Edge of Twilight Revised

by Aaron T Knight

We could have lost the war in Europe if Hitler and the N azis had enough time to put into action a number of super weapons actually in existence in 1944. At every stage of the war with Germany we were up against far superior weapons mass produced by a country whose sole purpose was war. All of the top scientists in Germany were devoting their efforts to finding more efficient ways to kill people. It was an advantage the Nazis depended on to defeat the Allied armies who outnumbered them. As a German general put it, “ this war is run on machines, oil and gasoline.”In this novel the June 1944 Normandy invasion fails as an early summer giant storm hits the English Channel like a fist. The gigantic invasion armada is past the point of no return and must go for the landing. An attempt to return to England would be even more disastrous. Only two days before the armada had been half way across the channel and needed to be recalled because of weather. This June 6 attempt is based on a gamble that an approaching storm wouldn't arrive for another 36 hours. This educated guess is made without the electronic equipment available today. Only charts created from sighted information aided the meteorologists. The decision to launch the invasion was made despite the treacherous history of the English Channel for sudden unpredictible changes.In this story the storm arrives just as the invasion fleet is nearing the Normandy beaches.

490 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2021

Reviews

[Munir Chaudhry · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘On the Edge of Twilight’ by Aaron T. Knight is a historical fictional novel based on the challenging historical period of the Second World War. The main plot describes the connected fates of people from different layers of society, including ordinary soldiers on the battlefield and staff members in headquarters. All in all, Knight skillfully intertwines her own experiences with the historical facts, giving the readers an overall impression of the devastating effects of the war on human lives. Conveying the different eras in graphic details and portraying characters’ feelings and mental processes with depth, the novel is both engaging and educating.
Knight has an elegant and concise writing style; his text comprehensively conveys the characteristics of the period. This human quality of his explaining the feelings and psychological aspects of the characters makes the story more realistic. One cannot help but notice that the dialogue between the characters is realistic and lively, thus facilitating an effective reader's identification with the characters. There is hardly any point where Knight puts the reader to sleep as he combines actual events with fiction masterfully to produce a masterpiece.
What makes ‘On the Edge of Twilight’ captivating is the detail that Knight puts into the story, and his capacity to provide a human face to history. He captures the essence of the war – the trench warfare, the camaraderie of soldiers, the longing of the women back home, and the horror of losing a loved one at war. The combination of historical detail and emotion gives the book not only historical authenticity but also a heartfelt description of the human experience in one of the most difficult periods of human history.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike the name suggests, "On the Edge of Twilight" by Aaron T Knight was nothing like a fairytale. The book brings the attention of every reader to the perspective of the soldier who stands in the face of war. Hollywood movies and propaganda do not tell enough about the fears, defeats, failures, losses, feelings of impending danger, hurts, and despair that come with victorious wars. For an investment banker turned soldier like Major Mike Caryon, the World War brought scars, losses, and a strain on his marriage. It was new to read the details of war through the eyes of a man who after a near-death experience, remained in the fight despite how much it cost him.
I liked how detailed the book was, the use of words, the perfect descriptions, and ammunition like the V-1 bombs. The storyline was so realistic that I was completely immersed. I commend the writer's in-depth understanding of the American war. I particularly learnt from the lives of Mike and Charlie the costs of being a soldier, the innate desire for love, care and peace in the ever-changing pace of war times.
I disliked nothing about this book. Not only did I become conscious of the painful reality of war and its backlash, I also felt a sense of compassion for those who unfortunately witnessed these damages first hand. It was thrilling that the writer did such an excellent job passing across this message.

I would recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in books about history and wars told through fiction. It is a great read!