I’m always on the lookout for historical fiction set in India or south-east Asia, and have been since reading Linda Chaikin’s Heart of India series back in the 1990s. I’ve since read a handful of other books set in this general area and period (including All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt and A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy) and would love to read more.
What I didn’t really appreciate back when I read the Heart of India series was that a lot of these stories are set during the Regency period, which is (now) one of my favourite time settings for historical fiction. This is possibly because I read Silk years before I read Pride and Prejudice, and Silk does slightly predate the Regency. Anyway, now I have more knowledge of the historical context of the period, I’m even more interested in books in this genre and was keen to start reading The Light of Stars.
The story starts in Kitty’s family home in Seven Oakes, England, before moving to London and eventually to India. That was my main disappointment–after reading the book description, I expected most of the book to be set in India, not just the last quarter. However, once I got into the story, I barely noticed that the story was “supposed” to be set in India.
Kitty and her brother have been raised by their grandfather since their parents were killed in India when they were small children. Now her grandfather wants to marry her off to Sebastian Sinclair, an arranged marriage to a man she met once as a child and instantly disliked. Sebastian is only slightly more interested in the marriage, but has reasons of his own for agreeing with the plan.
At least, until he meets Kitty and finds himself captivated by her intelligence and her unusual hobby of astronomy.
That’s something I always enjoy, especially in historical fiction—intelligent heroines who aren’t satisfied to accept the status quo, but who want the opportunity to follow their own interests and calling. I especially like that in Christian fiction, where the heroine’s tension is around becoming the person her family expect her to be vs. the person God created her to be. It’s a challenge many of us face, and it’s great to have role models.
(Maybe this is why some men don’t like romance novels. It’s not because they give women unrealistic expectations of love and marriage, but because they feature women who have the agency to make their own choices.)
I especially enjoyed the “Easter eggs”, the cameo appearances from real-life Christians such as missionary and Bible translator William Carey, astronomer William Herschel, and William Wilberforce, the man behind outlawing the slave trade in England and the British Empire. There were also a couple from another famous William—William Shakespeare (yes, William was a popular name!).
I am one of those readers who usually ignores quotes at the beginning of each chapter, but read every one in the Light of Stars once I realised most were from characters we actually “met” in the course of the story.
Overall, I loved the development of the relationship in The Light of Stars, and would love to see more similar stories.
Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
About Jenelle Hovde
Jenelle Hovde, an accomplished illustrator, pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother, ventured off the beaten path by transitioning from her career as a doctor of audiology to pursue her passion for writing. With eight novels under her belt, her literary journey spans the rich tapestries of ancient worlds to the tumultuous landscapes of World War II. Her favorite genre includes sweet Regency romance that enchants readers with tales of love and intrigue set against the backdrop of 19th-century England.
A finalist in the published author 2023 Cascade Oregon Writers contest and a 2019 Genesis semifinalist, her historical romance novels not only captivate readers with vivid storytelling but also weave gentle messages of faith. Jenelle draws inspiration from the timeless treasures found in antique stores. Often found writing at the Florida beach, she navigates life with her family and manages two saucy cats who insist on interrupting her creative endeavors.
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About The Light of Stars
An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.
When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.
Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.
As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control—and to find her mother.
But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.
