3.5/5
Calcutta, 1886 - Ottilie Russel's life is once again upturned after the sudden death of her mother. Born from the English father and Anglo-Indian mother, she feels lost between two cultures and rejected by both Indians and British, and her distinctly Indian looks don’t make it easier for her to be accepted. Amidst her worries about the family’s, especially her young brother’s, survival she receives the news that once again reveal the long hidden family secrets. Her six years old brother is the new heir to the baronetcy and the stranger who brought the news wants him to come to England and assume the title. When the fatal disease that already cost them most of their family strikes again, Ottilie makes a decision to leave everything she knows and loves and sets out for the unknown country her father have long forsaken. In cold and unwelcoming England she’ll have to learn to rely on her faith and to trust those around her with her heart if she wants the chance for the better life.

This was very emotional and enlightening story. It took me on a journey I wouldn’t neccessary choose to take if haven’t spotted this book on NetGalley and I’m better for reading it. I loved the descriptions of India and all the details about the way of life and people who lived there in 19th century. I appreciate how researched and respectful this story was. Even though I’m not religious ( my relationship with religion is complicated one ) I appreciated the parts where Ottilie struggled with her faith and I was not at all surprised to read author’s note on them being her personal struggles, because it really did feel personal and honest.

There are several reasons why I didn’t rate this book higher even though I enjoyed the story. The first one is that I feel like at least first 50%, or even more, of this book could’ve been told in the first 25-30%. It just felt dragged out and the pacing felt off. That leads me to another reason and that is repetitiveness. Some things were repeated more than enough times and I was thinking – okay, we know that already, lets move on. A lot of the plot was sacrificed to the main characters introspectiveness, and that’s okay in certain measure but I felt like there was too much of it in the first part of the book and it took me some time to get into the story. There were also some inconsistencies in writing, namely in Ottilie’s feelings, such as when she at certain moments decides that she’s doing something for herself, then few pages later she says she’s doing it for Thaddeus. I also think that too many issues and subplots were introduced and then not developed properly and resolved too quickly – for example the part about colonel or the seamstresses. The less is more and all that. The story would’ve benefited from less subplots, less Ottilie’s repetitive doubts and more character development. I felt like the only character that got some development was Ottilie and even she took such a long time that I felt very frustrated with her. I wished for maybe Everett’s point of view, so that we could understand him better and experience the story from his side, or any other of the characters that take larger part in the story.

Nevertheless, this was very interesting and, in the end, enjoyable read, despite my complaints. The author is talented and I will follow her work in the future. Her descriptions, both of places and emotions, are beautiful and made up for my frustration with some other parts of the book.

Last year I read Mosaic of Wings and was blown away by the beautiful writing style of Ms Duffy. I felt the same way reading A Tapestry of Light. The author writes in such a wonderful, descriptive way that draws you in and makes you see and feel everything the characters do.

This story is about loss, pain, loneliness and rejection. It broke my heart reading what Ottilie was going through. But there is also hope. Thadeus, who had also experienced loss and rejection, offers a friendship to Ottilie that she hasn't had before. I loved Ottilie's grandmother and the words of wisdom she gave to her. It was wonderful seeing these truths begin to help Ottilie grow stronger as a person and also spiritually.

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it! I am already looking forward to more books by this author.

A Tapestry of Light begins in Calcutta,India in November of 1885, and ends in Wiltshire, England in July of 1889. Ottilie, a skilled beetle embroiderer of Eurasian descent, struggles with loss, betrayal, racism, holding onto her heritage, and most importantly grappling with her Christian faith. She asks the hard questions, ones that many of us are afraid to ask; among them: how do we know what we believe is truth, why do we suffer, and why do some people suffer so much more that others. Nānī, her grandmother, assures her that God is not afraid of her questions. Everett Scott, an Englishman who has experienced a great loss of his own, encourages Ottilie with wisdom that eventually, paired with new circumstances, allows her to see things in a new light.

