"From beneath a carpet of ash, which the untrained eye would look at and see death, comes life, bursting free."

This book just sucks you in from the very beginning. The audio was fantastic! The writing, the characters, the setting, the STORY. One of family, survival, trust, and live. I was so invested in the whole thing, the entire time. The mystery and eeriness of the remote island, the animals! There's just so many good things to say about this book. Definitely recommend!!

On a remote island near Antarctica, Dominic Salt and his three children manage Shearwater, the world’s largest seed bank. They are the last people living there and struggle significantly with isolation. Their lives change when a storm washes Rowan ashore.

As the family helps Rowan recover, they grow closer to her. However, Rowan harbors her own secrets about why she came to Shearwater. Tension builds when she discovers broken radios and a newly dug grave, realizing that Dominic is concealing things too. Ultimately, they face a brewing storm and must decide if they can trust each other to protect the precious seeds while confronting their pasts.

Wild Dark Shore is an eco-fiction novel that explores the difficult choices we make for love as the world around us inevitably changes due to global warming. I was shocked by how much I loved this book! The beginning felt slow, especially since we didn’t initially understand Rowan's or Dominic's backgrounds. Both sides of the story remain mysterious until the very end. I had to suppress my sobs while listening to the conclusion. I own several of Charlotte McConaghy's other books but haven't read them yet, after experiencing this novel, they are moving to the top of my to-be-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ALC

"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghy is a eco-thriller set on the remote Shearwater Island, a research station between Australia and Antarctica. This book caught my attention from the beginning, and kept me wondering what happened. I liked the plot and the location of this book, it was interesting and different. I have read a few other books Charlotte has written and I like that she takes the reader to remote places. I received this ARC from Netgalley.

This is an exquisite, poignant, and heart-breaking novel. I don't normally countenance trigger warnings, but one may be relevant for Wild Dark Shore as its publication date follows so closely upon the catastrophic wildfires in California. No fires ignite on the dark and wild shore of the title, but Rowan washes up, close to death, on the remote island located close to Antarctica as an indirect result of a devastating fire that destroyed her Australian home. Once restored to a semblance of health, and with no way to leave, she integrates into the life of the last remaining family living on the island, responsible for "closing up shop" as a research station is dismantled due to rising sea levels. Who Rowan is and how and why she got there is the mystery that dominates the first part of the book, but as we and her "host" family--Dominic and his three children--get better acquainted, dark mysteries spring up with almost every turn of the ever-rising tide. Charlotte McConaghy is a truly gifted and skilled writer, capturing the reader's attention with her precise dialog, evocative descriptions, and masterly play with points of view (Rowan's in first person and the other characters in third). I finished the book feeling both more informed about the effects of climate change and forever touched by my acquaintance with such intricately drawn characters and their sad but life-affirming story.

“But here is the nature of life: that we must love things with our whole selves, knowing they will die.”

Dominic Salt and his three children are the sole lingering humans on Shearwater, a small, subantarctic island where a seed bank is secured. Then a woman washes up on their shore.

From the first page, McConaghy creates an intriguing maelstrom of uncertainty. We don’t know if any character can be trusted to tell the truth—each of the five major characters is grieving in multiple ways, and that grief germinates secrets. In these last weeks until the Salt family is to leave the island forever, Rowan’s arrival creates problems that only exacerbate their family’s grief and guilt over missing others. A sense of humming menace pervades.

Shearwater Island, 1500 kilometers from anywhere, is home to thousands of elephant seals, penguins, and albatross, in waters filled with whales. It’s a place of stunning beauty—and dangerous storms, which McConaghy describes with the detail and the delicacy that make her writing so beautiful. Her passion for nature illuminates all her books.

Wild Dark Shore’s five points of view are voiced by four narrators (Cooper Mortlock; Katherine Littrell; Saskia Maarleveld; Steve West). The narration was easy to follow, and all the narrators were excellent at conveying the emotional subtleties of their characters. Sasha Maarleveld is a popular and accomplished narrator for good reason; I found Steve West’s depiction of Dominick especially well-matched to McConaghy’s writing of that character. Overall, I think the audio was excellent, and I’m glad I experienced the book in audio format.

