A Song for Wildcats by Cailtin Galway, the talented Canadian, queer, non-binary author, is a captivating short story collection that transports readers across various settings, from the Australian Outback to the Hudson Valley, France, Ireland, and the Mojave Desert. Z's writing is rich with vivid imagery, such as the haunting line, "You could not compete with his mother's mouth. The ceaseless stoking of a fire fermenting inside," capturing deep emotional currents in a single phrase. Having previously penned Bonevere Howl (2019), Cailtin Galway’s A Song for Wildcats deepens their exploration of identity, intimacy, and the human condition, all while remaining deeply introspective and philosophical.
Many of the stories reflect on the larger question of "what does all of this mean," presenting characters who are mostly unapologetically themselves and feel liberated in their self-acceptance. The title story stands out with its exploration of intimacy as both safety and friendship between two male characters in the 1960s. Caitlin weaves a narrative of vulnerability, connection, and the complexities of love during a time when it was often suppressed.
In The Wisp, the powerful line “Because you're mine, mo shiorghra,” encapsulates a poignant and lasting bond between characters. However, it’s the final story, The Lyrebird's Bell, set near Mount Macedon in Australia, that leaves a lasting impression. Told from the perspective of Betsy, one of two 12-13-year-old girls grappling with the death of Annabelle's mother, this story delves into themes of grief, self-discovery, and human connections. As Betsy reflects, “It seems obvious to me now that no attempt to tether oneself to anything could last. One is always cut loose again by some stronger force and pulled into a more defeated isolation. A place where memories flash like mirrors and you are the only thing that will not leave you.” This meditation on isolation and the weight of memory is both haunting and deeply human.
Caitlin Galway’s accolades, including the 2012 Canada Council for the Arts Grant, the 2012 Toronto Arts Council Writers Grant, and the 2012 Ontario Arts Council Writers’ Reserve Grant, among others, speak to the depth and impact of their writing. A Song for Wildcats is a collection that will challenge readers’ perceptions while inviting them to embrace new perspectives, emotions, and experiences. The book will be available for purchase in June 2025 at Barnes & Noble, Indigo, and independent bookstores. For a deeper dive, you can also listen to Caitlin Galway on the March 21, 2025 episode of Girl on Girl Podcast titled Queer Storytelling with Caitlin Galway.
A Song for Wildcats is a powerful exploration of identity, intimacy, and the complexities of human connection. If you enjoy books that provide a window into different perspectives and invite you to grow in empathy, this collection is a must-read.

A number of the stories in this collection captivated me with a sense of nostalgia while also weaving a level of the characters and situations being slightly unhinged. There are five compact stories for you to dig your teeth into at your own pace, each unique but with a string of relation through their focus on relationships. However, some of the stories compactness was, for me, to their detriment- I felt that a few of the stories could have been expanded further into their own novels (or novellas) where the fruit of the story could ripen into something truly sweet. In lesser terms, I wanted more. Lastly, while this is not a deterrent for me, the language is often very flowery, which I know is not to some peoples taste. If it’s not to yours, I would not suggest this for you.

I can't remember the last time I read multiple stories that handled grief, trauma, and emotional complexity with language that was equal parts beautiful and nightmarish.

There is something that rings so true in the beauty of language attemtping to capture the horror of trauma.

I benefited from picking up and setting aside the stories often. It allowed me to soak up everything that way. This definitely isn't something to breeze through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Rare Machines/Dundurn Press for the eArc of this book!

When I got approved for the eARC of this book I was ecstatic for mainly two reasons:
1. because I’ve been looking for a short story collection to accommodate my chronically online attention span
2. because all 5 stories sounded exactly like something that would get me real good.

I was (almost) entirely right. A Song for Wildcats had me in a grip from the first page on and it didn’t really let me go until the last one. In this book are incredible stories, all worth your time and your attention, and I am so glad I got to read them.

Caitlin Galway has a way with words that manages to strike true every single time – vivid imagery, poignant descriptions of grief, love and loyalty. An effortless blend of the real world and the supernatural draws you right in and puts you right at the heart of the story.

Every story deals with a different kind of trauma, a different kind of grief, whether it’s grieving family, love or even loss of yourself but one thing these stories are not, is devoid of hope. Hope for escape, hope for peace, hope for love; hope is embedded in every line and it’s what makes it all worth it.

Each story stands strong on its own, whether it’s a tale of secret summer love amid the Paris student riots, of an orphan and his aunt trying to work through their shared grief, of a girl trying to find herself, of a young woman trying to make sense of a lost friend or of two girls trying to survive their families out in the Australian wilderness. Only one of them, ‘The Wisp’, didn’t quite catch me, but I’m chalking that up to me just not getting it.

This collection is definitely worth reading and worth feeling, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Overwritten and surreal. I did not care for these stories at all and was unable to complete this collection.

this... simply wasn't my cup of tea. i didn't care about the stories in between, even though the starting one was a banger. i felt so bored throughout reading it because it was pretty poetic writing, yes, but there didn't seem to be much depth to it - or at least not the kind i could readily Feel or connect to.

I couldn't really get into this past the first story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This is a strong collection of stories, it had that element that I was looking for. I was engaged with what was going on and thought it was a strong show of grief, I appreciated that the stories were connected and that the characters were realistic. I thought Caitlin Galway wrote this well and am excited for more.

Reviewing this for my Mslexia column, What's New In Short Stories, issue 106. Thank you for the arc.

"A Song for Wildcats" is a collection of short stories by Caitling Galway that explores themes of mental health, grief, perseverance, and resilience. The stories often have a dreamlike quality. While the writing is vivid and the concepts are unique, I occasionally struggled to connect with or stay engaged throughout the book as a whole. Thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy (ARC).

Caitlin Galway certainly has skill as a writer. Her prose is phenomenal, and any fan of detailed, poetic writing styles will enjoy the experience of reading her stories.

If you are a fan of realistically written queer characters, complex familial dynamics, and people who feel like real people just doing their best amidst the chaos of life, this is worth a read. The discussion on interpersonal relationships in many forms throughout the work was very well done.

Despite her talent, this is only a 3 star for me. While the first story and the final two stories were excellent, the middle dragged, and I found myself fighting the urge to skim. I will also say I am a fan of collections with slightly shorter stories than the average page length of those in this collection, so that may have played a factor.

Thank you to Caitlin Galway, Dundurn Press, Rare Machines, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the first story and the last story so much but the ones they sandwiched fell flat for me a little. I would have liked to have seen those two stories fleshed out a little more. Maybe there’s an audience for them, just wasn’t for me.

I just adored the intimate writing style of these short stories. The language was so rich and immersive and I really got a sense of the characters even in a relatively short space of time.

The titular story and The Lyrebird’s Bell (the first and last) were my favourites and I would have loved to spend more time with these characters. The only one that didn’t do much for me personally was the second story, Heatstroke.

If I gave half stars, this would be a 4.5!

A Song for Wildcats by Caitlin Galway is a wide ranging collection of stories that are poignant and resonant.

3.5 stars
I loveeeeed the first short story and the last, but the ones in between fell short for me. The writing in all of the stories was beautiful and had an air of something haunting simmering beneath the surface. I almost wish the last story was a novella, there was so much to unpack with Betsy and her story. A mixed bag but some gorgeous prose.

I think the writing was beautiful in the book. It was hard for me to get into it and stay engaged but I think the writing is still beautiful and there is an audience out there for the book just not for me