This story is filled with beautiful language, vivid mental images for sight, smell, and taste; intense emotion; and enlightenment. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

“Nothing you do or I do will ever make me acceptable. Nothing society thinks can make me unacceptable. My worth, your worth, is found in God alone. And he says we are accepted.”

A Tapestry of Light is a tender story of acceptance. Not just acceptance from others, but from oneself, and knowing that we are accepted by God, the One who truly counts.

The story starts off in India where Ottilie was born and raised in a loving household. One-by-one, her family leaves for their eternal home, and she is faced with a choice: stay in a place where she is comfortable even though death can knock at her door at any moment, or pick up her life and the only family she has left, and enter into English society, a place where she knows she could never belong.

I struggled to get into this novel as I felt the beginning moved too slowly, and then I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. But in between the two was a beautiful story that pulled at the heartstrings and even made me cry at one point (and almost cry at others). I could feel Ottilie’s agony over wanting what was best for her little brother Thaddeus, yet at the same time knowing she wouldn’t be welcomed as he was. Though both from the same parents, it was obvious that Ottilie had Indian blood, a taboo at that time, whereas her brother looked every bit English. Her other concern was that Thaddeus would lose the Indian part of him, forgetting where he came from.

Family was important to Ottilie, and she felt it was her duty to protect them. But as the book neared the end, she discovered that family was more than just blood.

“…since I arrived in London, I’ve learned family is made up of more than those related by blood. And before I left India, Dilip told me that home was never supposed to be a place. It is the people.”

The pages were also filled with romantic tension. Though it was obvious to both Ottilie and Everett that they had deep feelings for each other, a successful match between them could not be possible. Everett needed to marry someone who could help him in society, and, sadly, Ottilie could not be that woman given her Eurasian heritage.

I thought Kimberly Duffy did a wonderful job showing the issues society brought upon Indian and England in the late 1800s and the individual struggles that came from them. No character remained static as they each faced their own battles, and because of this, the story truly was a beautifully woven tapestry.

I received a copy of A Tapestry of Light thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House. Opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading A Tapestry of Light. I found it to be intriguing to be journeyed back in time to the late nineteenth century India. I loved entering Ottilie’s world. I thought she was a great character to get to know. The story is beautifully written and wonderfully detailed that made feel part of the adventure. I was fascinated from start to finish. I had the whole book read in no time. I did not want to put it down until I was completely done reading it to the very last page.

I going to give A Tapestry of Light four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical romance. I am looking forward to more by Kimberly Duffy in the future. This one should not be missed.

I received A Tapestry of Light from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

I received this novel in exchange for an honest review. Ottile lives in Calcutta and is struggling between the Indian World and British World as she tries to survive.

Wow! I have never read anything like this book in the Christian Historical Fiction world. At first I was confused, but as the book went on I couldn't put it down. The characters were so deep and rich. I learned so many things about Indian culture in the first half and then the novel moves to England. That had me reminiscing all my time spent living in England and learning about Indian culture while living in England. This novel is at the beginning of their influence, and the descriptive foods had me longing for some good Indian, which America just doens't have like the UK.
Anyhow. Ottilie's character goes deep, her thoughts about God, her insecurities about her identity. It's so relatable. Her love toward her brother is more like a mother's, it felt weird at times, but he's all she had.; The back stories behind the minor characters like her Aunt Alberta or her grandparents and even Everett were all really well developed. I had no questions about anything, everything was very clearly explained. The book took me a lot longer to read than most, but it was worth it. If you're looking for something new and unique I definitely recommend it.

