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Jewels in the Light #2
The Light That Remains
“All light dies eventually”… or does it?
Eva von Lindner has escaped the grasp of the Gestapo… only to find herself stuck, useless, in the middle of nowhere as she tries to piece together her missing past. As spring begins, her relationship with Sigmund begins to flourish as he begins to reveal himself as trustworthy, and Eva pins her hopes on his promise to explain her whole missing story as soon as possible. But when tragedy strikes and the family must flee, Eva begins to wonder if she can truly depend on anyone close to her.
As the family is pulled apart by the Nazis, grief, and secrets, Sigmund wrestles more with his weak faith, wondering if he can truly depend on God to take care of what matters the most to him. In the wake of losing Adam to the Snake, he guides the family to safety in Kiel with help from his old friend, con-artist Isak Musselman. But Kiel, though far away from the Snake’s grasp, holds dangers all its own, and Sigmund soon finds that the only way to save his family might be to tear it apart–for good.
Meanwhile, Isak Musselman’s one goal in life is to protect Eva and the family. But when a familiar face unexpectedly returns to Berlin, he realizes they're all in much more danger than he could have possibly imagined.
As the family flees from one danger to the next, they continue to pursue deep questions of faith, trust, and surrender. The sequel to The Jewel of Berlin, The Light that Remains is perfect for fans of classics such as The Hiding Place, Anastasia, The Sound of Music, and Rapunzel.
Eva von Lindner has escaped the grasp of the Gestapo… only to find herself stuck, useless, in the middle of nowhere as she tries to piece together her missing past. As spring begins, her relationship with Sigmund begins to flourish as he begins to reveal himself as trustworthy, and Eva pins her hopes on his promise to explain her whole missing story as soon as possible. But when tragedy strikes and the family must flee, Eva begins to wonder if she can truly depend on anyone close to her.
As the family is pulled apart by the Nazis, grief, and secrets, Sigmund wrestles more with his weak faith, wondering if he can truly depend on God to take care of what matters the most to him. In the wake of losing Adam to the Snake, he guides the family to safety in Kiel with help from his old friend, con-artist Isak Musselman. But Kiel, though far away from the Snake’s grasp, holds dangers all its own, and Sigmund soon finds that the only way to save his family might be to tear it apart–for good.
Meanwhile, Isak Musselman’s one goal in life is to protect Eva and the family. But when a familiar face unexpectedly returns to Berlin, he realizes they're all in much more danger than he could have possibly imagined.
As the family flees from one danger to the next, they continue to pursue deep questions of faith, trust, and surrender. The sequel to The Jewel of Berlin, The Light that Remains is perfect for fans of classics such as The Hiding Place, Anastasia, The Sound of Music, and Rapunzel.
395 pages, Paperback
Published July 23, 2026
About the author
L.E. Levens
2 books36 followersL.E. Levens is a young adult writing fantasy and historical fiction for the YA audience. When not busy with her writing, she works at a library, goes to a wonderful Christian college, and serves at her church on the worship team and in kids ministry. A bold believer, she seeks to build stories that not only dive deep and explore beloved tropes and big questions, but also to write ones that don’t trigger a bad conscience. She also enjoys frappuccinos and discovering new bookstores near either of her hometowns. She currently lives in West Tennessee (yes, that’s a real place) with her family, cat Simon, and some pretty amazing friends where she crafts her fine work, buys too many novels, and attends college.
Website: http://writerlevens.wixsite.com/writing
Instagram: @lelevens_author
You can also find me on Pinterest and Goodreads!
Website: http://writerlevens.wixsite.com/writing
Instagram: @lelevens_author
You can also find me on Pinterest and Goodreads!
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 14, 2026
I finished this book, hit the “review” button, and then had a moment of staring stupidly at the screen, unsure what to say.
Where to start? Well, perhaps I can start by saying that the cover is absolutely beautiful.
I love all of Lauren’s stories, so very dearly, and this one was of course no exception. I think I actually liked this sequel even more than the first book in the series, which is a rarity for me. The way the plot, characters, and beautiful themes tied together was so cohesive and made the whole story so meaningful and special and heartwrending.
