The setting was rich in detail and my favorite thing about this novel. India came alive in a sumptuous, realistic way. This is definitely a strong suit for the author.

Other things I enjoyed about the story were, in random order: the theme of loyalty to family; the leading lady being an artist of embroidery; a stranger arriving with a bit of news that was a fascinating twist; how the leads took the time to get to know one another well despite their initially being on opposite sides of a certain situation; and the exquisite cover.

I was confused by the faith thread, which is why I’m only giving this book three stars. I feel like if this aspect was stronger and more sure of itself, this would have definitely been a solid five-star book for me. I liked that there was compassion and a yearning to discover the truth, to trust God with the leading lady’s pain. But I struggled to understand how one character put her faith in a man rather than God at one point. It was also confusing that Nani seemed to be of two faiths: serving God yet wanting to be buried the Hindu way. That was a huge contradiction that really troubled me. I did think the theme of doubting God’s existence was expressed well, and I liked how that thread was handled with the slow and sometimes unsteady journey toward gaining confidence that He does, indeed, exist and is ready to extend compassion to anyone who seeks Him.

These are a couple of the quotes that troubled me on the faith thread:

“How do we know what we believe is truth? That Christianity is the right path?” … “I don’t think we can. Not entirely.”

“All I know is that if it came down to following Christ, who sacrificed for love of me, or following a god who sows discord, expects more than I can give, or consigns me to a life of eternal works, I’m choosing Christ.”
~ Jesus Christ does expect us to do good works in obedience to our Heavenly Father while we are on earth. He set this example by doing good works while He was on earth. And, as James clarified, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17 NKJ). Our good works prove our faith.

These are quotes I loved:

“There’s no reason to hide grief or joy.”

“Sometimes, when we are most alone, the God who sees and knows is closer than ever.”

“How weak her faith that, when confronted with tragedy, it fell apart.”

“He didn’t know I heard … but when has not being invited into a conversation ever stopped me from learning what I want to learn?”

“She’d been a woman of immense faith, none of which Ottilie had seemed to inherit. Though maybe faith wasn’t like skin tone or the size of one’s foot. Maybe it wasn’t subject to the laws of heritage, and Ottilie had only been treating it as such, which was why, when her life tipped upside down, she’d lost it.”

Content: false gods mentioned, bared midriff, illegitimate children, marital affairs

This book was very visually appealing and the descriptions were amazing. Getting to experience the setting was wonderful and made me want to see the country!

A unique setting in India, I was disappointed that none of the previous characters were included in this completely stand alone book. It was fascinating on its own!

I started reading this and was drawn in right away, however life got a bit crazy and I finally got back to it this weekend and finished it in 2 days – could not put it down! (I’m a slow reader).

It was a long weekend so I was able to savor it! And Savor it I did. Duffy’s writing is vivid and brings you right into the scenes with all the senses.

The rich history and culture of life in India in 1886 and in England is brought to life and this story is one that is timely and important. Along with being fascinated by the element of embroidery in this book, I also grew to love these characters and a few tears were shed along the way. A thoroughly engaging read and it would make a stunning and vibrant movie, although Kimberly Duffy’s writing enables the reader to see this all play out in their mind’s eye.

Don’t miss this one!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. My opinion is my own.

A Tapestry of Light
by Kimberly Duffy
Pub Date 16 Mar 2021 |
Bethany House, Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance


I am reviewing a copy of A Tapestry of Light through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:



Ottlie Russel is between two cultures, cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither.so she is able 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.





After a stranger appears at the door with the news that Thaddeus is now the Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come out.





Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. But after tragedy strikes Ottlie must make a decision that keeps Thaddeus far from death, and her far from home.






Betrayal and loss sadly 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.



I give A Tapestry of Light five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

A Tapestry of Light was a fascinating story about a young woman of biracial heritage struggling to find her place in the world, and in her family. It was the second in a series, which I didn't start at the beginning, so I don't know of any connections or backgrounds of the characters but this could be read as a standalone novel.

Ottilie Russell was a woman caught between two worlds, whereas Everett was a young man caught between his past and the expectations of society. They want to be together, but the pressures of thier culture keep them apart. That said, I don't consider this novel to be a romance, per se, I think Ottilie's relationship with her brother was more central.

Thier stories do bring out some interesting themes about social and racial prejudice in Victorian Britain, as well as those who see beyond it. Ottilie for example believed she had to keep her brother's Indian heritage a secret when he went to school, but the other children are very accepting. Its the adults who are the problem. Aren't kids just like that in real life? They really don't see ethnic or cultural differences.