In A Tapestry of Light Kimberly Duffy writes an in-depth and nuanced tale of the intersection of Indian and England through the lives of a single family. This novel is lengthy, which I loved. It dives deeply into life in India allowing you to really live in the setting, before shifting its way across the sea. The characters are beautifully developed and the story tugs at your heartstrings as you follow the journey of Ottilie through valleys deep and far flung lands. A story of hope, faith, struggle, love and overcoming, this book is one I can wholeheartedly recommend.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

#BookReview: A TAPESTRY OF LIGHT by Kimberly Duffy

Wow! Have you read A Mosaic of Wings? If you do, this is so much better. It’s slow burn but every page is rich with history and compelling narrative. It brings to life 1886 India with its dynamic culture and an influx of British people. Ottilie has gone through so much in life and has caused her faith to waver. As a Eurasain, she doesn't belong to either one. I was side by side with Ottilie in her struggles socially, emotionally and spiritually. I felt her pain. I cried, loved and laughed with her. I researched about elytra and have some vivid imaginations of how the gowns looked like. She is very talented. It warms my heart to read about her relationship with her brother, Thaddeus. It’s so sweet.

There are so many twists and turns that have kept me hooked to this wonderful book. Ottilie's romance with Everett was just a part of who she is. She is a woman with so much love to give. Fear creates an imaginary wall that hinders us to be open to others and for them to reach us. That is Ottilie. I highly recommend this book as she takes us on her journey of faith and self discovery! Don’t skip the author’s note at the end of the book! 5 stars

Thank you to @bethanyhouse and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

"I wonder if it has been smothered beneath my bitterness and unforgiveness. That's a greater threat to Christian faith than a million other gods. There is no room for it. And if you allow it in, it burns away the blood of Christ as surely as flesh is burned on a funeral pyre."

This is my first book by Kimberly Duffy and I am astounded by her ability to deftly transport the reader to the late 1880s Calcutta with its beauty and poverty, its sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. Learning about a certain type of Indian embroidery was fascinating. For the first half of the book, I was enthralled by the Indian city that Ottilie and her brother Thaddeus called home and felt the heartache and tension between the British and Indian during this tumultuous time. There has been much suffering, loss, and pain in their lives which is compounded by their mixed heritage. The story is told strictly from Ottilie's point of view in the third person. Though this allowed the reader to really engage in empathizing with the main character's innate and unshakable sense of rejection, bitterness, anger, and loneliness, Ottilie's thoughts and feelings became somewhat repetitive over time because she was the only narrator. Ottilie is a remarkable young woman - talented, compassionate, loyal, hard-working, dedicated, self-sacrificial. But she is also quite stubborn, impulsive, and sometimes blind to her own faults and flaws. She does mature as the story progresses - in character and in faith - which was nice to see. Her past loss and grief, as well as the prejudice and unwarranted hatred she receives from both the British and Indian, are hard to read about but unfortunately quite realistic and heart-wrenching. The author also places the plight of overworked and abused London seamstresses into the plot, which was eye-opening.

Although this is a historical fiction with fantastic setting, it is really a young woman's spiritual journey. Ottilie's hardships and doubts push her so close to the edge of breaking and it takes her a long time, many people speaking into her life, and a trip across the world to release the tight hold she has on bitterness, anger, blame and unforgiveness. It is a relatively long book and the plot seemed to lose a bit of momentum in places, especially during their days in England. There is romance in the book, in the line of star-crossed lovers, but the resolution of the romance and the ending seemed rushed and too coincidental. Nevertheless, it is a well-written book with raw and powerful emotions, great spiritual lessons, and beautiful historical setting woven throughout the story and any historical fiction fan will enjoy it.

