Under the Heron's Light

by Randi Pink

Inspired by stories about the real-world Great Dismal Swamp, this dual POV Young Adult fantasy by Randi Pink explores alternate history, a family’s supernatural connections to the swamp, and the strength that comes in knowing your roots. “Four-thousand-six-hundred-forty-two steps in,” Grannylou interrupted. “You remember that now, Baby. Four-thousand-six-hundred-forty-two steps to paradise.”On a damp night in 1722, Babylou Mac and her three siblings witness the murder of their mother at the hands of the preacher’s son—so Babylou kills him in retaliation. With plantation dogs now on their heels, the four siblings breach the treacherous confines of the Great Dismal Swamp. Deeper and deeper into Dismal they delve, amid the biting moccasins and pitch-black waters, eventually creating a refuge within the swamp’s natural—and supernatural—protection.Centuries later, college student Atlas comes home for the annual Bornday cookout and hog a celebration of the fact that she and her three cousins were all born on the same day almost nineteen years ago and share a birthday with their Grannylou. But this Bornday, Grannylou’s usual riddles and folktales about a marvelous paradise deep in the Great Dismal Swamp start to take on a tangible quality. Change coming.When Dismal calls, sucking Grannylou in, it’s up to Atlas and her cousins to uncover the history that the black waters hold. Centuries of family tension, with roots all over Virginia and North Carolina, are about to be dug up. Because Babylou and Grannylou are one and the same, and the power she helped cultivate—steeped in Black resistance, familial love, and the otherworldly mysteries of the Great Dismal Swamp—is bubbling back up. But so is a bitterness that runs deep as the swamp’s waters. And some are ready to take what they feel they’re owed.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Historical Fantasy, Fiction, Historical

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Randi Pink grew up in the South and attended a mostly white high school. She lives with her husband and their two rescue dogs in Birmingham, Alabama, where she works for a branch of National Public Radio. Into White is her fiction debut.

Reviews

[Rudi Hilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical realism is still a new-ish genre to me but man do I enjoy it. This is my second Randi Pink novel & it is another 5 star read. She is a natural storyteller.

This dual POV novel celebrating the beauty of southern tradition while tackling important identity issues. The characters find their history, learn to trust their instincts and appreciate their culture. 🖤

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

There is so much to like about Under the Heron's Light, so very much. Between the characters, both current and from the 1700s, as well as the historical and familial pieces that are woven together. I loved that this was based on true places and stories, and I loved how the past and present wove together, parallels the real world via this tale. The writing was also lovely, and had a lyrical quality to it.

Now, I will say that while I loved all of those elements, I felt a little lost at times with the magical part. That might be on me, honestly, because I do struggle with the magical and/or symbolic pieces in books sometimes. At times, it just felt that there were a lot of words to lead to not a lot of story, if that makes sense? A bit heavy handed at times, but overall, I really did appreciate what the story was doing. My only other complaint is that while I did really like the characters, I never felt like they were connecting to each other all that much. They were supposed to be very close, and I just didn't always feel that.

It's definitely atmospheric, and it was definitely emotionally compelling, especially seeing what Grannylou had to go through in her youth. And I did like the family connections that happened in regard to her and her siblings, as well as Atlas's connection to Grannylou- those all felt much more cohesive to me.

Bottom Line: So atmospheric with lovely writing and a great tale woven through generations.

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

UNDER THE HERON'S LIGHT is one of those unique stories that draws you in as it weaves itself around you. Steeped in a history full of hardship and wrongness while also being one of family, sacrifice and magic. The characters are full of life and compelling as they strive to find safety and power by escaping to the Great Dismal Swamp, and in their own ancestry and family. Full of prose and verse, with an emotionally driven conclusion. Recommended to fans of multigenerational literary fiction and magical realism.

I don't know that I can do this book justice. Ther are so many layers to it with phrases that those who live in the southern United States might find resonate deeply. I loved the multigenerational family aspect so, so much! The heritage, stories, respect, and love. I loved Grannylou, Atlas, Abigail and even Coral with all their complexities and surrounding family. I loved the way this story reached across generations and how the strength of those who came before gave their descendants the power to do what was needed while each also having their own unique gifts and strengths. I also enjoyed the connection to the land and how magic was weaved through the story. It was a part of the plot that worked for me. The prose does run a bit in places and might be difficult for some to follow, but I could gather what I needed to and follow along just fine. This story doesn't hide the ugliness of slavery. Neither does it hide the sometimes-malicious intent of people on their own people. Thank goodness the author believes in happily-ever-after.