Also, shoutout to the John Donne poem and the Sarah Williams quote for making an already special story even more special. :)
I’m really not sure what to say other than that this story has the full Olivia seal of approval and that I hope everyone who loves historical fiction with round, intriguing characters and deep themes that show the true ups and downs of what a life built around God looks like reads this series. I’ve been searching, for so long, for Christian fiction that portrays what following Jesus *should* look like — as the centerpiece of life, and as something that is infinitely rewarding even when it is painful and challenging because not everything will end up going perfectly — and it brings me so much joy to get to read a story like that at last, especially one written by a dear friend. I love the way that the characters’ struggles with God and their faith were written; nothing was preachy, and the natural ebb and flow that occurs in real life was shown so well. I so very much loved that aspect of the story.
I don’t normally enjoy it when authors pull in a real-life historical figure into the story, but I loved Lauren’s portrayal of Dietrich. It just felt right in the very best of ways. She clearly did her research.
And there is, of course, the ever-epic Siggy/Eva ship. (We need an official ship name, please. Evmund? Sigva? Someone please help me out.) I so love how Lauren writes romance — with all of the sweetness and the faith and the strong foundation of friendship and mutual liking rather than just the physical aspect. Finally, a romance that I can read and scream joyfully over without feeling like my brain has been filled with nastiness!
I’d like to finish my review by taking a moment to talk about how much joy the characters in this story bring me.
Siggy — He’s Siggy. Need more be said?
Isak — His POV was the most amazing addition to the series ever. He kind of stole the show in this book in the very best of ways. I love the look we got at his internal conflict; his struggle between the good and the guilt he felt was so well-done, and I loved his realistic redemption and how it was portrayed. Plus, he’s killingly funny, and at one point he calls Siggy “you big Chicken.” Or wait. Maybe that was Pieter.
Pieter — I look forward to seeing more of him in book three because I really do love how he was portrayed! (Plus… I admit it. As an OG reader, my favorite part of the story was the Lidia/Pieter ship. So I’m hoping desperately that that is still a thing. Lauren, if you’re reading this review, I make my plea!)
Lidia — Lidia came into her own in this book. I love her character so much; she’s stubborn and delightful and still sweet. Her groundedness is lovely. Lidia is one of my favorite characters, and I really relate to her.
The Snake — I love his nickname, and I hate everything else about him.
I could go on, but I’ll stop before I end up accidentally spoiling something. 😂 Suffice to say that this is an absolutely wonderful read and that I am so, so grateful to Lauren for writing such a wonderful, thoughtful, encouraging, and fun story.
Where to start? Well, perhaps I can start by saying that the cover is absolutely beautiful.
I love all of Lauren’s stories, so very dearly, and this one was of course no exception. I think I actually liked this sequel even more than the first book in the series, which is a rarity for me. The way the plot, characters, and beautiful themes tied together was so cohesive and made the whole story so meaningful and special and heartwrending.
Also, shoutout to the John Donne poem and the Sarah Williams quote for making an already special story even more special. :)
I’m really not sure what to say other than that this story has the full Olivia seal of approval and that I hope everyone who loves historical fiction with round, intriguing characters and deep themes that show the true ups and downs of what a life built around God looks like reads this series. I’ve been searching, for so long, for Christian fiction that portrays what following Jesus *should* look like — as the centerpiece of life, and as something that is infinitely rewarding even when it is painful and challenging because not everything will end up going perfectly — and it brings me so much joy to get to read a story like that at last, especially one written by a dear friend. I love the way that the characters’ struggles with God and their faith were written; nothing was preachy, and the natural ebb and flow that occurs in real life was shown so well. I so very much loved that aspect of the story.
I don’t normally enjoy it when authors pull in a real-life historical figure into the story, but I loved Lauren’s portrayal of Dietrich. It just felt right in the very best of ways. She clearly did her research.
And there is, of course, the ever-epic Siggy/Eva ship. (We need an official ship name, please. Evmund? Sigva? Someone please help me out.) I so love how Lauren writes romance — with all of the sweetness and the faith and the strong foundation of friendship and mutual liking rather than just the physical aspect. Finally, a romance that I can read and scream joyfully over without feeling like my brain has been filled with nastiness!