I received the book via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

A Tapestry of Light
by Kimberly Duffy
Back of the Book: “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.”
Impressions: I’m about to be really honest and admit my world-based knowledge is pretty pathetic. My understanding and history of other countries is slim. One special thing about fiction is that it catches your attention with something you find enjoyable and then piques your curiosity for the non-fiction as you read bits of truths. I always enjoy the authors spill-all at the end of the book on its real and fictionized bits and pieces. This book was no different. That being said I love learning as an adult and seek to know more. In this book specifically, I enjoyed learning about the relations of India and Britain in the past.
Rated: Discussed massacre, racism
Liked: I enjoyed learning new things about the Indian and British cultures. I also enjoyed learning about the elytra embroidery. This was new to me and deemed Google worthy which side barred me from reading for a bit to observe this beautiful art. Without a picture, the idea of any kind of bug on my person was a little off-putting. The elytra embroidery however is unique and held no resemblance to my idea of bug art😊
Disliked: I won’t lie the I was not a fan of the romance in this novel. I felt burned by Ottilie’s rejection to British society and wasn’t able to fully fall in love with her love story. Ottilie had a tragic past and was not delicate but strong. As strong as she was, she was also vibrant with emotion and love for her family and culture. As she gets lost in work at the end, I struggled to make the transition of her life with her extended family. I feel like that transition would have been messier than the book allowed. Alas, it is just a book. Of course, it needs an ending. I just never like endings. It’s a personal problem I assure you.
Quotes:
“’ You’re looking at things the wrong way. You only see what God has taken…But not what he has given…You are so talented, stitching art out of beetle parts. Creating beauty from the ordinary. But even you wouldn’t appreciate your work if you only saw it in reverse.’” -It is hard to be patient as God works in our lives. Sometimes it is downright ugly. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us to keep hope as God's plans are good even when life is messy.
“It was the only place in the city that enfolded God’s children into an embrace that left little room for bigotry and arrogance.” – Can you guess where Ottilie is referring to? A church. Would you say this is true of churches today? Do you feel there are open arms welcoming you into the church, void of bigotry and arrogance? Why or why not?
“’ I know it’s no comfort, but I’ve seen how suffering can produce good character. It makes people resilient. Compassionate toward others. The things they accomplish are made more beautiful because of the strength it took to persevere.’” – I just loved this quote. It is so true how God works through hardships in our lives.
“’ It’s not as though we have a say in the tragedy we endure. It happens and we grow. Or it happens and we wither.’” – With God, we have the courage to look forward and grow from tragedy. Without him, we are hopeless and wither, or I would add bitter and jaded.
“…Home was never supposed to be a place. It is the people.” -Yep!
“As romantic as going back in time sounds, I’m grateful we only have to log on to a computer to open the pages of a book to experience life and culture in different places and ages.” – Kimberly Duffy writes this at the end of the book and I couldn’t agree more!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

"You aren't unwanted. And never will be." A heartfelt reminder Author Kimberly Duffy weaves into this gem, A Tapestry of Light.
With both Indian and British blood running through Ottilie's veins, she faces rejection at every turn. My heart ached as she tried to fit in either country but fell through the cracks in both. Whether through racism, failure, or the loss of a loved one, our identity can easily get lost when we lose sight of who we are in Him.
This journey from India to England will move your spirit as you travel along. I blinked back satisfying tears at the perfect ending. 5/5 stars! I must forewarn you to read on a full stomach or you will be craving Indian food. 😆

I didn't want this to end, yet I couldn't wait to find out how it ended. It almost felt like The Henna Artist meets Pride and Prejudice.

It's 1886 in Calcutta and Ottillie Russell, a young British-Indian woman has grown up never feeling like she belongs anywhere outside of her family. That family also seems to keep shrinking. Years ago she lost her father and two of her siblings to Cholera, and now she has lost her mother after she was trampled by a horse. Suddenly, Ottillie's beetle-wing embroidery is the only income she has to support herself, her younger brother, Thaddeus, her grandmother, and their former servant, who has become like family. When Everett Scott appears out of the blue from England claiming that Thaddeus is a Baron and he has traveled to India on behalf of Ottillie's paternal grandmother to collect Thaddeus, Ottillie begins to learn that sometimes even the closest knit families have secrets.

