A Tapestry of Light

 

Back Cover

In 1886 Calcutta, 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 the skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger named Everett Scott appears with 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, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her bother.  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 a cold, foreign land.

Review

A Tapestry of Light is a sweeping historical novel that crosses two countries to bring a moving story of love, loss, faith, and belonging. In beautiful prose, the author tells the story of Ottilie Russell, who has encountered so much loss in her life that her faith is near shattered. For the sake of her younger brother, Thaddeus, she embarks on a journey to England where she is faced with racial prejudice from London society and her extended family. Feeling forced to forsake her heritage and familial connections, Ottilie begins a journey of finding herself and discovering her true worth.  She finds comfort within her talents in beetle-wing embroidery, a skill that had been passed down to her by her mother and grandmother. With each stitch, she brings herself one step closer to becoming socially independent and discovers that God isn't nearly as far away as she thought Him to be.

An absolutely beautiful story, A Tapestry of Light has become one of my all-time favourite novels. Highly recommend!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.