Climate fiction is not a genre I find easy to read, but Charlotte McConaghy is a master writer who ignites both my intellect and emotion. Her characters have great depth and credibility; the wild settings are described with vivid sensory detail. There are gut-punches here, but I survived. McConaghy’s plots are not optimistic, but still somehow they are hopeful, and leave me feeling enriched, satisfied, even inspired. “Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we will add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.”

Thanks to Macmillan Audio via Netgalley for providing this audio for my review. All opinions are my own.

Wow! This may be my first 5 star book this year. Did not know what to expect when I selected this book, but I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to read it. Beautifully narrated, wonderfully developed characters, and set in a remote but wildly captivating landscape. I was drawn into this book instantly and did not want to put it down for a moment. I loved my time spent with this book and can't wait to read more in the future from this author. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this audiobook. Everyone else: run and get it on March 4th.

Every time I read a Charlotte McConaghy book, it invokes in me a deep sense of melancholy. It's like I feel those words she writes and in the most intense manner.

“But here is the nature of life: that we must love things with our whole selves, knowing they will die.”

Wild Dark Shore is a dark and haunting story, full of flawed characters, an immersive plot, and the wild setting of a remote island near Antarctica. The fictional island of Shearwater is also home to the world’s largest seed bank and a character of its own.

Part climate dystopia, part literary fiction and part mystery with an added bonus of a slow burn romance, Wild Dark Shore is a genre bending, bleak, eerie yet hopeful story. Readers will savor this from start to finish, while at the same time shedding tears for the characters and raging at our current climate situation. The underlying themes are of human connection and endurance, the unconditional love between a parent and child, the delicate balance of our earth's ecosystem and climate change and its disastrous consequences.

If you've read a book by Charlotte McConaghy, you would know her prose is sharp and elegant. She can pack a punch with the most simple of sentences. It's truly a talent, writing an engrossing tale and keeping the readers captivated with the characters and storyline while simultaneously educating them about the climate crisis through the emotions and struggles of said characters. It's a brilliant approach to climate dystopia.

The full cast audio was wonderfully done and made the listening an experience to be had!

A true masterpiece that I'll be recommending a lot!

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC audiobook for review. WOW!! I have read every Charlotte McConaghy book and every single one is just beautiful. This one might be my favorite though. The gorgeous description of the area, the tale of every character and what brought them to the point, whether you can trust them or not. This author is a must read for the lush detail and depth of stories they bring every time.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

You can’t imagine my excitement when I was invited to review this audiobook. I’ve never read McConaghy before but everything I read about her previous books was only compliments. The story is set on a remote island, somewhere between Australia and Antarctica, that is vanishing under the rising of sea levels.

There is only one family living on this island and they are getting ready to leave when a body of a woman is washed up on shore. They nurse her back to health but there is something about her and the circumstances that made her appear on that island that are completely mysterious.

The writing is gorgeous, I really liked the twists, and I didn’t see the ending coming. The audiobook has a full cast narration: Cooper Mortlock; Katherine Littrell; Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West. The full cast made the story dynamic, revealing character nuances, and providing a more immersive listening experience.

This book comes out March 4th, 2025.

Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghy
Narrated by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, Steve West

ALC courtesy of MacMillan Audio and NetGalley.

Dominic Salt and his three children, Raff, Fen and Orly, live on Shearwater, a remote island near the Antarctic, caretakers for a research facility and home of the world’s largest seed bank. Due to rising waters threatening to reclaim the island, the facility has been shut down and the seeds relocated. During one of the island’s worst storms, a mysterious woman is shipwrecked and washed ashore. From here on in, Charlotte McConaghy elegantly weaves a web of mystery and intrigue, with a luscious, complex plot that will just suck you in. A slow burn at first, it gradually builds tempo, with unexpected turns that will keep you interested, with a building sense of doom, leading to a brooding, stormy crescendo. The characters, too, are multilayered, gradually and deftly developed by the author.

Nature is, in a way, another “character” in this novel – from encounters with seal families, to close calls with gigantic whales, to the tiny, humble dandelion seed. Climate change and the environment are tackled, reminiscent of a Richard Powers novel. In this novel, we see that nature is not only beautiful, but can be brooding and ruthless as well. In the wilds of nature, survival of man and beast is tenuous. <i>Wild Dark Shore</i> is also about love and family, trust and secrets, and the choices we unavoidably have to make.

A work of literary fiction, McConaghy’s sentences are lovely but to the point, not overly contrived. So is the excellent narration in this audiobook – particularly the voices of Dom and Rowan, which lend a further air of mystery to the narration. And of course, the dark, atmospheric setting of Shearwater, surrounded by petulant, stormy seas completes it.

5 stars for the novel and narration.

Wild Dark Shore is a compelling, character focused climate change novel that is told from numerous perspectives of people living on and associated with Shearwater, a small island that is home to an incredibly important seed bank.

This is a story about isolation, dysfunctional relationships, and how women are judged for the decision not to become mothers. I felt that climate change was less a focus of this novel that past books by McConaghy, so this might appeal to you if you are looking for a balanced, compelling literary fiction novel.

The audiobook was read by a full cast and exceptionally well produced. I recommend that format if you enjoy audiobooks.

What an incredible story and reflection on life. The narrators were amazing to listen to, especially Dom’s narrator. Great voices and accents. I became very emotional during parts of this story. Without giving too much away it’s about deep love, loss, grief, and the will to live on. It’s a story that will be with me for a a long time.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to sharing with my peers.

This was a slow burn and a VERY atmospheric novel. You definitely need to be in the mood for this one, but luckily, I was and I devoured this in just a few days. It was a unique premise in a unique setting with flawed characters making flawed decisions based on flawed pasts. If you enjoyed Once There Were Wolves, I'd recommend adding this to your TBR. I loved listening to this one and kept finding more chores around the house to do so I could keep listening.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advancing listening copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

It’s official - Charlotte McConaghy does it again! I’ve been obsessed with her high stakes, slow-burn ecological thrillers since Migrations, and Wild Dark Shore is the perfect addition to this bestselling throughline.

Told from multiple perspectives, this story delves into the real-life consequences of climate change coming ashore (literally) as a mysterious woman does too. The two-timeline pressure of the island sinking & a family falling apart is just what McConaghy does best - nature will always take its course.

I had the pleasure of listening to the advance Audiobook copy - shoutout & thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley! Each character had their own voice actor which made the multiple perspectives much more digestible. The spoken word prose is just fantastical and exemplifies the talents of McConaghy’s work. I re-listened to the last couple chapters at least 3 times because it was so beautifully spoken - a few tears were shed!

Highly recommend this book to anyone who is environmentally conscious and enjoys thrillers. The research McConaghy does for each book really shines through - this one being based on the real-life seed bank and isolated research labs. If you’re new to McConaghy’s works, I whole-heartedly recommend dipping your toe into Wild Dark Shore.

Dominic and his three children are the caretakers of this island however their time there is coming to an end. The last thing they need is a woman washing up ashore but this is exactly what happens. As they look after her and nurse her back to life, they can't help but get close to her. But Rowan has come to the island for a reason. Will they all still be able to get along when they find out what is behind her visit?

Oh my, what a beautiful book this was! I have enjoyed this author's previous work so I knew this one was going to be special too. Like her other books, this one has you feeling every emotion imaginable. The audiobook was expertly narrated with different narrators for each POV, with each character having their own story to tell. This is definitely one I will remember for a long time.

Wild Dark Shore is a captivating read!

The setting is very reminiscent of Migrations. I think the setting being a remote island (Shearwater) off the coast of Antarctica allows Charlotte McConaghy to do what she does best: create breathtaking scenery filled with wonder. All of the wildlife and vegetation descriptors help reel in the reader. I love all of the little facts that we get from Orly. It builds his character of a future botanist. It encourages the reader that maybe the next generation will treat our planet kinder.

The story is centered around the Salt family that are on Shearwater to preserve the island. Dominic is the strong and tender father, who is haunted by the ghost of his wife that drove them to the island 9 years prior. There’s the two eldest siblings that are only ten months a part, Raff and Fen. Both are traumatized by events on the island leading to more isolation (Fen) and relatability (Raff). I think the youngest brother, Orly, is the sweetest character. He cares so much for the plants. Fen cares for the animals. Raff cares for the island and responsibilities for survival, much like Dom.

