Title: Beyond the Light of the Willow Tree
Author: Daniel Chambrello
Publisher: The boy. The dragon. & the cherry tree swing. A Publishing Company
ISBN: 979-8992566116
Pages: 268
Genre: Religious Science Fiction & Fantasy / Inspirational
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Pacific Book Review
Throughout human history, anytime a great tragedy on either a world stage or in personal life has occurred, the first question a person asks is why. Why did a person suddenly get a deadly disease in the prime of their life? Why did another person with their life just turning around get into a deadly accident? Finding the answers to the why of it all has been a struggle for philosophers, politicians, teachers, and religious leaders alike, each with their own views on what those answers should be.
Author Daniel Chambrello explores the why of it all in the novel Beyond the Light of the Willow Tree. The novel is an interconnected story following a man named Gabriel, who in the present day is living a dream life until tragedy strikes and his family is impacted in ways most couldn’t imagine. Yet in that tragedy Gabriel finds purpose and meaning through grief. Meanwhile, readers are taken back in time to an age of great upheaval as those living in the age of the Roman Empire try to thrive and survive. Through infinite possibilities, readers are introduced to a story connected with one soul across infinite journeys.
Beautiful yet heartbreaking, this is a compelling story from the beginning. The author was able to find a poetic and artful balance between the past and present which speaks to both faith and philosophy in the best ways. The painful loss Gabriel experiences and his strength in the face of adversity is a relatable yet inspiring aspect of the narrative that readers will really gravitate towards, and the strong sense of imagery made this feel like a unique miniseries playing out in my mind. The emotional toll of both past and present was a gut punch but brought so much depth to the characters and their journey.
For any reader who enjoys a blend of religious and faith-based fiction with historical fiction, fantasy, and metaphysical storytelling, this is the perfect novel. The visceral action of the battles featured in the past and the dramatic story beats that are featured in the present as Gabriel faces his loss and has to both comfort his family and face the world with his unique perspective made the novel flow smoothly, and the higher plane concept the story explores really creates thought-provoking conversation amongst readers as they grapple with these questions of life and purpose, and working with themes of love, grief, and faith.
