There’s something about the end of summer that gets us in the mood for historical fiction! Maybe it’s the pending fall season or the back-to-school vibes. Either way, our next book review highlights Autumn Krause’s new YA novel, The Gods Will Sing Our Song.
Set in a Japanese American internment camp in 1942, The Gods Will Sing Our Song follows two points of view: Violet Aratani and Ren Hamada. These seventeen-year-olds don’t have much in common other than their magical family relics that seem to pull the two together. Not to mention a god who seems to be tethered to the camp.
Steeped with Japanese mythology and magic, we thoroughly enjoyed this new historical romance. Here is what we love about The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause!
Book Overview: The Gods Will Sing Our Song
Content warnings: death, death of loved ones, violence, internment camps, attempted sexual assault, injuries, pregnancy and childbirth, hospitalization, medical procedures, needles, blood, guns, weapons, drinking, mentions of warfare (Read at your discretion!)
Summary: A divine favor can change everything.
1942. War rumbles across the world, gods stir in the wind, and two star-crossed souls are set on a path that will change them forever.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Hamada is defined by his troubled past, while Violet Aratani only worries about keeping her straight-A grades. They have little in common beyond the old magic that thrums in their family relics—until the US government forces them out of their homes simply because they’re Japanese American. In a barbed-wire world where everything seems upside down, the magnetic pull between them is the only thing that makes sense.
But there’s more than just desert dust swirling in the air. A god walks among them, his mortal form tethered to the camp, and only Violet and Ren can free him—an act that would earn them an immeasurable reward. Yet with tensions rising and their lives on the line, is even a divine favor enough to save them?
Japanese Mythology
First off, we love the hints of fantasy woven into this historical novel. Violet and Ren both possess relics passed down to them by their fathers. Violet has a deer figurine while Ren has a fox. Together, they must use them as offerings to free Akira, a god who’s trapped in a mortal’s body. Akira’s identity starts to crack more and more, his shadow growing and looming over the internment camp. As Violet researches more about this god, we also learn of other Japanese spirits and myths.
Violet & Ren’s Romance
Another thing we love about The Gods Will Sing Our Song is Violet and Ren’s tender romance. Ren is a recovering bad boy who’s known for his criminal past. Meanwhile, Violet is trying to get out from under her mother’s thumb and rebel in her own way. We felt their chemistry from their first meeting. And their whirlwind relationship comes with so many challenges, as one might expect. But they find their way back to each other every time, despite all they have to endure and survive at the internment camp.
The Found Community
Finally, we were incredibly fond of all the families and the found community in this book. When dealing with so much upheaval and struggle, Violet and Ren’s families learn to rely on the other people in their barracks. From gathering supplies for an infant to protecting one another when violence breaks out, it warmed our hearts to see just how strong a community could become in the face of injustice and war. We’ll admit we teared up near the end, but you’ll have to see why on your own!
Autumn Krause masterfully weaves mythology and history in her new novel, The Gods Will Sing Our Song. We couldn’t look away from this enchanting historical romance!
The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause comes out September 1st, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of Autumn Krause’s newest novel? Which of these stood out to you most about The Gods Will Sing Our Song? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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