The Rise of Light

A Novel

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.

©2021 by Libbie Grant. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Interesting, but a bit slow

I did enjoy learning more about what it’s like to be a member of the Mormon church. And I did enjoy the family dynamics, but it was a bit slow at times. I think the story could have been told in about half the space.

Great Read

I know this to be an essentially true story. (Maybe some literary license). It shows how strict adherence to religious dogma can cause lots of unneeded pain. I would have been very interested in what happened to the family over the next 20 years.

As for the performance, I found it improved by moving the speed to 1.5 times.

Way to looooong

I was so excited to get this book and read it ... and I was so disappointed. Normally I love Olivia Hawker's writings, but this one was depressing and did not have a very good plot. The ending was good - typical Olivia. But it took a loooong while to get there and while on this journey I learned to have distaste for the father and little respect for a mother who allowed her children and herself to be bullied by this man. My heart went out to Linda, who in her desperate search for family happiness tied herself to the family. All in all, a downer. Maybe next time.

I really liked Ms Hawker's two previous novels but

The story idea was an interesting one, but the end product had some problems. I feel like this novel should have been listed as a YA novel. I don't have a problem with reading YA occasionally, but it was unexpected. A big problem for me was the contradiction in parts of the story and in some of the characters actions/ways of thinking. It felt like it was a lazy way to build suspense and/or explain new parts of the story. The narration was very slow but improved somewhat when I increased the speed to about 1.20.

Quite the Story

I had a difficult time with this book for my own reasons. Having been a part of a strict religious group at one point in my life, this story kicked up a lot of my own historical issues around this type of religion. I know Olivia Hawker usually writes stories that are somehow historically based on some of her own experiences. This is what kept me reading this book. I was going crazy with frustration with the father in the story, and his sons’ inability to fully stand up to him. It’s well worth the read!

Wow!

This was an incredible book! Very moving, very deep. You took me into all kinds of deep emotions. I didn't want it to end, ever.

Olivia Hawker Strikes Again

With a father named Gad and a son named Aran, a daughter named Tamsin, all in a deeply Mormon small down (though except for some particular customs and titles it could be a deeply Southern Baptist small town, too) you know you’re going to get some deep Old Testament or Book of Mormon reckonings, you just aren’t sure how. Even better, though, you’ll explore some deeply personal feelings of each of these family members and you’ll somehow feel you came away exploring your own self an family. That’s what I love so much about Olivia Hawker stories—the universal in the deep personal. Another great offering.

Emotional roller coaster

What a wonderful book! It took you through all the emotions of each character. It made you cry in anger, happiness and sadness! I am so glad I was able to listen to this book!

Hmmm

Hello religion in the 70s in the middle of nowhere Idaho… This was quite the interesting tale. Gad was infuriating, I can’t imagine growing up under that oppression. Aran’s cowardice had me constantly shaking my head. My frustrations came because I didn’t grow up in that kind of household.

The Rise of Light by Olivia Hawker

The story has many ranges of emotion throughout. The Book was excellent in that you were engaged in the characters. The narrator was very good. Thank-you.