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Tears of Amber Audiobook
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From the bestselling author of The Murmur of Bees comes a transportive novel of two families uprooted by war and united by the bonds of love and courage.
With war looming dangerously close, Ilse’s school days soon turn to lessons of survival. In the harshness of winter, her family must join the largest exodus in human history to survive. As battle lines are drawn and East Prussia’s borders vanish beneath them, they leave their farm and all they know behind for an uncertain future.
But Ilse also has Janusz, her family’s young Polish laborer, by her side. As they flee from the Soviet army, his enchanting folktales keep her mind off the cold, the hunger, and the horrors unfolding around them. He tells her of a besieged kingdom in the Baltic Sea from which spill the amber tears of a heartbroken queen.
Neither of them realizes his stories will prove crucial and prophetic.
Not far away, trying and failing to flee from a vengeful army, Arno and his mother hide in the ruins of a Königsberg mansion, hoping that once the war ends they can reunite their dispersed family. But their stay in the walled city proves untenable when they find themselves dodging bombs and scavenging in the rubble. Soon they’ll become pawns caught between two powerful enemies, on a journey with an unknown destination.
Hope carries these children caught in the crosshairs of war on an extraordinary pilgrimage in which the gift of an amber teardrop is at once a valuable form of currency and a symbol of resilience, one that draws them together against insurmountable odds.
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"Translated from Spanish, this breathtaking novel follows the stories of three children caught in the midst of war. In the middle of Prussia’s harsh winter, Ilse and her family must take part in the world’s largest exodus in history if they want to survive. While fleeing the Soviet army, she has only the folklore stories of Janusz, her Polish friend, to keep her spirits up. Not far away, Arno and his mother hide in an abandoned mansion, hoping to stay out of the clutches of war. But all of their lives will collide in this story of war, hope, and resilience."
— BuzzFeed
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A New York Times Globetrotting Pick!
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Readers will quickly bond with the families and secondary characters, as Segovia, author of the acclaimed The Murmur of Bees (2019), makes each individual memorable. The variety of background stories and voices allows for greater understanding of shared experiences and creates deeper emotional engagement…Segovia’s novel provides the domestic perspective of those caught in conflicts they have no power to change. Book groups and individual readers will find plenty to appreciate and discuss.
— Booklist (starred review) -
Segovia’s vivid descriptions of how refugees do whatever necessary to survive compels readers to be sympathetic with human struggles, rather than simply taking sides in a conflict. This story demonstrates the staggering toll war takes, especially on women, left to carry on…
— Authorlink -
A skillfully rendered tale, at once heartbreaking and heartwarming.
— The Washington Post -
Inspired by real events and published in English for the first time, Tears of Amber is an extraordinary and inspirational story.
— Ms. Magazine -
The novel provides thought-provoking information on the demise of the Prussian state…Interestingly, the famous real-life Aleksander Solzhenitsyn, who was imprisoned for criticizing the violence against Prussian civilians, makes an appearance in the novel. The story continues after the ending of WWII for, as Segovia says, history never ends.
— Historical Novel Society -
[An] achingly beautiful page-turner.
— Women’s Writers, Women’s Books -
Segovia’s newest novel, one sure to warm your heart, is Tears of Amber (Peregrinos is the Spanish version), focuses on two families from different regions of Prussia who flee their villages in an exodus provided by the horrors of World War II. It is hope that carries Ilse Hahlbrock and Arno Schipper, children caught in the crosshairs of war, on an extraordinary pilgrimage in which the gift of an amber teardrop is at once a valuable form of currency and a symbol of resilience. It draws them together against insurmountable odds.
— Brooklyn Digest -
This is the type of book that you need to take your time with. It is a gripping read that grabs hold of your heart and doesn’t let up. The characters come alive on the pages and you feel as if you are living the struggles, and some moments of joy, that they are going through right along with them. It truly is an atmospheric, all-encompassing read that it so hard to describe.
— Always With a Book
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About the Narrators
Angela Dawe is an actor, writer, and audiobook narrator based in the Midwest. Her work as an actor has included roles in theater, film, and television, as well as improv and sketch comedy with such theaters as Second City and the Annoyance. In the literary world, Angela has received multiple awards and nominations for her work as an audiobook narrator, and is a published fiction author herself. She holds a BA in philosophy, so if the writing/performing work dries up, she has something to fall back on.
Will Damron has won several Earphones Awards and been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has had acting roles off-Broadway and on stage and screen throughout the country.