Into the Nevernight (The Children's Voice Series #1) by Anne de Graaf

Into the Nevernight (The Children's Voice Series #1) Reviews

• 
  Amber Fuller

  Part of The Children's Voices series:
  
  Fictional account of the kidnapping of an American family in Africa by leaders of the diamond mafia. Portrays the internal conflict and upheaval that continues across Africa using factual events. Highlights the plight of children-soldiers, the victims of the bloodshed between Christians and Muslims in Sudan, while touching on the turmoil occurring across Africa.
  
  
  
  Kept me reading page after page but left me wanting more - more details, more insight, more reality. While based on a realistic premise, the author's portrayal of the kidnapping of an American diplomat and his family left me unconvinced. The author included a lot of back story for readers but just didn't offer enough to fully satisfy my longing for greater understanding of African life and the conflicts raging there. Throughout the novel, I was unsure of the focus. Was it the spiritual journey of the heroine or the physical plot line of the kidnapping or was it the harsh reality of child-soldiers? The author touched on each of these but none of them was as fully developed as I would have liked and this weakened the story's impact for me. Perhaps I am asking for too much from a fictional novel. After all, while based on factual events it is not a biography (my favorite genre). Still, this inspirational novel offers a look into the tragic consequences of Africa's continued unrest, especially that of child-soldiers, while also telling of one woman's journey of spiritual growth along the way.
• 
  Sharon

  I tend to avoid books labeled "Christian fiction"; far too often the story gets lost in the preaching. However, "Into the Nevernight" showed up in a bag of books from a friend whose recommendations I trust, and it sounded interesting; so I gave it a shot.
  
  I'm very glad I did.
  
  Anne de Graaf takes her readers on a journey through the world of African politics, conflict diamonds, child soldiers and refugee camps. Seen through the eyes of a kidnapped American family (the father, Owen, is a US State Department negotiator who has gone to Mozambique to broker an end to war), the reader learns about the strife in the various war-torn countries on the continent.
  
  Owen, his wife Miriam, and son Martin are not flawless human beings (as is far too often the case with protagonists in Christian fiction), and Yury Falin is not a two-dimensional beast as the antagonist. Owen and his family struggle with estrangements due to his work, and Yury finds himself falling in love with Miriam after he abducts her because he admires her intelligence and quiet strength.
  
  Some of the most poignant chapters are in the voice of the "nameless one" - a child soldier who does not remember his real name, but changes it whenever he learns something new about himself.
  
  This is a book that I think anyone could pick up, enjoy and be moved by the characters. Highly recommended.
• 
  Lisa

  This book is well written, but not too realistic. I stopped reading it about half way through as the plot was too unbelievable, and thus I lost interest. If you can handle an unbelievable plot, you may like it, as it certain has a good Christian message. The family of three travels to Africa, where they are all kidnapped. The book is about how they handle their captivity.
• 
  Jen

  detailed look into children of war, sad and eye-opening, but with an appropriate ending.
• 
  Jan Cline

  What a great read! Anne de Graaf is a master storyteller. She has woven true facts into a can't put down tale of intrigue, love and heartache.
• 
  Sharon

  This book would make a great movie!