Angel Wing

by Linda Hartley

It's 1955. Ellen is driving from Newcastle to Belfast to search for Liza, the mother she has never known, when she has an accident. Her life hangs in the balance as flashbacks of her loveless childhood and memories of her teenage years during WW2 unfold.

Long Description
It's 1955. Ellen is driving from Newcastle to Belfast to search for Liza, the mother she has never known, when she has an accident. Her life hangs in the balance as flashbacks of her loveless childhood and memories of her teenage years during WW2 unfold.

Evacuated to a Northumbrian village, twelve-year-old Ellen is alone and vulnerable, but soon befriends Ash, a village girl who has been abused by her father. Then Daniel, a young Jewish boy who escaped Berlin after his parents were arrested and killed by the Nazis, comes to stay.

When they find a young German pilot, whose plane has crashed in nearby woods, he becomes entangled in their emotional lives, for each of them representing an object through which to fulfil their own needs. All four are young, without parents or home or guidance during the war, and are swept up in a storm of love, power, revenge, betrayal and loss.

angel wing is the prequel to The Broken Line. Together they tell the story of three generations of women in one family, as themes of love, loss, guilt and betrayal unfold.

This is a beautifully written evacuee story with a difference, you won't be disappointed.

276 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2025

Reviews

[Raymond Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up not knowing much about it and was completely drawn into Ellen's story. The way it jumps between 1955 and her wartime childhood works really well, you feel like you're experiencing her memories as she fights for her life after the accident.The friendship between Ellen, Ash, and Daniel during the war is the heart of this book. Three kids basically raising themselves while dealing with trauma, abuse, and loss. When they find the crashed German pilot, things get complicated in ways that feel very real for confused teenagers trying to survive.Hartley doesn't romanticize the war years at all. Ellen's evacuation experience is lonely and difficult, and the way all these damaged kids try to connect with each other is both touching and painful to read.The writing is lovely, atmospheric without being too flowery. I'm definitely going to read The Broken Line now to see what happens to Ellen as an adult.Not a light read, but worth it if you like character-driven historical fiction.

[Naomie Barnabas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant and beautifully layered story of resilience, friendship, and the search for identity, this novel seamlessly weaves past and present into an unforgettable emotional journey.

[Rachel Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angel Wing is a prequel to the Broken Line, yet it stands confidently on its own. It tells the story of three damaged children, Ash, Daniel, and Ellen, whose lives intertwine amid the traumatic backdrop of war. Told through Ellen’s eyes , the novel opens and closes after a life- threatening car accident, as she journeys to Belfast in search of her biological mother.

The story moves between 1955 and Ellen’s wartime childhood evacuation, a turning point that takes her from her oppressive adoptive parents to a new, nurturing home. Through these shifts in time, the author explores themes of loss, resilience, and the fragile bonds formed through shared pain.

The prose is beautifully crafted, lyrical, rich in imagery, and deeply atmospheric. It captures both the innocence and confusion of childhood while contrasting the emotional scars carried by each of the three children. The sense of place and era is particularly strong, immersing the reader in a world shadowed by conflict yet illuminated by moments of kindness and hope.

While I appreciated the elegance of the writing and the emotional depth of the story, I found the pace a little slow for my taste. It’s a gentle, reflective read rather than a gripping one, and it didn’t quite hold my attention throughout. Nevertheless, Angel Wing remains a moving, thoughtfully written exploration of childhood trauma and the enduring need for love and belonging.

Many thanks to the author and Love Reading for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Cheryl Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel grabbed me from the very first shattering image and never let go. The prose is at once visceral and exquisitely tender: you feel the metal of the car, the sting of glass, the slow, electric ache of discovery when a long-lost letter finally arrives. Ellen’s life unfurls with cinematic clarity; the joy of running and swinging, the frozen silence of childhood, the agonizing collapse of everything she thought she knew and the author renders each beat with heartbreaking precision.

What stayed with me longest was the way memory, movement, and loss are braided together: scenes of flight and fall become metaphors for identity and longing, and that final, small hope: a mother’s inked words calling back across years lands like a miracle. This is a novel about silence and speech, shame and revelation, and it moves between them with enormous compassion and craft. Read it for the beauty of the language; stay for the truth of the story. A powerful, luminous read I’ll be recommending to everyone.

[Kathy Karus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unforgettable and deeply moving read. From the very first page, I felt like I was stepping into Ellen’s world; her joy, her silence, her struggles, and her strength. The writing is so vivid and poetic that I could see every moment unfold as if I were living it myself.

What makes this book so powerful is not just the story, but the way it makes you feel. It’s raw, honest, and beautifully human. At times I was heartbroken, at times uplifted, and in the end I closed the book with tears in my eyes and a sense of hope in my heart.

If you’re looking for a story that will stay with you long after the last page, this is the one. Truly an amazing read that I will recommend to anyone who loves emotional, beautifully written fiction.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked by Lovereading to review this Friends- Ellen, Ash and Daniel and the timeline of Ellen between 1955 and her childhood during the second world war.
The children essentially brought themselves up, and at the same time experiencing, trauma, loss and abuse. These are damaged children and the author paints a bleak but realistic view on this. The war is painted as should be war is never good, and finding a german pilot who has crashed is difficult for anyone to digest let alone young people. Ellen's evacuation is no Narnia story and is difficult and rather lonely.

Beautifully written and well researched.

[Cllington Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book perfectly captures the personal upheaval set against the backdrop of world-changing events. From the tense evacuation of children during WWII to the personal reckonings in the post-war years, Ellen's journey is a microcosm of a generation's struggle. Hartley doesn't just use history as a setting; she weaves it into the very fabric of her characters' lives, making their personal betrayals and searches for identity feel both intimate and epic in scale.

[Brooke Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angel Wing is a stunning exploration of the stories we are told and the stories we tell ourselves. The protagonist's 'elective mutism' as a child is a powerful metaphor for the voicelessness imposed by family lies. Hartley, drawing on her background in somatic psychology, masterfully depicts how trauma is held in the body and how the journey to healing is as much about physical reclamation as it is about uncovering the truth. A profoundly insightful read.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Hartley doesn't just write about the evacuation; she transports you there. From the grim smell of the meat processing shed to the golden freedom of the Northumbrian fields, every sensory detail is perfectly rendered. This is historical fiction at its most immersive and authentic.

[Sellger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen's narrative voice is one of the most compelling I've ever encountered. Her transition from a mute, guarded child to a spirited, observant young girl finding her place in the world is portrayed with breathtaking subtlety and heart.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The relationship between Ellen and Mrs. Grainger is pure literary magic. Hartley captures the profound healing power of found family with such tenderness and warmth that it will restore your faith in human kindness.

[Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen is a heroine for the ages. Her fierce spirit, from her explosive fight with the village boy to her silent rebellion against a cold home, makes her journey of self-discovery utterly gripping and inspiring.

[Omogiate Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The seamless weaving of three timelines (Ellen's childhood, her evacuation, and her present-day quest) is a structural marvel. Hartley builds tension and emotional resonance by showing how the past irrevocably shapes the present.

[Patricia J · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting book! Recommend for everyone

[Joann V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Hartley is a wordsmith of the highest order. Angel Wing is not just a story you read; it's a world you inhabit. The prose is breathtakingly visceral—you feel the car judder, the fog's chill, and the protagonist's bone-deep weariness. The way Hartley intertwines the three timelines (1927, 1939, and 1945) is a masterclass in structure, creating a rich tapestry of cause and effect that is as intellectually satisfying as it is emotionally resonant.