In general, I found Wild Dark Shore to be a very interesting read. The setting is unique, the characters are intriguing and complex, and there is enough of a mystery element to keep readers guessing for the majority of the book. I found the pacing to be a little slower than what I generally prefer, but the alternating characters and narrators helped with that a bit.

My favorite part of this book was the characters and how their backstories are revealed over the course of the book. My first impression of some of them was definitely wrong! One character that I wish we got gotten to hear more from was Ollie…I loved him so much by the end of the book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

Incredible! I loved the premise of Wild Dark Shore and found the exploration of the climate and the seeds really interesting. The writing was so atmospheric and I could feel the cold isolation in Charlotte McConaghy's writing. I really enjoyed all of the narrators and thought they elevated the story. This is my first McConaghy book but I can't wait to read her other and future books!
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the copy.

Set on a remote island outpost in the far south seas, Wild Dark Shore is a haunting story with a setting that serves as a character of it's own. McConaghy has such a knack for interweaving human and climate trauma throughout her stories and Wild Dark Shore is filled with both. The island is quite litterally falling apart as it melts while the characters also struggle to hold themselves together. While I did find a few sections of the story dragged on a bit and it could have been edited down a bit, it was overall a wonderful read. The narration is really well done and highlights the emotiona dn instabilitly of most of the characters. Highly recommended.

3.5⭐️
The atmosphere in narration of this book topped would actually happened. I can’t decide if the events in the ending match the story or if I would’ve done it written a completely different way. Overall, I didn’t love it as much as her others, but I will always read her books.

An anticipated 2025 read for me, especially when I learned that Saskia Maarleveld was part of the ensemble narrating this novel. The story is slow starting and the writing is lyrical and haunting. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy.

Wild Dark Shore is Charlotte McConaghy's 3rd novel and I think maybe it has claimed the spot of my favourite of the three (but it may also be tied with Migrations, tbd). I'm so grateful to @macmillan.audio and @flatiron_books for the advanced copies of this one which I read last week and alternated between the audiobook and the e-book.

The audiobook of this one has multiple narrators and it was so lyrical and pleasing to listen to - I definitely recommend the narration! I appreciated having access to the print as well to see spellings and orient myself to location and timeline but both formats have benefits. I found this writing to be extremely powerful, beyond lyrical, precious, and also heart-wrenching. The characters are impossible not to root for and the setting and plot, though bleak, are also hopeful in a way too.

This one falls in a category of literary fiction with a dystopian-type climate fiction angle and there's a fair amount of family drama and themes of isolation and mental health and relationships. It's a lot, and it's heavy, but it's also just so good. I had a bit of a hard time 100% loving the ending and I so appreciate @sarahgreatbooktoread's patience with me talking it over afterwards ❤️ Even still, this was a very solid 5 stars for me.

"To live for your children seems a normal thing, a respectable one; to live because of your children is something else."

4.5 stars rounded up

This is definitely an overdue review! I started this book months ago and chose it as my BOTM pick since I LOVED Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy. Also, I will just about pick up any audiobook if I see Saskia Maarleveld is narrating it. 😂

BUT, I ended up starting the audio and not finishing it before it was archived, so I went on a months long hiatus while I waited for the audio on Libby.

Regardless of the break, I was easily able to jump back into this story because it’s truly so unique and unlike any other book I’ve read. It is told primarily from two perspectives, Rowan and Dominic, but all three of Dominic’s children have chapters sprinkled in throughout.

There’s a lot of genre overlap here, including aspects of literary fiction (obviously), romance, mystery, science fiction, and even some parts that had my anxiety spiking like a thriller. Charlotte McConaghy writes stories centered on nature, and while I’m not sure that description alone would entice me to read a book, she somehow makes her stories so alluring all while not shying away from big issues like climate change.

The setting of this story, Shearwater Island, truly becomes a character throughout. Located off the coast of Antarctica, this tiny island that used to house researchers, now only has the Salt family to care for the largest seed bank in the world. And then, Rowan washes up on shore.

I loved how the mysteries are revealed over the course of the book, and the simmering love story was very believable—I loved it. Even Rowan’s relationship with the kids made so much sense, especially combined with her revealed background. The incidents with the island’s wildlife are lovely touches, too.

The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. I can’t say too much, but frankly, it didn’t need to end the way it did to be impactful. Otherwise, this would have been an easy 5 star read for me.

🎧The audio here is FABULOUS! Highly, highly recommend. Of course Saskia is perfection, but all of the narrators do an incredible job encapsulating their characters.

