Welcome to Friday Reads!
Jessica has agreed to give away three (3) e-book copies of Stars of Heaven. You can enter to win by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of my blog post. (Giveaway ends November 13, 2020.) Share on X If you are the randomly chosen winner, I’ll contact you.
About the book…
When one of the largest earthquakes in history hits Lisbon on All Saints’ Day 1755, Cecília de Santa Rita e Durante’s life is turned upside down. With her family possibly dead, she must wade through the ruins that were once her home with the help of John Bates. The English Protestant represents everything she was taught to hate, but he is her only hope of making it through the newly destroyed Lisbon.
Faced with both unspeakable tragedy and an unexpected miracle at home, Cecília leans on John for support. When he leaves, she is forced to reconcile her feelings for him with her long-held beliefs. Left carrying a torch for a man she never should have met, she’s cast into a web of deception, religious upheaval, and political intrigue that leaves her on even shakier ground.
The Stars of Heaven explores a clash of cultures between the European Age of Enlightenment and the Portuguese Inquisition as Cecília navigates the uncharted waters of her new life.
The story behind the story…
The Stars of Heaven as published was a project six years in the making. The inspiration actually came from a rather unlikely source: Assassin’s Creed: Rogue. While my husband and I were playing it one weekend, we got to a section where the game’s MacGuffin ends up causing a major earthquake that destroys Lisbon. History nerds we are, my husband and I began to wonder what the game designers had based the event on (since, even though the game is Science Fiction/Fantasy in parts, the creators did enough research that we didn’t think they’d destroy an entire city with no historical basis). What we found was what truly seems to be perhaps the most influential historical event that few people know about. We ended up buying a couple books about it to read up, and the more I read, the more I felt there was a story to be told there. After years of research (including hitting a lot of roadblocks while trying to find English-language sources), writing, rewriting, editing, and yet more rewriting, The Stars of Heaven emerged in its current, published form.
A word from Jessica…
First and foremost, I hope people enjoy The Stars of Heaven as a story. I admit I fell in love with the characters while writing and hope that translates to readers. Secondly, though, I hope that this novel sparks at least a few readers’ interests in the time period. It truly was a fascinating time, and it’s sad that it’s so forgotten, at least in the Anglophone world. For anyone who is interested in learning more about the actual history behind the story, I strongly recommend what became my primary source while writing, This Gulf of Fire: the destruction of Lisbon or apocalypse in the age of science and reason by Mark Molesky. It includes a great concise history of Portugal that you likely never learned in the US school system and in-depth information both about the earthquake itself and all the political and religious upheaval following it.
Excerpt…
Glancing at the parishioners spilling out the door of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires into the square in front of the basilica, Cecília was left with the sinking feeling that it was getting far closer to ten than she’d originally estimated. Even if she had convinced Tio Aloisio to come to the Baixa with her, they would have had no chance to make it to São Vincente in time for High Mass. All she could hope was that no one had noticed she’d gone, and the entire morning would be one more thing she would have to privately confess at the Palmeiro’s.
She slowed them to a stop just outside the square by another niche—one holding a thick wooden crucifix—and pointed east. “Rua Nova dos Mercadores is that way, if you’d like to part ways here.”
“I’m more than happy to walk you the rest of the way home, Senhorita Durante.”
Because after everything, she needed someone from her bairro seeing her wandering about alone with an Englishman. “With the crowds, I imagine that would make you late for your meeting.”
A conflicted expression moved over Mr. Bates’s face as he scanned the crowd for himself, no doubt seeing she was right.
She saved him the trouble of having to weigh whatever duty he felt to her and however important he considered his meeting. “I’ve lived in Lisbon my entire life, Mr. Bates. I’m certain I’ll be able to make it home without your assistance.”
Mr. Bates began to give one more half hearted objection before a low rumble moving through the ground made him trail off. Cecília frowned, looking for an approaching coach, though from the way the sound was growing, it would have had to have been a line of coaches barreling toward them.
“What’s that?” Mr. Bates followed Cecília’s gaze.
Cecília shook her head, not having any better idea than Mr. Bates. The rumbling grew stronger, making loose pebbles rattle around her feet as the sound neared a roar.
Earthquake. The thought registered a second too late as the street under her rolled.
My review…
I enjoy historical fiction, especially if it educates me, as well as entertains me. Dall’s book pertained to a period of history that I haven’t read much about, so I really enjoyed learning a bit while reading.
I don’t know that I’ve ever read any other book based in Lisbon, so I found that interesting. Though the book is well detailed, the story made me curious. So I did a bit of my own research and was shocked to read about and see the devastation caused by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The author did a really nice job of depicting the characters’ emotions after this tragedy. This is a powerful read, and not one to be taken lightly.
I really enjoyed Cecilia. She was a well-crafted character, and I loved seeing how she handled the loss and destruction … only to come out even stronger on the other side. There is a definite faith angle, as well as a romance one, but neither is overpowering.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you’ll want to add this one to your list.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About Jessica…
Jessica Dall finished her first novel at the age of fifteen and has been hooked on writing ever since. In the past few years, she has published a mix of fantasy and historical fiction novels, along with a number of short stories that have appeared in both magazines and anthologies.
In college, Jessica interned at a publishing house, where her “writing hobby” slowly turned into a variety of writing careers, including creative writing teacher and, her current job, content editor for a small press.
When not busy editing or writing, Jessica enjoys crafting and spending time with her friends and family. She can most often be found at her home in Maryland with a notebook, her much-loved, sometimes-neglected husband, and toddler.
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
I’m sure that I’ve read other books about natural disasters, but at the moment I can’t name one! This book sounds intriguing. I think the setting and time period are unique. I’m putting it on my reading list.
I haven’t read a number of them, either. Very interesting. Good luck, Candice!
I can’t think of any. I have read about the Spanish flu, the plague, the great fire in London, and various maritime disasters though.
I bet those books were interesting.
Thanks for stopping by, Angie. Good luck!