An Onslaught of Light

'Haunting and heartbreaking, Rai's debut novel deftly weaves a tale of guilt and atonement. The ghost of grief lingers through every page, and the trauma of the past is ever present. And yet, An Onslaught of Light is just that – a powerful journey from alienation to connection, from loneliness to love, from darkness to light.' Shankari Chandran, Miles Franklin winner 'An Onslaught of Light is a mesmerising, insightful, heartfelt novel about grief, belonging and the sometimes unbearable weight of expectations ... I read it fast, in huge, hungry gulps, and finished it knowing that Arch, Indu, Vijay and Sunny will be with me for a very long time. Exquisite.' Emily Maguire 'an insightful and empathetic portrayal ... freshens the step on a well-worn literary road.' Sydney Morning Herald 'Rai has written a powerful debut novel about migration, intergenerational trauma, identity, mental health, and the many questions we ask about ourselves and our families.' ABC 'An Onslaught of Light is a glorious debut that will break you apart and put you back together again. These characters will crawl under your skin and nestle there, nudging you to feel the full weight of love, loss and family expectation across culture and generations. Heart-wrenching and hopeful, I loved it. I won't forget this story.' Amy Lovat 'a very tender story about how unresolved tensions and traumas inform the way we walk through the world ... Rai sensitively paints a family portrait in all its grittiness, but also with hope, even when the past is constantly shaping and reshaping lives.' Kill Your Darlings 'Rai's pacing is deliberate and wise, moving across decades to reflect the reality that sadly there're no quick fixes for anger or trauma – only community, small and imperfect acts of care, and a lot of time.' Mascara Literary Review