The Codebreakers series itself has been wonderful. (I highly recommend adding every single one to your TBR list if you haven’t already.) And A Portrait of Loyalty is the perfect ending.
Book Blurb
Zivon Marin was one of Russia’s top cryptographers, until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee after speaking out against Lenin and separated from his brother along the way, he arrives in England driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits.
Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera–and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. With her father’s connections in propaganda, she’s recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove.
After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily. He sees patterns in what she deems chaos; she sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed. But both have secrets they’re unwilling to share. When her photographs reveal that someone has been following Zivon, his loyalties are called into question–and his enemies are discovered to be far closer than he’d feared.
My Thoughts
This book is incredible. I didn’t expect much different because Roseanna M. White has yet to let me down, but the emotion she packs into A Portrait of Loyalty has stuck with me ever since I finished reading it.
From Zivon’s struggles assimilating in a new country to Lily’s inner struggle about her secret work, White captures a depth that only she can.
Zivon’s analytical mind reminds me a lot of Margot (from book 1: The Number of Love). But instead of numbers, Zivon is gifted with the ability to see patterns everywhere. His use of this gift to help others endears him to the reader quickly. And his efforts to fit in with a new group of people in a new city make him relatable.
Lily’s ability to see beauty everywhere, even in chaos, makes her a character that’s easy to love and cherish. And while people look upon an unfamiliar man, and a Russian at that, with skepticism, she manages to see a man of deep character and faith.
This is the basis of their romance, and from the moment they first meet, you know they’ll be good together. Roseanna does a great job of showing their chemistry and deepening their relationship throughout the novel.
As is the case with most books set amidst war, this novel isn’t without its poignant moments. I won’t reveal them for fear of spoilers, but one particular event had me almost as torn up as Lily herself. Roseanna didn’t just show Lily’s pain, she made me feel it, even when I closed the book.
But perhaps what stuck with me most was the spiritual thread. As the characters struggle with heartache, they learn what it truly means to be still and know that He is God. And they learn to find beauty in the ashes.
I’m sad to see this series end, although it was nice to see some familiar faces. From what I’ve heard, many of Roseanna’s novels are interconnected, and I’m going to have to read some of her other books soon. She’s created a place on my must-read and will likely never be removed.
Overall, A Portrait of Loyalty is a fantastic novel that historical romance fans will adore.
Further Information
For more on Roseanna M. White, check out her website and sign up for her newsletter. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
A Portrait of Loyalty releases September 8. To pre-order, you can click the book image to order from bookshop.org (a website that supports local bookstores). Or you can order it from your favorite book retailer.
(Check out my review for book 2: On Wings of Devotion.)
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)
