A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

A Tapestry of Light
by Kimberly Duffy

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: March 16th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
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 his heritage, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.


My Review:
A Tapestry of Light is a romance set in 1886 in India and England. The first half of the book occurred in India showing what it was like for those of mixed British and Indian heritage. The second half showed the prejudice they faced in England. The historical details about daily life, beetle-wing embroidery, cultural differences, etc., were woven into the story and brought it vividly alive in my imagination.

The characters were well-developed and complex, and I cared about what happened to them. Which is why this was a sad story: Ottilie faced one tragedy and hardship after another all the way up until the end. I didn't see how she could end up with a happy ending, yet one abruptly happened as everyone repented of the wrongs they'd done toward her. Some of it was believable, like a ten-year-old boy not staying quiet about his life in India. But the abrupt change of heart of the love interest and English family members just didn't seem believable to me. While the love interest was kind and thoughtful, I kept wondering why Ottilie kept giving her heart to him when he made it clear that he was determined to marry into high society. It's realistic, yes, but frustrating to see her open herself up to further hurt like that.

Ottilie wondered why God allowed his faithful followers to suffer so much and had a crisis of faith. She clung to God and grew into a kind woman of faith through the events. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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