Before the Fortress Falls

By: A. L. Sowards

Narrated by: Jason Tatom

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

When rumors reach Vienna that an attack by the Ottoman army is imminent, Wilhelm von Schor, one of the emperor’s courtiers, prepares to evacuate his family—including his sister, Katja. But Katja’s reluctance to leave the city and the people she loves so well grows the farther the family carriage gets from her childhood home. When she learns that another brother, Xavier, is returning to Vienna with his musketeers, she decides to remain behind and face the shadow of war.

Katja soon reunites with Xavier and also with Toby, a dear friend from childhood. As Katja and Toby renew their friendship, an element of attraction builds on the comradery of their youth, and they quickly realize they have found something worth fighting for: love. But all too soon, the Ottomans encircle the city, blanketing its inhabitants in fear. Katja, Toby, and Xavier must each fulfill their new roles if they are to survive. In the overcrowded hospitals, below ground in the countermines, and on the ramparts defending the city walls, the three must fight for love, family, faith, and the survival of their city and everyone inside.

©2022 Covenant Communications, Inc. (P)2022 Covenant Communications, Inc.

Fantastic historical fiction

Wow! I don't know why I'm always amazed each time I read a historical book written by this author but I am. A.L. Sowards always does a fantastic amount of research so she can be as historically accurate as possible, and it shows as this story came to life while I listened about the Ottoman Empire attacking Vienna.

I love knowing what each character is thinking so I really liked getting the different points of view from multiple characters. There are the three siblings Wilhelm, Katja and Xavier (Katja's twin). Then Toby, a childhood friend of Katja and Xavier, shares his point of view. Toby is a joiner by trade, but becomes a counter miner during the war. The last point of view we get is Ahmed, a Turkish soldier who's fighting with the Ottoman army. I found his POV to be very interesting as he thinks he's on the right side of the war and God will help them defeat the Christians.

The romance between Katja and Toby is NOT the main storyline of the book but it's a sweet childhood friends to more story. I can't imagine meeting up with a childhood friend I hadn't seen in several years only to fall in love in the middle of a war. Would I have the courage to marry him with such a strong possibility to lose him at any time?

I didn't know anything about the 1683 siege of Vienna and found it fascinating how the city was designed to be protected from invasion since this was not the first time they had been invaded. Learning how they destroyed businesses and homes outside of the city wall to prevent the Turks from having a place to stay, the counter mining and how that worked was so interesting.

This isn't a just a story about a war--it's a story of a group of people coming together and fighting to keep an enemy from taking hold of everything they held dear. We see the three siblings overcome their differences and make peace with each other. There are scenes of war but the author isn't overly graphic in her descriptions. If you're like me, once you start reading this book you're not going to want to stop--so consider yourself warned.

The narrator did a good job with the various voices and getting the emotions across, especially during the tense war sections.

Moving Historical Fiction

If you like Historical Fiction, you know A.L. Sowards is well researched and provides a story rich with history. This one surpassed my expectations. I absolutely loved this story of not only a historical battle, but of a complicated family, reunited friends, and a love of music.

The story is of unprovoked attack. A city full of people willing to pull together to fend off a well established trained foe. An ambassador seeking aid from nearby nations. It is the ultimate underdog story, that proves heart and faith can get you through an impossible situation. While the story was packed with action and interesting history of war tactics, it also included the very human elements faced in war. Sibling relationships, love, loss, the plight of the vulnerable in society. There were moments of triumph, followed by moments of heartache. Sowards created a story of intensity that takes you back into time and opens up your eyes to the plight of the citizens within a city at war. I loved it!

One of my favorite parts was when the heroine plays her father’s violin in a convent turned hospital. She plays a hymn I’ve always loved and didn’t realize had been around so long. It gives the people hope and stirred within me my own hope. While the story itself is not heavily religious, there are divisions among the people because of religion, and it was nice to see their religion play a role in their lives in a natural way. I have always loved the power of music to lift spirits and this scene was written so beautifully.

“Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.”

I’ve read this book and now also listened to the audio. I enjoyed this narrator. He had good inflection and enough feeling in his voice, without having too much. I really appreciated that he didn’t try to make his voice sound like a woman when reading those parts. That never sounds good. I would recommend either reading or listening to the audiobook.