First, I want to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook. Since August of 2024, I have read Migrations, Once There Were Wolves, and now Wild Dark Shore - all by Charlotte McConaghy. It's been a true blessing (and an educational experience) to have enjoyed these three novels within such a brief span of time. McConaghy's novels keep the environment - NATURE, endangered flora/fauna, and our ever-worsening climate issues - front and center (as characters in and of themselves). It is obvious that the author has tremendous passion for these subjects as well as lived and researched experience.. The newest novel is no exception.

Wild Dark Shore is set in the fictional Shearwater Island (logistically between Antarctica and Australia) and this location is based upon the real-life Macquarie Island Research Center (which McConaghy had visited with her family over the course of writing this novel). I've placed a link to the real research center at the end of this FIVE STAR review (as it was a fascinating place to learn about as well).

The novel takes place in a time period when the most devastating climate events (fires, floods, famine, etc.) have now irreversibly destroyed our planet and Shearwater Island is home to the world's most important (and perhaps only) "seed bank." This preservation of seeds has been meticulously maintained and catalogued and includes a sampling needed to potentially regenerate our planet. Hopefully I'm getting the gist of that part correct -- though the real movement within the story takes place between the five characters residing on the island for the duration of the novel.

The island is extremely remote and though it was once more actively staffed, it seems that the worsening conditions and storms (a gigantic one kicks off the novel) have reduced the population to the Salt family (the island's caretakers). Dominick Salt is the father of three children -- Raff, Fen, and Orly --and is the sole parent and "adult" on the island until a mysterious woman named Rowan washes ashore during the critical storm that starts the book.

What develops from there (told very effectively in multi-POV, across time and place) is absolutely BRILLIANT. The author leaves no "t uncrossed" and it's just incredibly interwoven storytelling - sexy, heartbreaking, and funny. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel (and McConaghy's prior books as well).

This audiobook is expertly narrated by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West and remains engaging from start to finish..

I have been truly fortunate to receive this in advance and thank everyone for the experience!

Macquarie Island Research Center 🐧
https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/macquarie-island/

This was an absolutely gripping book that is sure to be one of my top reads for 2025. This was engaging throughout the whole entire book and the storyline, along with the characters, were so unique and I couldn't wait to get back to it chapter after chapter. This was incredible to say the least. I knew this would be 5 stars after even just after 15%.

Even though this could be classified as atmospheric, this was also so character driven. The entire book just compassed such brevity in humanity and nature as well as our approach to climate change without being preached to. There was something about reading (or listening, in my case) about the remote island, about each of the Salt family members, and about Rowan that drew me in so much that I didn't want the book to end. I wanted to know more beyond the last few pages. The author impacted so well with how much she laid out the storyline and kept my attention to the fullest. Such an amazing novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an audio copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

For a book as a whole, this deserves a Goodreads 5.

This book is deeply moving and I can't stop thinking about it. The themes of the relationship we have with our planet and how no matter where we go we see the effects the corruption of mankind are so though-provoking and poignant to our current world.

I felt such a connection to all of the characters and even the setting, which is unique to the beautiful story writing this author evokes. Each character's relationship with nature and love of humanity despite its flaws deeply resonated with me.

I actually read the audiobook version of this and the story was even more engaging for me because of it so I strongly suggest that format.

The ONLY reason why it's a 4.5 and not a solid 5 for me is because Dom annoyed me at times and the ending hurt my feelings. But that's absolutely a personal take and not a reason to not read this book.

Easily one of the better books I've read in some time.

What a seriously atmospheric read that unwound a chapter at a time. Beautifully written and paced just right, it was a tale perfect for winter days. I enjoyed every word and as usual. McConaghy did not disappoint...

This will be a top read of 2025 for me! I was 100% captivated and could not stop listening until the mystery/plot reached its conclusion.

