One of the best things about Netgalley is that it not only allows to discover interesting debuts, but also shines the light on the previously published authors by sort of narrowing down the focus. Apparently Mary Morris has been around for a while and accumulated quite a body of work and only now have I come across her with this terrific story as a most auspicious of introductions. I love all things historical, fiction and nonfiction, and though I have read much about Columbus' voyages, I've never learned about crypto Jews until now. I knew about the Spanish inquisition and expulsion of Jews and, of course, it's certainly within the reasonable possibility that a tribe so wildly prosecuted throughout so many eras and places has found themselves migrating wildly across the globe, not much is written or known about the fate of the ones that came to the New World during the early years of its discovery, some even along with the Columbus' expeditions. And having come here, still persecuted and isolated from all they knew before, eventually assimilating into forgetting their very ancestry and believes, though, interestingly enough, not the customs. Thus Entrada de la Luna (Gateway to the Moon) came to be, an impoverish small town in New Mexico with 4 centuries of lineage traceable, but the source obscured by time. This is where a novel takes place in the recent past narrative of 1992, the rest is set back in the past starting with 1492 and on. Both accounts are stunningly compelling in their own right. The book starts with a timeline and dramatis personae, because awesomely enough many of the story's main players existed in real life. The book's main accomplishment, though, is making both factual and fictional characters seem so very real. The writing here is absolutely exceptional, not overwritten at all, despite being very descriptive and emotionally intelligent, there's vividness and clarity to the narration and the characters are immensely charismatic and completely engaging. A real book lover's book, a pleasure to read, a perfectly transporting sort of experience. Not only to learn something new, but also to be entertained, amazed and delighted. Much like Miguel, the book's protagonist, a young stargazer, you might experience something like awe at the world's randomness and interconnectedness and a grand mystery of it all. Loved this book. So glad to have discovered this author. Enthusiastically recommended. Thanks Netgalley.