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John Reedburg
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Cracks Of Light : (2021 Readers' Favorite Book Award Silver Medal Winner In Urban Fiction): Bonus Edition. (The Cracks Of Light Series 1) Kindle Edition

by John Reedburg (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

Growing up in a broken home will always be a rough ride for any child caught in the crossfire. Naturally, when The Light speaks to nine-year-old Demetrius, he is too afraid to tell his bipolar mother what he has seen…

However, after young Demetrius develops a secret friendship with The Light, he is taken to “The Other Side,” a metaphysical realm where he meets his ancestors and learns about coping with childhood trauma, domestic abuse, and mental illness.

Acclaimed screenwriter John Charles Reedburg presents his latest novel, Cracks of Light, an urban fantasy horror that fuses drama, poetry, and testimony with the spirit world. This book is the first in a series of novels that center around human relationships with the supernatural and appeals to older fans of young adult fiction and genre readers alike.

“Raw and lyrical, harrowing, funny, and deeply human, Cracks of Light is a spellbinding novel, a riveting meditation on identity and ancestry. Reedburg is a natural born storyteller, vividly moving back and forth from early 90's South Los Angeles to other dimensions. He confidently takes on a complex plot of mental illness, abuse and addiction, deftly weaving in themes of religion and the supernatural. His voice is a mashup of Stephen King, Walter Mosley, and Charles Dickens, yet distinctly his own, fearlessly telling us Afrofuturist stories that haven’t yet been told.” ––Alistair McCartney, author of The Disintegrations.

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  1. Book 1 of 1
    The Cracks Of Light Series
  2. Print length
    163 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    February 8, 2021
  6. Reading age
    14 - 18 years
  7. Grade level
    9 - 12
  8. File size
    2.7 MB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

★ "I felt mesmerized by Cracks of Light. I highly recommend it." -- Pikasho Deka, Reader's Favorite (5-star review)

★ "Reedburg skillfully blends poetic lines with the human experiences of trauma and psychological escape, with elements of the supernatural and religion...This author is an entertaining writer that reaches deep into the psyche to tell this story. Fans of unsettling works like Get Out, Precious, and Requiem for a Dream will appreciate Cracks Of Light (The Cracks Of Light Series) by John Reedburg." -- Tammy Ruggles, Readers' Favorite (5-star review)

★ "The plot is brilliantly layered and I loved how the layers were peeled gradually, revealing some shocking secrets. An excellent story with much more to unravel in book two of the series." -- Lesley Jones, Readers' Favorite (5-star review)

★ "Beautifully ... compassionately told as a young boy bares his soul to the world; this world and the one on the other side. A powerful look at the tough lives so many young people have to endure." -- Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Readers' Favorite (5-star review)

★ "The ending definitely left me curious for more! ...this was definitely an eye-opening, brilliant book. Great job!" Jessica Barbosa for Readers' Favorite (5-star review)

"Raw and lyrical, harrowing, funny, and deeply human, Cracks of Light is a spellbinding novel, a riveting meditation on identity and ancestry. Reedburg is a natural born storyteller, vividly moving back and forth from early 90's South Los Angeles to other dimensions. He confidently takes on a complex plot of mental illness, abuse and addiction, deftly weaving in themes of religion and the supernatural. His voice is a mashup of Stephen King, Walter Mosley, and Charles Dickens, yet distinctly his own, fearlessly telling us Afrofuturist stories that haven't yet been told." --Alistair McCartney, author of The Disintegrations.

About the Author

John Charles Reedburg received his MFA in Fiction from Antioch University of Los Angeles, and his MFA in Screenwriting and Directing from Chapman University in Orange, CA. He enjoys visiting boutique coffee shops and playing video games on his PC laptop when he's not writing.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08W2R3W94
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Valorous Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 8, 2021
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 163 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1736553541
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12
  • Book 1 of 1 ‏ : ‎ The Cracks Of Light Series
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

About the author

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John Reedburg

John Reedburg

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John Reedburg is a celebrated author, filmmaker, and multimedia producer whose work has garnered critical acclaim. His 2021 novel, "Cracks of Light," won the Readers' Favorite Book Award in the Urban Fiction category and reached the Top 10 on Amazon's bestseller list.

Reedburg has an impressive educational background, holding two MFAs: one in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and another in Screenwriting/Directing from Chapman University. This diverse training highlights his expertise across various storytelling mediums.

As the creative mind behind the "No Tears For Black Girls" True Crime Podcast, Reedburg has made a significant impact in the podcasting realm. Critics recognized his show as one of the top 25 must-listen Black true crime podcasts, and it received a nomination for the prestigious Best True Crime Podcast award at the 2024 Black Podcast Awards.