I’d like to finish my review by taking a moment to talk about how much joy the characters in this story bring me.
Siggy — He’s Siggy. Need more be said?
Isak — His POV was the most amazing addition to the series ever. He kind of stole the show in this book in the very best of ways. I love the look we got at his internal conflict; his struggle between the good and the guilt he felt was so well-done, and I loved his realistic redemption and how it was portrayed. Plus, he’s killingly funny, and at one point he calls Siggy “you big Chicken.” Or wait. Maybe that was Pieter.
Pieter — I look forward to seeing more of him in book three because I really do love how he was portrayed! (Plus… I admit it. As an OG reader, my favorite part of the story was the Lidia/Pieter ship. So I’m hoping desperately that that is still a thing. Lauren, if you’re reading this review, I make my plea!)
Lidia — Lidia came into her own in this book. I love her character so much; she’s stubborn and delightful and still sweet. Her groundedness is lovely. Lidia is one of my favorite characters, and I really relate to her.
The Snake — I love his nickname, and I hate everything else about him.
I could go on, but I’ll stop before I end up accidentally spoiling something. 😂 Suffice to say that this is an absolutely wonderful read and that I am so, so grateful to Lauren for writing such a wonderful, thoughtful, encouraging, and fun story.
August 4, 2026
I love when historical fiction authors go beyond simply retelling a prominent historical fact to making it impactful in the lives of their readers. The Light That Remains was a book that for me did just that.
Too often, our modern culture celebrates and revolves around the idea of comfort, a perfect breeding ground for spiritual apathy. In The Light That Remains, we are shown a turbulent war-torn setting where the ability to hear preaching from the true Bible isn’t as simple as wandering to a local church on Sunday morning. The pastors who preach contrary to Nazi ideals are persecuted for their faith. And Dr. Brynner, a primary character in The Light That Remains, is one of these pastors.
Being faithful to what he knows is right will lead to the deportation of his family and the children under his charge to the Nazi concentration camps. And Dr. Brynner is faced with a question that many of us have never seriously been asked: are we willing to give up everything so that others may hear and believe the true and untarnished gospel of Christ?
Remaining faithful to Christ’s commands may cause Sigmund to lose everything for the sake of the pure Word of God to be preached.
For now, I highly recommend that you place a copy of The Light That Remains on your bookshelf and into your teen’s hands. It may just be the fiction novel that gets you back into a daily Bible reading habit as you praise the Lord for men and women who were wholly unwilling to compromise on what they knew was right.
Noteworthy Elements:
Violence:
One of the resistance fighters, Isak, makes a reference to the Dachau concentration camp and remarks “they don’t keep kids long”. Later, Isak tells Sigmund, “Don’t even ponder for one second that no one suffered as much as you that day. I got to hide under a bed and listen to the dying screams as the only father I’ve ever known was shot to death beneath me and all our friends left this earth”. When standing in the abandoned house where Isak’s father and other resistance fighters died, Isak remarks, “the only thing that still lives here are their screams”.
Profanity:
There are no explicit swear words used in the story. “Drat the luck” is used one time. The phrases “in the name of everything holy”, “what in heaven’s name”, “thank the good heavens”, and “Lord knows” are each used one time.
Spiritual:
A child tells Sigmund that he looked like a ghost the first Sunday he preached from the Aryan Bible. When attacked by Nazis, Sigmund describes the Nazi uniforms as “skulls and crossbones grinned back at him from the black uniforms as if to say, ‘hell has won’”.
Too often, our modern culture celebrates and revolves around the idea of comfort, a perfect breeding ground for spiritual apathy. In The Light That Remains, we are shown a turbulent war-torn setting where the ability to hear preaching from the true Bible isn’t as simple as wandering to a local church on Sunday morning. The pastors who preach contrary to Nazi ideals are persecuted for their faith. And Dr. Brynner, a primary character in The Light That Remains, is one of these pastors.
