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An authentic and tense portrait of everyday people dealing with war. - Kirkus Reviews

Writers Digest Judge's Commentary*: This was a powerful and beautifully written epic novel with historical significance. After reading to the end, I had to sit for a little while to digest it all, wiping away the tears. This novel is a moving tale of struggle and loss in a terrifying and often seemingly hopeless situation. I love the heroine, Mija, who is a testimony to the strength and power of women. She inspires us all with her determination to help others as well as her own family, risking her own safety in the process. As a parent, I can't imagine what it's like to try and protect your children in a war-torn, occupied country with such callous, ruthless enemies, first the Russians then German forces. The author succeeded in pulling us completely into the story, as I was worried about the kids throughout. I also loved the horse, Big Z, who became a character in his own right. Some of the scenes are superbly written, for example when Laima gives birth - I was transported to that room in 1940s Latvia. The pacing was fast and tense and kept me turning the pages. I also loved the setting, it was very interesting to learn about Latvia - it encouraged me to do further research. I like the cover and the author has written one of the best V. Z.Byram's novel Song of Latvia won SILVER for best contemporary historical literature fiction from the 2020 Global Ebook Awards and her cover won GOLD for best cover. ""An authentic and tense portrait of everyday people dealing with war."" - Kirkus Reviews A Tale of a Land Ravaged by War V.Z. Byram's debut novel, Song of Latvia, gives a bird's-eye view into what the war was like for the small Baltic country and the people who lived there. Kirkus Reviews calls the book ""an authentic and tense portrait of everyday people dealing with war,"" as shown in this early description of the central character's perception of what's going on around her: ""The sky over Mija's world had not yet been pierced with warplanes. The streets in their town had not yet felt the rumble of tanks. But the news on the radio and in the newspaper left no room for optimism. She kept her small handgun and a box of rounds hidden on the top shelf of her bedroom closet, covered with her oldest sweater."" A novel that evokes the feel of Doctor Zhivago in its scope and the way it treats the big-picture conflict at its core, Song of Latvia shows how the country struggled under both Russian and German occupation. Much of the material is drawn from Byram's own family's World War II experiences. It's a fast-paced and compelling read, and as readers, we quickly become invested in the characters, especially Aleks and Mija, who are ordinary people reacting to extraordinary situations.

V. Z.Byram's novel Song of Latvia won SILVER for best contemporary historical literature fiction from 2020 Global Ebook Awards and her cover won GOLD for best cover. An authentic and tense portrait of everyday people dealing with war. - Kirkus Reviews A Tale of a Land Ravaged by War V.Z. Byram's debut novel, Song of Latvia, gives a bird's-eye view into what the war was like for the small Baltic country and the people who lived there. Kirkus Reviews calls the book an authentic and tense portrait of everyday people dealing with war, as shown in this early description of the central character's perception of what's going on around her: The sky over Mija's world had not yet been pierced with warplanes. The streets in their town had not yet felt the rumble of tanks. But the news on the radio and in the newspaper left no room for optimism. She kept her small handgun and a box of rounds hidden on the top shelf of her bedroom closet, covered with her oldest sweater. A novel that evokes the feel of Doctor Zhivago in its scope and the way it treats the big-picture conflict at its core, Song of Latvia shows how the country struggled under both Russian and German occupation. Much of the material is drawn from Byram's own family's World War II experiences. It's a fast-paced and compelling read, and as readers, we quickly become invested in the characters, especially Aleks and Mija, who are ordinary people reacting to extraordinary situations.

An authentic and tense portrait of everyday people dealing with war. -- Kirkus Reviews

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