Wild Dark Shore is my first novel by McConaghy, and my first thoughts were about how enriched and alluring the descriptions were of the physical location. The isolated, remote island setting near Antarctica, with its volatile weather and diverse animal/plant seeds, felt like an additional character. Dominic Salt lives here with his three children as the keeper of a critical underground seed bank during a not-so-distant future where accelerated climate change ravages the planet. When an unknown woman washes up onto the shore, the Salt family is torn between wanting to welcome her against their fears she will uncover secrets they have worked to hide.

This book is written with multiple POVs and I loved that the audiobook including full cast narration given the range of character ages and accents. The narrators also did a fantastic job communicating the tension, distrust, and impending sense of doom. With excellent characterization and growth, I felt intimately connected to the Salt family. There are shattered communication systems, freshly dug graves, and a rapid deterioration of the seed bank which creates mystery and urgency. Rowan’s division between wanting answers and falling for the Salt family and the happiness she finds was such a realistic pull!

Readers who enjoy climate fiction with thrills, gorgeous prose, and moral ambiguity will absolutely love this new release!
Thank you to MacMillan audio for my complementary audiobook!

I listened to this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Having read two previous books by this author, I knew that no matter what, this would be a well written book that included an abundance of nature and research in relation to the topic -which in this case was a remote island off Australia, that included arctic animals and the protection of endangered plant seeds. The character development was great, and the story itself was compelling and moving,,with the themes of family, loss, and love in unexpected places. The narrators were excellent and I highly recommend the audiobook. However, I did enjoy her two previous books better on paper and I wonder if I would have felt the same this time. The mystery and tension built a little bit too slowly for me. All in all, I would recommend this book and would read another book by this author.

A few years ago I was in a phase of absolutely inhaling books for a minute there. Most of what I read then is now a blur, but one book among them stands out. I still think of it often: Migrations, by Charlotte McConaghy. When I saw she has a new release, I jumped at the chance to read it early, and I'm so grateful to have received an early copy through the publisher and netgalley. If there is one thing I know to be true about her works, it's that you can count on her for an interesting, intelligent work that includes fascinating scientific facts that are woven into the story so well they become unforgettable. Oh yeah, and the stories are compelling as hell, too.

In Wild Dark Shore the body of a woman washes up on a tiny island called Shearwater far off the southern coast of Australia - closest to Antartica. There she is rescued by the only living souls on the island: a father and his three children. The only other occupants of the island are an abandoned research facility, and a seed bank the rising seas are threatening to drown.

This novel is shrouded in secrecy. The family has secrets, the woman has secrets, and the eerie island itself has secrets. As the woman, Rowan, gets to know the family, the lines of secrecy start to blur, and everything she thought she knew, even the deepest truths of her own character, turn out to be malleable.

I think the closest description I can come up with to describe the genre of this book is a literary thriller. It is moody and dark and mysterious and there is always a sense of impending doom. The island itself is out to get them in a way, between the freezing temperatures, the violent seas, the frequent storms, and the rocky terrain, anything at all could happen. And it has. The island is known for its ghosts, and Rowan is there to find one of them.

The characterization of this novel is wonderful. Each of them is interesting in their own right, and whatever it is that makes them most unique adds something to the story. Things happen the way they do because of the personalities on the island. I like that we have a middle-aged woman who's been tossed around by the world a little bit, alone, but strong, as the focus of the narrative. It's an important perspective and I feel like I don't see it enough.

The writing, too, is gorgeous. Bleak and beautiful. It was something that stood out to me about Migrations as well, her style is very world-weary, but there is always that little spark of hope to keep you going.

The version I read was the audiobook, and the voice actors did a wonderful job. There were multiple voices for the multiple POVs, and each of them seemed to match the characters very well.

Like Migrations, I think Wild Dark Shore is a book that is going to stick with me for a long time. It is haunting and lovely and sometimes disturbing but ultimately about survival and the lengths we'll go to accomplish it for ourselves and the ones we love.

