Three years after the thunderous storming of the Bastille, Paris seethes with revolutionary fervor. The cobblestone streets pulse with a dangerous new energy as citizens intoxicated by the radical ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity rise up against centuries of oppression. The once-untouchable monarchy of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette has been violently dismantled—their downfall sealed by the merciless kiss of the guillotine—while a volatile new republic struggles to emerge from the ashes of the old regime.
Jean-Luc, an idealistic young lawyer burning with revolutionary zeal, uproots his reluctant wife, Marie, and their vulnerable infant son from their peaceful existence in sun-drenched Marseille to plunge headlong into the political maelstrom of Paris. Meanwhile, André, the privileged son of a denounced duke, narrowly escapes his family’s fate by shedding his aristocratic identity and donning the uniform of the fledgling French army. And the breathtaking Sophie, a clever aristocratic widow haunted by tragedy, launches a daring quest for independence against her calculating, vengeful uncle who would control her fortune and her fate.
As the Revolution devours its children and descends into a reign of terror, chaos threatens to unravel all progress. Amidst growing paranoia and bloodlust, the lives of these three disparate souls become fatefully intertwined. Jean-Luc, André, and Sophie navigate a treacherous landscape where revolutionary tribunals condemn without evidence, former allies become informants, and survival seems increasingly impossible—for themselves and for the fragile new nation they cherish.
Featuring masterfully crafted cameos from historical giants including the fanatical Maximilien Robespierre, the doomed King Louis XVI, and literary legend Alexandre Dumas, Where the Light Falls sweeps from the blood-soaked courtrooms and conspiracies of Paris to the scorching Egyptian deserts during Napoleon’s ambitious campaign. With breathtaking imagery and meticulous historical detail, the Patakis brilliantly capture the passionate hearts and conflicted minds of those who risked everything for truth and justice—ordinary citizens fighting for a cause greater than themselves, even as that cause threatens to consume them all.
Praise for ‘Where the Light Falls’
“Succeeds in forcefully illustrating the lessons of the French Revolution for today’s democratic movements.”
“Devotees of Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo will devour this tale of heroism, treachery, and adventure.”
“This is a story of the French Revolution that begins with your head in the slot watching how fast the blade of the guillotine is heading for your neck—and that’s nothing compared to the pace
and the drama of what follows.”
“A beautiful novel that captures the spirit of the French Revolution and the timeless themes of love and truth.”
“While not stinting on gorgeous detail, Allison and Owen Pataki know exactly how to write a gripping historical novel: Concentrate on the intimate stories playing out against the epic background, in this case, the French Revolution. And so Where The Light Falls is exactly that; a gripping historical novel of both intimacy and scope.”
“Told from the points of view of four extraordinary characters…Where the Light Falls delivers everything a reader hopes for in a great book: passion, intrigue, insights, and above all, a story you won’t soon forget. I really cannot recommend this highly enough!”