There were little bits of wisdom in this story. Here is one where I loved the phrasing:
"Layered people with storied pasts and intricate connections to one another passing in and out of her creaking screen door. But also layered by history. Hard-fought battles and movements began and ended in this swamp."

And this one that lends a sweetness to this story:
"Sad lock has finally found his key,
They come to me,
On bended knee,
A detail I did not foresee,
Is love, alas, sweet love.
But this sad lock and his clever map,
Deserve an Isle to themselves.
I'll light him up and show them the way,
To higher ground and brighter days,
Along with his love,
As fondness oft does,
They'll build their own Isle,
Says ME."

In the end, was it what I wished for? This is a unique and compelling young adult story. Part multicultural and multigenerational, and part fantasy. A book that is well worth the read!

Content: Some fairly strong violence, mild swearing.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through TBR & Beyond Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mac family gathers to celebrate Bornday with a cookout every year- the shared birthday of the four cousins, Atlas, Mika, Jason And Pansy, as well as the birthday of the family matriarch, Grannylou. Every Bornday, Grannylou tells stories of The Great Dismal Swamp, just yards from her front door; she speaks of the animals and people whose lives are connected with it. But no one talks about the Swamps mysterious magic. But this Bornday, everything is about to change. Atlas and her cousins turn 19, and Grannylou disappears into the Swamp. Because there is more to the Dismal Swamp, and more to Grannylou, than anyone has realized. Grannylou was once known as Babylou, when she was enslaved with her family on the Sitter planation in North Carolina in the 1700s. The Dismal took Babylou and her kin in and imbued them with remarkable powers. It has also slowed her aging for three hundred years. Now, the Swamp is calling Babylou back, and beckoning the cousins in, to right the wrongs of the past and rebuild connections to the present.
Under the Heron's Light is a lyrical, magical, and exquisitely written novel about identity, family lineage and history, purpose, and the connection between environment and people. The voice of the Great Dismal Swamp is singing throughout this novel- but will it sing its song for you?

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of my struggle with reading the book as a HS librarian is the kind of kid that I could give this to because it's an intricately woven story with time periods in the past (1700s) and the present), a thickly entrenched setting in the Great Dismal Swamp, magic, and meaning that it reads like an adult novel with some teen appeal rather than YA.

I listened to the audiobook and think it might have been better to stick with the print book that I had checked out of the library to help me better with time and place and characters. It's a generational story. One that includes a murder and a new celebration brings them back together and lead to discoveries of what happened in the past. Maybe a little unnecessarily complicated is why I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. However, I know it's getting good press, so good for Pink.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Atlas is just about to turn 19, on the same day as 3 of her cousins. Her GrannyLou is also celebrating her BornDay, so there will be a big celebration with all the relations and neighbors just outside the Great Dismal Swamp. The Swamp holds many secrets for Atlas and her family, beginning back in 1722 when BabyLou and her siblings had to escape there after their mother was murdered.
Going back and forth between the past and present, plus including magical realism, this is a book for strong readers. The importance of the Dismal Swamp for those escaping the people who had enslaved them is powerful and the main characters are well-differentiated. However, I struggled with some of the secondary characters, the poems scattered throughout, and the magic of the family and the swamp.
Grades 7/8 and up
(Starred review in Kirkus)

[Mysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25

I struggled to follow the story for a significant portion, which made it hard to fully immerse myself. However, I truly loved the premise. The way the book explores ancestry, connection, and the bond we share with land and nature as parts of our identity is powerful. I especially enjoyed seeing Virginia represented and appreciated the thoughtful commentary on enslavement, community, and family. Overall, I just wish the narrative had been clearer from the start. With a bit more clarity, this could have easily been a five-star read.

Thank you to the author and TBR & Beyond Book Tours for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out my journal spread video on tiktok Oct 17th (@blackgirlbujos).

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot to like in the premise of this book, but the execution fell flat for me. It’s magical realism told in two times, the 1700s when a family of enslaved people flee into the Great Dismal Swamp after their mother is murdered, and the present when a family gets together at their grandmother’s for their annual Bornday celebration (the birthday of four cousins and their grandmother). Totally portentous amirite?

I loved the setting, and even the magic, but it was the slowest 340 page book I’ve read in awhile. There was a lot I liked about it, but by the middle I just wanted it to end. I kept reading, but this would be a struggle for a teen who isn’t really, really into Black history and / or magic. 3.5⭐️

[Can Dragons Read? · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dual POV was well done with this one and the parallel storylines from now and the 1700s was interesting. I loved the historical and familial elements, it was a story of sacrifice and wrongness and also strength. I thought the characters were compelling but my one downfall for this book was the magical realism aspect. Maybe because i don't read much magical realism, but this felt a little lost on me, confused me at times, and didn't completely understand it. This may be a book I need to reread in the future after exploring magical realism a bit more and updating my thoughts.

