THE RISE OF LIGHT by Olivia Hawker

 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.

MY THOUGHTS: 

First let me say that I was completely ready to give this book three stars. To me it started out strong but then started dragging a bit. I almost gave up on it. But I'm glad I didn't. The last third of the book seemed to pull me back in and made me want to know what was going to happen to this family. I'm not a religious person nor am I one who doesn't believe in things. 

I just have a problem with organized religion. Though I don't knock it. If it's your thing then it must be right in some ways. This book is about one religion that I always found a bit to out there. Only in the sense that what I always knew of Mormons was they had multiple wives. Tons of children and just a strange belief. My opinion and not saying it's right. 

I really like the two main characters, Aran and his sister, Tamsin. I detested their parents. Both but mostly the dad. The other characters were just extras in a sense. I did like Linda. She was good for Aran and for Tamsin too. She was a strong young woman from out of town. 

The people in this town shunned Aran because of lies spread by another supposedly religious young man. I can only assume that he was jealous of Aran to do such a thing. Or maybe threatened in some way. The whole point is from the religious aspect I would think that would be a big sin. I suppose it is and I think it was horrible. But in all religions that I know about there is so much that is wrong yet they sure do love to judge others. 

I would feel horrible for Aran and Tamsin's dad, Gad. First let me say I do not like his name. I kept wanting to call him God and he was in now way God. He was a horrible father yet I felt like he was troubled is many ways. Maybe broken or something. Just when I would have hope that he could be a good and honest man he would do or say something else to hurt one of his children and I would despise him all over again. I ended up kind of liking him and their mother. But as a whole I didn't like either. Him for his meanness and her for letting it happen. 

This book is good. Well written and likable. It's a story of a family who face lots of ups and downs. A dad who seems to hate his oldest child and literally treats him as an outcast. Even to the point of stealing from him in many ways. Parts of this book were a bit disturbing at first. The painting scenes between the brother and sister. But after thinking about it and reading more I understood. It was not bad. It was not ugly or morbid or sick. It was art. Pure and simple. Beautiful art.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #OliviaHawker, #LakeUnionPublishing for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

4/5 stars. I recommend you read this one. It is good. It is one that will make you stop and think.