When Darkness Falls (The Light & Shadows Trilogy Book 1)

June 30, 2025

From the very first page, this book drew me in with its clear, engaging prose and immersive storytelling. The writing is incredibly easy to follow yet deeply evocative—making it feel as though I was right there within the story, experiencing every twist, turn, and heartbeat alongside the characters. As someone with Mexican heritage, this story touched me on a deeply personal level. Growing up, I heard stories like these—filled with mystery, emotion, and cultural richness—passed down through...

July 12, 2025

When Darkness Falls surprised me in the best way. What begins as a heartbreaking story of loss slowly transforms into a deeply emotional and otherworldly journey. Isabella’s grief is so raw and real... it pulled me in right away. But what truly captivated me were the dream sequences that blurred the line between fantasy and reality. Ana Gutierrez writes them with such vivid emotion that I felt like I was crossing realms alongside Elle. I loved how the supernatural elements weren’t just fantasy...

June 30, 2025

This book was a lovely portrayal of grief and close family. Isabella, or Elle, loses her husband Julian and begins having nightmares that foreshow a greater religious dilemma that has world-shattering stakes. There’s a captivating contrast between the dreaming world and waking world. There’s immersive imagery — rain, darkness, the light around Julian and his smile. And there’s Elle’s siblings, who go above and beyond to show up for their struggling sister. This reminded me of Twilight — the...

July 1, 2025

When Darkness Falls is an impressive and captivating debut from Ana Gutierrez that blends grief, faith, and fantasy into a beautifully layered story. I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy, and I was immediately drawn into the emotional journey of the young widow at the heart of the novel. After the loss of her husband, Elle begins to experience vivid dreams that transport her to an unfamiliar realm, that challenges not only her understanding of reality but also her deepest beliefs....

July 1, 2025

This book had me sat and intrigued the entire way through! The main character Elle suddenly finds herself a young widow early in the book, and navigating that grief with her as a reader felt so intensely real in its unpredictability. Elle has good days, she has bad days, days where she leans into her best self, and days where she indulges in less-than-healthy habits. There's also a surprising supernatural element throughout the story that reveals itself the further you get into the story,...