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Tears of Chios: A Novel
In 1759 on the Greek island of Chios, under the cruel dictates of the Ottoman Empire, Sebastian Krizomatis struggles to find his place amidst the conflict of two competing family legacies.
Sebastian is bound to the land through his mother's heritage (cultivating the famed Tears of Chios from the skinos trees) but he dreams of following his father, descended from the ancient mariners of Greece, to become a shipbuilder for Sultan Mustafa III's merchant fleet.
As Greek Christian slaves, Sebastian and the other villagers of Sessera face daily perils on the only island in the world where the valuable mastic tears weep from the gnarled tree branches and are carried by ships for trade across the globe. Pirates, raiders, and thieves will stop at nothing to get their hands on the magical Tears of Chios, and the villagers live in constant fear of danger from invaders. When the sultan's ruthless cousin, Ahmed, attacks the Krizomatis family without warning, however, a new danger is introduced - one that could change Sebastian's future and his family forever.
Sebastian is bound to the land through his mother's heritage (cultivating the famed Tears of Chios from the skinos trees) but he dreams of following his father, descended from the ancient mariners of Greece, to become a shipbuilder for Sultan Mustafa III's merchant fleet.
As Greek Christian slaves, Sebastian and the other villagers of Sessera face daily perils on the only island in the world where the valuable mastic tears weep from the gnarled tree branches and are carried by ships for trade across the globe. Pirates, raiders, and thieves will stop at nothing to get their hands on the magical Tears of Chios, and the villagers live in constant fear of danger from invaders. When the sultan's ruthless cousin, Ahmed, attacks the Krizomatis family without warning, however, a new danger is introduced - one that could change Sebastian's future and his family forever.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
295 pages, Paperback
Published April 20, 2022
About the author
K. Pearson Bradley
6 books13 followersK. Pearson Bradley writes historical fiction set in the 18th century. Her Merchant Tides series follows a Greek teenager navigating identity, family, and survival, beginning in the Mediterranean and later spanning the burgeoning British colony of East Florida.
The series includes Tears of Chios (2022), Scions of Smyrna (2023), and Mists of Menorca (2025), with future installments exploring the colonial settlements of New Smyrna and Saint Augustine. The novels blend historical adventure, maritime life, and coming-of-age narratives, exploring themes of identity, family, moral choice, and the quest for freedom.
The series includes Tears of Chios (2022), Scions of Smyrna (2023), and Mists of Menorca (2025), with future installments exploring the colonial settlements of New Smyrna and Saint Augustine. The novels blend historical adventure, maritime life, and coming-of-age narratives, exploring themes of identity, family, moral choice, and the quest for freedom.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 21, 2022
I loved this story of a young boy growing up in Chios, Greece where his family have been harvesters of the rare “tears of Chios” for decades. This is an excellent example of historical fiction at its finest. I was educated, transported to a beautiful city in Greece, fell in love with characters, despised others and was totally invested in Seba’s life. Got all the emotions flowing! Highly recommend K. Pearson Bradley’s debut novel! I cannot wait for the second book of this series to come out.
May 18, 2022
What I love about historical fiction novels is that I always learn something that not only I did not previously know but also what I would not have necessarily sought out to research on my own. This debut novel took me to Greece to join a young boy on his quest to seek out what he was meant to do in life. The author takes us along on young Seba’s journey and teaches us many things along the way; the land, the culture, the people, the politics, the food. Captivating from the start, the pages turned quickly for me as I was anxious to see what would happen next. The ending sets the stage for future adventures so I am excited to see what the author has in store for the next novel!
January 17, 2023
Set in the 1700s, this is the story of Sebastian and his family, who harvest mastic tears on the Greek Island of Chios. The author captures the setting, smells, and foods of the time and immerses the reader in what life was like in that period, making the book a feast for the senses. Each character is unique and well-drawn, causing the reader to care about them as individuals. I can't wait for the next book in this series!
March 12, 2023
Plenty of tears flow through this moving portrayal of life on the island of Chios in the eighteenth century, and not just those of the mastic trees which provide the most financially-valued product of the island. I certainly shed a few in the reading.
The story focuses on the enslavement of the Greek population in their own country by the tyrannical Ottoman Empire, and the people of Sessera and the other 'mastiha villages' on the south of the island are classed as lucky, by comparison with the other villages, spared the compulsion to send their sons to Constantinople as tributes. Instead, they cultivate the trees and harvest the precious 'tears' of mastic, which are then sent and sold around the world on the ships of foreign powers which are repaired by the skilled workmen of the island
Seba's father is one such workman, and the boy wishes for no other life than to follow in his father's footsteps. When the family is brutally torn apart, however, he finds himself engaged instead in the exploitative mastic trade.
K. Pearson-Bradley's narrative is meticulously researched, with a little authorial licence taken in places to assist the smooth flow of the piece. The manners and customs of the villagers are painted to perfection, the music, dances, clothing, food and drink, school, home and hearth and the kafenion--plus the dangers, the relationships and rivalries, and the inevitable heartbreak.
It's one of the finest pieces of work I've encountered. Highly-recommended, with five stars and the news that the sequel, 'Scions of Smyrna', has just been published.
The story focuses on the enslavement of the Greek population in their own country by the tyrannical Ottoman Empire, and the people of Sessera and the other 'mastiha villages' on the south of the island are classed as lucky, by comparison with the other villages, spared the compulsion to send their sons to Constantinople as tributes. Instead, they cultivate the trees and harvest the precious 'tears' of mastic, which are then sent and sold around the world on the ships of foreign powers which are repaired by the skilled workmen of the island
Seba's father is one such workman, and the boy wishes for no other life than to follow in his father's footsteps. When the family is brutally torn apart, however, he finds himself engaged instead in the exploitative mastic trade.
K. Pearson-Bradley's narrative is meticulously researched, with a little authorial licence taken in places to assist the smooth flow of the piece. The manners and customs of the villagers are painted to perfection, the music, dances, clothing, food and drink, school, home and hearth and the kafenion--plus the dangers, the relationships and rivalries, and the inevitable heartbreak.
It's one of the finest pieces of work I've encountered. Highly-recommended, with five stars and the news that the sequel, 'Scions of Smyrna', has just been published.
August 16, 2022
Entertaining and enlightening
This book was fantastic. I learned so much about Greek culture and the Chios region, in particular. The author definitely did her research. Tears of Chios seamlessly blends ancient Greek mythology with Greek Catholicism, which goes a long way in developing Seba's character, as well as the rest of his community. I also loved the unfolding of the story. Seba starts out with a happy childhood, blissfully ignorant of the crooked ways of the world, only to become painfully acquainted with the unjustness of his circumstances as he grows older, eventually acting as the catalyst for his decision to do the dangerous and unthinkable.
Anyone who is a fan of Greek history and culture will love this book. I can't wait for book 2!
This book was fantastic. I learned so much about Greek culture and the Chios region, in particular. The author definitely did her research. Tears of Chios seamlessly blends ancient Greek mythology with Greek Catholicism, which goes a long way in developing Seba's character, as well as the rest of his community. I also loved the unfolding of the story. Seba starts out with a happy childhood, blissfully ignorant of the crooked ways of the world, only to become painfully acquainted with the unjustness of his circumstances as he grows older, eventually acting as the catalyst for his decision to do the dangerous and unthinkable.
Anyone who is a fan of Greek history and culture will love this book. I can't wait for book 2!
April 6, 2025
Captivating historical fiction with a Mediterranean flavor!
Though I’ve never been to Greece, I truly felt like I was there while reading Tears of Chios. The description of the landscapes, of the food, of the daily life of the inhabitants of this little village gave a real sense of place to the story. I also enjoyed getting to know the different characters and really look forward to reading the next tome to discover what happens to them.
Though I’ve never been to Greece, I truly felt like I was there while reading Tears of Chios. The description of the landscapes, of the food, of the daily life of the inhabitants of this little village gave a real sense of place to the story. I also enjoyed getting to know the different characters and really look forward to reading the next tome to discover what happens to them.
April 22, 2023
Woven through with sketches of 18th century daily life on the Greek island of Chios, this is a compelling tale of a boy becoming a man and struggling to reconcile his reality with his society's ideals.
November 22, 2024
I really wanted to like this after meeting the author earlier this year. Sadly, it just wasn’t right for me. Others obviously loved it based on most of the ratings but for me it was a struggle to finish. I was so bored. I won’t be reading the second one.
June 30, 2022
I'm finally getting around to reviewing this as I started book 2 and realized I never reviewed book 1. Tears of Chios is a thoroughly entertaining read by a first time novelist. I really liked the protagonist and found the historical information to be fascinating. Have to admit that I'd never heard of Chios even though I've spent time in Greece. What an interesting choice to set a novel.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews