At the age of seventeen, Gérard Vandervelde is completing his studies at the Liège Conservatoire just as Europe descends into war. From the very first days of the conflict, he is confronted with the atrocities committed by the German troops invading Belgium. Swept up in the turmoil of battle and driven onto the roads of exile, he struggles desperately to save those he loves. But in a war of such devastating force, survival itself is nothing short of a miracle.
All hope seems lost in the abyss of suffering into which humanity has been cast by the decisions of a handful of criminals operating in the shadows of the chancelleries. Like millions of other young men, Gérard endures the horrors of war, torn between his conscience and a burning desire to avenge the massacres committed before his very eyes.
Love, friendship and music are the only stars that continue to shine in a storm-filled sky lit by flashes of lightning. A compelling novel for readers with a passion for music, aviation and history, as well as for lovers of the equestrian world.
