Thank you Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this ebook.

S.L. Coney’s coming of age horror novella is a debut that will leave you wrecked.

An eleven year old boy, his dog, Teach, and his parents live an idyllic life in South Carolina until one day the boy’s estranged grandfather shows up.

Cracks begin to show in the adults’ relationships and the boy feels himself changing inside.

The entire atmosphere of this book is tense and full of unease.

This book broke my heart in a good way and I already know it’s a read that will stick with me for a long time.

A family of three is living almost the perfect life (for them) in the coastal wetlands of South Carolina until the arrival of the estranged grandfather. This unwelcome guest causes tensions between the adults and the effect on the young son is well portrayed and sensitively explored. Worth the read.

Wild Spaces is a novella by S.L. Conley that blends coming-of-age with Lovecraftian horror. The story follows an 11-year-old boy who lives with his parents and dog in the remote coastal plains of South Carolina. When his estranged grandfather arrives, the boy's idyllic childhood is shattered. The grandfather is a mysterious and imposing figure, and he seems to have a dark secret. As the boy gets to know his grandfather, he begins to suspect that he is not what he seems.

The story is told from the boy's perspective, and Conley does a masterful job of capturing the sense of wonder, fear, and confusion that the boy feels as he comes to terms with his grandfather's true nature. The prose is lyrical and atmospheric, and the setting of the coastal marshes is perfectly suited to the story's themes of isolation and unease. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for the chance to review this advance copy.

The strongest aspect of this book was the tension it built, especially using the fact that the protagonist was a kid. However, after so much build up, the ending was a bit disappointing, especially in terms of imagery. I would still recommend the book due to it's excellent writing, but I'd warn the reader it isn't quite as Lovecraftian as expected.

Set in the wetlands of South Carolina, this coming-of-age story is short but has a lot to say. A young boy’s world changes when his grandfather shows up and his darker nature starts coming to the surface.

I ended up doing this one on audiobook, and I really enjoyed it. It’s not necessarily my usual bag, a coming of age story about a boy, but it’s Tor, so that’s never the only thing you get. I loved the sci-fi elements and the boy’s relationship with his dog. It’s a super short read, so if you’re into what Tor brings to the table, you probably won’t be disappointed with this one.

It’s out now wherever you get your books.

Not sure what I just read. A family of three in the wetlands of South Carolina. A teen and his dog Teach. His mom’s father shows up and things dramatically change. A different read of growing up and monsters. Lots of family tension and disconnect. Grandpa brings horror to their family and things that are passed down thru your family come alive.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this story but it did not disappoint. A very tension filled story told from the viewpoint of a young boy who's estranged grandfather shows up unexpectedly to his parents house. From there things only get worse. This story definitely had my anxiety up and I was left feeling like, wtf did I just read?
Beautifully written though and the characters where wonderfully developed. It definitely leaves you wondering what was going to happen next.

Once I finished reading this novella, I read a review that compared it to H.P. Lovecraft. Although, I have not personally read it myself (but watch the HBO series), I think it is a great comparison. I really enjoyed the book, partly by how it told the story as if glimpsing through a snow globe. Does that make sense? But instead of feeling removed you are completely immersed in the details of the coast of South Carolina. There are no spoilers here but I loved Teach and he reminded me so much of the my childhood kitty whom was always looking out for me.

If you love horror...cosmic horror. If you love the long game of knowing something is wrong, but waiting, waiting.... this is a great novella to pick up.

A 4.25-4.5 stars for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for e-ARC.

Wild Spaces is a novella about a young boy who experiences unnerving changes after his mysterious grandfather arrives at his home. The story is a dark and atmospheric exploration of family secrets, toxic relationships, and Lovecraftian eldritch horrors.

Coney's writing sets the perfect tone. It's dark and ominous, alluding to darker things under the surface. For whatever reason, I just could not connect with this story. While brief, the characters and the family dynamic felt real, but I still struggled to feel invested. I think it ultimately just wasn't for me. It didn't go exactly where I had hoped it would or as extreme in its horror as I thought it might.

I'd heard so much about this book that when I got the chance to read an early copy, I was both intrigued and nervous. Apparently there's triggers that may get me... but I went in anyway.

Well, yes, there is bad stuff in here. But you may work that out from the blurb. The 'surprise' (if that's the right word) is just how effectively that stuff hits.

The writing of Wild Spaces is absolutely beautiful. It takes no time at all to feel for the family of our protagonist, and the sudden intrusion of an awful grandfather made me want to dive into the pages and kick him out before he could cause inevitable upheaval.

Yes, our main character is a young boy, but even the adults here suffer because of this bad egg (putting it mildly). The relatability made it even worse as events begin to go downhill.

I don't want to say any more. Do go into this braced, as much as possible, but still with the awareness that this is an excellent book. Powerful and heartfelt, that's why it catches you where it hurts - this is horror that manages to be very, very real.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really liked this book. I wasn't expecting to - it snuck up on me. The boy, the dog, the scenes of his childhood, were all remarkable. Aside from all the sht that goes down, it's a childhood that is familiar to me and one I'd wish for my own kids.

It's been awhile since I read a horror novel; I used to read them all the time, then I think I read a few too many that were just too much. This one is just enough. Just a little, teensy bit of horror, and presented in such a matter-of-fact way that it almost feels normal and expected. S.L. Coney writes like a dream, and this book is surprisingly short, given its story's effectiveness.