An enthralling, engaging story. Very reminiscent of Once There Were Wolves. I was drawn into this story of survival, grief and family on a remote island near Antarctica. This isolated setting was beautifully written. I loved all of the perspectives and the narrators were fantastic at bringing these characters to life.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook!

Incredible! I have loved McConaghy’s reading from the first book of hers I read. This story is truly compelling! With strong and memorable characters and atmospheric writing this is a story that’s impossible to forget.
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When Rowan washes up on shore brutally injured after nearly drowning, she is saved by a family. Living in a remote island, that is being used as a research base and preservation Rowan finds herself in unique circumstances. Having almost died, she’s at this families mercy, but can she trust them?
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I was captivated from the start and truly could not stop listening to my audiobook. The narrator(s) were fantastic! I especially loved that we got multiple POVs this time. I loved that it was part mystery, but family drama and a bit Sci fi. McConaghy always does a beautiful job of tying in many different elements.

I loved it! Can’t recommend enough and will absolutely be purchasing a hard copy for myself.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio for an early copy.

With Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy has once again crafted a haunting mystery based on climate change.
A family of four are the final inhabitants on an island in the Southern Ocean, near to Antarctica. Even they are due to leave, once they finish packing up the seed vault kept there. One day, a woman washes up on shore. Facts about both the woman and the family are parceled out like breadcrumbs. Told from the viewpoints of all five individuals, I loved that I had no idea whom to believe or trust. Everyone is hiding something and all are damaged. They have each lost someone and grief is a major component of their lives. I came to care for each and every one of them, especially the three children who have spent 8 years in this remote location.
McConaghy has excelled in putting the reader right on this cold, isolated island, full of penguins and seals, with the ocean full of whales. There is a constant sense of tension throughout. The ending was gripping and totally caught me off guard.
I listened to this and the cast of narrators did a wonderful job.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.

Wild Dark Shore centers on Dominic Salt and his three children, Fern, Ollie and Raf, as they close up a remote island research base used as a seed library that is succumbing to flooding. One day, a woman washes up on shore, which kicks of a series of twists and events that I absolutely did not see coming.

I found Wild Dark Shore to be incredibly engrossing - I had a bit of a slow start, but as the story progressed I needed to know what was happening with Rowan, Dom, and the three kiddos. Each layer was more and more of a surprise, and for the majority of the twists I truly did not see them coming. This book reminded me a little bit of I Cheerfully Refuse with the trying to survive and be normal in a climate apocalypse mixed with Our Wives Under the Sea for some creepy research vibes. If you enjoyed either or both of those books, I definitely recommend.

I listened to this as an audiobook and heartily recommend - the cast of narrators bring an extra dimension to all of the characters and I really love a novel that has multiple narrators. I found it so immersive that each character had their own voice and just gobbled the book up as a result.

I will say, I didn't quite get the romance between Dom and Rowan - the amount of distrust they had for each other throughout really made that a bit tough from my perspective, especially given the background Dom has with Rowan's husband.

Dominic is the caretaker of a small remote island that has the world's largest seed bank which will soon be unsafe to live on. He and his three children are weeks away from moving off the island when a woman, Rowan, washes ashore. He is suspicious of her intentions, and she is suspicious of him with the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave.

I enjoyed the audiobook and immediately was immersed in the creepy but beautiful setting of the remote island. Many different narrators brought the story to life and I loved how it mixed mystery with science. I definitely feel like I need to check out her other books now.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audiobook arc of Wild Dark Shore.

I read Once There Were Wolves when it came out and absolutely loved it so I was very excited to get an advance listen of this book. This was once again very much nature oriented and it was incredibly interesting to learn about the importance of the different seeds and how they're stored. I will say, I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had physically read it rather than listening to it on audio. I found myself getting distracted while listening, and I also found the narrator's accents very distracting. These are all me problems, not the book.

That being said I did still very much enjoy this book. It was a bit of a slow burn but towards the end it really picks up. I was a little disappointed with the ending, I wish it had gone in a different direction. I would definitely recommend this book in whatever format works for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Incredible. This book captures you from the very first page. Such an intriguing story and setting. You care deeply for the characters almost immediately. Interwoven stories and timelines of hope, tragedy and loss and the human spirit. A truly profound read.

