This story had good potential and was very atmospheric (that’s the thing I loved the most about it), but it ultimately fell short of my expectations. The cover was beautiful, though.

The feminist leading lady drove me batty. She whined about having to prove herself instead of simply buckling down and doing the hard work to prove herself in her field of science. She was also a corset hater, which doesn’t make sense, as women would have been taught to wear some sort of support beneath their dresses for propriety’s sake. This trope is really tired now, and I wish it would be done away with completely. It’s utterly unrealistic. As with most feminists, Nora’s solution about the journal served only to prove her prejudice against men. It was very disappointing that she would exclude men from the project even when they merited a position. She wouldn’t have wanted to be treated that way. It was also frustrating that she desired to wear skimpy clothing, as that is not biblical (Paul instructed us in 1 Timothy to dress modestly).

I did admire Nora’s concern for the temple child and her attempts to rescue the girl. This was amazing and reminiscent of real-life missionary Amy Carmichael.

The way entomology was expressed throughout was vivid and well done. The bugs and butterflies came alive for me, which was surprisingly nice.

I was disappointed that a pair of eyes was said to be the color of cognac. I have no reference point for that, as I don’t drink alcohol of any sort. Was no other possible reference point for the eye color?

Content: tobacco, gambling, marital affairs, suicide, belly dancing, skimpy clothing, mythology, expletives, drugs, prostitution, female proposal, hints of improper living arrangements (quickly quashed)

I enjoyed being immersed in the history of this book and getting to know the main character, a young woman who goes against the status quo.

Absolutely intriguing. Never has the science of insects been so interesting and riveting. Truly. I was absolutely enthralled and can not wait to read more by this author!

Super interesting story! The plot was so unique. I had never read a book about entomology before and found this to be very well done. The romance was sweet, the characters realistic, and their struggles and overcoming them very compelling.

The amount of effort the author put into the research for this book is astounding. Details about and descriptions of the scenery of India are well done. The information revealed of scientific research and discoveries during the Victoria time period is interesting. It was very appealing that, while there was a romantic aspect, it was not the primary focus of the book. The author handles the various religious and cultural differences with great care and respect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

When I realized the topic of this book was bugs, I may have shuddered a bit. The author truly captured the feeling of creepy crawlies, where I even jumped feeling as if something was crawling on me. That takes skilled writing. From the abusive step father that somehow without graphic description, you catch his evil to the sights and smells of India, I felt I experienced this book rather than just read it. What a beautiful story. While there is a romance, it is not the forefront nor the story as much as the journey of a young scientist that would sacrifice what she wanted the most for the sake of saving another. I loved it.

I loved this book. From the beginning, Kimberly Duffy sets who she wanted Norah to be and was faithful throughout the story. The historical and cultural setting came alive and I savored every moment.

A Mosaic of Wings was just an okay read for me. I really wanted to like it but it was hard to get into at times. I give it three stars.

A stunning debut novel...rich characters, excellent writing, interesting story line, believable. I look forward to reading more of Kimberly Duffy's work. Five stars.

A new author to me and one I will surely one-click again! The research involved in this beautiful novel is nothing short of astounding.... such a beautiful way with words!

I found A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy to be a delightful read. All about a woman back in the day trying to accomplish what society said she can’t and shouldn’t. My heart was tugged at the loss of her father who believed in her and encouraged her love of insects and learning. Her mother was sickly and remarried. This caused quite the stir in the story. This author does a great job at drawing you in. I found myself cheering, angered, and emotional with the characters. That’s what makes a wonderfully penned story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

***Also posted on Christianbook, Barnes&Nobles

A Mosaic of Wings, the stunning debut novel by Kimberly Duffy, is a captivating book that is exceptionally well-written, well-researched, and utterly memorable. From the first page to the last, it carries the reader on a unique journey that touches the heart and inspires the soul. With settings that are truly immersive, characters that are unconventional, and an engaging plot full of surprises, this novel is not to be missed.

