The Rhythm of Fractured Grace

Feb 4, 2025 | Book Reviews

Novelist Amanda Wen has been a guest on this blog twice for two books in her Sedgewick County Chronicles series. Today I’m sharing book three: The Rhythm of Fractured Grace

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If you like historical fiction and character-driven stories—with a touch of romance—this novel fits the bill. If you like fairy tales, that’s another bonus.

If you’re a fan of Wicked, the musical or the movie, you’ll get a chance to see where all the Oz hoopla originated—with the inimitable L. Frank Baum.

If you’re a Baum fan, you’ll get the feel of what it was like to be with him.

If you’re unfamiliar with Baum, you’re in for a treat, for you’ll have the pleasure of getting to know him.

Read more and watch the book trailer on my website here.

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Now I want to put the spotlight back on Amanda, author of dual timeline fiction set in Sedgewick County, Kansas.

Kregel Publications (February 20, 2024)

Blurb

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My Thoughts

The “secrets” referred to in the blurb have to do with the difficult elephant-in-the-room topic of religious abuse in the church. This happens more than anyone wants to admit, and has caused so much hurt and spiritual disillusionment throughout Christendom. I really appreciate Amanda tackling this subject in a realistic way—unveiling the abuse but also shining the light of hope onto those who become victims in these type of scenarios. 

Amanda does this through deep, complex characters and a compelling plot that entwines the lives of two contemporary characters on opposite ends of a huge problem. This is another time-slip story with historical scenes effectively weaving through the contemporary ones—connected by a violin that has meaning for both protagonists in their respective  timelines.

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Amanda’s other books

These are the ones I’ve featured on the blog, along with the blurb for each. I can heartily recommend them. 

Amanda doesn’t shy away from tough topics: 

  • Alzheimer’s and abandonment in the first book
  • Eating disorders, interracial romance, and Alzheimer’s (again) in the second book
  • Religious abuse in the church in the third book

Click on the titles below to go to the corresponding blog post.

Blurb for Roots of Wood and Stone

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Blurb for The Songs That Could Have Been

Author Amanda Wen

Amanda also contributed a story to this three-author collection (though I haven’t read it):

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Here are excerpts from previous Q & As. Click on the title to go to the blog post.

First, an excerpt from the Roots of Wood and Stone Q & A:

Amanda: The germ of inspiration came from an ancestor of mine, William Fletcher Stevens, who moved to Sedgwick County, Kansas from Kentucky in 1870 along with his wife and children. However, shortly after their arrival, William’s wife, Sarah, and infant son, George, both passed away. In fact, William would go on to bury one more wife and several more children during his struggle to eke out a living on his new homestead, and he endured several more hardships including grasshopper invasions, blizzards, and drought. 

Yet by all accounts his faith survived—and even thrived—and so did his family. I was inspired by William’s story when I first heard it, and when I started dabbling with the idea of historical fiction/split-time, it seemed perfect to pay homage to him and his perseverance in the face of unimaginable obstacles. 

My mom is a genealogist who has traced our family history for nearly 50 years, so I grew up well aware of the stories of those who’d come before, and every time we drove past that big white farmhouse, Mom would remind me that that was Grandpa Little’s house. I always thought it’d be cool to buy that house, fix it up, and live in it, but given the practicalities of adulthood and the reality that I am not in any way, shape, or form the type of person who loves to remodel houses, I decided to do the next best thing: create characters who might be able to do it. 

Amanda: Writing in multiple timelines is indeed a challenge! I heard it once described as having to write two books, but only getting paid for one, and that’s truer than I’d like to admit. All the work that goes into any story (character arcs, plot threads, conflict, theme) has to go into each timeline I write, and both stories have to be equally compelling in order to avoid the reader skimming or ignoring one timeline in favor of another. In addition, both timelines need to weave together in an organic way; if one can be lifted out without affecting the story of the other, then one of those timelines isn’t necessary.

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Q & A excerpt from The Songs That Could Have Been

Amanda: The interracial romance part came from both my own love story (my husband’s parents are from China) and a relative of my dad’s who fell in love with someone of another race in high school in the 1960s. Both families objected to the match and the couple eventually broke up.

Although the other person went on to marry and have a family, my dad’s relative never did, and I always wondered what would have happened if the families had accepted their love rather than allowing their own prejudices to get in the way. Rosie and Ephraim’s story blossomed out of that wondering.

As for the bulimia piece, that came from Lauren herself. In Roots of Wood and Stone, there’s a scene where the health-food-obsessed Lauren, in a stressful moment, digs into a chocolate cake. Garrett finds her, and the two of them had a conversation that made me think there was a lot more I had to learn about Lauren. Gradually, she revealed her secrets, and that formed the basis of her story in Songs

Amanda: What a fun question! I think they’d probably be a little irritated with me that I kept digging into their stories and wouldn’t let them keep secrets from me, but I’m hopeful that they’d appreciate the happy endings I was able to facilitate for them. 

Amanda: Rosie insisted that I write a few scenes from her point of view, in first person! I balked at first, as I have no up-close-and-personal experience with Alzheimer’s, so the idea of writing from that perspective was very daunting. I even asked my editor if it would be okay, and she graciously gave her blessing. Honestly, I think those are some of my favorite scenes in the book! 

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Amanda Wen Bio

Amanda Wen’s debut novel, Roots of Wood and Stone, released to both reader and critical acclaim, including a Christy Award nomination for First Novel. She also placed first in multiple contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler Contest, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions Contest, among others. In addition to her writing, Amanda is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team, as well as serving as a choral accompanist. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Amanda currently lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat. Visit her on her website

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Join me next time for a visit with author Patti Callahan Henry.

Meanwhile, have you read The Rhythm of Fractured Grace or any others by Amanda Wen? What’s your favorite? What are some tough topics you’ve read about in fiction, or would like to see addressed? Answer in the comments below.

Ever reading,

Laura

Coming soon: A Hundred Magical Reasons, a novel

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14 Comments

  1. Lorraine Groom-Ashmore

    I have had this series on my TBR list for so long. I just love the cover on Fractured Grace. I’m going to move these books to the top of my list because of these reviews.

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Good idea, Lorraine! Glad my reviews could facilitate that decision!

      Reply
  2. Nancy Radosevich

    I haven’t read any of the novels in The Sedgwick Chronicles, and now I know it might be hard to choose which one to start with. I’m drawn to Deborah Caldwell’s story, so the Rhythm of Fractured Grace might be my first Amanda Wen novel. Thank you for highlighting all three!

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      I liked reading them in the order they were written, but it really doesn’t matter which one you start with. They are complete in themselves, with some overlapping characters.

      Reply
  3. Leela

    It sounds like a good read.

    Reply
  4. Anita Klumpers

    Like many many others, I read “Roots of Wood and Stone” and was impressed by the smooth writing and excellent storytelling.
    This book sounds like another winner! People who love and make music always impress me, and when they can incorporate that gift into their writing, my respect increases tenfold!
    Many blessings to you, Amanda, and other gifted writers who honor God by writing well and doing it via the worldview of a believer.

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      If you enjoyed Roots of Wood and Stone, you would definitely enjoy this one!

      Reply
  5. Ruth Schmeckpeper

    Both these books sound amazing. Roots of Wood and Stone especially intrigues me as it deals with Alzheimer’s. It’s such an unfair disease! I’ve read Hopes and Fears from the Christmas anthology. Such a sweet story of a teacher’s desire to give her student’s a powerful Christmas program message. Who knew there could be so much conflict. Amanda is a wonderful writer!

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      I’m glad you’ve had the opportunity to read some of Amanda’s writing!

      Reply
  6. Mary Larson

    Roots of Wood and Stone sounds like such a good book. The family history, the diary, and the depth of story makes me think this is the kind of book to set aside for a long afternoon read. It isn’t one to rush through.

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      I agree! If you like a story that also has beautiful writing, you don’t want to rush. You want to savor.

      Reply
  7. Barbara M. Britton

    Hi Amanda. I love your books. Isn’t it fun to find family history that inspires a story. My husband has fascinating family history. Mine needs more spice!

    Reply
    • Laura DeNooyer

      Family history is often a great source of story material! I’m guessing you can probably be thankful, Barb, that your own family doesn’t have enough spice!

      Reply

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