I have been waiting to read this author's work since I first heard it was to be released by Tordotcom. I am so grateful to have received a copy through NetGalley. I read it in one setting—it was impossible to put down.

The prose is lyrical, incredible—perfect. A beautiful and strange coming-of-age story about a boy and his dog, From the moment the grandfather shows up, you know something bad is coming. The tension threaded into every page is palpable and perfectly crafted. And the dog. Oh, how I loved that dog.

What a heartbreaking, horrifying, and incredibly beautiful story.

I got approval for this one from Tordotcom today, and it was a quick binge read for me. I am so thankful to all of the lovely people at Tor Publishing Group, S.L. Coney and NetGalley for allowing me access to this coming-of-age, horrifically-told sci-fi novella. Wild Spaces is set to publish on August 1, 2023, and I can't wait for more of yall to check this baby out!

Our 11-year-old main character lives the good life alongside his parents and trusty sidekick dog, Teach (named after his favorite pirate, Blackbeard), in Coastal South Carolina. His father is vastly invested in the biology that their oceanside town offers and regularly takes his family on excursions to investigate its beauty.

One day, the day that set their family's expiration date, the boy's mother's father (his grandfather) comes waltzing up their driveway, looking for a place to crash. Right off the bat, the boy and Teach can sense that something is severely off with this long-lost family member. He's never around during parts of the day and clashes with everything his parents do, not to mention catching his grandfather lurking in on the boy's slumber with empty stares.

Sure enough, the Grandfather IS hiding a deep, dark secret that can only be unearthed in proximity to the tides of the ocean's pull. This secret is genetic and happens within the boy's ever-changing pubescent body. Tentacles and all, the Grandfather and our MC square off, to top it off, as the most effed-up generational trauma ever.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)