This was a beautifully written novel with a fascinating story. The setting is written so well, I almost had to remind myself that I've never been to India. What I loved the most about A Tapestry of Light was how deep Kimberly Duffy dived into the complexity of being born from both British and Indian heritage during the nineteenth century. Ottillie is a wonderful character and I wanted her to have the world, but, because of her heritage, it won't come easily. I knew very little about the historical setting of this book and the history of the relationship between Britain and India. I felt like I learned a lot while reading this, which, I suppose, is the point of historical fiction.

As Ottillie learned and navigated her faith, I felt like I was on a journey with a real person as her warmth seemed to float off the page (well, I read this on a Kindle, but floating off the screen doesn't sound as good). Duffy's characters are just about as well written as her settings. I really enjoyed every single character and learning about their motivations. There wasn't a single main or supporting character who felt out of place or undeveloped to me.

I loved this from cover to cover and am looking forward to reading Duffy's first novel, A Mosaic of Wings, and her novel that's being released later this year, Every Word Unsaid.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for the promise of an honest review.

Wow. This beautiful work of historical fiction immerses you in the tangled history of Britain and India and shows the strength and resilience that can come from suffering.

Ottilie was born in Calcutta, India to a British father and a Eurasian mother. Having grieved the loss of her family, she is left to care for her young brother and grandmother. When she learns that her brother is the sole heir to a large estate in England, she is forced to decide what her life is going to look like and whether she has the courage to face the unknown.

I loved the themes that this book explored and the intricate way it dives into cultural prejudices and doubts about faith and suffering. Ottilie's story lingers long after you close the pages, for it reflects many of the questions that arise in our own hearts.

This was my first book by Kimberly Duffy and I already can’t wait to read what she releases next. I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a beautiful, atmospheric story. Duffy explores India's rich culture and history in Ottilie's story. Read it with some tissues, there are many moving moments throughout this story, but in the end all is well. Ottilie's grief, doubt, and fear are ultimately soothed by her developing faith and her journey is both unique and relatable. Recommend for reader's who enjoy strong female leads in beautifully detailed historical fiction.

If you're looking for a sad book and you love historic fiction, this is a book for you. I rarely cry while reading books but this was one where I had to keep the tissues handy.

Ottilie is a British-Indian young woman living in Calcutta in the 1880s when a series of tragedies and unexpected circumstances force her to make tough choices to ensure her family's survival. The writing throughout the book is beautiful at immersing the reader in colonial India, but what I think Kimberly Duffy does even better is describing the challenge of being mixed race in a society where the British look down on Indians. This showed me a new picture of history at this time which taught me a lot.

My only two complaints about this book is that there was some disjointed writing during points where Ottilie rediscovered her faith and that the ending wrap up after such a twisting sad story was a little too neat and perfect. But overall, that was it. I enjoyed this book and recommend it!

"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.

Kimberly Duffy has done it again. With A Tapestry of Light, she has woven a rich tale of faith amidst life's challenges.

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 have 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.

(Review will go live on the blog on 3/19 at 12 p.m.)

A very heavy story about Ottilie, a young lady caught in two societies, not fitting in either. She and her younger brother are 3/4 British and 1/4 Indian; her brother appearance favoring the British and herself Indian. This will prove be an issue throughout. Having been orphaned, she desperately tries to support her brother and grandmother by continuing her mother's business of beetle-wing embroidery. The author does a great job describing life in India and England. I found the art of beetle-wing embroidery fascinating but the overall story the depressing.

I longed to visit India when I was younger but having recently read a Robin Cook book set in India's crowded streets and then following with Kimberly Duffy's A Tapestry of Light which was set 100 years prior to Cook's book, I think I'll pass. Kimberly Duffy created a strong and extremely likable heroine in Ottilie Russell. Ottilie copes with extreme poverty and rampant illness while devoting herself to her family and their needs. The descriptions of the food and scents of Indian culture and of the artistic embroidery brought me into Ottilie's world. My heart was broken for Ottilie. A Tapestry of Light is a wonderful read.