"Set the Stars Alight" by Amanda Dykes

Lucy Clairmont's family treasured the magic of the past, and her childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. But when tragedy strikes, it's her oldest friend Dashel, an American forensic astronomer, and his knowledge of the stars that may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she's discovered in her family home. Two hundred years earlier, the seeds of love are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a secret sea cave, while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time. As Lucy and Dash journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers--and the healing--they so desperately seek

A sweet, whimsical story with a treasure hunt, history, a touch of romance, and a solid dose of hope, even amidst tragic circumstances.

The writing style is very lyrical; it reminds me of some of my favorite fairy tale retellings from my youth, written to be beautiful both in word choice and how it's put together (but not to be confused with purple prose or writing so fanciful that it makes no sense when you stop to think what it actually means). This was clearly crafted with care.

I loved the historical arc; it's a powerful allegory of Christ's sacrificial love, and even with hints from the Watchmaker's stories and research in the modern era, it still managed to surprise me in some directions it went. Lucy's story has a greater focus on light and hope--both always apropos in this dark world in which we live--and was enjoyable too, though some things were left more open-ended than I prefer. Overall, though, it was a beautiful story.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.