3.5 stars

This horror novella sets a strong, loving family dynamic ripe for destruction. We feel the parents' relationship to each other and to their son, especially as contrasted to the estranged grandfather character. The stakes are palpable.

Unfortunately the ending doesn't live up to the promise of the setup. The Lovecraftian elements are present on a surface level but it fails to explore the full horrors of the main character's situation, leaving a feeling of disconnection. Without catharsis the climax lacks teeth.

Overall it's a good story with strong elements that I would recommend to horror readers but it's not a favourite.

<b>"There are two kinds of family," his father says. "The kind you share genes with, and the kind you welcome into your heart."</b>

An eleven-year-old boy is enjoying a nearly idyllic summer when his mysterious grandfather shows up.

<b>Shadows move in with the grandfather. They trail behind his father like a fetch and nest beneath his mother's eyes. She grows thinner, paler. She stops smiling altogether. His father remains silent, distracted, as his wife slips away.</b>

The old man behaves erratically, and his presence affects everyone in the household.

<b>And the boy realizes, finally, what's wrong with his grandfather's smile. When he's smiling, no one else is.</b>

Soon life seems to be in a downward spiral, and there's almost nothing the boy can do to stop it.

<b>His parents told him his body would change, his interests would change, but no one told him his secrets would change.</b>

The entire family would have been better off had Dad taken his own advice:

<b>". . . just because you're related to someone doesn't mean you have to keep them in your life."</b>

The entire atmosphere of the book bristles with unease, and this is a very disturbing read. Though a child is the main character, this is in no way meant for younger readers.

This was a beautiful coming-of-age story that I could not put down. I loved the writing style. This was very creepy but so very good!! I loved the story and the characters and I could not put it down.

Wild Spaces is a beautifully written Lovecraftian coming of age novella. Following an unnamed main character, his dog Teach, and idyllic family in their beach front home of South Carolina; readers watch how one summer can change everything.
I felt all the feelings reading this story: heartbreak, anger, fear, love, happiness, and sadness. Packed in 122 pages is a beautiful story of longing, family drama, growing up, and the complicated and complex nature of family relationships. This story will definitely be leaving a mark in my brain. If you loved The Fisherman by John Langan, Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, or The Ocean at the End of the Lane - this novella is for you.
Make sure to pick it up from your local library or indie bookshop. I know I will be purchasing a physical copy for my library.
Thank you to the publisher, Tordotcom publishing providing me with an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

To begin, this cover is beautiful and reminds me of something like Stephen King's The Mist. With the comparison to McCammon, I was really expecting an epic tome (which would have been a feat with such a short book). The pacing and setting of the book flowed well. However, I found that this one just did not hold my attention as much as I expected. There is a huge vibe of sadness and melancholy, and while I was shocked at the ending (and I normally really like unconventional endings of books whether they are happy or sad), I just did not connect to this book. However, I think others will enjoy, and especially those at a turning point in their lives whether its coming-of-age, or an unexpected mysterious visitor entering their lives. My opinion of this one will not deter me from reading others from this author. Thanks, NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

An eerily, haunting story about a boy who changes slowly into something his parents fear, and only his grandfather, appearing in his life out of nowhere, might have the answers to what's going on.

The writing style is ethereal, weaving scenes together in almost a dreamlike way. If you're a reader who loves all the vibes, you'll get them here! Coney is great at creating a sense of dread and unease, the perfect tone for this story.

But if you're a reader who hates vague writing, you might have a few issues with this story. Lots of things go unexplained. I'm usually a person who doesn't mind some vagueness, but in this case it felt like the author teased some plot details and never delivered. I think the story would have been more effective if we could have had stronger character interactions and dug more deeply into the backstory and character motivations.

My favorite part of the story was the symbolism and metaphors. It's a Lovecraftian story with a literary feel, a great combination! I love literary horror, and Coney did a great job of discussing themes and ideas in a smart and nuanced way that I find lacking in most horror.

I'd love to read more from this author in the future! I believe this is their first novella and they haven't published a novel yet, so I would love to see what they can do with a longer work.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Unfortunate DNF! The writing style just didn't really stick with me. May want to give this another go at a future date.

Rating: 3.75/5

This book was dark and prose was beautiful. Coney wraps up a gruesome story about family ties in less than 200 pages and keeps you captivated until the very last word. In this story family is who you chose to keep in your heart and the monsters are real. Perfect for readers who want a "beachy read" but prefer a little horror with their ocean-side view.

After the first chapter, I thought I had a five-star, new-favorite book in my hands. Unfortunately, it didn't quite pan out that way. I ultimately fell into the land of detachment from both the characters and the plot, and I didn't particularly love the writing, either.

There's a possibility that it simply went over my head because the execution came across as confident. Plus, I can say that there were moments that brought me to the edge of my seat and I ALMOST fell in love with it - moments of intimacy, moments of languid feeling, moments reflecting the simplicity of human life in anything but simple metaphors and analogies.

I still wanted more, though, from essentially every single department. When I fall in love with a book, it's because it makes me believe that it's special. This one didn't do that at all, but I'm sure that's what many other people seek and will enjoy.