Customer Reviews

A Valley of Betrayal (Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War, Book 1)

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

A Valley of Betrayal is a novel which takes place during the Spanish Civil War. I had seen a documentary on American Spanish Civil War Volunteers and I wanted to gain more knowledge on the subject. Had read "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Hemingway which is a great book but does not go into much detail about the war itself. This book helps explain it and gives us a good story.

The Spanish Civil War, though a mere regional conflict, drew world attention and served as a dress rehearsal for World War II. But since one side was Fascist (and actively backed by the Nazis) and the other was Marxist (backed by the Soviet Union), the average American has difficulty sympathizing with either. Nevertheless, in "A Valley of Betrayal" Tricia Goyer blazes past her readers' uneasiness with the conflict through vivid characters who merit our understanding, though not necessarily our approval.

Ritter Adler joined the German forces in Spain to win a woman's love. But he finds severe competition for her hand in a man named Xavier--and in the brutal war itself.

Sophie Grace, a young artist from Boston, came to Spain in hopes of finally wedding her fiance, Michael. But is Michael as trustworthy as he claims?

Boycotting the German-sponsored Olympic games, Philip Stanford's longtime best friend, Communist sprinter Attis Brody, means to run in the socialist International Workers' Games in Barcelona, Spain--with Philip along as his trainer. When the war breaks out, can protective Philip see that Attis makes it home alive?

Deion Clay, an African-American from Mississippi, has experienced racial discrimination--and even racial violence--firsthand; so for him the Communist rallying cry of "Equality!" holds a special appeal. But after he travels to Spain to fight for his Marxist beliefs, will he regret his choice?

Father Manuel Garcia, a native of the independent-minded Basque region in northern Spain, only wants to minister to his people, though some of them see him as a coward. When the war converges on his hometown of Guernica, will he, like the other characters, be forced to prove his courage in a way he never wanted?

This book is amazingly superior to Goyer's (good) World War II series, despite--or perhaps because of--the Spanish Civil War's complicated nature. Goyer includes a felt historical and cultural tapestry that is very impressive. Perhaps Deion's background is a bit exaggerated--I haven't done enough studying on the day-to-day realities of segregation to be certain whether one person could have seen as much as he apparently did--but his background does allow us to see the person beneath the Communist armband. That seems to have been Goyer's goal: to prove the humanity of those involved in the Spanish Civil War to an American audience. And, in my opinion, she has succeeded.

Tricia Goyer, a writer with a slew of novels about World War II to her credit, stumbled upon the Spanish Civil War in researching an earlier book. She'd read about an American pilot who had crashed in Nazi-occupied Belgium and applied survival skills picked up as a volunteer in the Iberian conflict.

Like many of us, she became smitten with both the conflict and with the country itself and dedicated her efforts to crafting A Valley of Betrayal (Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War, Book 1)which would appear to be the first in a series.

the highway scribe came across Goyer during one of his frequent forays onto the Web site of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA) where students, Hispanophiles, sectarian communists, tried and true veterans of the International Brigades, and eminent scholars like Paul Preston and Fraser Otanelli trade-off information, requests, and arguments on a "list" overseen by New York University.

Or something like that; it's a little hard to figure out.

Goyer joined the list chatter last year, asking for a little help and got some rough handling due to the fact her publisher, Moody, is a "Christian" editorial house.

A confirmed, confessed and convinced non-believer, the scribe was inclined to smirk as well, but opted for a more gracious approach since he's found in his long career that writers are mostly self-involved and incapable of kindness toward others of their craft.

Goyer responded to the scribe's suggestions, whatever they were, by purchasing his book "Vedette," which, you know, represented the total for sales in 2006.

Soon thereafter, too soon it seemed, she announced on the ALBA list that she'd finished the work. the scribe contacted her and she sent a free copy.

The Christians are winning in highwayscribery's book.

Despite the short turnover time, Goyer has done an admirable job in tackling a muddled, now distant, and controversial subject. Her capacity for research and historical reconstruction is rather remarkable as she renders lively and detailed portrayals of revolutionary Barcelona, Madrid under siege, the horrors of the front, and the tragedy of Guernica.

That's a full plate and it is achieved with a simple, straightforward style that doesn't try too hard, but successfully pulled the scribe into her dramatization.

"Valley's" primary character is Sophie Grace, a young woman hurrying to Spain on the trail of a photographic journalist named Michael with whom she is in love and hopes to marry. Michael's betrayal of her affections is mirrored in the larger conflict around Sophie and deepens her confusion as she looks for a rock to lean on in a country where the very earth moves beneath her feet and few people are who or what they claim to be.

The supporting characters include Deion, an African-American volunteer to the International Brigades; Father Manuel, a Basque priest from Guernica trying to reconcile his support for the "godless" Republic with the savagery of Franco's Catholic crusade; Philip, an American track runner pulled into the conflict by the anti-Fascist impulses of his teammate Atticus; and Ritter, a Nazi pilot with the Condor Legion.

Leading Sophie on her path to self-realization as a painter of propaganda posters for the Republican cause and amateur nurse on the front, Goyer pulls each thread taught to the culmination at Guernica where distinct literary fates await.

Goyer is especially good at spreading layers of increasing narrative desperation in the Republican ranks which seemingly choke the reader as much as those on the ill-fated Loyalist side.

There is an inherent problem with writing literature about the Spanish Civil War in that the conflict was exceedingly complex and hardly anybody knows anything about it anymore. So there is an unavoidable didactic touch, very light, spread throughout early parts of the book that will serve neophytes, but grate on more seasoned buffs.

