A fascinating and unique book that will keep you turning pages until the end. A great book for dog lovers, and nature admirers.

Who is family? How do we find family? How is our understanding of family different from animals understanding of family?

This contemplative novel starts off slow, unwrapping these themes as it ramps up tension. The sentence structure is poetic and the characters so solid you can almost touch them and you can definitely hear them breathe.

Who is our family? Who can we trust? And if we can’t trust or even locate our biological family, can we find the courage to ‘scent’ our way to a more meaningful family circle – human or otherwise?

These are some of the questions at the heart of The Scent of Distant Family, a debut novel by sid sibo. A former wilderness ranger and animal-shelter cofounder, sibo sets her familial tale in the wilds of Wyoming, in the Rocky Mountain winter, where a missing dog, Zolo, sparks a frantic hunt that soon encompasses family members, neighbors, hunters and even the wild creatures who inhabit the valley.

There are many characters in this 266-page novel, and each short chapter is told from a different character’s point of view, introducing sub-plots of a broken marriage, a child’s search for the truth of his origins and a rancher’s attempts to run an ecolodge in oil country. Of these storylines, the most poignant, for me, is that of Charlie Delaney, the elderly patriarch whose dementia-fueled confusion and desire to help his daughter find Zolo lure him into the perilous snowbound night.

But sibo’s strength as a novelist lies in her ability to conjure the lived experiences of animals, wild, domesticated and hybrid.
Toward the novel’s end, Zolo – lost in the vast wilderness, having barely survived attacks by animals and humans – encounters a herd of wild horses, one of whom is badly hurt:

“Zolo is near. He smells infection, sees swollen cut. He lays on his belly, watching. Mare nickers, hollow sound, creek rolling under curved rock. Her voice calls him. Big horse stands in falling snow, watching.

“It happens slowly, but it happens, a mutual agreement among the three. Zolo licks her dark leg. She blows warm breath over his ears. He licks as snow builds around them, and stallion guards against danger. Three others sleep, standing nose to tail to nose under cottonwoods, sheltered by arched willows. Zolo licks, rhythm speaking of movement, of possibility. Possibility for movement, free and bound together. All things possible in movement, landscapes opening secrets, grass and vole together, fed by sun, together moving horse and dog.”

Readers who delight in evocations of the natural world and its creatures will enjoy The Scent of Distant Family.

sid sibo’s The Scent of Distant Family is a remarkable work of literary art, distinguished by its lyrical and poetic prose. I must admit, I initially judged the book by its cover, which doesn't fit the current trend of bright, eye-catching designs. However, I quickly realized my misjudgment, as the content of the novel proved to be profoundly moving.

sibo’s writing often reads like poetry, creating a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant experience. Her ability to articulate the nuances of human experience with such beauty makes the novel a compelling read.

The protagonist, though at times frustrating with her self-deprecating tendencies, adds authenticity and depth to the story. sibo’s exploration of her character’s inner struggles is both poignant and revealing. The perspectives from the horses and the dog are particularly moving, offering eye-opening and emotional insights that enrich the narrative in unexpected ways.

The novel’s treatment of environmental issues is handled with sensitivity and thoughtfulness, contributing a meaningful dimension to the story. sibo’s poetic style and profound reflections enhance the book's impact, making it a deeply engaging read.

Although the climax arrives late and some plot elements, such as Nik’s secret and the potential romance with Jaye, might leave readers wanting more resolution, these aspects do not detract from the novel's overall beauty. The Scent of Distant Family is a beautifully crafted work, with sibo’s exquisite prose elevating it to a level of literary excellence that is both memorable and moving.

You want to add this feast of a debut novel to your ‘must read’ list! Author sid sibo holds nothing back as she drops us directly into this richly crafted, multi-faceted tale of what it means to search with a singular purpose, yet sometimes unearth other than what you thought you were looking for. As we accompany Nik Delaney on her quest to find ‘lost’ dog Zolo, sibo masterfully utilizes every single, vivid, crisp word of her prose. Her depiction of the Wyoming landscape of place, people, and all manner of wonderful, wild creatures paints a masterpiece for the senses. You’ll become emotionally involved as you are drawn into Nik’s wild world in ways that will stir your heart, leave you thinking, and asking to have more of these characters long after you turn the last page.

And, as if that’s not enough, sibo has pledged the proceeds from the sale of her novel to “animal welfare nationwide, like the movement toward a sheltering system that engages communities to support adoptable homeless animals.”