Book Review : Shade of Gray

"Shades of Gray" is a novel about the Civil War in Virginia, but it is more about the honor and dedication, beliefs and convictions of both sides, than about the battles themselves. This is, as the subtitle indicates a novel of the Civil War in Virginia. The title of it makes a clever reference at what a complicated set of ethical and moral choices that the Civil War presented to those whose tragic misfortune was to be caught in the middle of it.

In complicated situations, we find shades of gray. Honor, loyalty, and allegiance to county are too often merely words today. During the American Civil War, men and women alike lived, fought, and died for those concepts. When we were little, most of us were taught right from wrong, black from white. It was when we grew older that we learned that sometimes these choices are neither black nor white, but fall in a gray area. Adherence to such principles split families and friends, caused commands on the battlefield to be made on the side of victory at any cost when the choice of retreat may have incurred less damage, and polarized two segments of the country’s society against each other.

In this historical novel, Jessica James takes us through the effects of the Civil War as it occurs in Northern Virginia. Aptly named Shades of Gray, the novel tells the story of Alexander Hunter, a Confederate cavalry officer and the Yankee spy ‘Sinclair.’ Each has a reputation of toughness and daring. When they meet on the battlefield, each makes the downfall of the other their personal goal.

James handles the details of war very well, lacing its web through the pages without diminishing the individuals caught in it. Neither does she preach the doctrine of each side; instead, she allows her characters to reveal their resolve and their reasons to the reader.

Capturing the reader's attention from the start, Jessica James offers a different sort of historical fiction. The passion and depth of convictions is clear, respectfully portrayed on both sides, to a point. The plot is intricate with southern nuances, northern straightforwardness and the inner and outer battles of war. The humanity of feelings we cannot control is an outreach that will hit home.

Anyone interested in the Civil War period will find the book interesting and thought provoking. James handles battle scenes with vibrant and powerful images, and her descriptions of setting are poetic. Well written and expertly executed, this novel is sure to be embraced by readers of many genres. Surely, anyone interested in history, the War Between the States, or Virginia herself, will love it.