My Two Cents: THE SHADOW BESIDE HER by Elizabeth Devecchi

War is hell, especially for the innocent people caught in between the embattled, opposing forces. In Elizabeth Devecchi's upcoming novel, The Shadow Beside Her, readers are introduced to young Maria, one such unfortunate innocent. As the story opens, Maria enjoys an idyllic life where she is doted on by her parents, as well as her extended family. She lives in a bustling village, but frequently visits the neighboring countryside, where her uncle owns a farm. It's here that Maria truly feels most at home, surrounded by the animals she adores (including Val, the family's loyal Maremmano-Abruzzese sheepdog, similar in appearance to the Great Pyrenees) and Gianni, her uncle's handsome young farmhand, upon whom Maria harbors a crush. She plans to marry Gianni one day and become a farmer like her uncle. Her life is filled with the carefree hopes and whimsy of youth, even though the world around her is deeply embroiled in war.

That darkness finds its way into Maria's world, with Nazi soldiers roaming both the village and farmlands, stealing supplies and searching for loose-knit bands of rebel forces known as "partisans." Maria knows to be wary around the Nazis, but she isn't necessarily fearful of them, at least at first. All of that abruptly changes one violent day, when the brutality of the warfront comes crashing headlong into Maria's otherwise quiet, comfortable life.

Forced to flee on her own from her home, Maria escapes to the farm, where she and Gianni plan an escape. Gianni, she discovers, like one of her uncles, is a soldier among the partisans who have risen up against the occupying Germans. She begins to suspect Gianni isn't fighting back against the Nazis on his own, however, and that he may have allied himself with something dark, powerful, and sinister -- an entity unlike anything she's ever encountered or imagined before, a shadow that has bound itself to her beloved Gianni's very soul.

I won't give more away than that, but suffice it to say, this is a poignant and powerful story, a cautionary tale about the risks inherent when you try fighting monsters with monsters. Maria's journey from an ingenuous child to world-weary survivor is a horror in and of itself, as time and again, she is forced to witness her family and friends brutalized by forces beyond her control. It's all too easy to understand why Gianni might be willing to barter his soul for the chance to fight back, and why Maria might feel tempted by the very same need. The shadow at the center of the story is portrayed like the serpent in the Biblical Garden of Evil: a gentle, seductive voice whispering promises that seem too impossible to be true, in exchange for something that seems of little consequence or concern -- until it's too late.

Devecchi's lush narrative is an undisguised love letter to Italy, and you can tell how much she loves the country, its language, people, and culture in nearly every scene. This is a beautifully written book with fully realized and realistic characters you'll fall in love with, root for, and cry over. The beginning may seem slow, but don't be fooled. It's important to see what Maria's "normal" life was like to fully understand her losses -- and her choices -- as the story moves along. Once it picks up speed, the plot barrels forward, with one twist after another. "The Shadow Beside Her" is a wonderful, immersive, and highly enjoyable read.

"The Shadow Beside Her" releases July 7, 2026 from Wicked House. You can pre-order here.