Amy van Rijthoven’s Shadows and Black in the Light is a haunting and poetic journey through the lives of two deeply scarred individuals—Millie and Andy—whose stories intertwine across themes of grief, betrayal, longing, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of rural Australia, the novel moves between the perspectives of Millie, a teenager on the brink of adulthood grappling with the mysterious death of her father and the emotional absence of her mother, and Andy, a former associate of her father caught between his criminal past and an aching desire to start over. As their lives begin to overlap, the novel paints an intricate portrait of broken families, buried secrets, and the fragile, persistent hope for healing.

What I liked most was the visceral, emotional quality of the writing. Van Rijthoven doesn’t shy away from the messiness of human relationships. Her prose is vivid, lyrical, sometimes raw, evoking smells, textures, and fleeting moments with clarity. Millie’s voice is especially poignant. She’s young but not naive, strong yet vulnerable. I often found myself pausing to absorb the depth of her thoughts, quiet reflections that feel both personal and relatable. Andy’s chapters, on the other hand, are grittier and rough-edged, but they balance Millie’s internal monologue with action and a grim look at life on the other side of the law. The dual narrative worked beautifully for me—it was like watching two storms edge closer together until they finally collide.

While the emotional weight carried the story far, there were moments when the pacing felt uneven—certain scenes lingered, while others that seemed pivotal moved quickly. But even when the plot wandered, the emotional heartbeat never faltered. The mystery, the slow-burn relationships, the tension—it kept me hooked. And by the final chapters, I felt I had truly gone on a journey with these characters. Their growth felt earned.

Shadows and Black in the Light is a heartfelt and emotionally rich novel that is perfect for readers who enjoy stories of self-discovery, slow-burning suspense, and complex family drama. If you’re the kind of person who likes to sit with a story long after it ends, who appreciates prose that breathes, and who isn’t afraid of confronting the shadows we all carry, this book is for you.

Pages: 310 | ASIN : B0FB3L88ZY