If you are looking for a story that is historical and is a coming of age tale then this is the novel for you. I will admit that I was super excited when I received this arc because when I requested it I had a feeling it was going to be a very interesting story and she enough I ended up being right. The story itself dealt with the subject of religious inquisitions which has been a major conflict since the beginning of time. However, despite the religious persecutions it is a lovely story about hope and friendship. The author did a lovely job of explaining that in her novel.
Our story follows the adventures of a young girl named Isabela who is living in early sixteenth century Portugal. She is considered a new Christian and despite the fact that in Spain non Catholics are being forced to leave however Isabela believes she has nothing to worry about because it is very unlikely that the inquisitions will end up spreading into Portugal.
However she ends up being a little naive about her prediction. A mysterious traveler arrives with a message from her father who is traveling abroad warning her that the inquisition is coming to Portugal and that she needs to flee to safety. She ends up traveling along the boarders of various countries and learning about the various cultures. Not only is she learning about things about other people but she is also learning about herself as she makes the brave journey to escape persecution.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Beautiful book. Beautifully written. As someone with Jewish ancestry I am drawn to stories of Jewish history. I loved that the setting was different than most historical fiction I've read on this topic--set during the Inquisition, rather than during WWII. This new (for me) setting as well as the use of Isabela's embroidery as a way to send messages really made this book stand out. The author's descriptions and imagery allowed me to easily picture all that was happening. Well written, creative, educational and suspenseful, this book is a new favorite for me. I plan to review on my Instagram account when the publication date is closer. 5 stars!

Why is Padre Alvaro hot on the trail of Isabela de Castro Nunez? In the early 17th century, having purged Spain of “Secret Jews, the Spanish Inquisitors moved on to Portugal. The exodus of New Christians (Conversos) would deprive the municipality of Abrantes of “their tax contributions and many services they’ve provided to the town…Permanent, bureaucratically organized tribunals of clergy and laymen in Spain and Portugal…were intended to detect Jews…forcibly converted.” Portugal now housed many pockets of Conversos after the Edict of Expulsion from Spain in 1492. It would be wise to relocate to welcoming cities such as Hamburg, Amsterdam or Venice…but how?

Noting dangerous times in Abrantes, Gabril de Castro Nunez traveled to Germany to find new markets for his textile trade. Upon the death of his wife Mariem from the plague, his fourteen year old daughter Isabela, a budding embroideress, was left with no parent to guide her. With only a full cupboard of her mother’s embroidery threads, she would have tall shoes to fill! Inquisitors were determined to blame the New Christians for the devastation and loss of life caused by the deadly fever. Through a network of safe houses that Gabril tried to establish, Isabela’s safety was left in the arms of friends and strangers who risked their own lives. The intent was to reunite Gabril and Isabela in Hamburg, Germany. First things first. Isabela had to quietly exit Abrantes.

“Your job will be enormous and dangerous, David de Sousa. Isabela will travel first, but you will be asked to convince other New Christians to leave by ones and twos. I will send a contact…You must tell no one…” These were the words of Ana Martel Gerondi, a dye maker and healer, thereby considered to be a heretic.

With a basket of embroidery supplies and her personal belongings, Isabela exited Abrantes, giving the illusion that she would return after traveling and working at the estate of a French nobleman in Irouleguy. She had been commissioned to embroider delicate patterns and provide assistance in creating the nobleman’s eldest daughter’s trousseau. Isabela’s skill as an embroideress would help support her journey. Her heritage had been withheld from her, a secret that must be kept under wraps.

At the start of her journey, a scroll of designs had been given to her, a sampler that needed to be committed to memory. The secret codes would be embroidered on cuffs, belts and headdress ornaments. Flag embroidery would follow. ”Isabela’s embroidered messages would pave the way for an intricate system of safe havens for escaping Jews and New Christians.”

David de Sousa, four years Isabela’s senior, was a close friend and confidant. David left Abrantes with his two sisters in tow, traveling by a different circuitous route; by foot, boat, even cart while hidden in barrels. The farmer was transporting his pigs who followed behind the cart. Isabela was able to send sporadic messages to David on pieces of linen with special symbols meant for only him. She was safe…for now. Padre Alvaro exceeded his authority by his obsessive, relentless pursuit of Isabela, David and Ana Martel Gerondi. Would they fall into his widening net as he tried to infiltrate the clandestine network? There was danger at every turn.
Thoroughly researched and masterfully detailed, the journey of Portugal’s Sephardic Jews, hopeful of being able to worship freely, was brought to the forefront by author Barbara Stark-Nemon. Using genealogical research, she traced her ancestor who was born in Abrantes, Portugal in 1586 and died in Hamburg, Germany in 1655. Knowledge of her ancestor’s quest, enhanced and personalized a read of historical fiction.

Highly recommended.

Thank you Caitlin Hamilton Marketing and Publicity, for She Writes Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.