A deeply personal narrative that traces the lives of five generations within an Indigenous Chicano family residing in the American West. Through Luz's powerful visions, we journey across decades, revealing the obscured and forgotten tales of her family's heritage. Kali Fajardo-Anstine's *Woman of Light* offers a finely-drawn perspective on the ways in which the past profoundly shapes the future. Absolutely adored this book. Definitely one of my favorite book reviews to write!

Because I unexpectedly adored Sabrina & Corina so much, I had high hopes for Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. The book's striking cover only fueled my anticipation. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that Fajardo-Anstine bit off way more than she could chew. While a "dazzling epic [...] that spans five generations" sounds sweepingly impressive, it only means something if executed efficiently. With Woman of Light, I would have settled for two or even just one generation, had it hon...

There's so much to adore in Kali Fajardo-Anstine's generational saga, *Woman of Light*. Luz, the young Mexican American woman at the heart of the story, navigates a deeply segregated Denver, searching for her identity and purpose. The characters truly shine. Luz, her best friend Lizette, her brother Diego, and her aunt Maria Josie are all captivating; I'd gladly devour entire novels dedicated to each of them. The shifting perspectives can feel a bit abrupt at times, leaving me yearning for more ...

The radio smelled of dust and minerals, and in some ways reminded Luz of reading tea leaves. They were similar, weren’t they? She saw images and felt feelings delivered to her through dreams and pictures. Maybe those images rode invisible waves, too? Maybe Luz was born with her own receiver. She laughed, considering how valuable such a thing must be, a radio built into the mind. -------------------------------------- Maria Josie insisted Diego and Luz must learn the map, as she called it, ...

The writing in Kali Fajardo-Anstine's historical novel, "Woman of Light," set in Denver, is simply beautiful. Luz is a tea reader and seamstress, and her story poignantly illustrates the challenges of being Hispanic or Black in 1930s America. This is compounded by the added weight of being a woman, enduring lower pay for the same work, and facing constant sexual harassment. A really important read, highlighting the struggles of the era.However, the narrative unfolds in a somewhat disjointed mann...

Another Source of Light "Woman of Light" begins like a dream, an ancient fable. It's nighttime in the American Southwest, the Lost Territory in 1868, and "...the sky was so filled with stars it seemed they hummed." A baby, Pidre, is abandoned in a Moses-like passage and is rescued and raised by Desiderya Lopez, the Sleepy Prophet of the tiny pueblo, Pardona. These are the opening pages of a magical journey through generations of an Indigenous Chicano family. We shift back and forth in time, bu...

The prologue completely captivated me with its evocative setting, beautiful language, late 1800s time period, and the intriguing mystery surrounding the characters in "Woman of Light" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. I was absolutely hooked from the start. However, that initial glimpse is fleeting. The majority of the novel shifts to 1930s Denver, introducing a new cast of characters who, while endearing and interesting in their own right, only have a tenuous connection to those presented in the opening...

4 stars. Rounded up from 3.5.This multi-generational story is beautifully written, really bringing the early 20th Century West to life. Kali Fajardo-Anstine is a true wordsmith; I could vividly picture every scene in "Woman of Light".Told in a non-linear style, the novel spans five generations of a Chicano family from the Lost Territories, from the late 1800s to the 1930s. Several women across these generations possess the gift of sight. The story primarily centers on Luz, who lives in Denver wi...

This is the second time I’ve read a book by Kali Fajardo-Anstine way in advance. Seriously, it’s a ‘drop everything and read her book the second you get it’ kind of vibe. And this second time around, it absolutely didn’t disappoint. My only disappointment is that I don’t get to experience "Woman of Light" for the first time with everyone else (yeah, that was a galley brag, my bad lol). Fajardo-Anstine is quickly proving that she’s a contemporary writer dedicated to writing us Latinx folks into t...

This was a beautiful multigenerational story that historical fiction readers are going to adore. It's deeply character-driven, and Kali Fajardo-Anstine wrote them perfectly. There's a lot of hardship and loss, but also so much heart and love. I genuinely felt a strong connection to the main character and was completely invested in knowing how things would turn out for her. The story mainly focuses on the challenges of growing up as a girl of both Indigenous and Mexican descent in the early to mi...