It came as no surprise that Wayne Aronsen is also a poet as the novel reads like poetry from beginning to end.
The descriptions of people, landscapes, thoughts, and emotions are so vivid and intentional, I felt fully immersed in the story.
The tone of the book is undeniably melancholic with darkness often pressing in on the characters and their circumstances. Yet this heavieness never feels gratuitous…allowing it to shape the narrative …with writing that remains beautiful even when the subject matter is not.
At the heart of the novel is Anders, a character marked by loss and emotional distance…he is surrounded by the quiet hope of those characters around him.
Up Through the Darkness is an emotionally resonant novel that does not offer easy answers, but instead invites reflection. It is a story that will stay with you long after the final page.”
Charity Farrell (educator) Feb. 4, 2026