The Light Through the Leaves

A Novel

By: Glendy Vanderah

Narrated by: Susannah Jones

Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Go on a powerful journey of forgiveness and healing with The Light Through the Leaves, a transcendent novel of love, loss, and self-discovery by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Where the Forest Meets the Stars.

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.

©2021 by Glendy Vanderah. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A memorable story of love’s healing power.” —Publishers Weekly

“A unique page-turner of remarkable richness, a tale of unthinkable trauma and the powerful, steady healing to be found in the natural world. I love the women in Vanderah’s novels, women who are allowed to be as flawed and raw and brave and fierce as men. And I loved the unfolding layers in this book, layers of love and disaster, secrets and longings, mothers and children, and always, nature as the steady backdrop to all life, offering the hope of renewal at all turns. Exquisite.” —Barbara O’Neal, USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids

“Glendy Vanderah’s love for nature shines through in this captivating story about love and loss and carrying on in the face of tragedy. Bursting with extraordinary moments of magic and beauty, it is an enchanting story that tugged at my heartstrings from the very first page and did not let go.” —Suzanne Redfearn, bestselling author of In an Instant

Enjoyable

This is a nice, enjoyable book. The descriptions of nature and places are really good. The plot takes you on an emotional roller coaster. The ending is a little rushed and gets wrapped up a little too neatly, but overall it was enjoyable to listen too.

I really thought this narrator for the audio book did a great job too. Each character had a distinct voice but it didn’t seem awkward when she changed voices.

exhilarating

Where the forest meets the stars was one of my favorite works for 2019, and The light Through the Leaves is every bit as good as her previous work. A heart warming story of lose, deception and an accident that changed several peoples lives. easily the best book I've read so far this year

Captivating

This story captivated my emotions and imagination. The writing was beautiful and lyrical. I loved the natural world that the writer created. Didn’t give it 5 stars because she tied up things too neatly at the end and it went on too long. I am looking forward to reading more by this writer!

the light through the leaves

this was the one of best books I've read in a very , very long time.. a must read. I got this in a Audible and had it completed in a day.. beautiful story! ❤

The best book I have listened to in ages

I rarely write reviews. But this book was the best I have listened to in ages. The characters were well developed, the dual story lines were captivating, the very end a bit of a surprise (welcomed). I stayed up far too late listening when I should have been sleeping, and the lengthy story still ended too soon.

love this story!

This is a beautiful heart wrenching story and the narrator brings it to life perfectly.

Awesome

Great novel and Beautiful love story. Narrator did a wonderful job. Easy to listen too.

It’s a little “out there” but I loved it!

The narrator was fabulous and really added to the experience. Love the different points of view.

This is an amazing story

What an absolutely unique story. I couldn't stop listening. The writer takes you on a journey into the lives of the characters, even if frustrated with a couple of them and their decisions, you get to know them and you can actually feel how those twists make sense considering the way things occurred. It taps right into mental health and addiction and how it plays a role in so many different ways and in each character's personal story. I will come back to read this one again. I will always remember it.

So emotionally intense

Loved it just like where her first book.. Beautiful! Highly highly recommend both her books