The story of Ottilie Russell, a young lady of a mixed race marriage, was told with such rich descriptions of life in India that I truly felt like I was truly there with her. The two extremely different worlds of the ruling British class and the Indian people was something that Ottilie struggled with since she was both British and Indian. She must discover that she is a special young lady, worthy of love, who must forgive those who have treated her and her family shamefully in order to find peace and a sense of belonging.
While Ottilie wanted to reject her British ancestry and the painful circumstances she would have to endure when she moves there, this is what brought healing, happiness, and redemption. I thought it was a brilliant way of depicting both cultures converging in her life.
One part of the story that I found intriguing was that while Ottlilie lived in India, she earns a living for her family by painstakingly embroidering beautiful, intricate designs for the wealthy British ladies of society by using iridescent beetle’s wings. Ms. Duffy’s skillful use of Ottilie’s embroidery in having it play such a vital role in the transformation that takes place in her life is well done. Additionally, the cover of the book was creative and added richness to the story by incorporating a delicate beetle wing design as the framework for Ottilie.
My thanks to Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this ebook. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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