Being faithful to what he knows is right will lead to the deportation of his family and the children under his charge to the Nazi concentration camps. And Dr. Brynner is faced with a question that many of us have never seriously been asked: are we willing to give up everything so that others may hear and believe the true and untarnished gospel of Christ?
Remaining faithful to Christ’s commands may cause Sigmund to lose everything for the sake of the pure Word of God to be preached.
For now, I highly recommend that you place a copy of The Light That Remains on your bookshelf and into your teen’s hands. It may just be the fiction novel that gets you back into a daily Bible reading habit as you praise the Lord for men and women who were wholly unwilling to compromise on what they knew was right.
Noteworthy Elements:
Violence:
One of the resistance fighters, Isak, makes a reference to the Dachau concentration camp and remarks “they don’t keep kids long”. Later, Isak tells Sigmund, “Don’t even ponder for one second that no one suffered as much as you that day. I got to hide under a bed and listen to the dying screams as the only father I’ve ever known was shot to death beneath me and all our friends left this earth”. When standing in the abandoned house where Isak’s father and other resistance fighters died, Isak remarks, “the only thing that still lives here are their screams”.
Profanity:
There are no explicit swear words used in the story. “Drat the luck” is used one time. The phrases “in the name of everything holy”, “what in heaven’s name”, “thank the good heavens”, and “Lord knows” are each used one time.
Spiritual:
A child tells Sigmund that he looked like a ghost the first Sunday he preached from the Aryan Bible. When attacked by Nazis, Sigmund describes the Nazi uniforms as “skulls and crossbones grinned back at him from the black uniforms as if to say, ‘hell has won’”.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). Wow... I didn't expect to love Isak so much or so fast! This story picks up where book 1 ends, chronicling more trials and adventures for the little band as the war continues. I love the message—it makes me think so hard—and I love the historical information about the Aryan Bible, and I love the reconciliations that are beginning to take place... more and more information is being revealed, making more things make sense; and character arcs are definitely arcing. The bit about slipping Jews to Denmark reminds me of
On the Edge of the Fjord
and I am so intrigued about what comes next!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
July 23, 2026
This book was such a whirlwind of emotions. (I am still trying to recover.) I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, wondering what would happen next, weeping with the characters and celebrating when they had a win. I really enjoyed this book, and while I don't love it as much as the first book, it is still a really good sequel.
This story is set during Nazi Germany. Eva and Sigmund are part of a resistance, all the while they are being tracked down by a Nazi named Carl. I thought the tension was really well done, and the book even introduced another antagonist which I found to be a really interesting idea. While I do enjoy the addition of the new antagonist, I do think that Carl got lost to the background a little bit after he played such a huge role in book one. Even still, the emotions were really well done and portrayed, making for a really engaging story.
During the story, Eva and Sigmund are forced to go undercover, taking on fake identities in the hopes of remaining undiscovered. This was a fun element to the story that brought up really interesting questions and challenges throughout the story, and I love how she explored the answers to these.
Overall, the plot was very engaging and full of twists and turns that kept me guessing as to what would happen next. It was such a fun read, with action, sweet and wholesome moments, and even an element of mystery. While there were a few areas that felt a little rushed, it was super enjoyable and easy to read.
One of my favorite things about these books is the characters. I will never cease to be amazed at how well L.E. Levens writes and portrays each of the characters. Every one comes alive on the page, each one with their own stories to tell who I want to follow to the end. They each have resonated with me in different ways, and I love each one so much. I especially love Sigmund's growth in this book and the journey that he has gone on from book one into this one.
With the introduction of the new pov character, Isak, I did find him to be a really deep and entertaining character. He brings something interesting to the story that Eva and Sigmund don't, so I enjoyed seeing more of him. Having him as a pov character I'm not entirely sure was needed, but I still enjoyed seeing the story from his view and learning more about different aspects of the story through him.
And one thing about the antagonist, I did find them to feel a little bit cliche. But nothing that I couldn't get past.
Overall, I love all of the characters and think they are all very well done. I did find that in this book a few of them got lost in the background and it was more focused on Eva, Sigmund, and Isak--which is fine, but I do wish we got to see more of the other side characters throughout the story.