Recommended for all lovers of historical fiction.

Thanks to Bethany House for my ARC of this title. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.

While I enjoyed this book and the descriptions of India, I felt at times it was a bit too "wordy" for me.

I would recommend this to those who enjoy Christian historical fiction.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Published 16 March 2021.

Wonderful setting. Great characters. Enjoy all books by this author. The characters are memorable. Sophisticated plot. Even though it’s historical fiction, the plot details relate to current issues. I was fascinated by the book description and chose to read the book based on the setting. A good choice for fans of historical fiction.

Siblings Ottilie and Thaddeus Russell live between worlds in 1885 Calcutta—Ottilie looks like her half-Indian mother, but six-year-old Thaddeus favours their father and can easily pass as English. Their father was a respected English scientist, but his death left the family penniless. Ottilie now supports their small family by decorating dresses with beetle-wing embroidery, a skill that has been handed down the women on the Indian side of her family.

I found the first few chapters slow and difficult to get through. There seemed to be too many characters )and each character had multiple names and nicknames), and the relationships between the character were equally difficult to sort out. I also didn’t find Ottilie particularly interesting. Call me shallow, but I read for entertainment. I don’t find it entertaining to watch a woman struggle with the twin problems of poverty and prejudice.

The story came alive at around the 20% mark, when Everett Scott finally arrived on the scene. I say “finally” because the book description promised this would the the event that propelled the story forward, and it was. Mr Scott wants to take Thaddeus back to England to be educated and to take his place as Baron Sutherland. Ottilie finally agrees, and the story finally starts.

The story expanded into a deep examination of the difficulties of being born into two cultures and the struggle to fit in, set against the backdrop of Anglo-Indians and the memory of the horrific 1857 mutiny. It’s also a deep examination of faith, of the challenge of believing in and trusting God, not merely believing in and adhering to Christian values.

A Tapestry of Light was well researched and brilliantly written. I’m always impressed when an author can take a little-known aspect of history (such as the beetle-wing embroidery), and turn that into a novel. It’s even better when those historical aspects can be interwoven with deep faith messages and even a little romance.

Recommended for fans of Christian historical fiction with deep faith themes in an international setting.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I have been wanting to try a book by Kimberly Duffy since I first heard about her! I really like that she writes about India since its not very common. Despite going through a bit of burnout right now, I did like this book. It took some getting used to since I’m not very familiar with Indian terms and culture. I would definitely recommend her books for the historical fiction fans out there!

A Tapestry of Light was one of the most fascinating books I've read in a long time! While I love books set in the US and the UK, it was a breath of fresh air to travel through words to a new land. Granted the second half of the book is set in England but the first half is set in Colonial India which I've never read about outside the pages of my history books. Kimberly Duffy's love for the land and culture of India shone through the pages in her passionate and vivid descriptions of everyday life. Death and grief are a large part of the story and, were I a person more given to tears, I'm sure I would of shed a few as I had to watched Ottilie battling depression and bitterness as she dealt with loss and loneliness while trying to straddle two very different worlds. I found myself so invested in her story that I just wanted to yell at some characters, punch others or just in general give them a good shake and talking to. I loved how flawed the characters were, that rather than being stoic macho men and women, they were very real emotional messy people. There wasn't a tonne of romance in the story but there was just enough to satisfy my romantic heart. If you want a feel-good romance, then I wouldn't suggest you read this one but if you want a unique story that deals with some heart hitting God truths then I highly recommend this book for you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Beautiful setting, with being about an Indian/English woman who is caught between two worlds. I loved learning more about the time period and setting.

This book has absolutely fabulous characters that you quickly connect to. They are the standout in this beautiful novel. This story was very emotional, and I really enjoyed it. I easily connected to the characters and to what was happening. This was an all-consuming story that I couldn't put down. I loved it!

I loved A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy. Ottilie Russell’s remarkable journey, combined with vibrant descriptions of India and its culture, fascinated me. Ottilie’s character felt authentic in many ways. Her spiritual doubts and questions reflect my own with uncanny accuracy. The author portrayed these faith struggles with depth and compassion as Ottilie moved toward healing. Other things I admired about Ottilie included her sacrificial love of her family and her remarkable talent for embroidering elytra.

Throughout A Tapestry of Light, Ottilie undergoes deep character development as she struggles with her Eurasian heritage, her desire to care for her brother, and the brokenness inside. I loved that the author dove into Ottilie’s reasoning, feelings, and motives. Part of Ottilie’s character development comes via Everett Scott, the man determined to bring her young brother to England. Their slow burn romance played a significant role in the story, but it was Ottilie that drew me back to the story nightly.

