"Sara Dahmen skillfully weaves together the stories of two women whose tenacity, intelligence and care have been all but lost to time but whose impact ripples through the world even still. A wonderful addition to the historical fiction genre, Threads in the Tapestry is an intimate tale of influence and partnership. Whether you are drinking in the lives of the women at the center of the story or gathering glimpses into the men who truly saw them, the narrative is lovingly crafted. It’s a thought-provoking tale of unlikely connections that takes a sincere look at what can be done in community when fierce women apply their principles for the good of humankind.” ~ Shannon Lee, New York Times Bestselling co-author of Breath of the Dragon & author of Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee

A captivating must-read, especially for book clubs who enjoy a story that makes them think! Sara Dahmen invites us to explore the 16th century Ottoman Empire not only through the lens of the powerful Sultan, but through the perspective of two influential woman whose inspiring courage leaves us asking, “What would I do?” With high stakes, tense emotions, and page-turning twists, this book offers a satisfying escape from the first page to the last. 

Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Into the Free

 In Threads in the Tapestry, the dazzling, treacherous world of sixteenth century Constantinople comes to life as two women of power and substance intersect in an unlikely partnership. Their paths to the heart of the Ottoman Empire are very different—and disturbing. Hürrem-Haseki, a Christian from a region ruled by the Polish Crown who finds herself stolen and enslaved for the Ottoman Court, must find a way to survive—and rise. In Portugal, born into a Jewish family with immense wealth, Graçia Nasi must plot from the shadows to save herself from the cruel tyranny of the Inquisition. In doing so, she reaches out to Hürrem-Haseki.

In the harem of Süleyman the Magnificent, Hürrem-Haseki rises higher than any woman before her, winning the Sultan's love and eventually becoming his wife and confidante. From within the walls of the harem, her influence extends beyond the palace leading to the building of mosques, hospitals, and kitchens for the masses. Graçia Nasi, not satisfied to save herself from the Inquisition, transforms her commercial network into a clandestine rescue network for countless other exiles. Once in Constantinople, she tirelessly works to establish new havens for her fellow refugees.

Sara Dahmen has charted the lives of two extraordinary women who each learned to prevail despite restrictions placed upon them in order to protect others. It is a beautiful story, rich in color and historical detail and filled with intrigue, danger, romance—and courage.      

    James Conroyd Martin, author of Napoleon's Shadow Wife: A Novel of Countess Marie Walewska

Threads in the Tapestry is historical fiction at its most immersive—meticulously researched, richly textured, and alive with astonishing detail. In Hürrem Haseki, the legendary consort who helped rule the Ottoman Empire, and Gracia Nasi, the Jewish merchant, diplomat, and savior of refugees, it restores two formidable women nearly erased by history. Women who didn’t merely survive the machinery of empire but reached inside and moved its gears. I absolutely loved this book!

--Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy