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A Classic Retold
Summon the Light
Everything he ever loved is gone. Can what is broken ever be restored?
In a quiet, seaside town, Nick works as a smuggler, disguising himself as a human and hiding his secret past as the servant of the magician Prospero. It’s been two years since the attack that devastated the great magician’s island leaving it dark and ruined. Prospero and his beautiful daughter, Miranda, are dead, and even Nick’s best friend, the spirit Ariel, has slipped into a coma. Nothing is left.
Nick has resolved himself to mere survival when a voice from the past suddenly begins to call to him, urging him to rebuild the magic island’s ruined chapel. No matter how futile the task, Nick cannot ignore the haunting call to restore the heart of the island.
But hope is not the only thing awakening. Darkness is stirring as well—darkness that understands the meaning of Nick’s task better than he does.
As Nick begins his work, he is stalked on land and sea—by enemies human and inhuman—all of them prepared to do whatever is necessary to keep him from summoning the light.
Tor Thibeaux re-imagines Shakespeare’s The Tempest in an epic story of good and evil in a high-stakes fantasy adventure.
In a quiet, seaside town, Nick works as a smuggler, disguising himself as a human and hiding his secret past as the servant of the magician Prospero. It’s been two years since the attack that devastated the great magician’s island leaving it dark and ruined. Prospero and his beautiful daughter, Miranda, are dead, and even Nick’s best friend, the spirit Ariel, has slipped into a coma. Nothing is left.
Nick has resolved himself to mere survival when a voice from the past suddenly begins to call to him, urging him to rebuild the magic island’s ruined chapel. No matter how futile the task, Nick cannot ignore the haunting call to restore the heart of the island.
But hope is not the only thing awakening. Darkness is stirring as well—darkness that understands the meaning of Nick’s task better than he does.
As Nick begins his work, he is stalked on land and sea—by enemies human and inhuman—all of them prepared to do whatever is necessary to keep him from summoning the light.
Tor Thibeaux re-imagines Shakespeare’s The Tempest in an epic story of good and evil in a high-stakes fantasy adventure.
- GenresFantasyRetellings
ebook
Published October 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 19, 2023
The beautifully woven threads of this retelling have been quietly haunting my mind ever since I finished. 🥺
Several years ago, I saw “The Tempest” produced for the stage, but it never fully connected with me in the same way “Hamlet” or “Richard III” or “The Taming of the Shrew” did.
Then, in walked this retelling, and it stole my breath away.
Despite being one of the shortest books in the A Classic Retold series, it’s an impactful read, packing a strong proverbial punch. (Truthfully, I’d have had no qualms about it being longer because I loved it so much, haha!)
The characters steal your heart (or ignite your indignation as the case may be), and the themes linger in the quietness. Although Nick has always been a “lesser” creature, it is his very existence that has kept his friends alive. Can what’s broken be restored? Yes, and in the face of all doubts, courage can be found. Good & light will triumph.
With a writing style reminiscent of the classics, chittering dolphins, a magic island, a smuggling sea captain, a sweet romance thread, and a soul-stirring climax that just might make you cry, this story is worth every minute! 😭💛
“Darkness and death are the same—they have no power over the light.”
Several years ago, I saw “The Tempest” produced for the stage, but it never fully connected with me in the same way “Hamlet” or “Richard III” or “The Taming of the Shrew” did.
Then, in walked this retelling, and it stole my breath away.
Despite being one of the shortest books in the A Classic Retold series, it’s an impactful read, packing a strong proverbial punch. (Truthfully, I’d have had no qualms about it being longer because I loved it so much, haha!)
The characters steal your heart (or ignite your indignation as the case may be), and the themes linger in the quietness. Although Nick has always been a “lesser” creature, it is his very existence that has kept his friends alive. Can what’s broken be restored? Yes, and in the face of all doubts, courage can be found. Good & light will triumph.
With a writing style reminiscent of the classics, chittering dolphins, a magic island, a smuggling sea captain, a sweet romance thread, and a soul-stirring climax that just might make you cry, this story is worth every minute! 😭💛
“Darkness and death are the same—they have no power over the light.”