A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy stands as a historical fiction novel, perfect for readers who enjoy exotic locales, deep character development, and slow burn romance. This novel will likely make it into my top ten reads of the year. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

There are various reasons why you pick up a book: the cover, the title, the author, the blurb... For this book, except for the author (who was a new name to me), every other factor was appealing! Especially when the blurb revealed that the story was partly set in India, I became very eager to read it. The book however turned out to be a mixed bag. I tried my best to love it but simply couldn't. The writing style didn't work for me, but more than that, the inconsistences in the character development and historical facts bugged me.

Story:
Ottilie Russell, a 20 year old Eurasian, is struggling with her identity in the India of 1886. With her Indian looks and half-British parentage, she belongs to neither country entirely. After her parents' death, she lives in poor conditions with her grandmother and younger brother Thaddeus, using her skills with beetle wing embroidery to sustain her family. One fine day, a stranger arrives and declares that Thaddeus is the new Baron Sunderson, a fact that catches Ottilie unawares. While Ottilie doesn't want to give up her brother to unknown British relatives, a family tragedy forces her to rethink matters and she soon finds herself in hostile England. What changes will the new country bring to her personal life?

Writing:
The story is set in two countries. Almost the entire first half is set in India while the rest is set in England.

The India section proceeds at a medium place but it does move ahead. So the pace is pretty ok until the story reaches English shores. After that, it drags a lot and is too repetitive in content. I was really bored by the second half because the action seemed lost amid the random plot changes, new character additions, and repetitive scenes.

The author seems to prefer an introspective writing style, where the protagonist analyses every thought and every action for multiple paras. I'm not a fan of this kind of writing. This latter half of the book could have been at least 50 pages shorter if the over-elaborate and redundant descriptions were trimmed.

Faith and belief are an important part of the storyline. As a Christian myself, I could identify with some of the questions raised by Ottilie. But this wasn't my preferred type of Christian fiction. I prefer characters to act in a Christian way rather than merely quoting or referencing scriptures. This book fell in the latter category. It seems unduly preachy.


Characters:
Considering that this is a 430+ pages book, there are numerous characters we encounter. It takes a little while to get Ottilie's complicated genealogy in place. But once you figure out who's who, the story gets rolling.

Some of the secondary characters are nicely sketched. Damaris in particular shone , and I would love to read a book with her in the lead. But Everett Scott was quite a disappointment. He goes back and forth on his own statements, depending on where the author wants to take the story. Dilip was interesting but I hated the introduction of the romantic angle to his arc. It was superfluous. I couldn't connect with most of the Indian characters.


Points to ponder upon:
I would have actually enjoyed the Indian section a lot, were it not for the bewildering character sketches and writing anomalies.

👉🏻 Gitisha Singh, Ottilie's maternal grandmother: Born to a Hindu family in Benares, fell in love with a Christian British army officer, converted her religion and married him, left him after he goes against her father, raises her daughter alone. Gitisha hates everything related to her husband after he betrays her but still doesn't go back to the faith of her childhood. She wears Indian sarees but goes with church ladies to visit the sick. She believes so strongly in her Baptist faith that she isn't happy about Ottilie's potential suitor being a Catholic. And yet... she wishes her ashes to be scattered in the Ganges. She wears a white saree during mourning (unlike the mourning colour of the Christian faith, black.) This was one confusing character and felt more like wishful thinking than factual possibility.

👉🏻 Ottilie is said to be more comfortable in Indian clothes and is fluent in Hindi and Bengali in addition to English. Yet while speaking with local shopkeepers, she uses English. No idea why.

👉🏻 Gitisha is said to be fluent in Hindi, Bengali, and English. But she calls her granddaughter by the Urdu "Navasi", meaning granddaughter. This might be possible as Gitisha originates from Benares, so I could give the author the benefit of doubt here. But it's still highly unlikely.

👉🏻 Ottilie calls her mother "Maji". The Hindi word for mother is "Maa", with the suffix "ji" added as a mark of respect. But Ottilie doesn't use this honorific for any other family member. The rest of the family elders are called Papa and Nani. Odd. One character is even called "Niraja Nani". I doubt people of those times would allow senior elders to be addressed by their first name, even with the term "Nani" added.

👉🏻 There's a letter in the book to Gitisha written by her sister in which she refers to their father as "Pita". No Indian will call their father Pita, even though the word means father. The correct address is always "Pitaji", without exceptions.

