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