Ashes and Sakura: an Australian story of the making of a Pacific nation

Ashes and Sakura transports readers to post-war Japan and Australia, following the compelling stories of the characters first introduced in the first novel, An Attractive Naivety. Through their journeys, the reader discovers the ruins of Japan and the moral complexity of peace times. David Gormley-O’Brien once again gives us another brilliant history lesson, that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and vividly recommend!

I really liked this way of learning about Australia's history. There is such a beauty to the characters in the book, their passions, love and tenderness. The lightness on character depth allowed me to remember that this story is actually about real events in history and real experiences and dilemmas. Meanwhile those reflections on the last page stay with me still.

I enjoyed Ashes and Sakura even more than David’s previous book An Attractive Naivety. It is a rich blending of historical detail with an engaging story following the experiences of members of the Darcy and Davis families during the Second World War. I found it hard to put down. Can’t wait for the next book of the series to be available.