Author: Jenn J McLeod
ISBN: 9781925030280
RRP: $29.99
I have only heard good things about the Seasons Collection and Jenn’s debut House of all Seasons was one of our book club reads, one I unfortunately didn’t read but have got on my towering TBR to get to. After having read Season of Shadow and Light I am even more determined to go back and read the first two in the collection.
Season of Shadow and Light is a complex story filled with secrets which make for some intense mystery that kept me guessing, some of those guesses made room for some hairy situations had they come to pass. It is a story of family, of trust, of betrayal and most of all of healing. I loved it from the very first page to the very last.
We have multiple story tellers, three for the most part but then an extra joins the ranks late in the piece, for a broad perspective and a much more insightful story. This method allowed us to see deep inside the story, and understand motivations that we may not have otherwise while driving the mystery and sustaining suspense. Yes, there were some predictable outcomes but there were some that took quite a bit of working out and many is it or isn’t it moments all the while ensuring that not all the questions were answered.
Paige Turner has given herself a time out from her life and packed up her 6 year old daughter Matilda for a road trip. Perhaps a little rash, not completely thought out, but something she felt she had to do and when Alice couldn’t talk her out of it she decided to tag along. The plan was to head to small town Saddleton with some half baked idea to find out a little more about her history because she knows very little about her mothers roots.
The dynamics in Season of Shadow and Light are not so much new but not often explored, it is becoming much more common now but this was a family dynamic that I was new to in literature. Paige grew up with two mothers in a time that it was far from common, and even further from socially acceptable so the fact that her history goes back no further than her birth is not that hard to understand. Nancy was Paige’s birth mother, who passed away when she was a child, and Alice was her partner. After Nancy’s death Alice took on the role as Paige’s mother and that made life a little simpler.
The timeline jumps around a little which I did have trouble following at times because the characters seemed to wander off into their memories without notice, totally sidetracking a scene and there were times I wasn’t quite sure if we ended up getting to the end of the scene in the present because we got so caught up in the past. Except for the fact that it confused me at times this helped to drive the story because so much was rooted in the history of these characters.
The last couple of years haven’t been kind to Paige; after marrying her first love and thinking she had it all they pursued their career goals and then started working on their family. Robert Turner dotes on his darling Matilda but not so much on his wife anymore. Paige suffered the loss of a baby and then a post partum stroke which stole her sense of taste and smell, which in turn robbed her of her dream job as a professional food reviewer. The relationship between Paige and Robert is already strained but then news of a major betrayal comes to light and Paige’s wobbly personal life starts to topple. The perfect excuse to set off in search of Saddleton and information about a young Nancy.
Circumstance sees them land in Coolabah Tree Gully, not far from Saddleton but a world away from the life she’s always known. A place she finds a sense of peace, an affinity for horses she was previously unaware of and a simple country life experience for Matilda.
McLeod deftly explores same sex unions in a time when ‘that sort of lifestyle choice needs to be hidden for the benefit of the family’s reputation’. There are other things I would like to mention but in the interest of keeping this spoiler free I’m not sure what I should or shouldn’t say.
Trust and betrayal are huge themes in Season of Shadow and Light and they are portrayed from all angles, highlighting the shades of grey and absence of black and white. There are many forms of betrayal and a million ways for a trust to be broken. Where do you draw the line between betrayal and protecting your loved ones?
Season of Shadow and Light captures the head, the heart and the soul with it’s exploration of the importance in contrast. There can be no shadow without light, every yin needs its yang, and the choice is always there to love and heal, to grow and forgive as it is to fester in hate and bitterness. A fantastic introduction to Jenn J McLeod for me and a reading relationship I intend to fully explore.
Season of Shadow and Light is book #22 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge.
You can find Season of Shadow and Light in all good bookstores now, and at Simon & Schuster.
Jenn J McLeod can be followed on Twitter, Facebook and her Website.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Hello Michelle, I just read your review of my book, Season of Shadow and Light, and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your well-considered thoughts with other book lovers. There are so many fabulous books to read. Thank you for choosing one of mine. Cheers, Jenn J
Just bought my copy today and hopefully start it soon 🙂
Hi Mandy, lovely to hear. Thank you for choosing my story. There are so many wonderful books out at the moment. I do hope you enjoy the Season of Shadow and Light.
