Review: "Where the Light Falls" by Allison and Owen Pataki

Allison Pataki has joined with Owen Pataki to write another spellbinding historical fiction novel. The authors combine fact and fiction to write a story that is both informative and entertaining. The characters are colorful and fully developed and the plot is intriguing and keeps you wanting to read more. Ms. Pataki has made a slight change for this novel. In her previous novels, the main characters are real and she writes the stories around them. For this tale, the main characters are fictional and she weaves them into the events of the French Revolution.

The story begins in 1792, with the haunting narrative of the beheading of French citizens whose only crimes were to be wealthy. This sets the stage to introduce our four main characters. Jean-Luc S. Clair and his wife Marie, a poor young lawyer who wants to make a difference for the common people caught in the revolution and his wife, who has a secret of her own. On the other end of the spectrum is Captain Andre Valiere and Sophie de Vincennes both from noble families who could lose their heads by just a small accusation. The characters are thrown together in these turbulent times. They come to realize that gallantry is not limited to class, neither is cruelty.

This story can be read by teen to adult readers. Although there is some violence, it is not extremely graphic. If you are a fan of Allison Pataki, you will definitely want to pick up this book. Once again, she has written a story that is both education and diverting.

I have requested from and reviewed this book for NetGalley.