👉🏻 Niraja mentions in one scene how they stole the Bible from a visiting luminary, only to later realise that God "commanded his followers not to steal". Well, I'm no expert but I'm sure that Hindu gods don't advocate stealing as well. This was just silly.

👉🏻 Thaddeus goes to sleep on Christmas Eve with great excitement, anticipating "Christmas Baba" and his gifts. Sorry, but this term just made me burst into laughter. It sounded absurd! I've never heard of this term being used EVER, and I'm an Indian Christian! The problem is not in the label (the author might have created it just for this book to promote an Indian Santa-like idea.) My problem is that non-Indians reading the book will believe this nonsense. If Ottilie and Thaddeus knew the idea of Christmas, I'm sure it wouldn't have been farfetched for them to know the concept of Santa Claus.

👉🏻 The 1857 mutiny had nothing to do with religious conversions to Christianity but with the cartridges of the new rifles being greased with cow and pig fat. This was insulting to both Hindu and Muslim religious practices, and that's why they revolted. The Britishers did forcibly convert many Indians to Christianity, and they deserve censure for it, but that's not connected to the 1857 revolt.

👉🏻 There are a few references to the "massacre at Cawnpore" but no details except for a passing mention of Nana Sahib. To a certain extent, I get why the details aren't mentioned; they weren't the main focus of the story. But the way this content is written makes the historical event appear one-sided and with only British losses from the murderous revolutionaries. Please look up the 1857 Revolt of India and Nana Sahib to get the facts right. There's a proverb in Hindi, "taali ek haath se nahi bajti." (A clap is not possible with one hand.)

👉🏻 Why are American English spellings being used for a book set in India and England, both of which use British English?

👉🏻 Many of the Indian words aren't translated, and there's no glossary at the end. How will international readers understand the meaning?


As can be seen, there are a few issues with the Indian part of the story. But I must also give praise where it is due.

👉🏻 I hadn't even heard of beetle wing embroidery. So to become aware of such a beautiful local art through an international book was a wonderful experience.

👉🏻 The author's depiction of the identity crisis of the Anglo-Indians (called "Eurasians" in this book for valid reasons) seems quite accurate.

👉🏻 Unlike most international books set in this period of Indian history, the author does give a voice to the Indian people and talk of their desire for independence, rather than only focussing on the idea of uneducated and impoverished "natives". Though this is still at a much smaller scale than I would have liked, I still appreciate the efforts.

Considering that the author isn't an Indian, she has still done a decent job, much much better than the book "The Henna Artist" by Indian-origin author Alka Joshi. I can see the passion that Kimberly Duffy has for India. Her love for the country is very evident in the writing. But many aware Indians will find the above problems distracting away from the plot. The author's note at the end mentions that she has an Indian friend who does a sensitivity check for her. But maybe there should be someone to do the accuracy check too.


Overall, this is a valiant attempt at a historical fiction set in India. If you don't know anything about India, you'll certainly enjoy it more than I did, especially as it doesn't stop at the usual tropes that authors use to depict India: peacocks, elephants, snakes and snake charmers... but goes ahead to include our art, cuisine, language, beliefs, and so on. They say that ignorance is bliss. It would have certainly served me well in the enjoyment of this book were I ignorant of Indian history and culture. Maybe I was just the wrong reader for this book.


Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed A Mosaic of Wings, also set in India, so I looked forward to reading this novel as well. I found great prose and rich setting details here, as in book one. But I also found several unfamiliar words in another language without the benefit of translation, which was a bit frustrating.

The theme of racial prejudice seemed timely, even though the novel is set in 1886. A timeless theme. I loved that the heroine was a professional embroiderer. I enjoy that hobby so it was great to read of a woman making an income by embroidering for hire. It seemed a well-researched book. You really feel immersed in that setting as you read.

Once again, as with several novels lately, the heroine’s deepest wound is her mother’s recent death, a challenging ingredient, especially if it's relatable to readers.

Overall, the story felt very heavy. I didn’t find enough light in the opening chapters to keep me reading. Maybe it’s the pandemic or other aspects of life in recent months, but this story's emotional weight didn’t motivate me to keep reading. Also, romance was absent in the opening pages. If the story had been lighter, I may have kept going to find that element. What I couldn’t be sure of was a thick enough Christian thread woven in. A hopefulness or brightness, given the tone of the earliest scenes.

Though this book wasn’t for me, I wish the author and publisher all the best.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I hate when I struggle to love a book. I wanted so much to love A Tapestry of Light, but sadly this was not an enjoyable read for me, but instead felt like a struggle, almost like I was wading in a rhetorical quicksand. One caveat I must stress is that I might not have been in the right frame of mind while reading this novel. I had a lot of heavy personal things going on while I was trudging through this book, and this narrative is a pretty heavy and depressing one, so I do believe my current situations did affect my perception.

