The horrors of World War II are so vast, most genres of fiction have grappled with its impact. In her debut novel, The Moonlight Healers, author Elizabeth Becker crafts a World War II/present day tale that combines magical realism, romance, and historical fiction. It’s a powerful story about love, family, and the gifts and costs of magic.
Louise and Peter have been best friends almost since they were in diapers. But with Louise about to leave for college in New York and Peter stuck in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia, their days together are nearing an end. At a party, Peter drunkenly confesses he loves Louise, but in the car the next day, he can’t remember. Distracted by their discussion, Peter veers into oncoming traffic. When Louise regains consciousness, Peter is on the road. He flew out the windshield and broke his neck. Heartbroken, Louise performs CPR on him anyway. A mysterious energy flows out of her hands, and somehow Peter comes back to life, and the injuries on him disappear.
When Louise tells her mother Bobbie, a former nurse, the truth about what really happened to Peter, Bobbie confesses a long-held secret: All the women in their family are healers, and Louise must talk to her grandmother Camille about how to live with her newfound knowledge. Bobbie and Camille have been estranged for years, for reasons they won’t tell Louise. But Bobbie takes Louise to Camille’s orchard in Appalachian Virginia so Camille can train her.
The story also takes place in 1943 France, as Camille’s mother Helene works as a nurse in an occupied hospital run by a convent. Unlike Louise, Helene has grown up with her healing abilities and a mother who encourages them. She’s called to the hospital by her cousin, who shares the abilities but tells Helene it’s an affront to God to use them. When Helene falls in love with a recovering soldier, her abilities and convictions are tested.
The Moonlight Healers moves seamlessly between the love stories and fantasy aspects of the novel. The car accident starts the story with a literal bang, and Louise takes readers on a compelling journey as she navigates her new powers, the muddy relationship between her mother and grandmother, her feelings for Peter, and her plans for her future. The plot and tone are light, similar to the TV show Pushing Daisies. In contrast, the chapters with Helene feel heavy and dark, as the author gets into questions about the nature of evil and what limits a healer should put on herself.
There’s a good twist about two-thirds of the way through the book that heightens the stakes and gives Louise a personal investment in her abilities and their limitations. Still, her story pales in comparison to Helene’s travails—a dilemma all authors face when alternating a World War II story with a present-day tale.
With all the elements that Becker packs into her story—the mother-daughter drama, the friends-to-lovers trope—the magic does not dominate the narrative as I had hoped it would. I wish Becker had explored some of her paradoxes more; why can Louise literally bring Peter back from the dead, but not cure cancer?
Still, The Moonlight Healers balances the different requirements of its genres adeptly. I wanted the book to be longer, so Becker could have really dug into all of her subplots, but as a debut author, she was probably limited in word count. There’s plenty of story left for a sequel, so perhaps Becker and her readers will get to see more of Louise. I certainly hope so.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the book in exchange for an honest review.
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