I just loved House of all Seasons so I am looking forward very much to reading this new “House” book. Absolutely thrilled to have been selected to review it. I’m going to re-read House of all Seasons again as I’ve only just realised, via Michelle’s review of Season of Shadow and Light that it is a series.
Hi Trish, thank you so much. I wanted to let you know that it is not actually a series (I know, the SEASONS QUARTET thing makes it sound so). But Season of Shadow and Light is a standalone story. I look forward to your review.
Thanks so much for responding personally, Jenn. I LOVED the book. I’ve bought the 2nd one, looking forward to reading that and the 4th one next year. All the very best.
I had high hopes for SEASON OF SHADOW AND LIGHT by Jenn J McLeod, but I don’t think this one was for me. I found the story to be quite disjointed at times. However, I do think that this writing style reflected well upon the characters and some aspects of the story. For example; in emphasising Paige’s anxiety and fears, happenings throughout and relationships. I don’t know if this was deliberate on the part of the author, but it worked. I did find myself compelled to read on at all times because wanted to see how certain issues were handled and to read the final resolution. I was very glad of the opportunity to read and review.
My question: do you use locations you are familiar with or do you seek out new locations?
Hi Mary, regarding this in your review: “I don’t know if this was deliberate on the part of the author, but it worked.” Can I say, that if it works, then it is most definitely deliberate on the part of the author!!! 🙂 At least i kept you reading. That is good news. As for the locations I use… I create fictional places, often based on towns I know and love. EG: Calingarry Crossing in House for all Seasons is based on NSW towns (Sawtell, Bellingen, Ulmarra). Right now I am sitting on a cattle farm in Rockhampton (in the caravan I live in these days) and writing book #5 – set on a cattle property n Rockhampton!! Very inspiring. Thank you for the question
HI Jen,
I am going to compile a list of questions for you from these readers at the end of the book club so we can have an author interview post 🙂
Oh. Oops! That’s a great idea. Thx Michelle. I look forward to that.
I received my copy of Season Of Shadow and Light a couple of days ago, and have just finished it.
I haven’t read any of Jenn’s other novels but that is one thing that I plan to change, after reading this novel.
Quite simply, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
The characters were great – real, at times flawed, and very memorable and likeable in my opinion.
The settings were described beautifully without the overuse of adjectives.
I found that the story flowed really well; I liked how the chapters were told from the main characters’ perspectives.
I want to commend Jenn for using lesbian characters in her story; I have a gay niece, so could relate to it on a personal level.
I would highly recommend this book because it is very well written and a real page turner.
(Speaking of a page turner, how clever is Jenn to name the main character Paige Turner?! I loved it!)
Without giving much of the storyline away, I enjoyed knowing that by the end of the book, all secrets and lies were out in the open.
My question to Jenn is: Jenn, do you have a signature dish or recipe that you make, and if so, what is it? Alice has her scones, and I’m curious as to what you would consider your signature dish?
I can’t wait to delve into Jenn’s other works as I’m certain I won’t be disappointed.
Many thanks for the opportunity to review. It was a most enjoyable read.
Michelle! What a beautifully written review. Wow! I have had some great feedback from people, who like you, are touched in some way by Alice’s character. Can you believe she wasn’t in the original / first concept draft at all! I only created her to babysit Matilda!!!!!
Season of Shadow and Light by Jenn J McLeod was a book I really enjoyed reading and didn’t want to put down.
The experiences of Alice and Paige had me enthralled. Without being a ‘Spoiler’ I could feel deeply for the heat break and choices that each of the characters in this book had and have to make.
City living versus the laid back calmness of a small country town and the dangers of flooding can have on a small community.
The impact of past actions that tear apart families are explored and the amazing way these are resolved. Not always a happy ending for some but poignantly happy for others.
This book touches on a whole range of different subjects that were ‘hidden behind closed doors’ and touches on the small town mentality that many people have come across.
Family dynamics, lost relatives discovered and the catching up of many years lost had me crying and laughing at the same time.
A very realistic story and I would recommend this to many others.
My question for Jenn J McLeod would be did you do a lot of research on the impact same sex couples in country towns and the discrimination they did have in the past?
Hi Ann Maree! Laughing and crying is EXACTLY what I love, you know that. So happy you enjoyed Shadow and Light. 🙂
I loved this book, the flipping between the two main characters was great, each time I finished a chapter on one character I cried out as I wanted to find out what was going to happen with them. However, two paragraphs into the next chapter I was hooked again on the other character and was engrossed to pick up the story so far (from their side) and find out what would happen next.