Following a terrible storm a woman is washed to shore and rescued by Fen to the island. Rowan enters the scene. We learn more of her history along with the real reason she came to Shearwater. Rowan’s character is wonderful!

I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with these characters. Such a beautiful story! I loved the mystery and literary elements of this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

Let me start off by saying: this is my first Charlotte McConaghy novel, this was on my most anticipated books of March 2025 list and I've had this pre-ordered for months.

I was recently approved for the audiobook arc via Netgalley & Macmillan Audio (thank you so much!) and I jumped into this as soon as I saw that approval come through.

I finished it in less than 2 days.

This book is about the human race overcoming the losses of dramatic climate change and the repercussions that have sent ripples through the Earth's many ecosystems.

It's about a family going through trauma, self-doubt and grief. How each person in the family unit comes to terms with events that have happened and how each of them reacts to it so differently. How communication, or lack thereof, puts strain on their relationships. How understanding heals deep wounds.

It's a story of one woman's world being turned @ss-over-tea-kettle. We follow her as she unravels the many mysteries in her marriage, identity and cosmic place in the cruel environment she has trapped herself in. We see her stripped down to the most vulnerable places one can find themselves. We see her reluctant acceptance, resilient persistence and primal fear when faced with life-changing decisions, day-after-day, constantly and relentlessly.

I fell in love with this family. Their flaws. Their human-ness. I fell in love with our FMC. I saw so much of the female experience, MY experience, in her.

In a world being washed away by rising tides and drowning in impossible decisions, this story took me to the coldest coastline there is and on a journey of whalesong, heartache and unimaginable terror.

It's early to say it, but I'm gonna say it: this may be my favorite read of 2025 and I can't imagine another book taking that title (at the moment).

Last but not least, the audiobook is PHENOMENAL. The cast made the entire reading experience so immersive, so thrilling, I was hanging onto every word. I truly hope people give the audiobook a listen, as it's a masterpiece.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to read/listen to this book early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Netgalley, Goodreads, Fable, IG).

Wild Dark Shore is a gripping, immersive, atmospheric novel. I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook and it did not disappoint. The cast of narrators brings the beautiful writing to life, and the tone adds to the tension that's already evident in the words.

I was very impressed by McConaghy's ability to write a story that could fall into so many different genre categories. It pulled me in from page one and my mind never drifted from the story. It was suspenseful, mysterious, and tense, but also somehow tender. It was dystopian with a love story seamlessly blended in and not at all forced.

The story progresses at a pace that causes the tension to build quickly, which makes you desperate to find out how everything comes together. I was trying to piece the story together while I was listening and I was wrong about so many things - which I appreciate so much in a novel. I cared about the characters and though it was difficult to figure out who you could trust, I liked them all and the progression held my interest. The island felt like a character in and of itself, which made the story feel much more eerie and immersive.

I really enjoyed this audiobook and will be checking out others this author has written.

4.5 Stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for the ALC of this novel!

Oof, McConaghy really knows how to write a story that rips my heart to pieces. Not just with the characters storylines but with the places she writes about and the dystopian, yet real, world she creates. In the author notes at the end she states that she wanted to really share how it felt to step foot on this island and how it was a character in its own right. She succeeded. It really did feel like a character unto itself and a stunning one at that.

While this didn’t end as I’d hoped her beautifully and emotive writing was exactly as excellent as I remembered. I like that this felt like a mashup of a mystery, a romance, a family drama, and a dystopian novel. That may not work for everyone but all those elements created more connection for me and kept me engaged throughout.

The audiobook was also phenomenally well done with multicast narration by Cooper Mortlock; Katherine Littrell; Saskia Maarleveld; Steve West.

4.25

A haunting tale that blends tension, mystery, and ecological reflection.
The island is more than just a backdrop; it is a character in itself, shaping the narrative and drawing the characters deeper into a web of psychological tension. The novel balances a gripping thriller elememengs with reflections on the environment, human nature, and the consequences of our actions on the planet. Great narrators