As Else hears rumors of the movement’s legendary Havmand – the merman – she also becomes intrigued by the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse. Henrik makes every effort to conceal his noble upbringing, but he is torn between the facade he must maintain and the woman he is beginning to fall in love with.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech…or in silence.

Sarah Sundin’s latest WWII work tells the lesser-known stories of the Danish Resistance and the impact the Danes had. I had never heard about their efforts and bravery and was fascinated by how those facts were woven into a compelling narrative. I felt invested in the efforts of the main characters and loved learning more about this area of Scandinavia.

Admittedly, there was a moment where I felt like maybe this had a similar plotline to one of her previous books, but I was proven wrong. This book stands on its own as a beautiful and riveting story of everyday heroism displayed during a brutal time in history. It has a little of everything: science, romance, espionage, and history. I finished it in two days because I had to know how things turned out!

(I also enjoyed the unexpected connection to another of her books at the very end but I won’t give spoilers.)

Get your copy here!