As to the "Christianity" contained within the tale, it is hard to see where it amounts to anything more than what you find in most literature, faith playing the role it does in so many lives. And Goyer comes alive when she treats the ethical and moral questions confronting both she and her characters. She does it with intelligence and a knowing hand without coming off preachy/creepy.

The unbeliever may cringe somewhat at Sophie's final realization that her blown-off-course fate in Spain was part of "God's plan," but the scribe confesses to hearing that from some of the dearest people in his life, all of whom accept him in spite of the iconoclasm and brazen atheism.

Which is to say this story fits into the story of the world, and certainly into that of Spain circa the 1930s.

Tricia Goyer has a way of weaving a host of intriguing characters and chronicling the Spanish Civil War and tying it all together within a "page-turning book". I love the romance, the history, the story of Sophie who is caught up in the drama showing both sides of the heartache of war. And who along the way discovers that it's her passion that holds the key to so much!

Little is known about the Spanish Civil War by the average American. When I studied abroad in Spain for a semester in college, I learned so much about that beautiful country and its history. Spain will always occupy a space in my heart! I am a fan of international fiction - stories that make me feel like I've traveled to another country. This book was amazing. It took me back to my time in Spain and it really opens your eyes to another country's history. I finished it last night and am back today to order the 2nd book in the series. I can't wait to find out what happens!

This book is a rich trip back in time to the days of the Spanish Civil War. I love history, in particular World War Two, and all I could tell you about the Spanish Civil War before was that it occurred immediately prior to World War Two and that the Russians and Germans prepared for that war on the battlefields in Spain. After reading this book, I know so much more, but all without losing the great entertainment and story I've come to expect in Tricia Goyer's books.
From the first page to the last I was drawn in to this complex story about people living in impossible times. The book contains a rich mixture of characters to tell the story from a wide array of perspectives.

Sophie is the dreamer. An artist, she travels to Spain to be reunited with the love of her life. Once in Spain, she finds much isn't as she anticipated. The war is real, her fiancé is distracted and often absent, and she finds herself absorbed in the plights of the Spanish people as they try to survive.

Michael is a photographer who disappears after connecting Sophie with friends. He seems less than thrilled to have her in Spain. Add in the story of Spaniards Jose and Father Manuel, German Ritter, and Americans Philip and Deion, and the cast is rich enough to highlight the many sides of the struggles.

As I read this book, I often felt like I'd been transported back in time to Spain. I could see the buildings, smell the acrid air after another talk, and almost touch the colorful clothes. The challenges of the war and politics behind it were disturbing, but provided a backdrop for the faith of the people involved in the story.

I highly recommend this book.

The first novel in a new series about the Spanish Civil War, A Valley of Betrayal unfolds with a distinctively Goyer-esque feel to it. In this book, author Tricia Goyer does another brilliant job bringing history to life with vivid characters searching for their meaning in the midst of conflict, each wanting to contribute their utmost for their cause.

In this time and place in history, it's the middle of the Spanish Civil War. The Nazi's are exerting their influence from one side, strong-arming Fascism over the country. At the same time, Russia is enticing the area with the idealistic vision of Communism. Spain is divided between the two political perspectives, and the resulting battleground ravages the country in the process.

The most serious fighting isn't found on the front lines, though, but in the internal struggle of every individual who must decide who they are and what they truly believe in. Some of the characters are natives of Spain; others from different countries who are drawn to the area for their own reasons. Some come to fight, and some to serve, but they all discover themselves in the process. Each naturally feels that their side has the most righteous cause, and all are willing to risk everything in the effort to win the war.

Goyer tries to communicate the struggle of a people searching for themselves amidst the rubble of their ideals. It's not an easy struggle, nor an easy story to read considering the cost of the war. But despite the fact that no one seems to emerge on top in this bloody battle, the novel itself is a winner. I highly recommend A Valley of Betrayal by author Tricia Goyer, and eagerly look forward to the next installment in the series.

I just finished reading Valley of Betrayal and it is very moving. Tricia writes in such a way that it makes you feel like you're in a war zone yourself. I would be reading along and realize that my heart was hammering as if there were bombs dropping outside. This is a very stirring novel. If you like historical Christian fiction then definitely check this one out.

This book is a rich trip back in time to the days of the Spanish Civil War. I love history, in particular World War Two, and all I could tell you about the Spanish Civil War before was that it occurred immediately prior to World War Two and that the Russians and Germans prepared for that war on the battlefields in Spain. After reading this book, I know so much more, but all without losing the great entertainment and story I've come to expect in Tricia Goyer's books.

From the first page to the last I was drawn in to this complex story about people living in impossible times. The book contains a rich mixture of characters to tell the story from a wide array of perspectives.

Tricia has the ability to transport the reader back in time to Spain. I could see the buildings, smell the acrid air after another talk, and almost touch the colorful clothes. The challenges of the war and politics behind it were disturbing, but provided a backdrop for the faith of the people involved in the story.

I highly recommend this book.

The Spanish Civil War pitted the Spanish Republicans and their allies, the Soviet Union and the International Brigade, including many Americans against Franco and his fascist military troups, machinery and weapons supplied by Hitler and Mussolini. As in other wars, there were no clear lines between good and evil. It destroyed lives and tore Spain apart.

Sophia Grace traveled to Spain to be with Michael, her fiance, an international correspondent. She had no idea what she was getting into and war turned out to be a lot more personal than she expected.
Phillip Stanford, a member of the American track team became involved in the war because he refused to leave a friend. And Ritter Agler wanted to win the heart of Isanna, knowing she admired heroes. These three and others became entangled in a war that both intrigued and repelled them. although Tricia Goyer writes about war, she never loses sight of the people involved. Her characters are living, breathing individuals the reader will remember long after the book is finished. A fascinating, complex story about a little known time in world history.