Review: Angels of the Pacific

Title: Angels of the Pacific

Author: Elise Hooper

Publisher: 2nd March 2022 by HarperCollins Australia

Pages: 356 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, World War II

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Their survival would depend on sisterhood and service.

Inspired by the extraordinary true stories of World War II's American Army nurses famously known as the Angels of Bataan and the unsung contributions of Filipinas of the resistance, this novel transports us to a remarkable era of hope, bravery, perseverance, and ultimately--victory.

The Philippines, 1941. Tess Abbott, an American Army nurse, has fled the hardships of the Great Depression at home for the glamour and adventure of Manila, one of the most desirable postings in the world, but everything changes when the Japanese Imperial Army invades with lightning speed and devastating results. Tess and her band of nurses serve on the front lines until captured as prisoners of war and held behind the high stone walls of Manila's Santo Tomas Internment Camp for four long years.

As the Japanese occupation of her beloved homeland commences, Flor Dalisay, a Filipina university student, will be drawn into the underground network of resistance and discover reserves of courage, resilience, and leadership she never knew she possessed.

The war and its aftermath will lead Tess and Flor to find each other to uncover secrets and reveal relationships they would never have predicted, as they work together to defeat the Japanese.

My Thoughts

Angels of the Pacific is a well researched story about WWII American army nurses serving in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. Elise offers new insights into this genre with little-known details of the challenges faced by an incredibly brave and resilient group of women.

‘And I was right. I was teetering on the precipice of a whole new adventure. The world was about to change for me - for everyone - but not in the way I anticipated. Not one bit.’

I love quality tales from this era and it's not often that you come across new perspectives to bring fresh insight into a WWII saga. Although fiction, it is based on actual events. Elise provides unique perspectives into the role of these nurses involved in the most horrific and extenuating circumstances. I also appreciated the insight into the local Filipinos and the lengths they went to to protect their land and people. 

‘It was possible to both mourn the sorrow and pain of the past, but also view it as a time of growth and discovery. I realized that grief and gratitude can exist side by side.’

Whilst the research on the events and details were groundbreaking in many respects, I found the character development slightly lacking. I did not feel wholly invested in the characters' emotions at times. No doubt their commitment to assist and gather intel was inspiring but it felt like a documentary narration at various stages of the tale.

‘The ways this war was transforming our interactions - the casual goodbyes … the intensity of our friendships and romances - it was almost inconceivable and yet now it was all we knew …. It was the way we coped with the overwhelming uncertainty that would have paralyzed us if we gave ourselves time to contemplate it.’

Angels of the Pacific provides a unique aspect into a time and place not often explored in the WWII genre. So if you are looking for a fresh insight into quality historical fiction, look no further than this tale of a group of strong women who demonstrated incredible resilience and bravery in the face of such danger. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.