A review by mudder17
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan

5.0

Like the author's previous novel, Beneath the Scarlet Sky, this was a historical fiction novel based on the life of a family fleeing their country for a safer life. Unlike most of the WWII novels I've read, this story focuses on the ethnic Germans in Ukraine who settled there in the 1800s to farm the land long before the war started. As the war begins, many of these Germans decide to leave with the German army to escape the brutality of the Russian army, but they are stuck between two oppressive forces. The story alternates between Emil and Adeline Martel, in two different times as the experiences of the past have repercussions to their current time.

The real couple eventually made it to Montana, where Sullivan lives, and when he heard their story, it inspired this tale of triumph and redemption over tremendous hardship. Personally, I liked this story even more than Scarlet Sky, and I found both Emil and Adeline to be amazing characters. The author did an incredible job in his research and I loved his choice to develop Emil's faith journey from the time he lost it completely to his eventual reclamation of it. Throughout it all, Adeline held fast to her faith, but even she experienced doubts (how could you not?).

I listened to this book and the narrator did a wonderful job, but I will probably buy the digital book because I want to go back and collect quotes.