling away. I don't think enough of this sort of history of World War One is out there so it was brilliant to see it in this novel.

Also adored the main story, finding out more about Helen and Sebastian.

Just fab in every way

[Lexish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Dusk. Definitely a quiet, enjoyable read, with history and a (very PG-13) romance worked in and around the story. Though some reviewers complained about the constantly-shifting timeline and headings, I felt they lent an interest to this book that it wouldn't have otherwise had. Don't worry about the strict timeline; simply reading the narrative will tell you where you are.

[Karin Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end of the story began in 'Dusk'. Generally a good addition to the genre but the style can be a bit frustrating in terms of following the timeline. I'm glad there is a resolution in this novel rather than having to wait a further year for yet another installment