A Valley of Betrayal
Tricia Goyer

The Spanish Civil War, often ignored, is a prelude of sorts to World War II. Yet, it deserves to be more than a prelude, and Tricia Goyer gives it the attention it deserves through this new series of historical fiction, The Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War. In this war, the lines between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” are blurred. Fascism and Communism, neither of which seems desirable, are the two sides dividing the people of Spain who long for personal, religious, and political freedom.

Other people from other countries come alongside the Spanish people to fight for and with them.
Disillusioned Deion, a black man from Chicago who wants to escape from the racism of the American South. Artist Sophie, who traveled from Boston to Spain for love, but instead finding her life’s purpose in war-torn Spain. German pilot Ritter, flying for the cause he believes in so strongly. Philip, accompanying his friend but finding his own desire to fight along the way. So many others, whose stories tug at our heartstrings as we read this complex story.

To this reader who spent her adolescence at the end of the Cold War, reading about a time when Russians and Communism were seen as preferable by some, and not as enemies of the United States, seems a bit disconcerting. Knowing through hindsight that Communism in practice doesn’t work as well as its ideals claim seems to add a fatalistic air around these characters laboring under its illusions and ideals.

The stories here are compelling. The characters are well-rounded and sympathetic on both sides of this civil conflict. Tricia Goyer does a fantastic job of making sure we readers are not able to choose a side, and this ability to make the characters sympathetic accentuates the brutality and incongruity of this war.

If you like the fiction of Bodie and Brock Thoene, you will enjoy this novel.