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars!

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a gorgeous blend of language, stories, family, history, and I simply cannot resist a swampish setting.

The fact that the Great Dismal Herself was not only a character, but that she even got her own POV for a moment was awesome. I found myself many times stopping just to savor the way Pink describes a scene. And the way she told the history of enslaved people through this real-world stop on the Underground Railroad and through this family who spanned centuries kept me riveted the whole time.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

While the narrator of the audiobook is fantastic, this is a fantasy I almost wish I would have read the physical copy of because there is a lot going on. The magic system was intriguing, and I liked the switch between time periods, eventually connecting to the two storylines. There is some excellent writing in here, it's just a fantasy book that's a bit on the denser side, which makes some of it difficult to follow in audio form.

The subject matter is unique, however, I don't think I've read any YA book that features the Great Dismal Swamp!

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atlas, her Grannylou, and three cousins share the same Bornday; at their Bornday cookout at the border of the Great Dismal Swamp, when all the cousins are turning 19, Atlas sees a vision from the family past. Since 1722 their family history has been entwined with the swamp and the enslaved who escaped there to build lives of freedom. As the present intertwines with the past, family secrets and snd relationships are intriguingly revealed. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Katie Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, the prose in this is absolutely gorgeous!
I always love when settings are characters, and in this, we even get some parts told in the voice of the Great Dismal Swamp. The exploration of family and ancestry and the connections people make with the land and their surroundings as part of their core identity was just so beautifully written.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

impressive historical family fantasy set in a situation which has not been discussed very much but is very deeply interesting to me. 4.5 stars tysm for the arc

[Caitie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75/5 stars. Creepy, atmospheric and hopeful.

[Lizanne Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

[Erica Schimmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Danylle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little bite mystery and swaps, family and magic… it is a good book with some suspense

[Harrison Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Straight up ass and I’m never reading it again.

[Jen Kline · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5!

[Michelle Adamo #EmptyNestReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1722 North Carolina, four siblings: Babylou, Abel, Rexi and Greenie witness the murder of their mother at the hands of the preacher’s son. Each of the children is deeply affected by what they have seen. One of the siblings, Babylou acts immediately and kills the murderer. All of them are aware that they are now in danger and they run for the protection of the Great Dismal Swamp, daring to seek safety and protection of a place that has been a refuge for escaped slaves and others seeking refuge since before the Civil War.

Three-hundred years later the family is having a celebration known as “Bornday” a family day that honor 3 cousins, all turning 19, all born on the same date as their grandmother, Grannylou (formerly Babylou). Everyone gathers to hear the stories of the magical Dismal Swamp and the mystical island of paradise that is within. Told by Grannylou, these stories of "our people finding love and safety behind the shield of the treacherous swamp” entertained them through the years somehow feel different this year. Dismal is calling Grannylou back to the swamp and when it succeeds it is up to the cousins to save Grannylou. But first they must learn the true history of the Dismal Swamp and those that ran to it for refuge.

Told in alternating points of view, this young-adult fantasy fiction is woven throughout with history. At times tragic, at times magical, always captivating, this story is filled with southern Black folklore and is throughly moving. Pink’s captivating, lyrical writing keeps the reader engrossed in the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Special thanks to NetGalley, Author Randi Pink, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for this advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for a fair and honest review. Publication Date: October 15, 2024.

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[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: death of a parent, animal death &implied killing of a pet, infant in peril & referenced murder of a child, reference to sexual coercion
2.5

This is one I liked the concept of a lot more than the execution.
The idea of a hidden swamp world of magic, particularly one that's a safe haven for a Black family, is really interesting. It did feel very atmospheric, as well, so the setting dragged you in.
I also thought that the individual powers had potential, though they didn't really get much time to look at them the way they could have.

Mostly, my complaint is about the very weird pacing. It was almost impossible for me to get and then stay invested in this one, because there was so little to sink your teeth into, and then very abstract stakes. The lack of concrete stakes made the whole thing feel like a net zero by the end, especially because I had zero interest in the romance and in the side characters/family.

[Murielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read on kindle. This was a beautiful book. This is a multi generational tale spanning a family’s experience in Virginia slavery through their escape to the the delightfully paranormal Great Dismal Swamp and up to the current generation of cousins who experience the swamp and their powerful roots themselves from the North Carolina side of the swamp.
I was a little bit confused on who the ‘villain’ of the plot was and the author lost me a bit in the middle, but I enjoyed it and the descriptions were perfectly vivid. It also has so much hope and joy in it which is important in Black stories.