The Stars of Heaven

Set against the backdrop of the devastating Lisbon earthquake of 1755, "The Stars of Heaven" follows Cecília de Santa Rita e Durante as she faces personal tragedy and upheaval in a time of cultural and religious change. With the help of John Bates, an English Protestant, she grapples with her beliefs and feelings, navigating a world of deception, religious upheaval, and political intrigue. The novel explores the clash between the European Enlightenment and the Portuguese Inquisition as Cecília begins to forge her new path.