This is the type of book I hate to love. For one, without reading via the audiobook, it would be insurmountable to finish for my tastes. However, this is why I love audio; it offers me experiences I otherwise would never get.

Charlotte McConaghy’s books are cli-fi carwrecks...only in the way that when you’re on the road, you are dying to know what is holding up traffic, and then when you finally see that it’s an accident, you know you shouldn’t look or slow down...but you inevitably do. Then the rest of the day even though the traffic made you miserable...you can’t help but think that maybe on the otherside was a reminder of what it means to be alive and grateful.

So yeah...need I say more about the book?...just ingenious in the slowest of burning ways. I love anything with robust descriptions of nature, and in the end, this book really broke me. It was beautiful and destructive...just as nature will remain as it eradicates the virus that is the human race...too bad the plants and animals have to suffer as a result of our own carelessness.

RATINGS
8 Characters
8 Atmosphere
8 Writing Style
7 Plot
5 Pace
8 Intrigue
7 Enjoyment
4 Impact Bonus
TOTAL= 51+4= 55/14= 3.93

4.00/5.00 Impact Rating
Ugh..you jut gotta read it to get it :(

4.00/5.00 Rounded Rating

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audio
#DeepDiveThisBook

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.

I enjoyed this book. McConaghy definitely knows how to write nature well. This is a slower-paced read, very atmospheric, and I loved Rowan and the kids. I thought the audio was well done and the narrators did a fantastic job; Saskia Maarleveld is a favorite of mine. Overall I liked this one, but a lot of it felt like one conversation could have resolved the majority of the tension, and they could have moved on quicker, which is not my favorite thing in a book. However, many have loved this one, so I do think I’m an outlier here.

Dominic Salt and his 3 children live on a remote island off the coast of Antarctica. The island houses the world’s largest seed bank and scientists have used the area in their research. But the scientists are gone and now the Salts are the lone caretakers of the island and are preparing to evacuate because of the rising waters. Unexpectedly, they find a woman near death in the frigid waters. Dominic and his family nurse the woman named Rowan back to health. She is a mystery and they wonder how and why she was there.

Rowan has her own questions about the scientists, the Salt family and the graves on the island. Neither she nor the family are forthcoming about their secrets which only slowly come to light. In the meantime, storms are increasing and the family’s rescue by the authorities is approaching. Rowan helps the family gather seeds and their belongings to take with them and the suspense increases as the story of the scientists and their relationship with the family unfolds, at the same time as the weather becomes increasingly dangerous.

The children include a teen son Raff who is very capable and reliable but suffering a broken heart. Fen is the teenage daughter who seems tortured by demons. She refuses to remain with the family in their cabin; preferring to stay near the shore. Orly is nine and a nature lover who has grown close to Rowan. They all love the island and are reluctant to leave, but staying is not an option as the sea is encroaching.

McConaghy often writes about vanishing habitats and threatened species. Here it’s as if nature’s wrath is wreaking havoc on the remaining inhabitants and the scientific research that will soon be wiped away. Her characters each deal with their own tragedies. All of them have lost someone and their loss is compounded by the isolation and the need to leave their home. Young Orly is one of the bright lights among the sad, grieving older characters. He’s adorable in his affinity for nature and fully appreciates his family’s role in protecting the environment. Rowan sees how Dominic will go to great lengths to protect his children as she warms to these motherless children and the stoic, hardworking father. The audio was performed by multiple readers who bring the story to life. This is another example of the author’s skill at weaving her environmental warnings into an engaging fictional narrative.

Dominic Salt and his three children live together on Shearwater, a remote island near Antarctica. Shearwater used to be full of researchers but now the Salts are the sole caretakers of the world's largest seed bank. During a fierce storm, a woman washes ashore. As the Salts nurse Rowan back to health, they feel revitalized. Except Rowan is hiding the truth about her journey to Shearwater but the Salts have their own secrets to hide. McConaghy has made a name for herself with her climate fiction books, so I'm curious to see what she has in store with her March release.

McConaghy has made a name for herself in climate fiction and you can viscerally feel the bleakness in Wild Dark Shore. With sea levels rising and massive wildfires, the climate disaster looms over the story especially in Rowan's pessimism. While McConaghy's writing shines when focused on climate change, Wild Dark Shore is essentially a poorly done mystery. The enveloping setting can't overcome the poor character development and lackluster mystery writing.

This was very true to form for McConaghy, so if you’re expecting a departure from her previous work, don’t. It’s a mysterious and moody eco-thriller that defies genre conventions. You’ll be confused, you’ll be intrigued, you’ll think you’re missing something until the end, and you’ll learn a lot about seeds. Not my favorite of her books, but solid, and something that will appeal to her usual readers.

I thought from the description of the book I would love it but I found the whole story to be overdramatic and the narration made it even more over the top. I found the setting interesting but did not like the whole story based on just miscommunication.

I still can’t stop thinking about this beautiful and gripping book. The story was at times sad and heartbreaking, yet it still managed to be hopeful. Like with her previous books, McConaghy managed to balance multiple POVs and flashbacks, while developing a beautiful and complex story along with fully fleshed out characters.

I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll end it here. I highly recommend you pick this up. Thank you to the publisher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing says suspense like islands, storms and bodies. Author Charlotte McConaghy has crafted a mysterious story that hooks readers from the very beginning and holds tight to us as we whip in the waves.

I learned a lot about climate change and seed vaults; the mystery was interesting, but the romantic subplot was unnecessary.

Honestly, almost all the reviews before mine absolutely rave about this book, but it just didn't resonate with me.

As I was listening, I thought it was turning into a thriller--or even suspense. And it didn't. And then there was gratuitous romance. Until there wasn't. And then there was lit fic, until it wasn't. And in between, the story skipped around to everyone's POV; there was vague commentary on climate change in the future; there was completely inappropriate contact between a young teen and an adult; there was angst; there was SO MUCH deception (and not in a good thriller-esque way; in a "I'm going to lie for the sake of lying because I'm a coward and can't have hard conversations); and there was weird commentary about plants from a 9-year old kid.

The characters were unlikeable. I really do think they could have been likable if the whole book had been written like the whales chapter. But the characters talked around their issues and refused to have honest and clear conversations. It was annoying. Everyone was hiding their feelings even though they were going through (and had gone through) the most heartbreaking circumstances.

All in, I wonder if I just don't think deeply enough to have this book resonate with me. But I also embrace that I read for fun, and don't think too deeply about the fiction I read. If you like to overthink your fiction, pick this one up.

Another great read from McConaghy! Love her atmospheric writing- nature, mystery, complete with great characters. If you loved her previous books, I think you’ll love this one.

Thanks Macmillan audio for an audio copy so I could listen along while reading my hardcover copy!

The author describes the setting as a character in the book in her note at the end of this story, and I couldn't agree more. The fictional town in Antarctica lends so much atmosphere, depth, and also heartbreak to this incredible novel. It’s hauntingly beautiful and it mirrors the emotional landscape of the characters in ways that feel both intentional and unforgettable.

This book gutted me in the best way. It made me feel small and human and raw. Five stars.

Overview
Charlotte McConaghy’s upcoming novel is poised to be one of the most emotionally resonant literary releases of the year. Early descriptions point to a narrative that is profoundly affecting—gut-wrenching in the best possible sense—and crafted with the kind of lyrical precision and raw emotional depth that have become hallmarks of McConaghy’s writing. This novel promises to offer a searing exploration of loss, identity, and the endurance of the human spirit.

Emotional Resonance
This book is not simply a story—it is an emotional experience. Readers can expect to be immersed in a world that is both haunting and beautiful, one that leaves a lasting emotional imprint. The narrative reportedly evokes an intense and deeply personal response, making it especially impactful for readers drawn to stories that challenge and confront as much as they comfort. The emotional weight carried throughout the story is unflinching, making it a powerful and cathartic read.

Thematic Depth
McConaghy appears to once again delve into themes of grief, resilience, and the fragility of human connection. Her writing often explores how individuals respond to trauma, how they repair what’s broken, and how they find meaning in the aftermath of profound loss. This novel is expected to expand on those ideas, offering nuanced reflections on what it means to endure—and to heal—in the face of irreversible change.

Literary Style
Stylistically, the prose is expected to be lush and evocative, with McConaghy’s signature command of tone and atmosphere. Her ability to build emotionally complex characters and situate them within stark yet poetic settings creates a deeply immersive experience. Readers will likely find themselves lingering over passages, not only for the story’s content but for the sheer beauty of the language itself.

Anticipated Impact
This release is already generating early buzz in literary circles and among readers who gravitate toward emotionally driven fiction. It’s poised to be a standout addition to spring reading lists and a likely contender for critical acclaim. With its raw emotional honesty and literary elegance, the novel is expected to spark meaningful conversations and connect deeply with audiences around the world.

Final Thoughts
Charlotte McConaghy continues to solidify her place as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary fiction. Her forthcoming novel promises to be both devastating and luminous—a story that lingers long after the final page. For those who seek novels that challenge the heart and elevate the form, this will undoubtedly be an essential read.