First published 2006
In the sultry town of Kilbourne, South Carolina, 30-year-old Anna, a shy, sheltered woman, begins to awaken to her dormant spiritual powers. As she explores her newfound abilities to commune with nature and sense the unseen, Anna's conservative mother and the local parish priest grow suspicious. Navigating both her family's disapproval and her own self-doubt, Anna must decide whether to embrace her mystical gifts or succumb to the town's pressure to conform. With lush descriptions of the Southern landscape and a cast of richly drawn characters, "Firstlight" is a lyrical tale of one woman's journey of self-discovery.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, magical-realism
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery, spiritual-journey
Setting: Kilbourne, South Carolina
Period: 20th-century
240 pages · Paperback · Penguin Publishing Group