From the very first pages we learn about some hard facts of war, in regard to civilians, who through no fault of their own loose loved ones or limbs, or even their own lives. I think the front cover is a very poignant design. At the start of each chapter there is a description, often a harrowing one, giving a description of what is happening in the timescale of the war. It's 1939 in Belgium and two young women, both eighteen years old, Hava and Simone. Simone is the daughter of a war hero from WW1 (this book is written in Simone 's words) and her best friend, Hava is the daughter of a devout Jewish family. Although they have very different backgrounds they remain the best of friends, often visiting each others houses. Soon the war is getting too close for comfort and Simone's father is called away. When the Germans start bombing and taking tanks through their home town, Simone describes how terrifying things are for her, a young woman on her own, with all the explosions going off around her home. Eventually they have no choice but to leave the city, as they do so travelling on foot and by train, they come across other unfortunate travellers who under Hitler would be exterminated, gypsies, handicapped and Jewish people. Simone and Hava's friendship has grown over the years, especially now as they both travel through Belgium and France onto Dunkirk, but unfortunately they get separated on a bus, and Hava is taken away by the SS and when the war is over Simone tries to find her friend. A harrowing story at times, makes you feel as if you are there with Simone and Hava in their quest for dancing with a thousand daffodils as Wordsworth wrote in his poem that they were so fond of. Well recommended and worthy of a 5☆ read.

I really enjoyed this book, although from the beginning when you realise that Simone is friends with a Jewish girl there is little doubt that it will be a tragic story. The book starts with their wonderfully gently and moving friendship before the war and then moves onto their terrifying journey as they try to flee the Nazis after they invade their native Belgium. The author creates a wonderful timeline with real quotes from Hitler, Churchill, and news reports to help the story narrative tie in with the wider story of the Second World War. By the end of the book, I wondered if Hava Daniels was a real person but then realised this didn't matter as she could have been and this book really brought home the reality that this was the story of hundreds of thousands of people.

I don't even know where to start with this novel, it was amazing and one of my fave reads of this year. It tells the story of Hava Daniels and Simone Lyon, a Jew and the daughter of a Belgian national war hero. Their friendship at this time should never have been according to society's dictates and prejudices. During the occupation of Belgium in 1940 they are both forced to flee together to try and survive. This was an incredibly harrowing account of their attempt to escape the atrocities of war and the stigma attached to being Jewish. Loosely based on actual true events of the author's family I found it very moving and nearly reduced me to tears as this subject matter is worse than any horror novel as these terrible things did happen during wartime. This for me outshone other novels of this genre, I really engaged with the characters and cared about them and what happened to them to the point I was googling the author, the history of the book and it's inspiration. If a book can move you even after its finished to make you bother to research the events and story then the author has done a wonderful job. Simone says in the novel "People remember Anne Frank, perhaps they will also remember Hava Daniels." The book resonated with me so much, the kindness of the character Hava and her empathy for others even during a disgusting period of our history, she showed such caring towards people that it will live long with me. It also shows the prejudice, racism and bias of people towards others and that behaviour is learnt and the message that comes across strongly throughout that though from different backgrounds and religions Hava and Simone's friendship endured in the hardest of circumstances. I feel this would also be a wonderful and powerful candidate for a movie adaptation. A beautiful story of love and friendship set against the cruel backdrop of war.

This was incredible, a tale of loss and friendship at a time when the friendship described was taboo and forbidden by the mores of the day. It is the time of the occupation of Belgium in 1940. Hava Daniels is a Jew and Simone Lyon is the daughter of a national war hero. When their city is invaded the girls flee for their lives together. What follows is their story of an epic struggle for survival across a war torn land. Tragic yet also human and touching when we read of the girls friendship this is shocking in its brutality and shows the graphic nature of war and its effects on the people caught up in it. A very important and necessary read.

There’s quite a few WWII books around at the moment, however I would highly recommend this one. Inspired by true events, this is an incredibly well written account about friendship against all the odds between two girls, during a time so horrific it’s impossible to imagine the atrocities experienced at that time. Those of you who have read books about WWII don’t need reminding of what is written between these pages, how some people turned into evil human beings throughout this conflict. However, de Vinck wants us to remember; friendship conquers all. Author’s note ‘It is my ambition that Ashes will capture the hearts and imagination of those who read about Hava Daniels and her friend Simone. ‘I hope this little book will help us all remember that, among the sorrows of the world, we all can rise up from the ashes and discover, once again, what it means to be people of compassion, dignity, and love. ‘That this book could whisper words of hope in a world that seems, at the moment, so hopeless.’ He most definitely achieved this. Excerpt ‘Hava, remember the daffodils in the woods when we were running from the Nazis and the planes? Remember, Hava?’ China, Japan, France all bulge with daffodils – the same daffodils. A Chinese daffodil is the same as the daffodil in my little garden. A Jewish daffodil is the same as a Christian daffodil. A Jewish girl is the same as a Christian girl. Different soil; different garden – the same girls. It doesn’t matter about racial lines, religion, culture, background, wealth etc, whatever happens, nothing can break the bonds of true love and friendship. This follows how resilient they are and how they continue to care for and protect each other no matter how harrowing and terrifying their experiences are. Fantastic portrayal of the time. Heartfelt, heartbreaking and emotional read. ‘We endure. We bend like the trees in an angry wind. We learn fortitude.’ Amen. Read the book. Thank you Harper Inspire, NetGalley and the author for this ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review.