One thing that hit me like a ton of bricks was the onslaught of tragedy that we are introduced with in the first chapter. Wow! I felt like it was plowed onto the reader, much like it was gorged onto poor Ottilie and her family. My heart did go out to this poor dear, the loss unimaginable, and it is no wonder that she struggles with her faith throughout the book. I think if I had to deal with everything that was thrown at her I would've felt the same way!

Not only does she deal with deep personal loss, she also had to deal with a multicultural heritage at a time when the dual cultures were not seeing eye to eye, thus making her an outcast no matter where she is, something that I'm sure many can relate to.

A Tapestry of Light has a great premise but despite feeling empathy for Ottilie and her plight, I fought to connect with her personally, and never felt truly vested in her story, and I think I know why. One thing that bothered me throughout was the immense details that went into this novel. There is no doubt there is no detail left to the imagination, which made for some incredible imagery, but I felt like Ottilie's story got too bogged down in mundane details, which was upsetting, as this was a well written novel that was weighty in more ways than one.

Though I have seen A Tapestry of Light in a more negative light I still refuse to give up on this book, and plan to read it when I am in a better frame of mind, and commend the author for a very passionate, detailed, and tragic yet redemptive tale that will stick with me for years to come.

Wow! I was totally blown away by A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy. This book has EVERYTHING! This 5-star historical novel is a must-read — put it at the top of your TBR now!

So I loved A Tapestry of Light — let me count the ways. 😉 First, the characters are complex and very, very real. Although I have very little in common with main character Otillie, she is Ango-Indian and very much a bound by the conventions of her day, she is a character that struggled and grew in ways that I could definitely relate to. And relatable is probably the best word to describe all of the characters. Even one character in particular who was not very nice and very easy not to like AT ALL, I found to mirror some of my more unlikable character traits as well. Talk about uncomfortable. But Duffy writes her characters in such a way that they become friends and you can learn from each of them. Second, the setting of the first half of the book is amazing. India, and in particular, Calcutta of the late 1880s, becomes something of a character on its own. It plays such a big role in who Otillie is. Duffy engages all of the senses in her vivid descriptions. I also really liked that the setting for the second half of the book — England — mirrors Otillie’s emotional state. As winter turns to spring, Otillie begins to thaw and see new growth as well. Duffy explains her connection to Otillie in the Author’s Note. Otillie’s story is very personal — this reader felt that and it again makes real the strong spiritual threads in the book.

A Tapestry of Light gets a Very Highly Recommended rating from me. It will definitely be on my best of the best list for 2021.

Very Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

A Tapestry of Light is a poignant and heart-wrenching story of loss and longing to find a place to belong and fit in. It’s also a glorious story of overcoming, hope, and faith. Set in Calcutta, India in 1866 and later in England, Kimberly Duffy masterfully paints a picture of the surroundings and what life was life in that time period. The characters come alive on the page, and it’s easy to transport yourself to another place and time. Ottilie Russell is the daughter of a British father and Eurasian mother but resembles her mother with her dark skin and coloring. Her brother, Thaddeus, resemble his father and can pass for British. When their parents pass away, Everett Scott comes to India to fetch Thaddeus, as he has inherited a title.

As they attempt to integrate themselves into British life, Ottilie feels like she’s on the fringes of society and unacceptable no matter where she goes. Her journey of faith and belonging is very inspirational. Duffy is a fantastic story teller, and I enjoyed experiencing this slice of history, even though I felt empathy for Ottilie in her situation. This story will stay on my heart for a long time. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy is an exquisite tale of a young woman who, in the midst of heart-shattering loss and rejection, finds that the only constant in life is God.
Although it deals with some deep and serious themes, it never once falls into being dreary, depressing, or drawn out. Instead, its delicate, lyrical tone lends a sense of hope amid the darkness.
Ottilie was such a unique character—trapped between two warring cultures, fighting to be strong for her brother, holding on to her dwindling faith, and learning to trust God even in the darkest of moments. I felt her pain and heartache as if she were real. Her faith journey was one of the best I've read—it was natural and slow, and made all the more beautiful by the questions and obstacles. It was truly inspiring.
The romance was subtle, but absolutely lovely and fit the story perfectly.
I’d recommend it to fans of J’nell Ceisielski, Kristi Ann Hunter, Laura Frantz, and Elizabeth Camden.

(I received a complementary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)