Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - Beneath a Scarlet Sky

Based on a true story, this novel follows the experiences of Pino Lella during WWII as he helped refugees flee across the Alps from Italy to Switzerland and then became a spy for the resistance in the Nazi high command by driving for General Hans Leyers. The book was definitely very engaging and interesting. I didn't know much about the war in Italy. That being said, there have been some rumblings on the internet about how much truth there is in this 'true story.' So perhaps it's more constructive to think about this book like a movie based on a true story--as we know movies always "Hollywoodize" the true story. Several different people on the internet have made different claims about the veracity of several pieces of the narrative. So I guess I would say to read the book, enjoy it, learn more about the broad strokes of WWII in Italy, but treat the book more as a historical fiction.

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review

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adventurous emotional informative slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Author: Mark T. Sullivan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: May 1, 2017

T H R E E • W O R D S

Rich • Detailed • Triumphant

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.

In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.

Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I was originally drawn to Beneath a Scarlet Sky thanks to the stunning cover, and I was hooked by the synopsis. I continued to be hesitant because of the page count, however, when a fellow lover of historical fiction recommended it to me, I knew I had to give it a go.

It was certainly refreshing to get a different WWII angle, where this book focuses on what was happening in Italy and the war's impact there, which is a perspective I haven't come across too often. And even though I'd consider this to be a 'big' book, the writing is accessible and flows nicely, making it an easy read despite some of the horrifying depictions of war.

I typically love historical fiction for the rich historical detail and learning about parts of history I may not know about, but with that being said, this novel gets bogged down at times with too much geographical and historical detail. Some of which could have easily been edited out.

Underlying the horrors of the war is Anna and Pino's love story. And of course, I couldn't help put root for them. While I figured put Anna's significance to the story quite early on given the foreshadowing, I continued to enjoy their developing love story.

Overall, I enjoyed this historical fiction novel for a new perspective, a realistic portrayal of wartime love, and the effortless writing. It is quite long, but in my opinion it's worth the investment of time because it is so well researched and informative despite there being some unnecessary details. For fans of books that combine history, suspense and love.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• WWII historical fiction enthusiasts
• fans of richly detailed historical fiction

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"The distance doesn't matter. Just think about your next step."

"'You never want to be the absolute leader in the game of life, the man our front, the one everyone sees and looks to,' Leyers said. 'That's where my poor Willy made his mistake. He got out front, right there in the light. You see, Vorarbeiter, in the game of life, it is always preferable to be a man of the shadows, and even the darkness, if necessary. In this way, you run things, but you are never, ever seen. You are like a... phantom of the opera.'"

"'You know, my young friend, I will be ninety years old next year, and life is still a constant surprise to me. We never know what will happen next, what we will see, and what important person will come into our life, or what important person we will lose. Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is nearly always a drama, if not a tragedy. But after everything, and even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed.'"

Content Warnings

baearles's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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