A Lovely Light

by Kelly Sandoval

For a changeling and the human she replaced, the only thing more difficult than surviving each other's worlds is returning to their own.

Sierra may be a changeling, but she does her best not to show it. She’s a pro at hiding inconvenient scales under makeup, knows dating only leads to trouble, and hardly ever turns her American Lit students into parakeets. Everything's going fine until her human counterpart traps her in Faerie, a world she doesn't even remember.

Rumor isn’t interested in her changeling’s problems. Her lover’s run away to the human world, and she’s determined to bring him home. If she has to switch places with her shoddy replacement, what of it? Besides, she’ll be back before the fae find and kill Sierra. Probably.

Sierra and Rumor have spent a lifetime resenting each other’s easy lives. But as Rumor rediscovers the family she lost and Sierra falls hard for the woman trying to save her, they’re both forced to contend with the day-to-day complexities a magic mirror doesn’t show.

A Lovely Light is a contemporary fantasy with all powerful fae, sweet sapphic romance, and cozy moments with found family. Inside you'll find a boy who wishes he was a cat, a woman who's occasionally a dragon, and a kelpie who really shouldn't be in a public pool. While it's the first in a series, it is a complete story with a HEA. (Future books follow different MCs.)

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2024

Reviews

[Aoife - Bookish_Babbling]

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Pre-review - nabbed for FREE from amazon.com on 28/5/24 thanks to the Fussy Librarian email blast putting it on my radar 🤩

Part of book blurb that triggered my one-click reflex 🤗

A Lovely Light is a contemporary fantasy with all powerful fae, sweet sapphic romance, and cozy moments with found family. Inside you'll find a boy who wishes he was a cat, a woman who's occasionally a dragon, and a kelpie who really shouldn't be in a public pool. While it's the first in a series, it is a complete story with a HEA. (Future books follow different MCs.)

[Sami Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lovely Light is an engaging and thoughtful read. The story is well-written and keeps the reader engaged. The plot presents a deep look into the human condition - what it means to be human, battling with imposter syndrome, and the challenges that can be faced when navigating life. This story was honestly deep and incredibly engaging with enjoyable pacing.
I recommend going into this book rather blind for the biggest impact but I am already contemplating a re-read.

This is the first I have read Kelly Sandoval and I love her writing style. This author provides strong imagery but is not overly verbose. The prose present in this story is easy to read but not simplistic. I would highly recommend both this author and this book to fantasy lovers and those looking for a thoughtful read. I am looking forward to this author's next adventure.

[Saidah Gilbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reached halfway before I had to go to bed so I put it aside. The next day, I ended up distracting myself and procrastinating instead of going back to the book. So I'm putting it aside as I don't feel like continuing the story any time this month (which will be ending in two days anyway). I like all my books to have dates that don't cross months so I reminded myself that as an adult, I no longer have to force myself to finish books.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautifully Crafted Story

Drawing you in from the first pages, the author builds a beautiful world of magic, fae, and the desert sands of Reno. Told from the point of view of two women, connected in a way almost unimaginable, struggling to find their place in the other’s world and even in their own.
I am looking forward to more from Kelly Sandoval!