A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly is a gripping and poignant historical fiction novel that explores the fateful night of April 15, 1912, when the Titanic tragically sank. The story is uniquely told from the perspectives of two key figures: Captain Arthur Rostron of the Carpathia, the ship that heroically responded to the Titanic's distress call, and Kate Connolly, a third-class passenger on the Titanic.

Connolly’s narrative is rich with historical detail, painting a vivid picture of the intense and perilous rescue mission led by Captain Rostron. The novel delves into the captain's unwavering determination to push his ship to its limits, navigating through dangerous ice-filled waters to reach the Titanic's survivors. The portrayal of Rostron as a compassionate and courageous leader adds depth to the story, making the reader feel the weight of his decisions in the face of an unimaginable disaster.

On the other side, Kate Connolly’s experience as a survivor provides a harrowing glimpse into the human side of the tragedy. Her journey from hope to despair and the haunting aftermath of the sinking is rendered with emotional authenticity. Connolly effectively captures the sense of loss, guilt, and grief that Kate and other survivors carry with them, making their stories resonate long after the book is finished.

The alternating viewpoints between the captain and the survivor create a well-rounded narrative that highlights both the heroism and the heartbreak of that night. The author’s meticulous research is evident, and the inclusion of historical facts enriches the story without overshadowing the fictional elements.

While the pacing of the novel is swift, with a focus on the immediate events surrounding the disaster, it maintains a balance between action and introspection. The story’s tension is palpable, even though the outcome is well-known, and the emotional impact is profound.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice is a powerful and moving account of one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. It offers a fresh perspective on the Titanic story by emphasizing the heroic efforts of the Carpathia’s crew and the emotional aftermath faced by the survivors. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction that delves into the human experience behind well-known events.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice tells the tragic story of the sinking of the Titanic and the events that followed when the Carpathia came to aid the survivors who boarded the lifeboats. We meet Kate Connolly, a third-class passenger who boarded the Titanic with her friends from her hometown, seeking better opportunities in America. During her voyage, she spends her time exploring the grand ship, making new acquaintances, and celebrating with them as they all embark on a new chapter of their lives. But her happiness is short-lived, as disaster strikes when the Titanic hits the iceberg. She manages to escape on a lifeboat but soon witnesses the horrific sight of the Titanic sinking and its passengers drowning in the ocean, which shakes her to the core. Meanwhile, the captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron, rushes against time to save the lives of the passengers after receiving the distress signal from the Titanic. He not only has to speed up his ship, but he and his crew also have to keep an eye out for the icebergs that lie ahead to ensure the safety of their passengers onboard. As the story unfolds in dual POV, we get the full picture from the perspective of the survivors and the saviors.

The fact that this novel is based on Captain Rostron and Kate Connolly’s real-life experiences is what ultimately drew me to read this book. I hardly knew much about the ship that rescued the passengers of the Titanic, so as I began to read this book, I discovered a great deal of information about the challenges faced by Captain Rostron and his crew on their journey to rescue the survivors. On the other hand, we also gain insight into the perspective of the survivors, their helplessness and anguish over losing their loved ones, and the trauma they deal with after witnessing this tragedy. I was getting emotional as I read about Kate’s harrowing ordeal and the guilt she and many survivors carry in their hearts after surviving a near-death situation. But even in the wake of this disaster, the story also inspires hope as we learn about the compassion and generosity shown by the people, be it by the group of wealthy passengers who raised funds for the victims or by the Carpathia passengers from different classes who came to tend to the needs of the survivors. 

Apart from the protagonists, a lot of the characters who appear in this book are real-life figures. I really appreciate the amount of effort the author has put into her research to write about them as well as about the events that followed when the Carpathia arrived in New York. However, I wouldn’t mind if the book were slightly longer, as I wanted to learn a bit more about Kate’s experience as a third-class passenger on the Titanic and especially about the new friends she made on her voyage before the inevitable doom. But all in all, this book was fast-paced, compelling, and poignant, and it was enlightening to read about the Carpathia and the commendable efforts of Captain Arthur Rostron and his crew, which saved the lives of 705 people who survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Thank you, NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, for sending me the ebook of A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice. 😄❤️

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly was a wonderful book about the sinking of the Titanic told from the viewpoint of one of the steerage passengers and the Captain of the Carpathia. The Carpathia was the only ship to heed the distress signals sent by the sinking Titanic, in time to save those poor souls who had spent the night in lifeboats.
Out of almost 2500 passengers and crew, the Carpathia was only able to save 705 people. There has been speculation about the other ships in the vicinity of the sinking, but no one was able to find out why they did not heed the distress signals.
I found this book to be the most interesting novel written about the Titanic that was different from other novels about this tragedy. Because this novel was written from the perspective of the Captain Author Rostron of the Carpathia, and the account of Kate Connolly, a young Irish girl en route to New York, this work lends itself to imagining what transpired immediately after the sinking and of the rescue of the surviving passengers and crew. The obvious reaction of Captain Rostron was one of dismay that more were unable to be saved. The guilt feelings that haunted Kate Connolly were completely understandable and heart-wrenching. I was unable to put this book down and read the whole book in one day.

