What Light Was by Shawn Callaway Hays and Stephen Callaway Hays is a poetic and formally experimental novel that examines love, ambition, mortality, and the search for meaning through the lens of artistic legacy. Drawing inspiration from literary icons such as Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, the novel immerses readers in the emotional and intellectual lives of creators torn between the idealism of Romanticism and the disillusionment of the Jazz Age. Set across evocative landscapes, from the Italian countryside to New York and the French Riviera, the narrative unfolds through fragmented structures, poetic language, and epistolary elements. The book explores the creative process, the burden of fame, the fragility of existence, and the tension between beauty and despair. It reflects on the enduring power of art, the inevitability of death, and the traces left behind by those who lived and created with passion.

Shawn Callaway Hays and Stephen Callaway Hays employ a nonlinear style rich with intertextual references and shifting perspectives, requiring readers' attentiveness and reflection. Admirers of modernist literature and philosophical fiction, especially those familiar with Keats, Woolf, Eliot, and Joyce, will likely appreciate its intricate construction and intellectual depth. However, this is not a conventional narrative, and its experimental form may not appeal to all readers. Those seeking a traditional plot or straightforward storytelling may find the structure opaque or challenging. But for readers drawn to lyrical prose and conceptual exploration, What Light Was offers a deep reflection of what life might have been like for some of literature’s most famous authors.

What Light Was by Shawn C. Hays and Stephen C. Hays is a beautifully layered, dialogue-driven novel that traces two deeply personal journeys: Mary Shelley’s emotional unraveling and ultimate creative rebirth after publishing Frankenstein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s battle with self-doubt while writing The Great Gatsby and a biography of the Shelleys nearly a century later. Mary, abandoned by her father and lover, finds her voice again through the power of her work. Meanwhile, Scott grapples with fading fame and a crumbling marriage as he tries to reconnect with both his audience and his wife, Zelda. Their lives, though separated by time, begin to mirror each other as the novel blends past and present, fiction and memory. Told through poetic dialogue, reflective verse, and fluid meditations, this isn’t a straightforward narrative; it’s a haunting, imaginative exploration of love, legacy, and what remains once the spotlight fades. 

What Light Was offers a bold and deeply original read. It doesn’t follow the usual rules, and that’s what makes it stand apart. Instead of chapters, it moves through lyrical dialogue, broken thoughts, and quiet reflection. It often reads like a stage play filtered through memory. The writing asks for attention, but never drags. It draws the reader into moments of deep feeling, loss, hope, and fear, without spelling them out. Characters aren’t stiff copies of famous writers. They’re raw, passionate, struggling to balance art with love and failure. Settings like the French Riviera and dusty rooms feel less like places and more like extensions of their moods. The pacing jumps and slows, almost like breathing. That rhythm can catch readers off guard, but it works. The structure leans toward poetry and feels just right for the story’s weight. The style asks for patience. This isn’t a quick read; it needs to be taken slowly. For readers who like form to shift, who care about voice, history, and the edges of fiction, What Light Was by Shawn C. Hays and Stephen C. Hays offers something rare. It earns all five stars for being brave, emotionally sharp, and hard to forget.

What Light Was by Shawn Callaway Hays and Stephen Callaway Hays revolves around interactions among F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda Fitzgerald, Mary Shelley, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, set across two centuries. It alternates between Scott and Zelda living in 1920s France and Mary and Percy Shelley in the early 1800s. Scott’s creation of The Great Gatsby unfolds alongside his personal life, while Mary Shelley’s story includes her development of Frankenstein and her family background. The text uses a combination of dialogue, letters, and philosophical reflections to present multiple perspectives. Through shifting timeframes and literary forms, the novel connects the experiences of the two couples, showing how their relationships and creative efforts intersect. The work places emphasis on the transmission of artistic and emotional material between generations within a framework of historical and fictional elements.

What Light Was by Shawn Callaway Hays and Stephen Callaway Hays takes a little time getting used to, but once you are comfortably acclimated to the writing style, it is hard to put down. The writing is elegant, inviting readers into a world where artistry and memory echo between the lines. Mary Shelley and F. Scott Fitzgerald emerge with quiet intensity, their moments, like Mary creating Frankenstein or Scott chasing the elusive glow of The Great Gatsby, illuminating how art and longing often intertwine. The tone is steady and contemplative, drawing attention to how time reframes creative ambition and connection. The authors handle each scene well, allowing small details and pauses to speak volumes. There’s a quiet force in how the narrative unfolds, never rushed, never overstated. For those drawn to literary novels with historical intimacy and graceful prose, this novel offers a thoughtful and rewarding experience.

What Light Was by Shawn Callaway Hays and Stephen Callaway Hays is a fictional deep dive into the intertwined lives of Mary Shelley and F. Scott Fitzgerald, mixing historical detail with creative literary license. In a shift from contemporary storytelling, the novel presents through a variety of formats, including, but by no means limited to, dialogue and poetry, to piece together its alternating periods and places. Mary Shelley’s recovery is traced from incredible hardships and loss of social standing, which is the catalyst for her timeless work. In between, the book follows Fitzgerald’s troubles decades later as he comes up against creative uncertainty and a whole host of issues while researching Shelley’s life. In a format that operates in tandem, the narrative shows the reality of how similar these two authors and their partners are, regardless of the time between them.

What Light Was by Shawn Callaway Hays and Stephen Callaway Hays features beautifully crafted prose that brings historical figures to life with precision and grace. The writing shines in its ability to capture both the sharp wit of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s conversations and the lyrical qualities of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and Percy Shelley’s letters. Moments like Zelda’s fiery dialogue and the Shelleys’ philosophical musings reveal the authors’ skill in blending form and voice. The book’s layered style, moving between epistolary and narrative modes, creates a rich literary texture that engages the reader’s intellect and emotions. Throughout, the story explores the intersection of love, creativity, and legacy with subtlety and care, making it a thoughtful and beautifully executed work that celebrates the power of language and human connection. Very, very highly recommended.