The reason I am only giving this book four stars is because I found parts of the story to be unnecessary or rushed. I also felt that a few pieces of the story didn't quite click together for me, revolving mostly around a few of the characters and some of the choices that they made that didn't seem to quite align with their motivations or who they are as characters. But, I still love this book a lot, and will definitely be reading it again!
Something I absolutely love about these books is how L.E. Levens writes the themes. It makes for such a beautiful story that shines light in darkness, brings hope to the grief. There is so much depth to the themes she writes about, and it has always been such an encouragement for me as I walk through different seasons of my life. These books have been so timely for me, addressing questions I often find myself asking, and then bringing such sweet and beautiful reminders of the truth. I love how she has each of her characters experience doubt in different ways, experience fear and questioning--and how each one is pointed back to the truth in a way that feels satisfying for each of the characters. This is by far my favorite part of this book and what brings me back to it over and over again.
I had so much fun reading this book, was deeply encouraged by it, and am left wanting and excited for more. (The ending is absolutely killing me.) I'm excited to see where she takes the rest of this series, and so excited for what God has in store for her as an author. Will be reading it again, and I will one hundred percent be recommending it to all of my friends!
CONTENT WARNINGS: A bit of violence, romantic tension, a little bit of romantic touch, mentions of murder, and some very mild descriptions of injuries. Nothing is over the top though and I'd say it's a really clean book and safe for sensitive readers.
This story is set during Nazi Germany. Eva and Sigmund are part of a resistance, all the while they are being tracked down by a Nazi named Carl. I thought the tension was really well done, and the book even introduced another antagonist which I found to be a really interesting idea. While I do enjoy the addition of the new antagonist, I do think that Carl got lost to the background a little bit after he played such a huge role in book one. Even still, the emotions were really well done and portrayed, making for a really engaging story.
During the story, Eva and Sigmund are forced to go undercover, taking on fake identities in the hopes of remaining undiscovered. This was a fun element to the story that brought up really interesting questions and challenges throughout the story, and I love how she explored the answers to these.
Overall, the plot was very engaging and full of twists and turns that kept me guessing as to what would happen next. It was such a fun read, with action, sweet and wholesome moments, and even an element of mystery. While there were a few areas that felt a little rushed, it was super enjoyable and easy to read.
One of my favorite things about these books is the characters. I will never cease to be amazed at how well L.E. Levens writes and portrays each of the characters. Every one comes alive on the page, each one with their own stories to tell who I want to follow to the end. They each have resonated with me in different ways, and I love each one so much. I especially love Sigmund's growth in this book and the journey that he has gone on from book one into this one.
With the introduction of the new pov character, Isak, I did find him to be a really deep and entertaining character. He brings something interesting to the story that Eva and Sigmund don't, so I enjoyed seeing more of him. Having him as a pov character I'm not entirely sure was needed, but I still enjoyed seeing the story from his view and learning more about different aspects of the story through him.
And one thing about the antagonist, I did find them to feel a little bit cliche. But nothing that I couldn't get past.
Overall, I love all of the characters and think they are all very well done. I did find that in this book a few of them got lost in the background and it was more focused on Eva, Sigmund, and Isak--which is fine, but I do wish we got to see more of the other side characters throughout the story.
The reason I am only giving this book four stars is because I found parts of the story to be unnecessary or rushed. I also felt that a few pieces of the story didn't quite click together for me, revolving mostly around a few of the characters and some of the choices that they made that didn't seem to quite align with their motivations or who they are as characters. But, I still love this book a lot, and will definitely be reading it again!
Something I absolutely love about these books is how L.E. Levens writes the themes. It makes for such a beautiful story that shines light in darkness, brings hope to the grief. There is so much depth to the themes she writes about, and it has always been such an encouragement for me as I walk through different seasons of my life. These books have been so timely for me, addressing questions I often find myself asking, and then bringing such sweet and beautiful reminders of the truth. I love how she has each of her characters experience doubt in different ways, experience fear and questioning--and how each one is pointed back to the truth in a way that feels satisfying for each of the characters. This is by far my favorite part of this book and what brings me back to it over and over again.
