One Brilliant Flame

A Novel

By: Joy Castro

Narrated by: Krysta Gonzales, Tania Possick, Frankie Corzo, Gary Tiedemann, Jonathan Villanueva, Andre Santana

A nineteenth-century utopia becomes a powder keg of political intrigue and betrayal in an enthralling historical novel—inspired by actual events—by the author of Flight Risk.

Key West, 1886. The booming cigar industry makes it the most prosperous city in Florida. As a rebel base for the anticolonial insurgency in Cuba, it’s also a tinderbox for six young friends with ambitious dreams.

They all brim with secrets: Zenaida, the daughter of an assassinated Havana journalist; power-hungry Sofia, who plots a fast track to success; Chaveta, Zenaida’s loyal comrade in arms who fearlessly flouts tradition; Feliciano, a charismatic Spanish anarchist; Líbano, the cafetero, silent and watchful; and Maceo, a daring guerrilla soldier who fights a brutal undertow. As lives intertwine, revolution smolders, and passions ignite, the bustling coral island is set to explode.

Against the backdrop of the Great Fire of Key West, One Brilliant Flame explores the luminous fates of consuming passion and encroaching peril in the face of insurrection, sacrifice, and inextinguishable hope.

©2023 Joy Castro (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“[A]rtfully performed by a team of talented narrators: Krista Gonzales, Tania Possick, Frankie Corzo, Gary Tiedemann, Jonathan Villanueva, and Andre Santana. With impressive production values, this impressively performed audio book…will have a very special appeal to listeners with an interest in historical Caribbean/Hispanic American literature.”—Midwest Book Review

“This is a fascinating, informative, and important read.”—Booklist

“Suspenseful and steeped in history, Joy Castro’s One Brilliant Flame transports readers to a vibrant nineteenth-century Key West, one stoked by revolution in Cuba and inflamed by the passions of striking young characters. Castro’s novel beautifully illuminates a largely forgotten history in a memorable and compelling light. I learned so much, but more importantly, I couldn’t put it down.”—Chantel Acevedo, author of The Distant Marvels

Luminous novel deserved better narration

Athletic prose & fascinating story.
The prose reminded me of Kate Chopin's work in the best way. But also like an English translation of a novel I'd prefer to read in Spanish.
I had trouble connecting with the narrators' choices, especially the lector's accent, which felt all over the place. Still, I'll buy a physical copy and revisit it, because it's worth savoring without distractions.

Gave up. Poor performance

Could not connect with story as performance was too childish. Surrendered after an hour or so

A historical tale of Key West, with strong women characters

What a great story, which interweaves history with vivid characters of the time - including strong women.

Never ending story

It felt like a character presentation throughout the book. I was always expecting something to happen. Until it finally happened, the last 45 minutes of the book, and then the story abruptly ended.

Brilliant!

Wonderful story and characters. I could put it down. I love the history accuracy as well.