Ms. Duffy is a talented writer, and as a new voice in fiction, she adds originality and depth to the historical genre. In A Mosaic of Wings, beautifully descriptive writing appeals to the reader's senses and emotions. Careful attention to sensory details makes sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures vivid and real. From the fluttering of butterfly wings, to spicy lentil stew, to warm air moist with sticky humidity, this book is meant to be experienced.

Through words well-chosen the reader is swiftly transported back into a time of loss, faith, adventure, courage and love. As the story unfolds, the main characters find it necessary to embark on a journey far from home. This journey not only tests them physically, but also provides ample opportunities for self-discovery, healing, and redemption. More than simply leading them to an unfamiliar land and culture, this journey profoundly shapes their hearts and defines their futures.

A Mosaic of Wings is a well-crafted story of faith, perseverance, courage, and love that abounds with thoughtful descriptions that provide a fresh perspective on historical India, entomology, human worth, and God's grace. Adventurous and compelling, this book is relevant, meaningful, and thought-provoking. It is worthy of much praise, and I recommend it enthusiastically.

*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

I love the cover of this book and was intrigued by the publisher’s description. I can’t remember ever reading another book that has a lady entomologist as the main heroine. I wasn’t sure at the beginning that this was the book for me, but I am so glad that I kept reading. I would have missed a beautiful, well-written story.

This book not only has a great storyline, but also fired my imagination and made me feel as if I’d traveled to a different time and place. The author did a fabulous describing the setting in India and giving us a look at the culture of higher education in the year 1885.

The main character, Nora, is intelligent, caring, somewhat impulsive, and driven to have a career in entomology that will honor her father’s memory. She tried to balance pursuing her dreams with the realities of her home situation. She is also in competition with Owen Epps for the scholarship that is essential in furthering her career. Owen and Nora find themselves on the same research expedition in India. Their competition fades as their friendship grows and they find themselves wondering about a future together. Nora faces a potentially career-ending decision as she struggles with the culture in India that will not only affect her, but the lives of several other people. The character of the young Indian girl, Sita, was perhaps my favorite character in this book and her courage proved to be a major influence in Nora’s life.

I enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Reasons why you Must Read Mosaic of Wings if you are an Inspy Historical Lover:


NORA: she's strong and smart and competitive. Moreover, she dominates the page and the hero (don't worry, it's part of the reason he digs her). A woman in a man's world she is often anomalous to other heroines in inspy fiction and in a most welcome way that will appeal to readers of Siri Mitchell and Elizabeth Camden

"...Prove herself again. Over and over in every part of her life, forever and ever. She'd have to prove herself." Nora's tenacity and the shell she builds around herself for her singular purpose may have been off putting without the nuance of humanity and vulnerability, not to mention her care for her science and her wonder and beguilement (mirroring the author's own ) of India.


IMPECCABLE RESEARCH: not only of India during the Colonial era but the grand age of Victorian age scientific discovery and research. Carrying on a scientific journal, Nora's research and passion for her subjects--the beautiful butterflies and insects-- are a welcome reprieve from many familiar tropes in the genre and allow Nora to stand out as competitive, dedicated and honouring of her father's legacy.


INDIA: this is an immersive read that delicately looks at a time of white occupation in India with reverence and grace, never once shying from the intricacies of social and cultural involvement and Western occupation. A novel for the senses, Mosaic of Wings is deft like a butterfly wing but also rich to the smell and taste of the rainbow that is Kodaikanal and its sights and markets. " Nora found herself facing a dizzying array of spices mounded in silver bowls on a red cloth. They dazzled the senses." I love that Nora's observation and studious skills for her entomological work guide the reader into what she experiences surrounding her in India which leads me to...


THE VOICE: the pragmatic voice cleverly mirrors Nora and Owen's pursuits of discovery as if you are in the midst of a journal -writing scientist who is determined to give you the facts in their most crucial detail. As such, the book is compellingly readable, allowing you far enough into the psyche of its lead characters and their well developed world while never once hovering into sentimentality. Yet, the delicacy of the insects they study, the sumptuous and resonant colouring of the world of their research in India still stirs. Thus, If I use clinical here, I don't use it as a detriment rather as an intelligent reflection of the uber smart brains of these two starring characters... they are precise, they are observers, they are often more comfortable with research than with humans and I find the narrative is perfectly matched for that... it's an intentional voice and one that serves the story with a welcome sense of verisimilitude, both to the characters but also their setting and their era and their world.


The romance is not the focus of the story and hallelujah for that! Because Nora's true love is her work, her father's legacy and her dedication to the pursuit of her passion.


If you loved Mimi Matthew's A Modest Independence or Lynn Austin's Where We Belong, then this is the book for you!


Cannot wait to read the next!

(also featured on instagram)

To open the pages of this novel is to enter another world—a world of insects and butterflies, of sticky heat, rich new aromas, and confronting customs, and of a passionate young female scientist struggling to prove herself in a male-dominated field. It was obvious the author has not only done her research, but experienced India for herself (albeit in more modern times!), and from that aspect, it truly was a pleasure to read this novel and immerse myself in another time and place.

When it came to the heroine, however, I found myself frustrated, more often than not, by the way she conducted herself, which put a dampener on my reading experience. I could sympathise with her on the loss of her father and her need to repeatedly prove herself in a field dominated by men, but she didn’t do herself any favours. She made it more than clear that Lucius (her step-father) could never take the place of her father. And no, he may not have won any step-father of the year awards, but there was no graciousness in her behaviour toward him either. And while she may have been a very capable entomologist, her determination to prove herself in India often led her to make choices that only reinforced the idea that women were a liability in the field rather than a help. At the very least, I would have like to have seen her mature in these aspects by the end of the novel, but I didn’t see any evidence of that in the story.

The hero, on the other hand, I grew quite fond of. It may have helped that there was a bit of a Gilbert Blythe vibe about him! To his credit, he stood by Nora, even when she got into messes of her own making, but while I’m all for a hero who loves unconditionally and supports the heroine in achieving her dreams, I couldn’t help feeling that Nora would have benefitted even more from someone who could take her in hand, perhaps even stand up to her for her own good, when necessary.

Despite not having connected with this heroine as much as I would have liked, there was much to enjoy about this story, and I’m keen to see what’s next from this author.

JUNE 9, 2020 BY COURTNEY @ THE GREEN MOCKINGBIRD BLOG
Review: “A Mosaic of Wings” by Kimberly Duffy
Today’s review features debut author Kimberly Duffy and her new novel set in New York and India, during the late Victorian age.

About the Book

It’s 1885, and all Nora Shipley wants, now that she’s graduating from Cornell University as valedictorian of the entomology program, is to follow in her late father’s footsteps by getting her master’s degree and taking over the scientific journal he started. The only way to uphold her father’s legacy is to win a scholarship, so she joins a research expedition in Kodaikanal, India, to prove herself in the field.

India isn’t what she expects, though, and neither is the rival classmate who accompanies her, Owen Epps. As her preconceptions of India–and of Owen–fall away, she finds both far more captivating than she expected. Forced by the expedition leader to stay at camp and illustrate exotic butterflies the men of the team find without her, Nora befriends Sita, a young Indian girl who has been dedicated to a goddess against her will.

In this spellbinding new land, Nora is soon faced with impossible choices–between saving Sita and saving her career, and between what she’s always thought she wanted and the man she’s come to love.

Goodreads | Amazon

Review
A Mosaic of Wings is a story of growth, selfless love, and romance. I was enraptured, like Nora, with the beauty and colors of India encountered in these pages. Her journey is one of discovering purpose, a sweet friendship-to-romance, and the joy of life.

The romance was a subtle thread at first, taking a back seat to Nora’s education and subsequent events that led her to choosing to participate in an expedition in India. It was delightful to see it grow from a deepening friendship to something more in a natural and lovely way. Owen champions Nora, selflessly, and she learns more about herself from his encouragement and confidence.

The portions of the novel that take place in India are my favorite. Kimberly Duffy impressively conveys its colors and cultures, spicy food, challenging terrain, and social customs vastly different from Nora’s norm. This environment and the new people she meets challenge Nora. They cause her to reconsider her purpose and ability to make a difference in someone else’s life, even if that means making difficult choices.

Nora begins the story with some impulsive tendencies. It’s nice to see her grow throughout the course of her travels. Toward the latter part of the story, however, she makes a series of choices which I thought undo part of her newfound maturity and go against my expectations of her character. She does learn from this, and all is righted eventually, but I would have liked to see her understanding and treatment of people reflect the growth she had already surmounted.

I am looking forward to Kimberly’s next historical novel, wherever it might take me!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review

This a fascinating story with a strong, determined, intelligent heroine who you can’t help but like as she follows her heart and convictions. It was a little slow to get into the story, but stick with it, it is well worth the story! The journey Nora goes in this story is memorable and teachers her some hard lessons. I really loved her grit and persistence for things that mattered to her. Owen was steady, calm, wonderful hero who was a great support and rock for Nora. The subjects and topics this book tackled were interesting and unique.

A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy centers around Nora Shipley, a female entomologist in a male-dominated field. But studying insects isn’t her only dream. She also wants to take over her late father’s journal and get her master’s degree. After striking a deal with her stepfather, she goes on a research trip to India in hopes of earning a scholarship and proving herself.

This novel surprised me. Not that I thought it would be terrible. I just didn’t expect it to be so good. A riveting tale from beginning to end, this novel proves to be an exciting adventure you don’t want to miss out on.

I’m not a fan of bugs. Let me go ahead and say that. But Duffy brings you into Nora’s mind so well that when Nora becomes enthralled with an insect, you feel her excitement. And while there is a lot of scientific names and jargon, Duffy explains to the readers what the terms mean without launching into long explanations. Instead, she provides a translation that flows naturally through the course of the characters’ conversations.

And Duffy uses rich descriptions to immerse you in whichever setting she places her characters in, whether it’s a laboratory at Cornell University or a campsite in rural India. I’ve never read a book set in India before, but she did a great job of helping my imagination picture what life in India was like.

With a great cast of characters, Duffy has crafted a compelling story that will keep you turning pages. And the romantic thread isn’t bad, either. I loved seeing Nora’s relationship with Owen Epps develop throughout the book. I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t mention Nora’s relationship with other characters. A certain young Indian girl serves as the forefront of a very important subplot.

And I loved the way Duffy handled the conflict of cultures and religions. I don’t know much about Hinduism, but she sprinkles enough information to help me better understand Sita’s plight. And the consequences that follow Nora’s decision were realistic and thought-provoking. Because sometimes doing the right thing causes a ripple effect we can’t ignore or anticipate. We have to make our decision and stick to it.

Overall, A Mosaic of Wings is a fantastic novel that grabs your attention.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

A Mosaic of Wings
by Kimberly Duffy

Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 05 May 2020


I am reviewing a copy of A Mosaic of Wings through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:




The Year is 1885, and now that Nora Shipley is graduating from Cornell University, and graduating as a Valedictorian of the Entomology program is to follow in her late Father’s footsteps by getting her master's degree and taking over the scientific journal he started. The problem is she can only uphold her Fathers legacy if she wins a scholarship, in order to do so she joins a research expedition in Kodaikanal, India, to prove herself in the field.





Nora Shipley finds that India is nothing like she expected, nor is Owen Epps, the rival classmate who accompanies her on the trip. Nora finds both India and Owen far more captivating than she could ever imagined. When Nora is forced by the expedition leader to stay at camp and illustrate exotic butterflies, which the men of the camp, are told to find without her. Nora friends a friend in Sita, a young Indian girl who has been dedicated to a goddess against her will.




While in the spellbinding land of India, Nora is quickly faced with a choice that is impossible, she must decide between saving Sita, or saving her career. She must also decide between the thing she always thought she wanted and the man she comes to love.





I give A Mosaic of Wings five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

This was the first Kimberly Duffy book I have read. It was well written. Interesting about India. Characters well developed. Perhaps a bit too much on romance for my interests.