In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow a book review by Tam Francis
The Synopsis
In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow (Eiledon Publishing (August 1, 2020) by Kenneth W. Harmon is a 1940s Historical Fiction set in the doomed city of Hiroshima.
When bombardier Micah Lund dies on a mission over Hiroshima, his spirit remains trapped in the land of his enemies. Dazed, he follows Kiyomi Oshiro, a war widow struggling to care for her young daughter, Ai. Food is scarce, work at the factory is brutal, and her in-laws treat her like a servant. Watching Kiyomi and Ai together, Micah reconsiders his intolerance for the people he’d called the enemy. As his concern for the mother and daughter grows, so does his guilt for is part in their suffering.
Micah finds a new reality when Kiyomi and Ai dream—one which allows him to interact with them. While his feelings for Kiyomi deepen, imminent destruction looms. Hiroshima is about to be bombed, and Micah must warn Kiyomi and her daughter.
In a place where dreams are real, Micah races against time to save the ones he loves the most.
In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow is a tale about love in its most extraordinary forms—forgiveness, sacrifice, and perseverance against impossible odds.
In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow Book Review: What I liked about it
- I usually read WWII books set in Europe or from the American perspective. I loved being across the world and seeing the war from the Japanese perspective.
- As a historical fiction writer who has two paranormal titles, and coming off reading The Night Tiger, I loved the surreal, metaphysical aspects of the novel and the world of the dead.
- I enjoyed learning Japanese afterlife beliefs and the unique yet familiar characters that guard the bridge to the Pure Land.
- In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow also uses a dual perspective which appealed to me since my Jitterbug Dress series is a dual narrative that is set in both the 1940s and the 1990s.
- I loved the whimsical inclusion of the sea porpoise and wondered if that was purely the author’s creation, based on Japanese mythology or taken from Greek Mythology.
- The author does an amazing job keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. knowing that at some point the bomb is going to drop, creating excellent tension.
Writing Roots of Kenneth W. Harmon
When Kenneth was eleven he read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. After that, he knew that he wanted to be a writer. When he turned eighteen, Kenneth started to write short stories. He finished his first novel at the age of twenty.
After joining the Fort Worth police department, he took a long break from writing. He returned to writing and joined a critique group in Fort Collins. Although he loves the classics, The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Good Earth, etc. Kenneth tried his hand at horror writing because the other members of his critique group primarily wrote horror. At the start of 2010, he decided to write short stories on the weekend with the goal of placing five stories within three years. In the first nine months of 2010, he placed thirteen stories in thirteen publications. He has gone on to have a nonfiction book and four novels traditionally published, with a fifth novel under contract.
Kenneth has returned to his roots and is now focusing on Literary fiction and Historical fiction. His latest novel is historical fiction blended with magical realism.
Style for: In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow
Kenneth believes that a successful novel is populated with memorable characters whose lives are somehow changed through extraordinary events. With this in mind, he carefully plots all of his novels and creates detailed character sketches. He wants readers to experience the story through his characters.
“Characters must be drawn in such a way that they become real to the reader. Only then will the reader care what happens to them.”
Kenneth also believes in doing extensive research for his novels regardless of genre, but especially for his historical fiction. “I compiled over nine thousand pages of research for my latest project. Details and facts are paramount when writing Historical Fiction
Favorite Quotes from In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow
“Now the night brought impenetrable gloom due to blackouts. Bats fluttered through the murky sky joined by ghostly moths.”
“There’s a difference between desire and reality. We dream of love. Reality doesn’t match the dream.”
“It’s always this way for a Japanese mother. They can never hold the hand of their daughter long enough. It’s not our fate.”
“There were so many fireflies, their incandescence swept the paddy, but as Micah and Ai ventured farther into the field, the fireflies drew back as if golden doors yawning open to welcome them into a new realm where anything was possible.”
“Morning arrived with a kiss of sunlight that sparkled across the surface of the lake.”
What I Wanted More Of
- It seemed like a long time before Micah and Kiyomi’s relationship developed. I wanted more and sooner.
- A name for the male MC that screams 1940s American like from this list of babies born in 1920.
- SPOILER: I wanted them to survive and not all to be dead and at the very least not Ai. It was almost too painful to read. I kept hoping he was going to save them or at least Ai.
Overall
As I said with The Night Tiger and I found true of In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow, one of the things I like most about historical fiction is the mini-history lessons and exposure to other times and cultures which Harmon does extremely well. His use of perfectly placed Japanese words helped immerse me in the culture but were not intrusive, confusing, or stopped the flow.
I was fascinated by the description and scenes depicting the bridge to the Pure Land and found interesting correlations to Greek mythology.
Harmon did a particularly good job of showing ingrained and learned prejudices and how both characters grew and changed their perception of each other’s cultures. What a beautiful lesson in tolerance, forgiveness, and acceptance.
Anyone who likes romance and magical realism in their historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy In the Realm of Ash and Shadow.
Links for Kenneth W. Harmon
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KennethWHarmon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.harmon.73
- GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50651073-in-the-realm-of-ash-and-sorrow
- Instagram: kennethwharmon
- Website: https://kennethwharmonauthor.com/
- Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Realm-Ash-Sorrow-Kenneth-Harmon/dp/0578591502
Vintage Enthusiast Rating
Fashion: ♥♥
Music: ♥
Dance: ♥
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Do you like historical magical realism. Have you read any WWII books from the “enemies” perspective? Have you read any of Harmon’s other novels? What do you look for you WWII historical fiction reads?
Tam Francis is a writer, blogger, swing dance teacher, avid vintage collector, and seamstress. She shares her love of this genre through her novels, blog, and short stories. She enjoys hearing from you, sharing ideas, forging friendships, and exchanging guest blogs. For all the Girl in the Jitterbug Dress news, give-aways, events, and excitement, make sure to join her list and like her FB page! Join my list ~ Facebook page