This book, WOW! Like nothing I’ve ever listened to. Loved the narrators. Loved the story. This will not be the last book by Charlotte McConaghy I read. I LOVED this book!

You will want to pick this up March 4th! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I was completely transported to Shearwater Island through the vivid descriptions of Charlotte McConaghy. The Salt family are living in a lighthouse on this small island between Australia and Antartica. There is a research facility and a seed bank, but the island is sinking and they are waiting for the navy to come and rescue them. A woman washes up on shore unexpectedly. They all have secrets. Can they work together to save themselves until the boat arrives? Lots of twists. A very compelling story. And the narration was fabulous!

3.5 stars rounded down

I listened to the audiobook. There were multiple narrators - always a plus for me! One of the main characters, Dom, had such a raspy soothing voice - i thoroughly enjoyed listening to his chapters! Narration was 5 stars.

I ADORED the setting of remote island nearly abandoned with promise of a lingering doomsday to wipe the island out. Very unique aspects in the plot - like guarding of seed banks. I was not even aware of seed banks and their purpose - very interesting!

The story and the characters were relatable enough to keep me entertained and engaged throughout the book. I did, however, find some big disconnects in the plot. Not necessarily "holes" just oddities and misfits. It almost felt like the author had moments of rambling on about personal opinions rather than sticking with the flow of the story. Maybe I just was not the intended target audience but it felt a bit forced at times. I also felt like the ending was rushed.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the ALC and chance to give my honest opinion

This book is getting massive buzz, and I can see why. The writing is stunning, the setting is unique and highly atmospheric, the mystery is compelling, and the message around climate change is urgent. For all of these reasons, I enjoyed it tremendously… until I hit the 90% mark.

I really didn’t like the ending, and I know going forward, I’ll remember how the ending made me feel, rather than the 90% of the story I loved, which sucks.

I honestly don’t know if I’d recommend it. It’s an absolutely stunning book, but the ending frustrated me so much that I hesitate to tell people to read it. So… do with that what you will.

Audio: The multiple POVs are each voiced by a different narrator. Saskia Maarleveld narrates one of the primary POVs, and like most audiobook fans, I can’t get enough of her! The second most common voice is performed by Steve West, and between his deep voice and the Australian accent, I often found myself furrowing my brow to concentrate (why does that help?). I didn’t love that, but I think it’s probably just a personal thing!

This novel is unique, compelling, and unputdownable. It’s the story of a tiny island near Antarctica that holds one of the world’s seed vaults, a place that holds the last parts of life should the world be destroyed. Due to climate change, the island is being swallowed by the sea and the caretakers need and scientists need to pack up the seeds to prepare to move them to a new location.

But the isolated island holds lots of secrets – including that none of the scientists remain, the communications lines to the outside world no longer work, and now a mysterious woman has washed ashore with secrets of her own.

Why Kirsten loves it
I can’t stop thinking of this INCREDIBLE story. The premise, the set-up, and the writing combined to create a narrative that held me captive and had me gasping and crying in equal measure. I felt the ending in my bones as I reluctantly turned the last page. I’ll be recommending this book for years to come.

Wild Dark Shore was difficult to put down, and I devoured it over just a few quick days. McConaghy has a profound ability to write landscapes that are ethereal, alive, and a character unto themselves. In this novel, she returns us to a not very distant world where climate change has continued to progress and

While the environment and the harm that humans have enacted upon it is a significant through line of the story, it runs parallel with questions on surviving grief, both for people and for the natural world that is being lost.

The plot on its own was interesting, but sometimes felt unevenly paced. Most of the characters felt complex and interesting. But I feel like the landscape and the metaphors it embodied is really what shines through. Overall a good piece of climate/eco-fiction to add to your list. 4.25/5 stars