The Rise of Light: A Novel

Written by Olivia Hawker

Narrated by Jackie Zebrowski

A powerful novel about the expectations of family—and the risks and liberation of defying them—by the Washington Post bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow.

1975. In the town of Rexburg, Idaho, aspiring artist Aran Rigby, his younger sister, Tamsin, and their two brothers are locked in orbit around their emotionally abusive father. Gad is the kind of man who soothes the failures of his own life by controlling the lives of others. But Aran and Tamsin are united in rebellion against their father. They understand each other. They have dreams beyond their small town.

Arriving in Rexburg is Linda Duff, an outsider from Seattle hoping to plant new roots far from the bitter ones of her childhood. She’s quickly taken with Aran, in no small part because of his talent. But when they fall in love, Linda is drawn into a family more damaged than the one she left behind. She also becomes privy to a secret Aran and Tamsin share that could dismantle everything everyone holds dear.

Upsetting the precarious balance in the Rigby home, Linda becomes an unwitting catalyst for the upheaval of Gad’s oppression. Now it’s time for them all to break free of the past, overcome the unforgivable, and find a new way forward—whatever the price.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Aug 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781713608561

Olivia Hawker

Olivia Hawker is the Washington Post bestselling author of The Rise of Light; One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the WILLA Literary Award for Historical Fiction; and The Ragged Edge of Night. Olivia resides in the San Juan Islands of Washington State with her husband and several naughty cats. For more information, visit www.hawkerbooks.com.

Reviews for The Rise of Light

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Rise of Light takes place in 1975 in Rexburg, Idaho. The Rigby family is made up of father, Gad, mother, son Aran, daughter Tamsin and twin boys. The parents are strict Mormons and the children vary in their degree of approval of the religion. The novel mainly focuses on Gad, Aran and Tamsin. Gad is an extremely psychologically abusive father who runs his family HIS way and refuses to let them make their own decisions.Aran and Tamsin are rebelling against their father at every turn. Aran is an aspiring artist who has to hide his paintings and Tamsin is a rebellious girl who longs to leave Rexberg as soon as she graduates from high school. She knows that she can't continue to be part of her family or their religion. Aran and Tamsin are close to each other and rely on each other to express their rebellion. It all changes when Linda moves to town trying to escape her unhappy childhood and she and Aran fall in love. But Aran and Tamasin have a secret that they know will ruin their father and their family. Will that secret come to light now that Linda is part of their lives?This is a beautifully written story. The author describes Aran's paintings so that the reader can almost see them. She describes the beautiful scenery so that we feel like we are there. Her characters are well written and very real. Her writing is exquisite in describing the beauty as well as the ugly dynamics of the Rigby family. The story progresses to a surprising but perfect ending.This novel is a beautiful written novel about light - not just the light that is shown in paintings but the light that shines through everyone's lives and how people decide to use it or not. It's a book fill of family love and rebellion, small town secrets and an all encompassing religion that ultimately controls everyone's lives.Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.