As an Irish book blogger, I’m always interested in books set in Ireland, particularly those which draw on Irish folklore and mythology, so I was glad to have the opportunity to read Kel Menton’s debut YA novel and for it to be my first ARC review for my blog. A Fix of Light is a powerful story featuring a budding romance between two queer protagonists as they grapple with their inner demons which manifest in magical ways.
Whilst this book is unquestionably heartfelt and uplifting, the early pages give fair warning that the book deals with serious themes such as suicide, self-harm, and homophobic and transphobic hate speech, however, it’s a testament to Menton’s writing that they can deal with these themes while leaving the reader feeling optimistic and upbeat about the future by the end.
I couldn’t help but be invested in the characters created by Menton, particularly our heroes Hannan and Pax.
Hannan, who is in his late teens, grapples with his mental health which bubbles up in supernatural ways. Menton cleverly links Hannan’s struggles controlling his magic to his struggles controlling is mental health, giving the reader a visual of what Hannan goes through.
But there’s more to Hannan than his mental health. His character arc proves that while Hannan makes mistakes, his heart is in the right place, particularly when it comes to caring about Pax.
Pax, or as Hannan refers to him as “the fox”, is a bright light which shines through Hannan’s darkness. When Pax is near, Hannan’s magic calms and he feels more in control. That’s not to say Pax doesn’t have problems, he definitely does, but their relationship reveals both characters are stronger than they know.
In terms of writing, Menton can drop the reader in any setting and make them feel like they’re there. They have a talent for taking those slow moments, cycling down a country road or sitting in a café, and making you feel like you’re sharing those experiences with the character. The story ebbs and flows nicely between intense scenes and heartfelt moments keeping the story engaging.
Menton rolls out the magic gradually throughout the story and draws on Irish folklore in interesting ways. I don’t want to say too much about it because discovering the magic’s source is part of the mystery, however, Menton makes for satisfying pay offs.
I very much enjoyed this book, and I will be keeping an eye on what Menton writes next.
A Fix of Light will be released on the 6th of February 2025.
To find out more about A Fix of Light and how to pre-order, check out Little Island’s website. You can also keep up to date with Kel Menton via their blog or social media.
This book review is part of a new #Octobooks series. #Octobooks are books associated with authors/guests/members (past and present) of #Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention. Find out more about Octocon on their website and their socials: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, and Mastodon.
MARK KIELTY 