Carole reviews: The Dance of Spirits - Catherine Aerie

Author: Catherine Aerie

Title: The Dance of the Spirits

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, and Drama

Pages: ebook

First Published: September, 2013

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"Spring 1951: it is the fiery zenith of the Korean War, a war that the youthful US Army lieutenant Wesley Palm and his men thought that they had won... until the Chinese swept across the Yalu River. Traveling with the million-man army bent on driving back the march of "American imperialism" is Jasmine Young, a Chinese surgeon who has volunteered herself into the war for unspoken, grave reasons. Through a chronicle of merciless battles, freezing winters, and the brutality and hypocrisy of human nature, the two will find themselves weaving through the twists and turns of fate and destiny. Though their love is forbidden, their passion and pursuit of liberty cannot be quenched."

Another dark novel on my hands, but it was good. Jasmine and Wes are in the middle of a bloody war. Wes is an American who is fighting, while Jasmine is a Chinese doctor trying to save lives at the same time as trying to safe herself and try to be the perfect "communist", but her mid-set is from the old world.

So sad, so dark. War is such a nasty thing and the author does a wonderful job bringing it to life. However, it's not over-the-top. The ending was sooooooooooo sad with a sparkle of hope. I can't say what happened, but it was good, but I didn't like it. I wish that it wasn't so quick, I wish it was longer. But it was a good way to end it. I admit, I had to re-read it a couple times, because I didn't believe it happened! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anyways....I also wish that Wes had more spotlight and got to tell his background too, because I wanted to know more about him. Maybe a short story is in the works? *hint hint* I liked Wes, but I didn't get to connect with him like I did with Jasmine. I liked Jasmine and I felt so bad for her. Yes, she had a good life and it was blown up due to the Communists taking over the government, but I am proud of her, because she managed to adjust and survive. She has "thinking issues" (lol) and she gets in trouble a lot with her commanders for it, but she has adjusted well for being a rich girl. 

I can't say much else without giving up some major spoilers, but I simply couldn't put this down, because I wanted to know what happened next.

In the end, this was a good war and romance novel. Sometimes the war outshined the love story, but it felt realistic and the author did a good job showing this. I liked Jasmine and I wanted to know more about Wes. Like where he is from and what he did before the war. I felt disconnected with him, so I didn't really care about his POV. Other then that, it was a good book! If you like war and a tragic romance, I recommend this for you. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Jasmine, Tin Bo (Until he made me mad at the end....), and Jasmine's mother.

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Tin Bo (*shakes my head*)