"A Tapestry of Light" by Kimberly Duffy

Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. When a stranger appears with the news that her brother 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.

This was a fascinating historical novel. The descriptions, the complex history depicted, the romance--all of it was beautiful, but none of more than Ottilie herself as she struggles with her faith and learns to overcome. She's incredibly relatable as she questions God's goodness, even God Himself, when all she sees is devastation and loss and rejection. Most of her family has died suddenly in outbreaks of disease and tragic accidents. As a Eurasion, she's too British to be Indian, but too Indian to be British, and she is accepted by neither faction. She feels very alone, and that's something I think we can all relate to. 

I loved what Ottilie's aunt--who has struggled with faith as much or even more than Ottilie herself--says that bitterness and unforgiveness are "a greater threat to Christian faith than a million other gods." In a land of many religions and even more gods, even she can recognize that it wasn't the allure of another god that challenged her faith--it was the bitterness of betrayal and her choice not to forgive.

For all that Ottilie feels alone, she draws wonderful friends. I would love to know more about Damaris--she's clever and fun and easily worthy of her own story. Penny and her family come late to the narrative, but they're no less delightful. All in all, it was an excellent read.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.