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The onset of World War I throws Europe into a politically charged and violent landscape where enemy lines are drawn and allies formed in Kearley’s ambitious, sweeping historical novel. When young brothers Joe and Colin Travis are arrested for a crime in a situation of mistaken identity, they are sent to a juvenile facility. There, the boys discover their strengths and weaknesses before enlisting into war, having been selected for scout training to become snipers. They rely upon the lessons learned from their father as they head into uncertain territory.
Meanwhile, Kearley interweaves the plot of his narrative with the battlefields of war, taking us to the Western Front where Colonial John Weston faces the surprising and masterful German forces. He and the Travis boys face off against a competent and wealthy foe: the Steinman family. War is the perfect opportunity for General Manfred and Klaus Steiman, head of the elite Terror Group, as they prove the powers of the German armies, shocking the world.
In this determined novel, Kearley steeps his chronicle in the complexities of European history and warfare, examining the long-lasting effects of extraordinary violence that transforms humans worldwide. He is adept with detailed descriptions of war and the individual characteristics of the men who fight, but his narrative shines with the storyline of his protagonists, Joe and Colin. In their David-versus-Goliath role, they are emblematic of the military men whose lives and families were damaged and altered by the horrors of this consequential war. Kearley also includes real photographs of artillery and battlefields interspersed throughout the book, portraying true depictions of the substantial weaponry and war’s destruction. He touches on themes of love, family, society, and honor, presenting to eager historical fiction fans a weighty and inspiring read.