This novel is beautifully written - really elegant, lyrical prose that I loved. I found the story a little slow for my liking but that's a very subjective view. Absolutely fabulous characters - a brilliant, weaving, multi-generational story that all ties together wonderfully. LA MacRae is definitely an author to watch out for.

In the beginning, it took me some time to get going, but then, I could not put down the book. It was a nonstop history. After some chapters, I was struggling between reading and preparing my meals!

A multigenerational family narrative in which we learn about the MacArthurs, their lives, loves, and losses, as well as some very dark secrets. I believe it is a book in which the less one understands before beginning, the better the reading experience.

I will say that there were more people than I would have recalled without taking off-book notes, and I'm not sure whether all of the subplots were required. There was a lot for this reader to remember between the several timeframes, people, and tales. I can definitely see it being fantastic if adapted for the film, and given it's the author's first, I am greatly astonished.

And now the light everywhere is a remarkable narrative and an impressive debut. This multi generational family saga weaves together perspectives from three significant time periods, with a diverse array of characters to engage with, making it a compelling and intricate read.

And Now The Light is Everywhere is a debut novel but never feels it - the writing is beautiful and very confident. The story, set in rural Argyll in Scotland, is split between three generations of a family which has been touched by tragedy, from a grandmother who left for Canada and never contacted anyone again, her son who died tragically early, and his children. Folklore and story telling in the area provides a strong element and when researchers arrive to find out more, the family history also starts to be questioned by Anna, the daughter/granddaughter of the two mentioned above.

It's a complex story with a lot of characters but each of them is defined enough to make it easy enough to follow. I did find them all slightly distant so I didn't connect with them fully but was certainly interested in what was happening. I also liked the fact that, while we discover what happened, there is still a lot left unknown by the characters, people still hold secrets, their behaviour not fully understood and that felt more honest than everything wrapped up too neatly.

I'll definitely be looking for what comes next from L.A. MacRae, this was a very unusual setting and story and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

#AndNowtheLightisEverywhere #NetGalley

L.A MacRae’s debut novel is absolutely stunning. Her writing style is so readable and yet it is laced with such unique and complex imagery which makes it a pleasure to read. I feel that stories set in Scotland often either stay firmly in the countryside, folksy, mythical space or in the gritty underbelly side of things. Writers tend to explore one of these spaces in a way that almost denies the existence of the other. In my opinion neither space is more real or relevant than the other and both are valuable and deserve to be explored. Scotland like any other country has both a rich history and wealth of folk culture that continues to be relevant today but coexists with issues such as poverty, crime and dysfunctional families. I really enjoyed the way MacRae displayed elements of both these things and shows how the existence of one does not stamp out the importance of the other. And Now the Light is Everywhere explores the twisting family history of the MacArthurs and anchors itself with Anna MacArthur in the ‘present’ time line which is set in 1990s Argyll. Anna is feeling lost and very much in the dark about what her next steps might be, so with the passing of her great uncle she decides to go and stay with her great aunts to hide from the world. It is there at Crois na Coille that she starts to dig through the past. The stories of the MacArthur family tangle like the roots of a tree, with each new discovery threating to untether the Anna in the present day.

Folk stories are at the heart of And Now the Light is Everywhere and the novel itself unfolds in a similar way. Many threads of stories are weaving together and unfurling with questions and answers rising to the surface in equal measure. As this is a story that has POVs from three main time periods, many members of the MacArthur family and some other key players it might seem a bit overwhelming at first but once you get into the flow you end up desperate to hear from all of them. Every time a chapter ends, you’re so keen to get back to that character’s tale. I don’t think the story would be the same without each thread spinning from start to finish. I loved MacRae’s exploration of folk collecting with Bella as a tradition bearer. I studied that at university, so it was so lovely to be reading about it again. I admire the way folk stories were shown to be a thing of the people, with lasting relevance through the generations. It really added another layer of intrigue to the story.

And Now the Light is Everywhere is ultimately a story of bonds stretching across the years, sometimes weathered and worn, but enduring nonetheless. It is about finding your way forward by opening up, reaching back, and untangling the mysteries and unasked and unanswered questions of the past.

4⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and L.A. MacRae for my ARC copy!

This was a wonderful little story and such a great debut. I loved learning about each character and the different timelines were very interesting!
I did find it hard to keep up at times, if you take your time reading and maybe write down some notes it helps.
The ending wasn’t what I expected but I loved it!
I’ll be looking forward to reading more of her books for sure!

A substantial and layered story with an intriguing setting, both the way the characters were linked to each other and the way the landscapes were described.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

This was an interesting story. The writing style was beautiful and I liked the atmosphere in the book. However there was too many characters in the book and I had difficulty remembering them all. The storyline was too jumbled for me, and made me loose an interest in the book.

“We are only allowed such a small slice of knowledge about who we are, and where we really come from. We march relentlessly into our unknown futures, beginning anew with every second”

A multi generational family saga where we learn about the MacArthurs, their lives, loves, and losses, and some very dark secrets along the way. I think it’s a book where the less one knows before starting, the greater the reading experience.

I will caveat, there were more characters than I’d have remembered without some off-book note taking, and I wonder if all the sub plots were quite so necessary. With the varying timelines, characters and stories, there was a lot for this reader to remember. I can easily imagine it being wonderful if adapted to screen, and considering it’s the author’s debut I am only impressed.

I loved the concept of this book & enjoyed most of the storytelling. I did find the flicking back & forth between characters and time a little confusing but it was a good idea. Sadly I didn’t feel connected with the main characters so lost some empathy. Overall though it was an interesting read.

The first few pages of this book I struggled with.
I felt there were too many names being thrown at me, and I didnt know who was who.
It obviously became clearer, and then I came fully immersed in the tangle MacArthur family.
Some excellent characters, and a story that flicks back and forth in time, slowly revealing the bigger picture, the final picture, and it wasn't always what I thought it was going to be.
A very pleasant few hours were spent with this one.