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Reviewed by Rebecca Holmes for Readers' Favorite
Drops of Glass by Kenneth A. Baldwin is the first installment of a new historical fantasy series set in Europe during World War One. Marcus, an American pilot, and his loyal mechanic, Jane, are assigned to a daring mission behind enemy lines to investigate reports of magical artifacts with the potential to alter the outcome of the war. Jane’s rudimentary understanding of magic enables her to patch up Marcus’s plane after every scrap in the air, using unconventional methods passed down from her aunt. Marcus enlisted to bolster his family’s reputation in the US, but after two years at war, he has yet to score his first kill and believes he's cursed. When a trio of German radicals risks a secret meeting with the Allies to share intel about a group of rogue pilots attacking both sides, Marcus and Jane receive a top-secret assignment that will push their resolve to the limit.
Filled with nail-biting aerial combat sequences, Drops of Glass is an intense read. Baldwin’s depiction of war-torn France and Belgium is raw, immersive, and historically faithful, despite the fantasy elements woven into the story. At its heart are Jane and Marcus, whose emotional journey had me choking back tears by the end. Their relationship is platonic but powerful. Moments of shockingly human realism between them and those who help them on their mission provide contrast to the glorification of the early years of military aviation. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for book two in The Shards of Lafayette series. A must-read if you enjoy a magical take on modern history.
