Grace

Grace is the novel’s protagonist and narrator. She is a retired math teacher in her seventies, living a quiet and withdrawn life when the novel begins. She is burdened by grief and guilt, particularly over the death of her son, Daniel, and an affair she had while married to her late husband, Karl. These past regrets have left her feeling as though her life is effectively over—she sees herself as someone with nothing left to offer and little to look forward to. However, through a series of extraordinary events, she discovers that her story is far from finished. After coming into contact with the mysterious La Presencia, she develops psychic abilities, which force her to reconsider her place in the world and the possibilities still open to her.

While the supernatural aspects of Grace’s journey are significant, the novel ultimately frames her transformation as one...