The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh - Book Review

The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh

Genre: Historical Fiction (War Fiction), Dual Timeline 

4 Stars 

One Liner: A less-explored area of WWI and WWII; Well-written 

*****

1917 England 

Marion has to leave the orphanage when she turns eighteen. With nowhere to go, she joins the Women’s Royal Navy Service (Wrens) as a typist before becoming a motorcycle dispatch rider on the Western Front. With her newfound friend Sara and best friend Eddie, Marion finally feels her life has a purpose. However, an unexpected tragedy can rip everything away from her. 

1936 England 

Evelyn has no desire to be a society girl or get married. When the impending war ends her car racing dreams, she signs up for the Women’s Royal Navy Service, which is active once more to serve in WWII. Her parents threaten to cut her off if she doesn’t go home, but all Evelyn ever wanted was to be useful to the country. 

How do the lives of ladies from both war-ridden times meet at a common point? What does it mean for Marion and Evelyn? 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Marion and Evelyn. 

My Thoughts: 

The intriguing premise and the cover caught my attention. The book does justice to the relatively lesser-known area of wars. The author's note at the end was a treat to read. 

The first third of the book had a detailed backstory of our main characters. Though all of it was not war-related, I liked that I had a clear picture of their characteristics as the plot thickened. 

The mid-section of the novel dipped in pacing as it dealt with the part which connects with timelines. The pace picked up in the third part and ends on a bittersweet yet heartwarming note. 

Romance and love have a major share of the plot. While it fit the first timeline and was necessary, it somehow diluted the second timeline and even overshadowed the crux of the plot. 

However, Marion, Sara, Eddie, and Evelyn were engaging (and flawed) characters. They could keep me interested even when I skimmed through a few dragging scenes. Both timelines were well-developed, so that’s a definite plus. 

The writing was easy to read. It balanced internal and conflict well without delving too much into the horrific details of the war (after reading quite a few war fiction novels, I’m beginning to appreciate the ones that don’t provide graphic descriptions). 

I learned about the role of women during the wars and loved every bit of it. They were a crucial part of the network that kept the troops coordinated and ready for attacks. They did amazing work behind the scenes (why am I not surprised?). 

To summarize, The Call of the Wrens deals with the lesser-known roles of women during war as dispatch riders and pigeon trainers. It's an engrossing read with some memorable characters. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheCalloftheWrens