A Mosaic of Wings

GIVEAWAY

DUFFY, KIMBERLY
A MOSAIC OF WINGS

Nora Shipley has one goal -- to carry on the legacy of her late father by taking over the scientific journal he started. To that end, she's fought to be taken seriously among her male classmates and graduate as valedictorian of Cornell's  entomology program. When pressures to settle down rise to a fever pitch, she impulsively joins a research expedition in Kodaikanal, India, to prove herself in the field and win a scholarship.

But India holds several surprises -- she is impressed not only by the beauty of its natural wonders, but also by the gentle nature she discovers in the rival classmate who accompanied her, Owen Epps. Instead of exploring, however, she is forced by the expedition leader to stay at camp and illustrate exotic butterflies the men of the team find without her. During the many quiet days, Nora befriends Sita, a young Indian girl who has been dedicated to the goddess against her will.

In this spellbinding new land, Nora is soon faced with impossible choices -- between saving Sita and saving her career, and between what she's always thought she wanted and the man she's come to love.

My Review:

Laura Frantz-esque in a different time period with a wider world view.

What a stunning debut novel! Duffy's rich, decadent prose creates such a thrilling ambiance. Seriously, she nearly had me swooning over bugs! I did not think I could connect with an etymologist heroine but I was wrong. Nora is a fascinating woman of her time. She's passionate about her future involving more than a suitable husband and nursery full of babies. She's brilliant and competitive and prone to rash actions, thinking things through only once she's in the middle of the aftermath which makes things interesting -- and frustrating -- for all involved, including the reader!

At the beginning of the novel we meet an opinionated, strong-willed Nora. Sometimes, she gives the impression of being stuck-up and aloof in her drive to pursue her education in a male dominated environment. While I found some of that off-putting, I could see where the attitude was coming from. Duffy shows the sharp contrasts in the expectations (or lack of) in 19th century women compared to their male counterparts.

And then there's Owen (did my heart just skip a beat?) Stalwart hero material. So patient and protective and encouraging. Content to embrace the multi-faceted Nora, prickles and all. A couple of reviewers mentioned an Anne and Gilbert vibe to their romance (Anne of Green Gables) which I found funny because that's exactly what came to my mind too. Great minds think a like and all that.

A Mosaic of Wings is a coming of age story that spans continents.It's a journey of self-discovery, shifting thought processes and the hope of new love. Nora's transformation is both exhilarating and terrifying. And she doesn't always get it right but, like us all, she's a work in progress.

"There is a peace here I have never felt before. It feels like a sanctuary hidden deep in the country of a thousand idols. A place where God's fingerprints point to His plan." (p 121)

A breath-taking, complex read.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  A Mosaic of Wings, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 15 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck