Woman of Light is a Western Saga for readers of historical fiction. It focuses on an Indigenous Chicano family in the American West from 1868 in what is now New Mexico to 1934 Denver.

The Prologue begins in 1868 with Desiderya Lopez, the Sleepy Prophet, and Pidre, the abandoned infant whom she finds and raises as her own. The story then jumps to 1933 Denver where we learn of Luz, Diego, and their auntie, Maria Josie Lopez. The storyline goes back and forth in time as we find out more about Luz and her connection to her ancestors. There is a certain amount of magical realism with fortune telling, snake charming, and the ability to foresee the future.

This is a fascinating and hopeful story of an amazing family and how they supported each other and dealt with the many difficulties they faced, including racism against anyone who wasn't white.

The stories of our ancestors can become lost or skewed by time. In this multigenerational story of an indigenous Chicano family, we learn that their stories have be forgotten, by time or by choice. A member of the youngest generation, Luz has the gift of seer. Though her gift she rediscovers the stories that lead to her being. She in turns uses those stories to help write her own. This book is beautifully written, filled with interesting, complex characters, each one growing as layers of history are revealed.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this amazing book! I fell in love with Kali's writing when I read Sabrina & Corina. Ever since Kali mentioned about the release of this book, I couldn't wait to get a copy. I was so grateful and excited to have a chance to read this. I'll be definitely buying a copy of my own when the book comes out on June 7.

I love multi-generational stories and this one didn't disappoint. There was a strong sense of place and history throughout the book, but a stronger sense of identity of all the characters, particularly seen in Luz, Maria Josie, and all the other female characters. I loved that there was a magical feeling to reading this book and the generational stories in the book helped cement that feeling. I absolutely loved how the beginning of the book began; you'll know what I mean when you read it. It was such an immersive experience.

Kali knows how to write about relationships, love, family dynamics, identity, and social issues/history and weave all of that into a hauntingly beautiful story. And I can't wait to read more from Kali!

I usually read the same type of books and decided to expand my horizons. When I saw this book I was immediately intrigued. It is a multigenerational story about indigenous Chicano people. I love learning about history and culture through fictional characters, and I this seemed like a great opportunity

This story was told over 4 generations. It shows you what it was like to be a Chicano in the West over the late 1800s and early 1900s. We all know it wasn't a good time and they were not treated well. This book gives you some idea of what went on in those times, and it was heartbreaking.

With all that is going on these days, and the way that people are trying to surpress our children from learning about our history, books like these are important. We should be able to learn from the past and do it better.

What I liked about this book: It was an important part of our history. It was well written and I could visualize it all. The main character was fascinating.

What I didn''t like: I found it a little slow- this book was all about the journey, not the destination. I also didn't love how it bounced around from the past, to the far past to the present, to the past, etc.. I got lost a few times. . There were also a LOT of people to keep track of. And if you have read some of my past reviews - my old lady brain cannot track too many characters.

So how do I rate this? I would give it 3.5 stars. However, I think may be a better book than I give it credit for. - it just wasn't my personal cup of tea. So I am rounding up to 4 stars.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

Posting Location: Angry Angel Books (angryangelbooks.com)
Link: https://angryangelbooks.com/2022/05/31/woman-of-light/(opens in a new tab)
Posting Date: 5/31/22

***

Source: DRC via NetGalley (Random House Publishing Group – Random House, One World) in return for an honest review
Pub. Date: June 7, 2022
Synopsis: Goodreads

Why did I choose to read this book?

Over the past couple of years I have felt myself gravitating towards indigenous peoples’ stories, stories that span generations and history, stories that might be wiped from our memories if we don’t write and read them. Stories like The Seed Keeper, The Only Good Indians, or The Four Winds are perfect examples of this. I want to hear history from the people who were silenced. I want stories that show me what was really happening, or what the real consequences were, after significant events in American history.

So the multigenerational western saga that is promised here told through the eyes of Indigenous Chicano women with a bit of mysticism sprinkled in grabbed me by the eyeballs and demanded to be read.

What is this book about?

I finished this book and I don’t think I could tell you what it was about. It was a mish-mashed story that spanned four generations, set in the late-1800s/early-1900s, mostly in Colorado. The main character is Luz, and she is a seer – a once in a generation secret/story keeper who can also see the future if they have the right medium (Luz’s is tea leaves or coffee grounds, but she gets visions if the emotions or connections in other locations or items is strong enough). The book shows us where Luz came from, her lineage, and the trauma that has been handed down to her through her parents and their forbears. Overall the story tries to give you a view of what it was like to be Chicano in the American West at that time, and spoiler alert: it wasn’t very good or safe. The KKK even makes a few appearances.

What is notable about the story?

I have read books from the Carribean perspective (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, etc), from the African diasporan perspective, and the Native American perspective, among others, but this was the first book I had read that not only brought a story from a Chicano perspective, but a historical framing as well. The themes were the same as what you would expect from the institutional and aggressive racism that runs rampant in this country, but the approach seemed a little bit different. The racism wasn’t presented in all major events, it ran alongside the story, like it was embedded in it. It was a normal part of the characters’ everyday life, and in that way it made its effects appear even more threatening, more stark. Were there cross burnings and beatings and lynchings? Sure, but that wasn’t all of it, and I appreciated how Fajardo-Anstine helped the reader feel how racism is just…always there.

It’s an important way of telling this age-old story, especially when in the present day our government seems to have such a non-empathetic view toward any black and brown immigrants, even those who are seeking asylum. This is rooted deep in our country’s history, in our country’s expansion west, and in how we attempt to reinforce our physical and ideological borders on surrounding countries, especially those to the south.

Was anything not so great?

For a book set in my favorite region of the country exploring a group of people I haven’t read that much about (fiction or non-fiction) with this much trauma and racism, I expected to have stronger emotions or to feel more connected to some of the characters. I read the story to the end, so it wasn’t boring, but in the craft sense this was definitely plot-driven and not character-driven. The plot and setting of the story happened to the characters, they didn’t feel like they had much agency at all. And while I understand that this is a plot device, meant to make you feel the same way the characters would have in their own time, here it left me feeling like the entire story had just been swept away in a strong breeze. It was good, but it wasn’t memorable. The ending didn’t feel satisfying or unsatisfying, it just ended where it ended and there wasn’t more to read. I was actually surprised enough to say, “oh…that’s it?” when my Kindle suddenly reached the acknowledgements.

My only other gripe was how the chapters bounced around from recent past to far past to present to past. This made the first half of the book a struggle to read, because it switched so often there were too many people to keep track of, and if you weren’t paying careful attention to the chapter headings with the years, you might think you were reading about something happening in the 1930s but really this was the MC’s great grandmother in the 1880s or something. I was about 10% in before I realized that the story was even jumping around, and I had to go back and pay better attention. There may have been a more organized way of flipping between generations to make the pattern more predictable, but this book did not attempt anything of the sort. I don’t mind back and forth, but this particular story gave me some wicked whiplash.

What’s the verdict?

3 stars on Goodreads and I’ll bill this one as a “get it from the library, but don’t rush” kind of recommendation. It’s an interesting story and this topic is a blind spot for many, so you should read it if you’re looking for something to pick up that’s new in order to broaden your intellectual horizons. As a fiction novel you’re expecting to read for entertainment, it’s a good enough choice with which to fill the time.

I have not yet read the author's earlier book, but I had heard such glowing things both about that and about this upcoming book, that I was very excited to read this novel. In many ways, I greatly enjoyed aspects of this book. I loved the female characters especially. Maria Josie was a favorite for me, though I enjoyed following Luz's journey, too. I loved the way the book talked about women's sense of wisdom and knowing. I also loved the beautiful language in the book - Kali Fajardo-Anstine has a beautiful way of writing. That said, I was more heavily invested in the plot much later in the book, and some of the early parts were slow to build. Fans of her writing will love this. I did want a little more from the plot, but I will read more from this author and am excited to see what she writes in the future!

The Woman of Light intertwines 5 generations of Indigenous Chicanos as they navigate a changing country forcing conformity or elimination. There are periods of happiness and despair, trials and triumphs, beginnings and endings. Living in poverty, hunger and fear, these women and men live in a red lined city of hatred and prejudice. The struggles are real, but the strength and determination of the people are palpable! Ms. Fajardo-Anstine has written an epic saga with depth and detail. It is a clear example of the fight against hatred and discrimination. One voice Resonated within me , I paraphrase. ‘You might think you’re lucky, but for every person, unluckiness arrives. Our existence shouldn’t depend on luck. It should depend on justice, what is good and what is right. Highly recommended.

✨WOMAN OF LIGHT by Kali Fajardo-Anstine✨ This book is beautiful and haunting—there is a quality to Fajardo-Anstine’s writing that makes me actually feel like I’m there. This is historical fiction with a bit of spiritual whimsy (I don’t love the term “magical realism,” because cultural ways of being are more than just a literary device) with a brilliant—if not heartbreaking—cast of characters. We are introduced to multiple generations of an Indigenous Chicano family between different villages of the Lost Territory and the newly booming city of 1930s Denver, Colorado. I rarely read fiction about early city life in American cities that aren’t NYC, LA, or Chicago, so that felt exciting. We’ve got tea-leaf (and coffee ground) reader/laundress Luz “Little Light” Lopez, who is trying to make ends meets and find her way in the city, through heartbreaks and compounding loss. She is a keeper of generational wisdom and through her we see multiple backstories of those that have come before her and her snake- (and woman-) charming brother, Diego. This books has unflinching portrayals of racism and xenophobia, passion, lust, deceit, abandonment, selfless generosity, and roots of generational trauma. The ethereal quality to Fajardo-Anstine’s storytelling makes for a reading experience like a dreamscape. I felt these characters in my bones. I was sucked in hard by the first few sections. My only complaint, upon finishing, is that I didn’t want it to end. I want to know more about Luz’s future and her family’s past. I loved this book and was left wanting another few hundred pages! This was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2022 and I was not disappointed. Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse Publishing for this early edition.

3.5 stars, rounded up!

I loved Kali Fajardo-Anstine's writing here, particularly in creating a setting in a time and place I know relatively little about. I was left with a sense that there was more to the story, however, and so I wished the narrative had been a bit more involved. I do think the novel could be read as a coming-of-age story or as a story describing families and their cyclical nature, so if you like those types of stories I would recommend it. I'm especially intrigued now to return to Fajardo-Anstine's short story collection, Sabrina & Corina: Stories. Thanks to One World (Random House) for providing me with an early copy of this work through Netgalley. Woman of Light comes out on June 7.

I love multigenerational fiction, and one of my peeves is when fiction is described as multigenerational but doesn't quite have the sweeping look at multiple generations that I'm hoping for. So, that said, while this book does technically "span five generations," it is really the story of Luz in 1930s Denver. Yes, we learn a bit about her ancestors, but the great majority of the book is Luz's story—and it's a good one! I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't realize how formalized the discrimination against Chicano and/or Indigenous people was in the American Southwest; of course I knew they experienced discrimination and harassment, but I wasn't aware of the extent or practice. I always love historical fiction that teaches me something, and I'll definitely be reading whatever Fajardo-Anstine publishes next.

Wow! The author truly takes you on a journey through her words! This journey through the Southwest was exactly what I needed. This story is beautifully written and takes you through a Chicano family’s history and more specifically, Luz “Little Light” Lopez’s life as she navigates it on her own after her brother is ran out of town. The story isn’t just Luz’s, but that of her family and their saga. Loved this book so much!

This book was great! I usually shy away from family stories but this one kept me very engaged. The (now named) American West is portrayed as very white and having this story reflects my own reality as a Mexican/Chicana woman better. The writing is gorgeous and really brings you to whatever place and time the book is at the particular moment. It is somehow sweeping and specific. Any fan of Sabrina and Corina will appreciate her debut novel.

Kali Fajardo-Anstine takes the reader on a historical, heart-felt and somewhat mystical journey through the Southwest, particularly Colorado, which has been home for the multi-cultural family of Luz Lopez. Her ancestors have faced violence, hardship, poverty, separations and long journeys. Yet the history and its mysteries prevail through what is known, and the womenfolk who have risen in each generation.

The book begins in Denver c. 1930s, with vital and evocative descriptions of a carnival, with a kaleidoscope of characters. Luz “Little Light” emerges as the main focus, a young girl on the threshold of becoming a woman. She is gifted with a type of sight that enables her to glimpse the future and perhaps recall the past. That is also the book’s pattern in establishing Luz’s family story and background..

This is a richly rewarding title reflecting the impact and strengths of family traditions, bonds and aspirations. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

This was a DNF book for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters, moves very slowly, and did not interest me at all. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Random House in exchange for a fair review.
Woman of Light is a multi-generational story about the Lopez family which starts in 19th-century New Mexico and follows their migration to 1930s Denver. The story centers mainly on Luz who is a seer, but also includes her brother Diego who entertains and hustles with a snake charmer act.
I did enjoy reading this book and the author’s prose is spare and exquisite. This is a story of the West that isn’t a typical cowboy or settler story. These are people who have lived on this land for centuries that are now being displaced and treated as foreigners.
However the reader should not expect a historical novel rich in details. The author seems to only give enough detail to make her setting. Otherwise these characters could almost be living in any time. Perhaps that was intentional?
This is also not a traditional linear historical story. The narrative jumps around in time and also from character to character. At times it was difficult for me to keep all the players straight.
In the end the novel just didn’t absolutely take off for me, it felt like a light treatment of what should be weighty historical fiction. I am glad to have had the chance to read it. I enjoyed the author’s style and now I want to try her short story collection where I think her writing style will really shine.

Thank you Netgalley and One World Books for the advance copy. This was a good book. It took me a while to get into the story, but I may have been distracted by outside issues at the time. Once I got into it, it went by quickly. This is historical fiction set in Denver, along with in the Lost Territory - land that was lost to the US from Mexico, in this book the settings there were in what is present day New Mexico. The story is about Indigenous people, Filipino people, and how their lives looked in Denver in the 1930s, along with the backstory of Luz's family from the Lost Territory. The writing is very descriptive and the reality of the streets of Denver come through, with all the blood, dirt, and fecal matter that is often not spoken of in popular historical fiction.
Luz has a mysterious gift of being able to read tea leaves and see visions that often tell her the future, nor exactly but enough to warn her of things. She also struggles with wanting to be her own person in a time when poor women of color had very few choices in life. I really liked Luz and I wanted more of her story by the end.

This book took me a few chapters to get involved, but once I was, I stayed engaged. A historical novel set in 1930s Denver, it's a character driven story, focusing on Luz, a 17-18 year old Mexican girl trying to figure out her life while living with her aunt in Denver. It's an ambitious undertaking to cover the events of past events and family while keeping the current day story relevant and moving forward. It's mostly well done though there were a few times when looking to the past that I lost the thread of the relationship connections.

In the big picture, it is an immigrant story of a marginalized culture and the difficulties of getting ahead in those circumstances. There's instances of racism and some violence depicting the attitudes of the time. Told in a non-linear way, the back story of many generations (sometimes confusingly presented) is revealed through Luz's visions when doing tea leaf readings. I fell in love with her strong Grandma (that she never knew) - she was my favorite character after Luz.

I loved Luz's story and reading about finding her way and discovering and honoring the importance of her family history. Her thoughts & decisions seem very appropriate to her age - she's a well developed character. A solid ending. Watch for it in June and add it to your wish list.

My opinions are shared here, on Goodreads, Storygraph, and my blog Bookshelf Journeys.

Thanks to #netgalley and #randomhousepublishing for the advance copy of #womanoflight

I adored the author’s previous short story collection and was eagerly waiting to read her first novel. The book begins slowly, and we are introduced to Luz, her snake charmer brother Diego and the eclectic aunt they live with. The time period is 1930’s Denver, CO and we experience the prejudice this Hispanic/Native American family encounters. I was very interested in the time period and the cultural history, but I never really got hooked on the characters or the story itself.

For a character-driven novel, all of the characters were somewhat flat to me. Luz had then potential to be incredibly interesting with her gift of visions and reading tea leaves, but nothing really became of it. The plot veered in an unnecessary direction and it never fulfilled the story it was meant to be.

Thank you to #netgalley for an ARC of this book. I do recommend reading her previous work, Sabrina & Corina.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"The wildly entertaining and complex lives of the Lopez family fill the pages of this multigenerational western saga", and I usually enjoy these sometimes complex and emotional sagas. This saga was just - blech. I found the characters one-sided and I never became attached to them.

2☆

This was a beautiful story that will stay with me for years to come. The writing was beautiful and so very captivating. I learned so much from this book and enjoyed reading about the different generations of this Chicano family. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-galley in exchange for an honest review!