Read The Reviews

There are no comparisons to be drawn here - Emma Okell's work stands on its own with its imagination and originality. In this mesmerizing world Okell has crafted, readers connect with characters whose lives are either shrouded in the comfort of darkness or sustained by the brilliance of light. Yet it’s only as we follow Kimi's acclimation from darkness to light that we realize the true value of both and of friendships forged among the unfamiliar."
—Kaitlin Lyle Keane, journalist

"A Trick of the Light" has earned a "Get It" from Kirkus Reviews!

Rich characterizations and a compelling message distinguish this speculative story.

An outsider's perspective sends a civilization in a new direction in Okell's SF novel.
Teenager Kimi leaves his underground land of darkness to explore the hint of light that keeps creeping through from outside. Dazzled in the land of the Light, he gets captured and put into a retraining program for misbehaving youths....The author has created a well-rounded cast of supporting characters to populate what is essentially a juvenile prison. Her best character is Kimi, who proves remarkably adaptable in a world radically different from his own. Okell's narrative hinges on this big-hearted, intelligent boy who comes up with solutions not just to his daily problems, but also to his new home's long-term concerns. A handful of late twists bring the tale to a satisfying conclusion, offering hope for the future.

—Kirkus Reviews

Read the full review at this link:  https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/emma-okell/a-trick-of-the-light/