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kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Title: The Light Through the Leaves
Author: Glendy Vanderah
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: April 1, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Moving • Unique • Rich
📖 S Y N O P S I S
One unbearable mistake at the edge of the forest.
In a moment of crisis, Ellis Abbey leaves her daughter, Viola, unattended--for just a few minutes. But when she returns, Viola is gone. A breaking point in an already fractured marriage, Viola's abduction causes Ellis to disappear as well--into grief, guilt, and addiction. Convinced she can only do more harm to her family, Ellis leaves her husband and young sons, burying her desperate ache for her children deeper with every step into the mountain wildernesses she treks alone.
In a remote area of Washington, a young girl named Raven keeps secrets inside, too. She must never speak to outsiders about how her mother makes miracles spring from the earth, or about her father, whose mysterious presence sometimes frightens her. Raven spends her days learning how to use her rare gifts--and more important, how to hide them. With each lesson comes a warning of what dangers lie in the world beyond her isolated haven. But despite her mother's cautions, Raven finds herself longing for something more.
As Ellis and Raven each confront their powerful longings, their journeys will converge in unexpected and hopeful ways, pulled together by the forces of nature, love, and family.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After reading, and loving, Glendy's other two books, I knew I wanted to prioritize The Light Through the Leaves. There's just something about her writing that is so unique and human. And of course, I was absolutely captivated by the stunning cover of this one. Like wow!
It definitely took me some time to settle into the narrative. In the beginning, I wasn't quite sure if it would have the same level of enjoyment as her other books did. But as it moved along, I became more and more invested. Glendy's vast knowledge and understanding of the natural world shines brilliantly in her powerful, atmospheric, and emotive writing. With multiple layers, she interweaves the natural world into the narrative without it being overwhelming. Because the writing is so captivating, I was equally invested in the both storylines running parallel to one another. While there is certainly tragedy, an unspeakable mistake, at the heart of the story; there is also so much more. An ode to the healing power of nature and connection. An ode to flawed and brave women. An ode to truth and forgiveness.
My one criticism would be the ending. It all wrapped up a little too perfectly and contrived for my liking. I don't want to say too much to give anything away, but it just didn't feel believable after all of the build up and emotion sprinkled throughout the narrative. I can understand why Glendy chose to go the route that she did, it just wasn't as powerful as it could have been.
The Light Through the Leaves was the story I didn't know I needed. It certainly tugged on my heartstrings and was one of those stories I'll be thinking about months from now. I greatly appreciated the focus on the healing properties of both nature and human connection. This novel solidifies Glendy as an auto read author, and I really look forward to seeing where she goes with her next book.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• naturalists
• Glendy fans
• readers who like mysterious atmospheres
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Who could know their future with a person they cared about? And even if they did somehow find out something bad was going to happen with that person, would they give up on them? Let them suffer alone? Love couldn’t be removed like a thorn from a thumb."
"People who love each other can stay together in other ways. In their hearts."
Author: Glendy Vanderah
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: April 1, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Moving • Unique • Rich
📖 S Y N O P S I S
One unbearable mistake at the edge of the forest.
In a moment of crisis, Ellis Abbey leaves her daughter, Viola, unattended--for just a few minutes. But when she returns, Viola is gone. A breaking point in an already fractured marriage, Viola's abduction causes Ellis to disappear as well--into grief, guilt, and addiction. Convinced she can only do more harm to her family, Ellis leaves her husband and young sons, burying her desperate ache for her children deeper with every step into the mountain wildernesses she treks alone.
In a remote area of Washington, a young girl named Raven keeps secrets inside, too. She must never speak to outsiders about how her mother makes miracles spring from the earth, or about her father, whose mysterious presence sometimes frightens her. Raven spends her days learning how to use her rare gifts--and more important, how to hide them. With each lesson comes a warning of what dangers lie in the world beyond her isolated haven. But despite her mother's cautions, Raven finds herself longing for something more.
As Ellis and Raven each confront their powerful longings, their journeys will converge in unexpected and hopeful ways, pulled together by the forces of nature, love, and family.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After reading, and loving, Glendy's other two books, I knew I wanted to prioritize The Light Through the Leaves. There's just something about her writing that is so unique and human. And of course, I was absolutely captivated by the stunning cover of this one. Like wow!
It definitely took me some time to settle into the narrative. In the beginning, I wasn't quite sure if it would have the same level of enjoyment as her other books did. But as it moved along, I became more and more invested. Glendy's vast knowledge and understanding of the natural world shines brilliantly in her powerful, atmospheric, and emotive writing. With multiple layers, she interweaves the natural world into the narrative without it being overwhelming. Because the writing is so captivating, I was equally invested in the both storylines running parallel to one another. While there is certainly tragedy, an unspeakable mistake, at the heart of the story; there is also so much more. An ode to the healing power of nature and connection. An ode to flawed and brave women. An ode to truth and forgiveness.
