A luminous, beautifully observed novel about the people we once were, and the people we can become – if only we're brave enough to try.

1990: Indu and Vijay leave India for Australia, seeking a better life. But the move isn’t easy on anyone. Not gentle Indu, who becomes even further estranged from her family, nor the ambitious Vijay, who finds himself unmoored in a culture he doesn’t understand. At the centre is Archana, their quiet, sensitive daughter, who forms a shell to survive the bullying of children and the neglect of adults.

2022: Arch lives her ideal life, solitary and isolated. When her brother calls to say that Vijay is unwell and needs her help, Arch has no choice but to re-enter the world. To do so means confronting her relationship with her father, her queerness and the wounds of her upbringing. But it also might mean opening herself to the potential of a life filled with love.

Can Arch do what it takes to let in the 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 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