I had so much fun reading this book, was deeply encouraged by it, and am left wanting and excited for more. (The ending is absolutely killing me.) I'm excited to see where she takes the rest of this series, and so excited for what God has in store for her as an author. Will be reading it again, and I will one hundred percent be recommending it to all of my friends!
CONTENT WARNINGS: A bit of violence, romantic tension, a little bit of romantic touch, mentions of murder, and some very mild descriptions of injuries. Nothing is over the top though and I'd say it's a really clean book and safe for sensitive readers.
July 23, 2026
ARC Review
(Jewels in the Light: book 2)
What a wild ride! This WWII-era sequel picks up shortly after the events of book 1 (The Jewel of Berlin) and throws characters back into action, as they’re forced to flee from both political and personal dangers around every turn.
The focus on WWII-era Germany is both heavy and heartbreaking, yet there are great themes of finding hope despite dark times. And the Christian faith content really highlights this too! Every character has moments of doubts and mistakes that make them feel raw and real – and I loved how that shows the need for deeper courage from only One who can’t be shaken. Such a beautiful message!
Alongside the history, I loved the clean romance and was really intrigued by Eva’s continuing journey as she slowly overcomes amnesia. Her family drama is full of twists that had me on the edge of my seat! And Isak? It was great seeing him take a bigger role in this story with his own POV chapters!
Now, that ending… I wasn’t expecting cliffhangers, so I’m extra excited to see what happens next book 3!
*Content to note*
.....May contain minor spoilers.....
Fights; threats from villains (verbal and physical). Brief housefire scene. Brief wound treatment scenes (mildly detailed). Grief over passed/lost loved ones; memories of funeral. Characters taken/imprisoned; discussions of WWII-related violence (no graphic details).
**Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary e-ARC. All thoughts expressed are my own.**
(Jewels in the Light: book 2)
What a wild ride! This WWII-era sequel picks up shortly after the events of book 1 (The Jewel of Berlin) and throws characters back into action, as they’re forced to flee from both political and personal dangers around every turn.
The focus on WWII-era Germany is both heavy and heartbreaking, yet there are great themes of finding hope despite dark times. And the Christian faith content really highlights this too! Every character has moments of doubts and mistakes that make them feel raw and real – and I loved how that shows the need for deeper courage from only One who can’t be shaken. Such a beautiful message!
Alongside the history, I loved the clean romance and was really intrigued by Eva’s continuing journey as she slowly overcomes amnesia. Her family drama is full of twists that had me on the edge of my seat! And Isak? It was great seeing him take a bigger role in this story with his own POV chapters!
Now, that ending… I wasn’t expecting cliffhangers, so I’m extra excited to see what happens next book 3!
*Content to note*
.....May contain minor spoilers.....
Fights; threats from villains (verbal and physical). Brief housefire scene. Brief wound treatment scenes (mildly detailed). Grief over passed/lost loved ones; memories of funeral. Characters taken/imprisoned; discussions of WWII-related violence (no graphic details).
**Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary e-ARC. All thoughts expressed are my own.**
Review of advance copy received from Author
Y’all, I have a new favorite book. I have read so many World War II historical fiction books, but this one is definitely one of my top favorites!
Set in Nazi Germany, this is the sequel to The Jewel of Berlin, which I also greatly enjoyed. This one will make more sense if you read The Jewel of Berlin first, but I liked The Light that Remains even better! The characters you get to know and love in the first book–Eva, Sigmund, Isak, Adam, Nelly, Lidia, and others–return, and some of them become even more likable! My favorite hero from history, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, also plays a role in the story!
The book had a great mix of action, mystery, suspense, character development, and history. I loved the elements of resistance–smuggling Jews, planting bombs, daring escapes. I also thought the element of a young woman who had a head injury and is trying to remember her past and figure out what happened made for a very interesting plot!
And what I loved most was the themes and messages, specifically the theme of light. What a beautiful and perfectly fitting title: The Light that Remains. Light that stays. That doesn’t flee, that isn’t snuffed out, that isn’t overcome. Light that remains and shines in the darkness. The themes of light being greater than darkness and being a light in the midst of this world’s brokenness are some of my very favorite themes in books and come into this one again and again. There are so many beautiful quotes and rich symbolism!
