(A Novel of Malta in WWII, Part I — Assault)
By Helena P. Schrader
Early 1942: the fate of the Suez Canal and access to Middle East oil hangs on the fate of an island just 17 miles long by 9 miles wide: Malta.
Determined to destroy the British forces threatening Rommel’s supply lines, the Axis powers drop more bombs on Malta than London endured throughout the Blitz. The population is forced underground, while the RAF struggles with inadequate resources to fend off defeat. Meanwhile, Britain’s Atlantic lifeline is fraying....
Voices on the Wind follows the fate of four of Malta’s defenders: Senior Intelligence Officer and former Battle of Britain ace, W/Cdr “Robin” Priestman; WAAF SigInt Officer Candice Weld, sent out from Bletchley Park to “man” the only X-machine outside the UK; F/O “Ned” Nettleton, a Beaufort torpedo bomber pilot engaged in suicidal attacks against enemy shipping; and Chief Officer Stevie Mackay of the British Merchant Navy, fighting to keep Britain’s own lines of supply open.
Praise
What emerges from these pages is more than a story of military operations. It is a portrait of service, endurance, and sacrifice viewed through multiple perspectives, each contributing to a richer understanding of a critical moment in history.
Yarde Book Promotions
Through a collective of narrators working in different areas of the war effort, mainly in and around Malta, "Voices on the Wind" by Helena P. Schrader explores a frequently overlooked aspect of history, delving into the defence of Malta during the Second World War.
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I will be honest, before reading “Voices on the Wind: Part One – Assault”, I didn't even know there had been a siege of Malta during the Second World War. A few chapters into this book, I was already looking things up.
What I liked was that the history never felt overwhelming. I wasn't being bombarded with dates, military terminology, or pages of explanation. Instead, I learned about Malta through the people living and working there. Pilots were flying dangerous missions, intelligence officers were trying to stay one step ahead of the enemy, merchant seamen were risking their lives to keep supplies moving, and civilians were somehow carrying on despite constant bombing. It made the history feel immediate rather than distant.
I also developed a soft spot for Adrian "Warby" Warburton. The man sounds almost too colourful to be real. The fact that the RAF eventually fitted an ashtray in his aircraft because they couldn't persuade him to stop smoking made me laugh. Then you remember that this same man was carrying out some of the most dangerous reconnaissance missions of the war and suddenly the humour sits alongside genuine admiration. Add in his reputation for dreadful landings and he becomes impossible to forget.
What stayed with me after finishing the book was the atmosphere. There is a constant sense that life could change in an instant, yet people still find ways to get on with things. Friendships form, people joke with one another, work needs to be done, and somehow normal life continues in the middle of extraordinary circumstances.
By the end, I felt as though I had discovered an entire chapter of the war that had somehow passed me by. More importantly, I had become genuinely invested in the people experiencing it. There were several moments when I found myself thinking, "How did anyone cope with this day after day?" The answer, of course, is that they simply had no choice.
A really enjoyable read that left me wanting to learn more about both Malta and the real people who inspired parts of the story.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We really appreciate you taking the time to read Voices on the Wind and share your thoughts. It's been a pleasure having you as part of the tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely review! I love hearing I've awoken an interest for the history woven into my novels. The siege of Malta in WWII is truly dramatic and worth a hundred novels.
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