Candle in the Darkness

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.