This book was hard for me to follow, it depicts 4 generations on a family and the time jumping back and forth confused me.

The novel is set in a rural areas of Western Australia and the descriptions are vivid! It is easy to imagine the outback cattle stations and the harsh lifestyle. There are a lot of nicknames for family members and its a difficult trail to follow

It's a slow burn adventure and I would recommend it to those who would like to know more about life in Western Australia.

I had extremely high hopes for this book, the premise sounded like the perfect read for the mood I was in. When I finally picked it up, I realised there was something I wasn't connecting with and the novel was ultimately not my cup of tea. I can see why people will love the novel as there are time jumps and wonderful descriptions. It just wasn't the right book for me personally.

When I saw that The Valley was historical fiction set in The Kimberley (that arrestingly gorgeous north-western corner of Australia, a barely-populated area three times the size of England), that fact alone was enough for me to pick it up.

Actually it’s a bit of a furphy to call this historical fiction. My mistake - once I know I’m going to read something, I’ll avoid all blurbs and reviews. It’s more of a family saga, and while it kicks off in 1916, most of the action takes place closer to the present day. The book follows an Aboriginal family over four generations, but Hawke keeps the story lean by focussing on just one (male) family member from each generation. The book helpfully contains both a family tree and a glossary of colloquialisms and indigenous (mostly Bunuba) words, but I personally didn’t need to refer to either, as all was adequately explained within the story.

The first section introduces each of the key men in turn; the middle part gives us the last Will and Testament (and confession) of the eldest patriarch; while the final act unites the remaining family members on a cross-country journey on horseback.

On reflection, I realised that the structure reminded me a little of the one used in Richard Powers’ The Overstory, another book in which separate stories and timelines eventually converge. But whereas Powers allowed himself 500 pages to develop this structure, Hawke has attempted the same in just 250 pages, and with less space it does at times feel a little jumbled. And while I understand the focus on paternal relationships, there were some fascinating female characters (particularly the pioneering land-rights activist, Marj) whose stories we largely miss out on.

Even so, this feels like a much more epic story than the page count implies. By the end, long-held secrets are revealed, grief exhumed, connection to country deepened. Manly feelings are expressed in the taciturn way of men. Steve Hawke’s affection for and extensive knowledge of The Kimberley and its people is obvious on every page of The Valley, and its exploration of families and grief is sensitive, understated and moving. A big-hearted story, well told.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Fremantle Press and the author, Steve Hawke, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Valley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I thought the story was beautifully written told over multiple generations. The characters were engaging and the whole plot, intriguing. 3.5 stars.

A story spanning 4 generations and many secrets, it was slow and steady, unfolding to let us in on those secrets each generation has held onto, that have poisoned in part the way they live.
It was slightly confusing to start with, there were three generations storylines each taking a turn and each person had two or more names depending on who gave them the name, but once I got to know the characters and where they fit in I was easily able to follow.
Steve Hawke has obviously spent a lot of time with indigenous people and done a lot of research to have such an apparent understanding of the things the people in the story deal with and how they deal with them.
I enjoyed the telling of this family, though there were sad parts, the ending left me hopeful for the following generations.

Thanks to NetGalley and Fremantle Press for a copy in return for an honest review.

The Valley, by Steve Hawke, is truly an epic multi-generational family drama, told in dual time narration. The family saga is beautifully written, with an underlying theme of mystery and suspense. I enjoyed the family drama, the rugged Australian setting and the descriptive, interesting characters, I would recommend The Valley as an engaging and beautifully written family saga.
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

DNF @50%

I am calling it a day on this one. It isn't a bad book, but it just isn't holding my interest. The back and forth time jumps, along with the fact that every character seems to have two or three different names has, unfortunately, made this book extremely confusing to read and a struggle to stay engaged in.

This is a multi-generational saga of a family from Western Australia . It starts in 1916 and continues until present day.
The beginning of the book starts with one of the main characters Billy , new to Australia and trying to make a living in the Outback. being involved in a crime and is soon on the run from the law. His life is influenced from that point on and his family pays dearly for it . The book spans generations and follows their lives and secrets . They each lead very different lives but all keep a secret they are bound to.
The descriptions of the Australian Outback is amazing. The images are so clear and captivating. The culture of native Australians is a part of the book that I especially enjoyed . The dancing ,the languages , the food and customs were so fascinating . Since I have never visited Australia I welcomed the way the author took me there with his writing . This , by the way prompted me to go online and do some research on the treatment of the native people of Australia , so eye opening and heartbreaking . The glossary was very helpful with native words and customs.
This is not a fast paced book and the beginning was a little hard to follow because of the culture being introduced but soon it slowly reeled me in and i was hooked.
I would recommend the book anyone who is interested in family dramas and Australia.

****This eArc was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.****

I love that this story is spread over a long period of time, a century to be precise and that one event follows a generation, years down the line. It's not your fast paced murder mystery and if you are not one who loves a slow unraveling then you might be frustrated with this book. The writing is crisp and the description of Australia over time, quite intriguing.
I requested to read this book off Netgalley and received an eARC, thank you for the copy, it's been quite the read.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting novel set in Australia. The novel begins in the early 1900s and follows a family for more than a century. It unravels the mysteries in their lineage.

This book is truly authentic. It might not be for everyone - it's not your typical fast-paced murder mystery with a reveal and a happy ending - but it's worth the read if you're a fan of new places and dense descriptions of the place and feel for it.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

This book kept my attention throughout its entirety. The author provided a real detail and understanding for the Aboriginal people and their lifestyles throughout the story. Though not fast paced story wise, I couldn't put it down, and finished it rather quickly.

I really enjoyed this book! It is set in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia and beautifully describes the harshness and isolation of the area.
The book follows 4 generations of the Walker/Rider family from 1916 to the present day, taking the reader from the coastal town of Broome to the huge outback cattle stations. We meet Billy, a teenager who goes bush to find his older brother, Des, just to have Des murdered soon after he finds him. Billy finds himself on the run with a young aboriginal girl Bessie, who takes him to her family's secret enclave in a hidden valley. The story winds through to Billy and Bessie's sons Bob and Two Bob, who find themselves employed on a nearby station, where Two Bob's daughter Milly falls in love with Andy, a young man from Broome. We learn of Milly's disappearance and Andy's anguish at his lovers loss. We eventually find our way to their son Dancer, a teenage boy struggling to find himself in the hard town of Broome, with many questions about his mother that his father Andy seems unwilling, or unable, to answer.
Steve Hawke shows a real understanding of the Aboriginal communities and a love of the lifestyle, giving us an authentic view of the lives of the workers on the stations, and the problems they face, both physically and mentally.
I found this book slightly confusing at first, with several time jumps in the first few chapters, but as you get to know the characters the story unfolds into a beautifully woven tale that brings the country, and it's characters, to life. This is not a book for those that like a lot of fast paced, mindless action. It is a slow burner, and you gradually become aware that you're hooked!
This book is a beautifully told tale, it makes the landscape and people come alive. It brings to the fore the plight of the native people in a harsh part of the world. I would recommend this book to all who love family sagas and the beauty of outback Australia.
My thanks to NetGalley and Fremantle Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.