I've read much about Titanic but nothing about the Carpathia who went to Titanic's rescue. I mostly listened to this book and really enjoyed the narrators who tell Captain Rostron and Kate Connelly's perspectives. This is a compelling and emotional story, but I loved it so much and heartily recommend it to Titanic fans.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Publication date: 19 April 2022.

I loved the different POVs of the book and appreciated the quotes after each chapter from people that had real life experiences with the Titanic. I wish that there had been more time to develop the characters so that I could have been more attached to them. It ended up feeling a little rushed for me because of this. Overall, it was an interesting book and I loved the take from the Carpathia’s view.

A refreshing, unique perspective on the Titanic! I've had an obsession with the disaster for near 30 years, and the captain of the Carpathia is not a viewpoint we EVER seem to get. And, a third class passenger! We spend so much time hearing about her wealthier passengers, we often forget there was a whole two lower classes! This was my first novel by this author, but it definitely won't be my last!

A historical fiction novel about the ship that saved the survivors of the Titanic. It switches back and forth between the captain of the Carpathia and a character on the Titanic that gets rescued. It appears the author did her research, and much of the book is based on accounts of those who experienced it. It’s an interesting new take on a heavily covered topic. When we think of the Titanic, we often think of the experiences of those that did not survive. This is a look at the tragedy from a survivor’s perspective. Also, it’s a fairly light read, so those wanting to read historical fiction without anything too heavy or gruesome will be happy to know there aren’t any heavy details regarding death. The author was admittedly moved by the compassion of those that rescued the survivors, and the compassion of the survivors towards one another, so she tends to magnify that point quite a bit. A good historical fiction read altogether!

What a unique and often overlooked perspective of the night the Titanic sunk. Connolly creates suspense amongst a plotline that is well known, which keeps you turning page after page to discover what happens next. Filled with found family, grief, hope, loss and suspense.

I've read many accounts of The Titanic, but I haven't read many based-on-a-true story books about the rescue ship, The Carpathia. Of course, I know the basic details, but it was both heartbreaking and inspiring to read about the perspectives of different people who either worked aboard the ship, were passengers, or who were rescued.

It was apparent the hand of God played a significant part in this rescue and it was a powerful collection of reports describing the events, emotions, and experiences these people had during this massively difficult time in history.

I loved the way Connolly pieced everything together, starting each chapter with an actual quote. My heart was tugged on and I had some moments of reflection on what happened, especially with the recent Titan submersible tragedy.

Powerful. Inspirational. Beautifully written.

Content: mild moments of peril/danger/death

We all know the story of Titanic and not just the Jack and Rose one. I learned about this boat when I was young and then the movie came out and my fascination grew. I was so excited to get this book! i found myself unexpectedly (i dont know why i was surprised) emotional while reading this and had to take breaks from it. Imagine the Jack and Rose story but like thousands of them trimmed down to enough people to fit in a novel.
I definitely recommend!

Titanic Fanatics: RUN, don’t walk, to pick up this book.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice is genuinely one of the most, if not the most, heartfelt, empathetic, respectful, and well researched books about the sinking of the Titanic that I’ve ever read. And I’ve read quite a few!

Stringing together fictional moments and real, known witnessed moments and passengers made for such a beautiful and emotional book and I can’t say that enough. The reverence for the crew of the Carpathia and Captain Arthur Rostron alone was beautiful to read, as it’s apart of the Titanic story that is too often left out.

Just a beautiful book that I cannot say enough how much I loved it, and how much love and research went into it that leaks from the pages.

I've always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic. Obviously we knew what happened from it being a big historical event but not a lot was discussed about the ship that came to the rescue of those on the Titanic. I thought it was an interesting read and I liked how the book jumped back and forth between passengers on the Titanic and the Carpathia. Although I did feel like the writing was a little lackluster and it was very confusing with all the different names and similar sounding/spelled names, it was a quick read and kept my interest.

Rebecca Connolly’s A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice brings readers back to 1912 when the famous passenger liner, the RMS Titanic, collided with an iceberg. Through her use of the protagonist, Kate Connolly, readers follow along in the heart-wrenching ordeal of the passengers, including the heroism and selflessness of the few men and the remaining women on board. As the Titanic’s crew responds to the immense task of rescue, Connolly manages to write a captivating story of survival against all odds. A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice is an absolute must-read that follows the journey of courage, sorrow, and heroism during this historic tragedy.

This fascinating story is the part of the Titanic story I never knew! It’s filled with suspense, sadness, filled me with awe, and broke my heart. It’s beautifully written and made me curious to do more research about the time period. Although too mature for my classroom, my high school daughter will want to read this one for sure!

I've read plenty of novels about the Titanic, but NEVER one about Carpathia, the ship that saved Titanic's passengers! What a unique perspective. I had never even really considered the story from this perspective. The urgency, strength, and discipline that Captain Rostron and Carpathia's crew exhibited is amazing.

I also like that Captain Rostron is portrayed as a praying man who reads his Bible. Excellent, excellent! There is not much religious content in the story, but I liked a few of the facts thrown in there like that.

Clean fiction, no rough language, etc. I could definitely recommend this book to friends and family, of any age. I am so glad to have picked up this book!

This book was really interesting! I was intrigued by the storyline and that's what initially drew me to this title. I also really love the cover artwork.

An engaging and unique perspective of the tragic sinking of the Titanic.

I've read many books about the Titanic in my life, but never have a I read a book that more than whispered of the Carpathia the only ship to pick up survivors. Told from the perspective of the courageous and humble Captain Arthur Rostron of the Carpathia as well as Kate Connolly a passenger on the fated Titanic the added depth of perspective gives the true story a fresh angle. The chapters go back and forth between the two main characters as they tell their sides of the story. I liked how the author used the alternating narratives to give more information and depth to the story.

I walked away from reading this book feeling like I had learned so much and had doubled my knowledge of the Titanic by learning about the humble heroics of Captain Rostron, and how hard he worked to save the lives of the survivors. I also liked how Kate's side of the story added emotional depth and gravity to the situation as a survivor.

Overall, a well written read, well researched and compelling telling of a true life tragedy. A wonderful read for fans of historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

I've had a lifelong interest in the Titanic. When I was in 3rd Grade we read about the famous ship, and learned a song to go with it. I remember singing it for my grandmother one night while she babysat. And that was that. Ever since, I've been fascinated with the story of the ship, the stories of the passengers, and the what might have beens of things had gone differently that night and the days (and months) leading up to it.

So, when I saw this book and read the blurb, I was intrigued. But in the end I hesitated to rate/review this, because I am not this books intended audience. The book is very faith/Christianity heavy, and I am not a Christian. The summary doesn't mention how religious this story is, and I wish it would have because I wouldn't have started it if I had known. I was drawn to the book because it dealt with a woman who was a 3rd class passenger. Only 172 steerage passengers that night survived, and I was intrigued to read a Titanic story from that perspective,

In addition to the faith stuff, I also found the writing a little dry and found the whole thing to be a little boring. The ship sank by the middle of the book, and rest of it seemed to drag on much longer than it needed to.

Maybe it was the religion, maybe it was the fact that this really didn't tell me anything new, and maybe it was just that I found it difficult to connect to Kate. I don't know. Bu

There’s not a lot of new material left for writers who want to novelize the wreck of the Titanic, but what exists is so good that it doesn’t really seem to matter much if we’ve heard it before as long as the storytelling is good.

Rebecca Connolly does an exceptional job at that here, making the tension of the wreck palpably nerve-wracking for the reader and setting the scene with brilliant sense of place.

Telling half of the story from the perspective of the captain of the Carpathia also provides a fresh take on the story. While we’re certainly aware of his role, it’s far less popular in novelizations of the tragedy, and I loved how it was executed here.

The other half of the duo narrating this one is an Irish third class passenger named Kate Connolly, so noting new there. I enjoyed her chapters as well even though it’s nothing we haven’t seen before.

My only gripe with this one relates to Kate’s chapters and the handling of survivor’s guilt. The situation that causes this is terrifically clever and one of the best parts of the story, but Kate’s hysterical, maudlin, “everyone will hate me!” wailing is both obnoxiously overdone and fairly nonsensical given that the situation that gave rise to this is certainly not her fault, and no one would believe that it was.

Obviously the psychological trauma caused by something like this can go in some strange directions, but it’s irritatingly over the top and bothersome especially because the character kept her head so well throughout everything else that happened. I mean…a giant ocean liner that was supposed to be unsinkable sank and mayhem ensured in the aftermath. So there’s plenty of drama to this story. I didn’t need this unwelcome addition of manufactured angsty, girl world hysteria in a book that is otherwise very well written.

Otherwise, zero complaints, and a fun and intense read for those interested in this era or in the Titanic specifically.

This book was not what I thought it would be. I was thinking it would be a titanic like remake, or something like it. But this book brought me to tears. The untold story of the Carpathia and it’s HUGE part in rescuing those from the titanic is a story I’ve never heard before. This was not the light hearted story I was hoping for, but what I got was so much better! A true story of how some amazing people saved a ship 3x their size, and without the radio or equipment we have today!

If you enjoy historical retellings this is your book! Don’t read it looking for romance, it’s not the typical HEA or “romance” I’m used too, but I’m still glad I read it!