A Light from Elsewhere

LoveReading Says

Richly layered, thought-provoking, and written with an empathetic touch, Harry Allen’s A Light from Elsewhere explores relatable real-world experiences of grief, depression and anxiety in the context of a world that feels both resonantly contemporary and otherworldly.   

In the wake of losing her mother, Esme, grappling with grief as she and her father start to embark on a new life, begins to see and hear the strangest of things. Early on, she’s alarmed to see a part-human, part-horse creature that speaks to her in another tongue that she can somehow understand: “Come with me now…Don’t give up.

Keep going…Run, run. Nearly there”. As a result, Esme’s dad takes her to see their doctor, and she’s diagnosed with depression and anxiety.   

From this, connections made through her psychiatrist lead Esme to question whether her visions are, in fact visions, and what follows is a suspenseful story that shimmers with family secrets as it explores memory and the nature of perception in an increasingly uncertain age, where nothing can be taken at face value. While the plot takes unexpected turns, in turn, the novel transcends boundaries as it melds mythology and the real world with fantastical, speculative YA fiction.

Reviewed by Joanne Owen
Joanne Owen’s lifelong love of reading and writing began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, and very much wished that witches (and Mrs Pepperpot) were real.
More reviews by Joanne Owen

About A Light from Elsewhere

Consumed with grief after the loss of her mother, Esme begins to see and hear things that others can't.

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