Candle in the Darkness
Ratings4
Average rating4.5
15
Ratings4
Average rating4.5
"A gripping tale told by a gifted writer."--Beverly Lewis Caroline Fletcher is caught in a nation split apart and torn between the ones she loves and a truth she can't deny The daughter of a wealthy slave-holding family from Richmond, Virginia, Caroline Fletcher is raised to believe slavery is God-ordained and acceptable. But on awakening to its cruelty and injustice, her eyes are opened to the men and women who have cared tirelessly for her. At the same time, her father and her fiance, Charles St. John, are fighting for the Confederacy and their beloved way of life and traditions. Where does Caroline's loyalty lie? Emboldened by her passion to make a difference and her growing faith, will she risk everything she holds dear?
Series
3 primary booksRefiner's Fire is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2003 with contributions by Lynn Austin.
Reviews with the most likes.
I love historical fiction. However, the Civil War era is not my favorite time period to read about. I couldn't tell you specifically why, but I just don't pick those books to read as much.
I am so glad I picked up this series though!
Each of the three books has a different perspective - not just a new main character, but a new main character coming from a different background than the previous main characters. I haven't finished all the books yet, but it's interesting reading from such a variety of perspectives. This one follows Caroline Fletcher, a “southern belle,” as she tries to figure out what her place is in a society that condones slavery, when she herself does not.
I loved Caroline. She starts off as a shy and scared young girl, which I related to, but becomes a strong woman willing to stand up for her beliefs. I also loved seeing her living in the south, then in the north, then again in the south. The tension between the people she loves and what she believes in was very well portrayed, and I really felt for her in her confusion.
I think my favorite part in the whole book is when Caroline visits an abolitionist group in Philadelphia, where they talk about believing in “the cause” of abolishing slavery. She calls out the leader of this group, saying “the slaves are not a cause, they are people!!” Sometimes, as Christians (also in general), in our zeal for standing up for truth we reduce people to causes or statistics. But God sees each person individually, all the nuances that make up their life and beliefs, and He loves each person. When we lose sight of people, we lose sight of what matters.
I highly recommend this series, if you love historical fiction that makes you think.