I giggled with glee when both characters met up, interacted and then seperated.
For me this book had the right amount of excitement, unjustness (I know its not a word!), betrayal, tough decisions and self doubt. I both cried and laughed throughout the book and often wondered what I would have done in a similar situation.
Well done and I am certainly looking forward to the next book!
My question would be, when thinking about your evil or dark characters, how do you come up with their heinous acts, is it researched or an overly active imagination?
Karin! I LOVE that you giggled with glee. I so enjoyed writing Aiden and Paige’s fun flirtations. A nice light story to balance out the other side of the story. My next baby (The Other Side of the Season) just moved in its 2nd trimester!!!!! Delivery date TBC – April ???
I have just finished reading Season of Shadow and light. I enjoyed the thread of the book , the concept and idea was one that I had a great story line. The characters were written in thoughtfully and full of life, but sometimes there was a few times that some parts of the story that seemed to lose the thread of the story or to not be relevant to what was happening. I understand that sometimes we need some back ground information on the characters but I found myself having to go back and catch up on what was actually happening in order to keep my thoughts.
I loved the city to country process throwing in the line of food and horses throughout the book. Rory sickness threw me, didn’t expect that but the ending seemed quite quick with opening for further story or extended story.
My question is : Do you write a story to plan or does it change and take shape as it is being written ?
Great question, Katrina. Thank you for taking the time to read and review. 🙂
Pleased to be given the opportunity to review ‘Season of Shadow and Light’.
This is a novel of loyalty, trust and mysteries, for me it led to understanding of things I haven’t given much thought to before. It challenges issues which were once swept under the carpet.
Paige is the central character, together with her daughter Mati and Alice, partner of Paige’s mother (who tragically died when Paige was young. meaning that Alice has always been in Paige’s life and has had the responsibility of Paige’s upbringing) are heading to Saddleton from Berowa. This is a trip for Paige to escape from problems in her marriage and health issues she has had to deal with.
Road closures see them stranded in Coolabah Tree Gully a rural town. Here friendships develop, trust is tested and friendships develop.
As Alice states “It’s the Journey not the destination”.
I really enjoyed the humour in this book, I found it exciting and down to earth, easy to read and follow.
When’s the sequel coming out?!
LOL A sequel would be awesome!!!! Thank you, Gilli, for the lovely thoughts.
Once I connected with the characters in Season of Shadow and Light – my fault, not Jenn’s, because I wanted this to be House For All Seasons part 2 and of course it isn’t! I loved it. I loved House and it took me a little while to let it go as there are 4 books in the Seasons – each are stand alone. I’m incredibly pleased that I was selected to read and review Season of Shadow and Light and thank Beauty and Lace, Michelle and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity.
Jenn McLeod’s sentence in the acknowledgements is incredibly meaningful “Acceptance comes from understanding and it is often through our stories that authors can provide readers with a safe place to explore and appreciate social differences.”
The relationship between Alice – one of the most wonderful characters I’ve encountered – and Nancy is beautifully and sensitively handled as is the way that relationship affects so many close to them. Lesbian relationships wouldn’t be my first choice reading but the way this novel evolves without preaching or being soppy made for a beautiful book with wonderful characters. Michelle has reviewed the novel far better than I could so I see no reason to revisit that but my personal feelings are relevant.
The writing is powerful and effective. The characters and their surroundings come to life and the details are excellent. The way Jenn describes horses and their ability to connect with and shape lives is brilliant. I loved the way I was able to feel as though I was there with the characters. The relationship of the characters with each other was excellent and believable. The need to keep a secret given to a loved one a long time ago weighed so heavily on Alice. “Are some secrets best kept for the sake of others?” Not knowing the effect that revealing the secret would have. possibly destroying everything Alice held dear, no one could blame her whatever decision she reached. The way this was played out was perfectly done.
I loved the ending. I hate endings that tie things up neatly without thought to the rest of the book but I also hate not feeling satisfied with something I can keep thinking about – Jenn managed to give a beautifully rounded ending without it being forced. I love reading a book that stays on I’m my memory and I look forward to the 4th Seasons book.
My question to Jenn is : How much do the characters change and evolve from original concept to completion of the novel?
Trish, what a wonderful review. Thank you, and I hope I get to answer your question. You might be surprised. 😉