There’s some light romance (including one quick kiss), and as you all probably know, I am not a romance reader, but I actually really liked it in this book. It never gets too mushy and reminds me a lot of how I did Gerrit and Marit’s relationship in my book Trains and Tulips. It is World War II, so there are mentions of concentration camps, persecution of the Jews, etc., and someone gets shot, but there is really very little violence or any other content warnings to be aware of.
Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story of light and hope, rich in historical detail and full of action and suspense.
Set in Nazi Germany, this is the sequel to The Jewel of Berlin, which I also greatly enjoyed. This one will make more sense if you read The Jewel of Berlin first, but I liked The Light that Remains even better! The characters you get to know and love in the first book–Eva, Sigmund, Isak, Adam, Nelly, Lidia, and others–return, and some of them become even more likable! My favorite hero from history, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, also plays a role in the story!
The book had a great mix of action, mystery, suspense, character development, and history. I loved the elements of resistance–smuggling Jews, planting bombs, daring escapes. I also thought the element of a young woman who had a head injury and is trying to remember her past and figure out what happened made for a very interesting plot!
And what I loved most was the themes and messages, specifically the theme of light. What a beautiful and perfectly fitting title: The Light that Remains. Light that stays. That doesn’t flee, that isn’t snuffed out, that isn’t overcome. Light that remains and shines in the darkness. The themes of light being greater than darkness and being a light in the midst of this world’s brokenness are some of my very favorite themes in books and come into this one again and again. There are so many beautiful quotes and rich symbolism!
There’s some light romance (including one quick kiss), and as you all probably know, I am not a romance reader, but I actually really liked it in this book. It never gets too mushy and reminds me a lot of how I did Gerrit and Marit’s relationship in my book Trains and Tulips. It is World War II, so there are mentions of concentration camps, persecution of the Jews, etc., and someone gets shot, but there is really very little violence or any other content warnings to be aware of.
Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story of light and hope, rich in historical detail and full of action and suspense.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Edit 7/23/2026
Happy release day to this amazing book! So exciting to see where Levens takes this story in the future!
wdym that's the ending???
(I tried to keep this mostly spoiler free, but proceed at your own risk)
The Light That Remains is a beautiful story, and I don't think my words can adequately express how much I love this book. But since none of you are mind readers, I guess I'll have to try 😂
I will forever love Siggy, but this book made him so much more...personal? endearing? lovable? I loved getting to see his growth, how his faith grows even though he's still so reluctant.
Adding Isak's POV...argh it made me love him even more 🥹
I also love the themes in this book about light versus darkness, and I love how the cover hints at that (can I just take a minute to scream about HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS COVER?!?!?!)
Anyway...
I also loved having Dietrich in this book, and I think Levens did a wonderful job of portraying a historical figure realistically and with care. (The comment Isak made about reading his books...priceless 😂)
I am eagerly awaiting book 3 because I will not be okay until I find out what happens to Siggy.
(arc received from the author, all thoughts are my own)
Happy release day to this amazing book! So exciting to see where Levens takes this story in the future!
wdym that's the ending???
(I tried to keep this mostly spoiler free, but proceed at your own risk)
The Light That Remains is a beautiful story, and I don't think my words can adequately express how much I love this book. But since none of you are mind readers, I guess I'll have to try 😂
I will forever love Siggy, but this book made him so much more...personal? endearing? lovable? I loved getting to see his growth, how his faith grows even though he's still so reluctant.
Adding Isak's POV...argh it made me love him even more 🥹
I also love the themes in this book about light versus darkness, and I love how the cover hints at that (can I just take a minute to scream about HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS COVER?!?!?!)
Anyway...
I also loved having Dietrich in this book, and I think Levens did a wonderful job of portraying a historical figure realistically and with care. (The comment Isak made about reading his books...priceless 😂)
I am eagerly awaiting book 3 because I will not be okay until I find out what happens to Siggy.
