Kimberly Duffy has done it again. With A Tapestry of Light, she has woven a rich tale of faith amidst life’s challenges.
Book Blurb
Calcutta, 1886.
Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.
When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie’s English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.
But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn’t forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.
My Thoughts
I’ve said before that I believe an author has done a great job when you don’t agree with everything a character does but still root for them. And with Ottilie, Duffy has created such a character. From the moment I met Ottilie, I connected with her. Grief is a burden we all bear at one time or another. Coupled with her fierce love for her brother Thaddeus and her grandmother, Ottilie quickly became a character I could root for. It wasn’t long before I was sucked into the story.
Though I’ve never been to India, Duffy’s vibrant descriptions dropped me right in the midst of 19th-century Calcutta. Much as she did in her debut A Mosaic of Wings, she made the setting come alive.
But what gripped me the most was Ottilie’s struggle with faith, fear, and the inevitability of change. Though I often sighed when she pushed people away, I could understand why she did. Watching her grow throughout the story resonated with me in a way few books have been able to manage.
There’s so much more I want to say, but I’m having trouble putting it into the words. But trust me when I say that A Tapestry of Light is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.
Note: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Further Information
Grab a copy of A Tapestry of Light by clicking the book cover or by visiting your favorite book retailer.
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