November 5, 2023
"Francis, seest thou not that My house is in ruins? Go and restore it for Me."
I would be really interested to know whether the author of this book was inspired by that particular legend of St. Francis of Assisi, or by medieval legends and miracle plays in general, because that's definitely the vibe it gave me.
This was billed as a retelling of The Tempest by William Shakespeare. To my mind, it's an extremely loose retelling / freewheeling reimagining that has little in common with the original story. However, this is a good thing as far as I'm concerned, because I adore the original Tempest so much, I wouldn't really want to see a close retelling of it. I would rather just read the play itself. But this book, I was able to enjoy as its own separate story.
And I truly did enjoy it! I think parts of it could have used more editing, but I absolutely loved our hero, Nick, and his dogged obedience to that mysterious call to rebuild the island chapel. I appreciated the sacramental nature of his quest--how grace and strength flows to the characters through the very physical channel of the reconstructed chapel. Even the small plot detail that Nick can't just build the chapel using any old stones, but has to find and use the VERY SAME stones (ie, consecrated stones) from the original chapel has symbolic meaning. Like I said, Francis of Assisi. I was thriving :))
Also, can we all take a moment to appreciate that cover? Impeccable
I would be really interested to know whether the author of this book was inspired by that particular legend of St. Francis of Assisi, or by medieval legends and miracle plays in general, because that's definitely the vibe it gave me.
This was billed as a retelling of The Tempest by William Shakespeare. To my mind, it's an extremely loose retelling / freewheeling reimagining that has little in common with the original story. However, this is a good thing as far as I'm concerned, because I adore the original Tempest so much, I wouldn't really want to see a close retelling of it. I would rather just read the play itself. But this book, I was able to enjoy as its own separate story.
And I truly did enjoy it! I think parts of it could have used more editing, but I absolutely loved our hero, Nick, and his dogged obedience to that mysterious call to rebuild the island chapel. I appreciated the sacramental nature of his quest--how grace and strength flows to the characters through the very physical channel of the reconstructed chapel. Even the small plot detail that Nick can't just build the chapel using any old stones, but has to find and use the VERY SAME stones (ie, consecrated stones) from the original chapel has symbolic meaning. Like I said, Francis of Assisi. I was thriving :))
Also, can we all take a moment to appreciate that cover? Impeccable
October 31, 2023
The title is perfect for this story, because that exactly what it is: a story of pure, beautiful, and good light.
It’s very simple writing, but it has an understated grace to it. Third person omniscient is rarely my favorite, but here the author pens it so perfectly and beautifully. From the stalwart Nick to the elegantly strong Miranda to the lively Stara and Mera to the resolute Manning to…well, everyone else, all members of the cast are dimensional and enthralling. And with the purest glimmers of romance and occasional snaps of snark, the author infuses her prose with life and radiance.
And as grief and despair and doubt threaten to choke the shimmering threads of hope Nick and Miranda refuse to relinquish, my heart was so stirred, and I wanted to weep first with sorrow and then with joy.
I was amazed at the depth the author wove into the short length of her book’s length. It’s so poignant and encouraging and just so lovely. I just…really, really loved it. This nourished my soul so much.
🕯content: mild violence and references to drunkenness. A non-descriptive kiss. 🕯
It’s very simple writing, but it has an understated grace to it. Third person omniscient is rarely my favorite, but here the author pens it so perfectly and beautifully. From the stalwart Nick to the elegantly strong Miranda to the lively Stara and Mera to the resolute Manning to…well, everyone else, all members of the cast are dimensional and enthralling. And with the purest glimmers of romance and occasional snaps of snark, the author infuses her prose with life and radiance.
And as grief and despair and doubt threaten to choke the shimmering threads of hope Nick and Miranda refuse to relinquish, my heart was so stirred, and I wanted to weep first with sorrow and then with joy.
I was amazed at the depth the author wove into the short length of her book’s length. It’s so poignant and encouraging and just so lovely. I just…really, really loved it. This nourished my soul so much.
🕯content: mild violence and references to drunkenness. A non-descriptive kiss. 🕯
October 26, 2023
This was lovely; a tale of hope and light in a world gone dark and hopeless. I have become a big fan of Tor Thibeaux and this only solidifies that more.
The characters were charming and you couldn't help but root for them. I have a soft-spot for characters like Nick. Those who may not be the best, the 'A-team', the top-tier superhero with magical abilities...but who fight the good fight anyway, knowing they may be outmatched by their foes, but refusing to give in. There's something so inspiring about that.
I can't say too much more about the characters without spoiling, but suffice it to say, I was drawn to so many. (Ariel, though. I would pay money for another book about Ariel.)
The writing style was wonderful. I loved how we got to see so many points of view. It was a unique way of telling a story and I really enjoyed it.
Overall, I highly recommend this to any and all. And no, I did not read the story of The Tempest (other than a hurriedly scanned summary) before opening the book. You can definitely still enjoy it without reading the original tale!
I was given an ARC by the author. I was not required to leave a review, positive or negative. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The characters were charming and you couldn't help but root for them. I have a soft-spot for characters like Nick. Those who may not be the best, the 'A-team', the top-tier superhero with magical abilities...but who fight the good fight anyway, knowing they may be outmatched by their foes, but refusing to give in. There's something so inspiring about that.
I can't say too much more about the characters without spoiling, but suffice it to say, I was drawn to so many. (Ariel, though. I would pay money for another book about Ariel.)
The writing style was wonderful. I loved how we got to see so many points of view. It was a unique way of telling a story and I really enjoyed it.
Overall, I highly recommend this to any and all. And no, I did not read the story of The Tempest (other than a hurriedly scanned summary) before opening the book. You can definitely still enjoy it without reading the original tale!
I was given an ARC by the author. I was not required to leave a review, positive or negative. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 19, 2023
This book is a fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It is a part of a multi-author series A Classic Retold. This book is a fast paced story that tells of loyalty, love, perseverance, and light vs darkness.
The main character Nick, the underdog of the story, believes he has lost everything. He was the servant of the magician Prospero who, along with his daughter Miranda, were killed in a devastating attack two years ago. Their island is in ruins and Nick’s best friend, the spirit Ariel, lies there in a coma.
The story follows Nick as he tries to move on with his life by pretending to be a human, but he keeps going back to see Ariel hoping that he will find a way to bring him back. Nick is a marl, a lowly earth creature with sensitivities to magic but possessing none himself. “There was a power in him that exceeded magic. Her father had seen it in Nick, as had Ariel. There was a love in Nick for the light, a humility, and something else, a quality that would not bend or break but would hold true.”
As we follow Nick through the story, it’s revealed that Miranda is actually not dead and is trying to communicate with Nick by magic through his dreams. Nick feels led to the Island (through Miranda’s prompting) and starts work on rebuilding Prospero’s ruined chapel, which will hopefully restore light and life to the Island. There is one problem, Ulric, the evil magician who attacked Prospero and his Island is also still alive and will do anything to stop Nick from restoring the chapel.
I really enjoyed this story, and appreciated the battle of light and darkness. And who doesn’t love an at sea chase between good and evil! I would definitely recommend this clean fantasy retelling, even if you haven’t read The Tempest before.
I want to thank the author Tor Thibeaux for a copy of the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
The main character Nick, the underdog of the story, believes he has lost everything. He was the servant of the magician Prospero who, along with his daughter Miranda, were killed in a devastating attack two years ago. Their island is in ruins and Nick’s best friend, the spirit Ariel, lies there in a coma.
The story follows Nick as he tries to move on with his life by pretending to be a human, but he keeps going back to see Ariel hoping that he will find a way to bring him back. Nick is a marl, a lowly earth creature with sensitivities to magic but possessing none himself. “There was a power in him that exceeded magic. Her father had seen it in Nick, as had Ariel. There was a love in Nick for the light, a humility, and something else, a quality that would not bend or break but would hold true.”