Reedburg's literary work has featured in the Fictional Cafe.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
47 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • RoseKay55
    5.0 out of 5 stars Raw, complex and brilliant
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It's almost amazing to me how many complexities can be woven and how many emotions can be wrought in the telling of a single, tragic story. With startling realism, John Charles Reedburg masterfully tackles such issues as mental illness, child abuse, addiction and poverty, then he sprinkles in religion and wraps it all up in the supernatural. Cracks of Light may seem extreme and perhaps be difficult to understand for someone never subjected to any of the aforementioned horrors, but I imagine anyone who's either personally, or watched someone they love, live through such issues, will see the brilliance in the author's writing. Yes, there's a lot of vulgarity but that, too, is unfortunately a very real by-product of D's circumstances. I literally cried for Demetrius, knowing his character tragically represents an untold number of unnamed faces and inknown lives. I can't recommend this book highly enough, but the weak of heart should be forewarned. It's raw and gritty and some of the most realistic fiction you're likely to ever read.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Autumn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Different but definitely fantastic
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Was looking for something new to jump into as a break from the research books I've been reading over lately and a friend had mentioned this one anyway so I figured I'd give it a shot as it wasn't super long. Glad I checked it out. It's super raw and may tug on your heart. There is quite a bit of vulgarity and I understand why though at the same time I don't feel like it was 100% necessary either.

    That being said, I'm glad I checked this out and will keep tabs on this author for sure!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • BLKREADER
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and intriguing. Can't wait for part 2
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    When I started to read this book I wasn't sure what I was going to find. It was a unique experience from its characters , format and contents. I suggest no matter how weird you find it just to follow it to the end. It really takes shape and I'm excited to see where it goes.
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  • Sam Toka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Strange but in a good way
    Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It was different from what I expect when I picked up this story; the horror part is not "scary" but "shocking" with all the different sides covered in this novel. So many feelings as I went over the different chapters
    One person found this helpful
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  • anonymous
    1.0 out of 5 stars This story is crazy, can't make any sense of any part of it. Full of profanity and vulgarity.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    Crazy characters, crazy dialogue, crazy disjointed plot (or lack thereof) - I thought it might get better but it just got crazier. I can't think of another word to describe it. The farther into the story the worse it got - full of very offensive language - nonstop profanity and vulgarity, like every sentence except when it was the little boy's episodes. Had to give up and go to the end to see if it made any sense of the story, with any redeeming tie-ups to the storyline - it wasn't any better and had one of those abrupt last sentences like a door slammed in your face. And you think WHAT??? What was the point of this story?? Worst book I ever tried to read - made my brain feel crazy too! I'm sorry I wasted an hour hoping for it to get better or start making some sense.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Buyologist
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not your typical fantasy book, this book will bring you the reality of life.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    It is one of a kind book! While reading this book, my heart is breaking, Demetrius the main character does not deserve what he went through his whole childhood. Once you start reading each page you won’t stop reading it till the end because you will truly feel the story, the pain, suffering, all the misfortunes that happen to the main character is shocking.

    I feel sad about what happened to this poor child and at the same time angry about what other people do to him. I want to read the next series to know what will happen to Demetrius’s character. I highly recommend this book to all young adults and all parents out there.

    Not your typical fantasy book, this book will bring you the reality of life. That the world we live in is not a fair world but at the same time, this book will make you realize that we can choose whom we become and our behavior decides who stays in our life.
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  • AK S
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    Cracks of Light is an enthralling account of a young boy's life. Mental illness, abuse, and poverty are the norms that impact him and sway his view of the world and himself. John Charles Reedburg does a phenomenal job of taking you into the world in which Demetrius lives, eliciting understanding, compassion, concern, empathy, anger, and a range of other emotions. You can't read this story and remain detached. I also found myself unable to judge his mother, Olivia/Lydia, as her life experiences molded her mind and soul. I did find the end of the book a bit frightening and realized that happily ever after is often not the reality of life. This story was definitely eye-opening, and the characters so real that you feel them and feel for them.

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rikki M
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Emotional Story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2022
    Format: Kindle
    This book will take you through many emotions right from the start. The main character Demetrius is born into poverty with a mother who is horrible to him. The book has issues dealing with poverty, mental health, emotional health and addiction. Although there is a lot of swearing throughout the book, it reads well. I sometimes found it a bit too vulgar but that is how life is for some. Makes my heart sad. It was a new take on these issues with the element of fantasy mixed in. Great job.
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