Fueled by themes of war, grief, resilience, bravery, and love vs. loyalty, Mizrahi’s (Tattered Coat) romantic World War Two drama centers on self-destructive English sailor Oliver Graham and volatile but goodhearted Natalía Giannatos, a young widow in a village on the Greek island of Kefalonia. After his submarine hits an underwater mine, Oliver is washed ashore and into Natalía’s life. Despite her initial suspicions, she hides him from the Fascists who control the island, a choice that will change both lives forever. As Oliver hides, and the unlikely pair begin to discover each other, both are haunted by traumatic pasts and the war-torn present, leaving them wary of love and trust. Adding to their problems is the charming, married Italian Colonnello Aldo Battaglia, who is obsessed with Natalía and will do anything to possess her.
Fictionalizing a true story, Mizrahi presents all-too-human protagonists who feel big emotions, regret their flaws and mistakes, and find themselves torn between conflicting desires and responsibilities at one of humanity’s darkest moments. The Weight of Loyalty honors the hard choices both face, as they and other characters show heartening resilience in the face of adversity, including risking it all to stand up to the Fascists. The budding romance between Oliver and Natalía is a nice contrast to the grimness of the war, and Mizrahi invests it with the seriousness that the title suggests, balancing the joy and thrill of new love with their struggles with personal demons and even each other. Mizrahi’s empathy and interest in the minds and mores of the historical moment extends even to Battaglia, who sometimes acts humanely, though always in his favor.
As Natalía and Oliver are torn between self-preservation, their growing love for each other, and questions of family honor and loyalty to their countries, Mizrahi offers enjoyable depictions of Kefalonia’s scenery and culture. The pacing at times is slow, but tension mounts with welcome urgency as the tale builds to a desperate journey. An author’s note about the novel’s sources is enlightening.
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