My one criticism would be the ending. It all wrapped up a little too perfectly and contrived for my liking. I don't want to say too much to give anything away, but it just didn't feel believable after all of the build up and emotion sprinkled throughout the narrative. I can understand why Glendy chose to go the route that she did, it just wasn't as powerful as it could have been.
The Light Through the Leaves was the story I didn't know I needed. It certainly tugged on my heartstrings and was one of those stories I'll be thinking about months from now. I greatly appreciated the focus on the healing properties of both nature and human connection. This novel solidifies Glendy as an auto read author, and I really look forward to seeing where she goes with her next book.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• naturalists
• Glendy fans
• readers who like mysterious atmospheres
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Who could know their future with a person they cared about? And even if they did somehow find out something bad was going to happen with that person, would they give up on them? Let them suffer alone? Love couldn’t be removed like a thorn from a thumb."
"People who love each other can stay together in other ways. In their hearts."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, and Drug use
Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Homophobia, Animal death, and Vomit
overdosemthereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hoo boy. Where to start with this book?
I guess I'll start by saying that I really did like it. Lots of nature in this book, and it's actually very accurately depicted which is a big bonus of Glendy Vanderah's biology background - I'm very drawn to her books because of that. This story is also a great deep dive into different types of relationships. It wraps up so nicely after a lot of hard emotions get sorted out, and you're definitely meant to have all sorts of warm fuzzies when this book is over.
However. This book should come with about a hundred trigger warnings stamped on the cover. The official blurb only gets at a fraction of them: abandonment, abduction, abuse, addiction - and I'm only in the A's! (I tagged 20[!] content warnings for this book on StoryGraph.)
I honestly would have given this book all 5 stars if the last two chapters didn't have such an intense focus on teen pregnancy and a very weirdly crowded birthing scene. Absolutely unnecessary and not my vibe at all.
But if you like books where the characters are very close to nature, and like books about complicated familial relationships, and don't mind about a zillion potential triggers, you'll love this book!
I guess I'll start by saying that I really did like it. Lots of nature in this book, and it's actually very accurately depicted which is a big bonus of Glendy Vanderah's biology background - I'm very drawn to her books because of that. This story is also a great deep dive into different types of relationships. It wraps up so nicely after a lot of hard emotions get sorted out, and you're definitely meant to have all sorts of warm fuzzies when this book is over.
However. This book should come with about a hundred trigger warnings stamped on the cover. The official blurb only gets at a fraction of them: abandonment, abduction, abuse, addiction - and I'm only in the A's! (I tagged 20[!] content warnings for this book on StoryGraph.)
I honestly would have given this book all 5 stars if the last two chapters didn't
But if you like books where the characters are very close to nature, and like books about complicated familial relationships, and don't mind about a zillion potential triggers, you'll love this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child abuse, Violence, Drug use, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Kidnapping
megatza's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Kidnapping
Moderate: Drug use
boba_n_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Glendy, please write more novels!! This one and her debut are some of the best I’ve read this year. Such complex characters that develop well throughout, interesting plot line with plenty of intrigue, and so many emotions. If you’re up for a rollercoaster, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
bobbijopmh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“The astrophysical, geological, and evolutionary processes that made you—and all life on earth—are the great wonders of our universe.”
Glendy Vanderah has done it again. I absolutely loved Where The Forest Meets The Stars; so I had high expectations for Vanderah’s second novel. Those expectations were met, and well exceeded. If you enjoyed Where The Forest Meets The Stars, you’ll love The Light Through The Leaves! I put off reading this when it was first available via Amazon first reads, as I wasn’t sure it would live up to my expectations. (How wrong was I?!)
Like Vanderah’s first novel, nature is interwoven throughout the entire story, but not just as a setting or location. Nature becomes its own character.
The story line is engaging, the characters are well developed, and the writing is atmospheric, almost poetic, at points.
The style and content both remind me somewhat of Barbara Kingsolver’s novels, but there is something unique about this book as well. It was the sort of book that you honestly (as cliche as it sounds) just cannot put down. I read the entire book in two days.
The story is heartbreaking and joyful and stressful and relief-filled all at once. It’s a story of loss, and family, and friendship, and finding a place to belong, and finding love.
I can’t wait to see what Glendy Vanderah writes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Violence and Vomit
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