(arc received from the author, all thoughts are my own)
Review of advance copy received from Author
*I received a free ARC copy from the author, but all the thoughts and opinions stated here are my own!*
OH MY GOODNESS LAUREN I NEED THE THIRD BOOK RIGHT THIS SECOND!!!!!
for some reason i was under the mistaken belief that this was a duology 😂 so that ending caught me SO off guard
also the absolute plot twist from the start 👀 👀 i can't explain without giving spoilers but very well done Lauren 🫡 I would never have suspected the gigantic plot twist
but if you're looking for a great WW2 era historical fiction read, with Christian themes and a cute romance (and no cursing) pick up this series!! I had the privilege of reading/editing the first draft of the first book and the entire series has come so far 🥹 I can't wait for the final book to come out!!!!!!
also I did NOT expect to see my name in the acknowledgments 😭 that was so kind
OH MY GOODNESS LAUREN I NEED THE THIRD BOOK RIGHT THIS SECOND!!!!!
for some reason i was under the mistaken belief that this was a duology 😂 so that ending caught me SO off guard
also the absolute plot twist from the start 👀 👀 i can't explain without giving spoilers but very well done Lauren 🫡 I would never have suspected the gigantic plot twist
but if you're looking for a great WW2 era historical fiction read, with Christian themes and a cute romance (and no cursing) pick up this series!! I had the privilege of reading/editing the first draft of the first book and the entire series has come so far 🥹 I can't wait for the final book to come out!!!!!!
also I did NOT expect to see my name in the acknowledgments 😭 that was so kind
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed reading The Light That Remains! It progresses the story from book one and leaves the readers on the edge of their seat waiting for book three! It is clean with little violence, no spice, and no gore. I have younger siblings and can confidently recommend this book for them! If you pick up this book, you should expect an engaging story with meaningful themes and realistic, thought-provoking characters!
I appreciate how story is woven with hope and Christian themes, but that the characters still wrestle with the hardship of life during WWII. I also loved the development of the characters’s arcs, the addition of another point of view, and some great twists!! I can’t wait for book three!!
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I appreciate how story is woven with hope and Christian themes, but that the characters still wrestle with the hardship of life during WWII. I also loved the development of the characters’s arcs, the addition of another point of view, and some great twists!! I can’t wait for book three!!
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full review to come!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
L.E. Levens has done it again. The Light That Remains is entertaining, thought provoking and the end will leave you hanging. It is definitely a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
How does one even write a review for a book this wondrous?
*sigh*
This series is now probably my #1 favourite historical fiction series about WW2. And maybeee even my favourite historical fiction series period. They are THAT good.
The Christian elements were very, very well written— Lauren certanly has a gift.
You hardly have to TRY to picture the setting in your mind because it just HAPPENS. Don’t ask me to explain it— I can’t.
For some strange reason I was under the impression that this series was a duology. *weepeth* So needless to say, I was a mite concerned that my book had some missing pages. THAT ENDING!
I am on the edge of my cushioned couch for the next book.
(As far as content goes . . . CLEAN! I recommend looking at the content guide I made for book #1, because book #2 is pretty much the same. There are two (or one?) VERY nondescript kisses betwixt an engaged couple. I would willingly hand this book to a 13 year old < 3 )
NOTE: I received a free e-book from the author. But I was in no way, shape, or form, required to leave a positive review. All scatterbrained thoughts and opinions are my own.
*sigh*
This series is now probably my #1 favourite historical fiction series about WW2. And maybeee even my favourite historical fiction series period. They are THAT good.
The Christian elements were very, very well written— Lauren certanly has a gift.
You hardly have to TRY to picture the setting in your mind because it just HAPPENS. Don’t ask me to explain it— I can’t.
For some strange reason I was under the impression that this series was a duology. *weepeth* So needless to say, I was a mite concerned that my book had some missing pages. THAT ENDING!
I am on the edge of my cushioned couch for the next book.
(As far as content goes . . . CLEAN! I recommend looking at the content guide I made for book #1, because book #2 is pretty much the same. There are two (or one?) VERY nondescript kisses betwixt an engaged couple. I would willingly hand this book to a 13 year old < 3 )
NOTE: I received a free e-book from the author. But I was in no way, shape, or form, required to leave a positive review. All scatterbrained thoughts and opinions are my own.
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