As we follow Nick through the story, it’s revealed that Miranda is actually not dead and is trying to communicate with Nick by magic through his dreams. Nick feels led to the Island (through Miranda’s prompting) and starts work on rebuilding Prospero’s ruined chapel, which will hopefully restore light and life to the Island. There is one problem, Ulric, the evil magician who attacked Prospero and his Island is also still alive and will do anything to stop Nick from restoring the chapel.
I really enjoyed this story, and appreciated the battle of light and darkness. And who doesn’t love an at sea chase between good and evil! I would definitely recommend this clean fantasy retelling, even if you haven’t read The Tempest before.
I want to thank the author Tor Thibeaux for a copy of the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
May 22, 2024
Loved it.
Hope and striving through opposition. What a wonderful, beautiful book. I haven’t read The Tempest myself and don’t know how closely this and that represent each other, but I know this had great light, and I will save it for my children if I can.
Hope and striving through opposition. What a wonderful, beautiful book. I haven’t read The Tempest myself and don’t know how closely this and that represent each other, but I know this had great light, and I will save it for my children if I can.
November 11, 2023
Lovely light filled tale
I haven't ever actually read the original Shakespeare play, but I love how full of light and goodness and faith this story is. Definitely recommend.
I haven't ever actually read the original Shakespeare play, but I love how full of light and goodness and faith this story is. Definitely recommend.
January 11, 2024
A solid book. Worth reading, especially for fans of Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." Having only seen the play once over ten years ago, it took me a minute to get used to all the characters, and I did feel there needed to be more explanation surrounding the character of Propspero.
There were a lot of point-of-view characters used throughout this book (I want to say at least 6), some only once or twice, and I think it could have been even better if the POVs were limited to 3 and each one given more page time.
I love light vs. darkness stories, and this definitely was one. However, I do feel there could have been more story and character development done to enhance that symbolism and solidify this book as something unforgettable.
The author sent me this book for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.
There were a lot of point-of-view characters used throughout this book (I want to say at least 6), some only once or twice, and I think it could have been even better if the POVs were limited to 3 and each one given more page time.
I love light vs. darkness stories, and this definitely was one. However, I do feel there could have been more story and character development done to enhance that symbolism and solidify this book as something unforgettable.
The author sent me this book for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.
September 13, 2023
Somehow Nick survived the battle on Prospero’s island. Two years on, and he’s trying to build a life on the mainland while still mourning the loss of Prospero and his daughter Miranda. He returns frequently to the island to watch over the unconscious Ariel, his best friend.
A magical force compels him to start repairing the damaged chapel on the island, so against all doubts and despair, he sets out to do so.
But the evil Ulric knows what rebuilding the chapel means and will do anything to stop Nick from succeeding.
“Because you love the light.”
As I was reading Summon the Light, I couldn’t help thinking of the verses in John 3 that speak of loving darkness and of truth being in the light. This story focuses on the light, and the power that comes from all that is good. There’s a lot of symbolism in this story, and it was lovely to read.
There are moral dilemmas, deep friendships, and a touch of romance in this story, and they’re all woven together beautifully. Thibeaux has done an excellent job of continuing the story of The Tempest.
5 Roses
A couple of kisses at the end.
No swearing.
A few injuries and battles, but not descriptive at all.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
A magical force compels him to start repairing the damaged chapel on the island, so against all doubts and despair, he sets out to do so.
But the evil Ulric knows what rebuilding the chapel means and will do anything to stop Nick from succeeding.
“Because you love the light.”
As I was reading Summon the Light, I couldn’t help thinking of the verses in John 3 that speak of loving darkness and of truth being in the light. This story focuses on the light, and the power that comes from all that is good. There’s a lot of symbolism in this story, and it was lovely to read.
There are moral dilemmas, deep friendships, and a touch of romance in this story, and they’re all woven together beautifully. Thibeaux has done an excellent job of continuing the story of The Tempest.
5 Roses
A couple of kisses at the end.
No swearing.
A few injuries and battles, but not descriptive at all.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
October 21, 2023
Starring a stalwart unlikely hero, a battle of light and darkness, and a deep Magic whose strength comes from goodness, SUMMON THE LIGHT is a beautiful story of hope and tenacity.
The setting is rich and full, with a co-existing flintlock-style town full of smugglers, sailors, and good-for-naughts as well as an unseen magical realm with mysterious air spirits and talking dolphins. A whole host of enchanting characters bring this nail-biter of a tale to life with their complex personalities, motives, and skills. I especially loved Nick’s strength of resolve even in the face of adversity and discouragement. The world needs more everyday heroes like him.
Tor Thibeaux masters the 3rd-person limited omniscient with multiple points of view throughout the story, giving the reader inside information even when the characters are left in the dark. It doesn’t work for every story, but in this setting it felt perfect. This is the first story I’ve read by Thibeaux, but I will definitely be revisiting her work.
The setting is rich and full, with a co-existing flintlock-style town full of smugglers, sailors, and good-for-naughts as well as an unseen magical realm with mysterious air spirits and talking dolphins. A whole host of enchanting characters bring this nail-biter of a tale to life with their complex personalities, motives, and skills. I especially loved Nick’s strength of resolve even in the face of adversity and discouragement. The world needs more everyday heroes like him.
Tor Thibeaux masters the 3rd-person limited omniscient with multiple points of view throughout the story, giving the reader inside information even when the characters are left in the dark. It doesn’t work for every story, but in this setting it felt perfect. This is the first story I’ve read by Thibeaux, but I will definitely be revisiting her work.
November 1, 2024
My dad died three weeks ago yesterday. While traveling to Iowa for his funeral, I read Summon the Light by Tor Thibeaux, a retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest that's part of the Classic Retold series. This is a slender novella, barely a hundred pages, but it was exactly the representation of hope and healing I needed at the time.
The book's message is one of not giving up even when you are devastated, of doing the next task that comes to hand even if it seems meaningless. That confidence that even mundane things are still important in the face of great tragedy is something I absolutely needed reinforced during that road trip to Iowa. I'm so thankful I grabbed this particular book off my TBR shelves, seemingly at random, when I was packing things to read on the trip -- I think the Lord must have guided my hand at that moment.
The book's message is one of not giving up even when you are devastated, of doing the next task that comes to hand even if it seems meaningless. That confidence that even mundane things are still important in the face of great tragedy is something I absolutely needed reinforced during that road trip to Iowa. I'm so thankful I grabbed this particular book off my TBR shelves, seemingly at random, when I was packing things to read on the trip -- I think the Lord must have guided my hand at that moment.
December 14, 2025
I would strongly recommend this book! It is a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Tempest”. The plot is about a man named nick struggling against inhuman forces to rebuild a chapel of a desolate island that was wiped out years ago by the magician Ulric. It is centered in a different world where is some magic, such as magicians that can appear to others even if they are a a long way away, and I there is one part where It sounds like someone is raised from the dead, but I am not sure if that is what actually happened. This is one I would definitely recommend to someone needing a good read!
May 27, 2024
Loved all the perspectives
I love books where you get the perspective of multiple characters but one of my pet peeves is when you label them, especially when they almost always start with so and so did such and such. But this book instead assumed that its readers had brains and just switched from character to character (including villains) as needed and didn't spoon feed the context. And sure enough it was easy to track. I hope other authors learn to trust their readers.
I love books where you get the perspective of multiple characters but one of my pet peeves is when you label them, especially when they almost always start with so and so did such and such. But this book instead assumed that its readers had brains and just switched from character to character (including villains) as needed and didn't spoon feed the context. And sure enough it was easy to track. I hope other authors learn to trust their readers.
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September 25, 2023One of the most uplifting retellings I have ever read. This book finally makes something of Shakespeare's The Tempest - something truly beautiful.
This shining novella did so much for my soul and I can't recommend it enough.
This shining novella did so much for my soul and I can't recommend it enough.
September 27, 2025
Ooh. I liked this one more than I expected. Once again, I find that I am not that familiar with the source material. I had no expectations for this story, and I found it very good.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews