Illuminate the Dark: Stories of Light over Darkness

by Kaytlin Phillips

In this collection, sixteen authors invite you to embark on epic fantasy adventures to find hope amidst even the darkest moments of our lives!

Dylan has been dragged from his home. Rave wants a little light to hold on to in an otherwise sunless world. Cónán never should have touched the coins in the fountain. A villain looks for redemption as the end draws nigh. This is just a sample of the stories you can find within the pages of Illuminate the Dark!

From beautiful poetry to epic short stories exploring hope in dark times, in grief, in the face of adversity, and when all seems lost, this anthology, curated by YA fantasy author Kaytlin Phillips, aims to paint a vivid picture of the hope we have in Christ our Savior!

Illuminate the Dark features work from Bree Pembrook, Norah Case, Jaiden Phillips, Emma G. McKee, Kylie Beevers, Lori Ann Nelson, Lillian Keith, Marisa Phillips, Hunter Reder, Abigail Hathaway, Sara Noelle, Z.A. Gilbert, Kaytlin Phillips, Abby Burrus, Emily Waldorf, and Kayla Spurling! This light filled story collection will take you on epic fantasy adventures that aim to shatter the dark.

Genres: Anthologies, Christian, Christian Fiction

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Kaytlin Phillips is a homeschool grad who spends her days praising her Savior, reading, writing, blogging, and annoying her sisters with random thoughts. She is the fifth child out of seven and resides in the Southern Appalachian foothills of Western North Carolina.
She believes in the power of stories and their ability to change lives. And when not writing stories of hope, purpose, and redemption, you can find Kayti (as everyone calls her) reading, hiking, or taking random pictures.
Connect with Kayti at www.sisters-three.com
or on Instagram @sisters_three_press

Newsletter Sign-Up: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/form...

Reviews

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminate the Dark is out in the world, and this collection is more than I ever imagined it would be!

COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN - Bree Pembrook
5 stars
I love this story! The blessed fountain, Conan, and his mistake. The desperation and the ending with the truth of the hope we can find in our King! Spectacular!

THE WEAVER, THE WALKERS, AND THE WEAKLING - Norah Case
5 stars
This story was super unique! I loved that the author pulled on the aspect that God doesn't always fight out battles for us but instead gives us the strength to fight them ourselves. It was a beautiful theme!
This story is intense! And I loved every second!

FATE OF A VILLAIN - Jaiden Phillips
5 stars
Told from the perspective of a dying villain, this story is beautiful! The reminder that no one is too far gone and the hope thar can be found even in death through our Creator!

THE WHITE STAG - Emma G. McKee
4 stars
This is a beautiful allegorical story based on a folktale. I loved the imagery and the message behind the story, which was absolutely beautiful!

HAIL THE FIRE - Kylie Beevers
4 stars
A beautiful poem from Daniel (from the Bible's) perspective.

FIRE FEATHERS TO HOME - Lori Ann Nelson
4 stars
It is a unique story about wandering into darkness and finding our way back. The trap that despair can feel like and the hope that comes with light! Beautiful! Also, dragons and phoenixes! sign me up!

ON THE EDGE OF DAWN - Lillian Keith
5 stars
The story of an orphan boy and the courage it takes to face the darkness. This story is the literal sweetest! You've got adoption, hope, and courage all mixed into a delightful fantasy setting with a dragon to top it all off.

Hope is Light - Marisa Phillips & Hunter Reder
5 stars
I love this short poem and the beautiful truths so eloquently spoken!

SHATTER THE DARK - Abigail Hathaway
4 stars
The story of Dylan, a boy with one arm and a whole lot of courage and hope. I loved the dragons, the subtle plot twist, and the ending that shatters darkness! It's such a good story!

CRYING UPWARD - Sara Noelle
5 stars
This one made me cry y'all...every time I read it! Which was about 3 times...tear up every time, but it's such a poignant real sort of beauty! Definitely, one everyone should read!

LADY LOVE - Z.A. Gilbert
4 stars
Hope for those we love and just a beautiful piece that has a classic feel to it.

POISONED THRONE - Kaytlin Phillips
Look, it's me...so I'm not rating it.😂
This story is about a young prince who is trying to protect his people from an enemy he can't see...as his generals, lords, and advisors continue to die with no cause in sight and the visible enemy approaches Prince Kyann must find the answers he seeks before all hope is gone.

TO GRASP GLORY - Abby Burrus
4.5 stars
This story about seeking light in a world of darkness is very good... I love the whole theme of it and definitely wouldn't mind reading more about these characters! Who am I kidding...I desperately want to read more about them.😂

ONLY YOU - Emily Waldorf
5 stars
I think my jaw hit the floor when I read this story, and I knew it had yo be in the collection! It's such a beautiful and heartbreaking tale but soooo good! I love every second of it!

CHIAROSCURO - Kayla Spurling
5 stars
This poem is almost a mystery in itself...one that will hit different people in different ways. For me, knowing the author and her story, it hits all the feels.

OVERALL:
This collection is one of Light over Darkness and hope in the face of hopelessness!

All profits from the collection go to BeLoved Asheville to help with continued relief for those affected by Hurricane Helene in the Appalachian mountains.

[Abby Burrus]

IT'S HERE!!! IT'S ON GOODREADS!! I don't know why this showing up on my author profile makes me so happy but it does. Ahhhh!!!

*clears throat*
I will, in the coming weeks, attempt to write a review of this anthology as I go through it again for the read along ;) But suffice it to say, I love the stories in this anthology. They've become near and dear to me <3

COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN BY BREE PEMBROOK
I think this story has a really unique concept! In fact, I think it's so unique and intriguing that I would love to see it explored further. There's a lot packed into it, and I think it could be expanded upon. I can remember first reading the opening line and thinking that it sounded kinda funny, not serious, until I realized that Conan actually was serious XD Then I was like, "Oh no." It makes for a really unique allegorical aspect. As a whole I like Conan overall, he's doing his best to provide for his sisters, even if his means are *cough* questionable *cough*. And I also relate to him because I've been in places where I've made stupid choices and wondered how it could all turn out right. I love the theme of hope always being there, even if you couldn't see it.

THE WEAVER, THE WALKERS, AND THE WEAKLING BY NORAH CASE
This short story had my heart from the first time I read it <3 Well, okay, Aspen had my heart and my sympathy lol. Because yeah, I relate to him: where is that pocket of courage that's supposed to be there when I need it? Where is the deliverance that was promised? And I LOVE that the answer was just as relatable. That maybe we don't have the courage to do what we need to do, and maybe there won't be a Red Sea moment, but that maybe... God will be there with us, and will give us what we don't have.
Also, I just find the whole situation / fight with Juniper so amusing XD I don't know why, I just found it funny. Oh, and Norah has a wonderful way with descriptions <3

FATE OF A VILLAIN
This is such a different short story. But for me, I think it points to something important: we're all villains. And we don't like to think of ourselves that way. (I'm not saying we've done what this villain has done.) But we have all done wrong things for the wrong reasons- often prompted by a longing for something good. That's the tragic irony. And salvation has to be offered to even villains- so that we know we too can be saved.

THE WHITE STAG
I love how she took a legend and put her own twist on it! This one is another short story with unique allegorical elements (didn't realize how many of those there were in this anthology until recently). I remember reading this for the first time and being delighted when marigolds were mentioned, they're one of my favorite flowers <3
One thing I really like about this short story too is how the ending reflects back on the beginning. I love stories that do that, and this one did it really well! And also, the poem at the end was a neat edition, I thought that was well done too.

More reviews to come!

[Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book really is amazing. It would take me forever to go through all the stories so I’m gonna just say this: I’m feeling this a lot. And I found myself in tears reading certain stories that were just so right on what I am goin through and feeling at this point in my life. It’s hard not to let the darkness swallow you. A part in one of the stories that stuck out to me, was “crying upward”. It just…it hit me big time. Because a lot I just wanna curl up and cry and cry forever because it feels like no one hears or is listening.

Wow. Didn’t mean to go so deeply into that but y’all, you won’t regret reading this anthology. It’s really really good. And God is the Light. The One you can always turn to. And He’s way stronger than any darkness you’re feeling.

**I got the ARC. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions.**

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coins in the Fountain by Bree Pembrook
5 stars. Well, ah, I ended up in tears, SOOO... While I wasn't so crazy about the idea of fountains in a coin making or breaking wishes, I did absolutely love the message of redemption and how hope is never out of reach that this allegory gave. As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, I need that reminder frequently. <3 And of course the destitute Victorian orphan vibe was fun. (That sounds so bad but you know what I mean...)

The Weaver, the Walkers, & the Weakling by Norah Case
4.5 stars. This story had a really great idea. I love the MC's weakness and how he eventually discovered real strength. I wasn't too much of a fan of the Christ-like figure (Weaver) in this allegory... I don’t know, I just had a bit of a theological eyebrow quirk at how he was depicted. Maybe it's just me. The message was good, though, and the story was delightfully unique.

Content warning: I do not like the idea of the ginormous bugs (aka the Walkers), but they weren't a big enough part of the story to bother me, personally.

Fate of a Villain by Jaiden Phillips
4 stars. We all know I adore redemption arcs. I firmly believe in "while there's life there's hope" and no one is ever too far gone for God's forgiveness. I LOVE how this story represented this! It's awfully short, and some parts weren't quite clear to me, but it had me intrigued. I'd love a bigger story, haha.

I do have a little theological quibble, though. The story states, "The High One wants you. He's already forgiven you and He's waiting for you. The Holy Book says, 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' All you have to do is ask." I understand what the author is trying to say, and she's right! But I just have a problem with saying "he's already forgiven you." He's waiting for you, 100%. He's ready to forgive you, 100%. But he cannot forgive you until you repent. "IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive." I just would have to clarify this issue if I were handing this to an unsaved person.

The White Stag by Emma G. McKee
4.7 stars. At this point in the anthology I realized there would be an awful lot more allegories than I expected, haha! This one reminded me of The Pilgrim's Progress a little. I enjoyed seeing nonmagical unicorns woven in, even if none appeared; and the White Stag was a great element. I love how this story focussed on following Jesus and walking where he leads even when you feel like it's dark and you can't see him. There was beautiful imagery of faith. And the poem at the end was such a cool touch.

Hail the Fire by Kylie Beevers
3.5 stars. What a unique idea, telling the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in poetry! It's not what I expected, but it's striking. I'm not the biggest fan of blank verse, so it wasn't really my cup of tea, but I appreciated the reminders and message.

Fire Feathers to Home by Lori Ann Nelson
4.5 stars. Dragons and Northern Lights? So cool! And those fire birds were a great element too. This story reminded me of The Sword, the Ring, & the Parchment type books, with a portrayal of the Devil who keeps the main character imprisoned and a portrayal of Christ delivering them. I also thought it was a nice angle that she wasn't an orphan, but was instead able to reunite with her family—the portrayal of how they were looking for her despite her running away was lovely.

On the Edge of Dawn by Lillian Keith
4.7 stars. One again, dragons—but bad ones! I also loved the winter village aesthetic. The backstory was solid and I quite enjoyed the storyline. Lord Ozias was delightful; Rowan was easy to root for; and his siblings were cute. It all actually reminded me of me a little of Redwall! This one wasn't allegorical, but there were lines about Lord Ozias that reminded me of our relationship with Christ and I loved it.

Hope is Light by Marisa Phillips & Hunter Reder
3.5 stars. Again... blank verse isn't my thing, I'm sorry. But there were some good lines and reminders in this poem!

Shatter the Dark by Abigail Hathaway
4 stars. Maybe I'm just craving Redwall, because this one reminded me of Mattimeo! . It, too, included dragons—I really wasn't expecting to see them so often. The story was interesting, and the message was solid.

Crying Upward by Sara Noelle
5 stars. Oh my, I loved this message. <3 It's a very, very little story, without much else to it, and I was a bit confused by Augustine, but that message really stuck to me.

Lady Love by Z.A. Gilbert
3.5 stars. I didn't quite understand this poem, but it was pretty and I quite liked several of the lines—full of truth.

Poisoned Throne by Kaytlin Phillips
5 stars. This was a very hooking story! I figured out the solution to the mystery and spent some time yelling the answer to the prince. ;P I really enjoyed how unique it was and honestly I'd love more stories set in this world, about these characters! That ending was unexpected, but very well done.

To Grasp Glory by Abby Burrus
4 stars. An intriguing story, set in what feels like Bible/ancient times. I didn't quite understand it all—it felt like it was more or less allegorical—but I really liked the message and the author's note. Actually, I'd like to see more about this story too, especially since the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger!

Only You by Emily Waldorf
5+ stars. Oh my HEART, I adored every minute of this!! It was hands down my favourite story in the whole book and oh, I wish there was more. I loved Laier so much and Mariah was a wonderful main character, and the whole world building was so unique and the plot was so good... I totally have to find more by this author!

Chiaroscuro by Kayla Spurling
2 stars. I'm sorry, this piece totally confused me... it was interesting, but I really couldn't make much sense of it and so couldn't appreciate it.

(also, can we talk about how many lovely dedications there were? And the scene breakers are BEAUTIFUL.)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Cari Legere · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of stories by young authors.
Full review to come

[Kami · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of stories that help illuminate the dark! Each of these stories/poems brings you on a journey from despair to hope. The arrangement of the stories and poems is beautifully crafted and flows easily. I enjoyed each one and will read them again. This would be an excellent collection to use in a book club, homeschool group, etc. to spark conversation on how to shine light in the darkest of places and encourage others to do the same.
*I received an ARC and was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

[D.T. Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of fantasy short stories from various young authors. There were a couple stories I really liked, several that I liked but wouldn't classify as "favorites," and a couple I struggled through, but overall, it was an enjoyable anthology, and I'm curious to see more from this group.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great anthology!

I love the theme of this anthology! Light overcoming darkness means that even though some of the endings are bittersweet, they all hold a note of hope. Some of the worlds felt much bigger than a simple short story and are worlds I'd gladly return to someday for a longer book.

My favorite stories were:
Fate of a Villain
The White Stag
The Poisoned Throne
To Grasp Glory
Only You

So... basically half the anthology...

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not normally into fantasy, but this was sooooo good. They are all short stories or poems. I wanted some of the stories to continue! But they were more poignant where they ended. I highly recommend this book. I think all the authors who contributed had fun!

[Ellie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this anthology! It was squeaky clean, with a few kisses and some deaths, but it was about the light overcoming the dark, and all of the darkness portrayed was only to make the light shine all the brighter. Highly recommend!!

[Kate Goforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't finish reading all of the short stories included in this anthology; however, the ones I did read were filled with strong themes of hope and courage. These stories were so fun to read and perfect for anyone who loves clean medieval/fantasy stories with Christian themes.

I received a free copy of this book for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, I was not required to write a positive review.