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Wild Dark Shore
From the beloved, New York Times bestselling author of Migrations and Once There Were Wolves, a novel about a family living alone on a remote island, when a mysterious woman washes up on shore
A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, eighteen and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, seventeen, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; nine-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic can’t stop turning back toward the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.
Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, can they trust each other enough to protect one another—and the precious seeds in their care? And can they finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together?
A novel of heart-stopping twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us is ending.
A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, eighteen and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, seventeen, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; nine-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic can’t stop turning back toward the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.
Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, can they trust each other enough to protect one another—and the precious seeds in their care? And can they finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together?
A novel of heart-stopping twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us is ending.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2025
20123 people are currently reading
376028 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte McConaghy
23 books7,804 followersCharlotte McConaghy is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestseller WILD DARK SHORE, named Amazon’s Best Book of the Year So Far for 2025; as well as the New York Times Bestseller ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES, winner of the Indie Book Award for Fiction 2022; and the international bestseller MIGRATIONS, a TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year and the Amazon Best Fiction Book of the Year for 2020.
She started her writing career with a number of SF/F titles for YA readers; MIGRATIONS was her first foray into adult literature.
Her books have been translated into more than 25 languages, and are being adapted for film and television. She lives in Sydney with her partner and two children.
She started her writing career with a number of SF/F titles for YA readers; MIGRATIONS was her first foray into adult literature.
Her books have been translated into more than 25 languages, and are being adapted for film and television. She lives in Sydney with her partner and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 24,403 reviews
April 17, 2025
I have an urgent need to fix this, but I don't know how.
Hmm let's think about this now. Hey, I know! How about you just tell the truth?
Ah yes, the dreaded miscommunication trope. You dress it up with some slump-inducing descriptive prose, make every character act as weird and paranoid as possible, throw in some instalove, and you have Wild Dark Shore.
But before I really get into it, I just want to say that my opinion here is decidedly in the minority. I see nothing but love for this book, so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt (har har).
When I think of literary fiction, what I'm looking for above all else is convincing characters. I want ones that feel authentic, poignant, and really force me to think about the human condition. I'm not looking for one-dimensional, loony, paranoid characters I could easily find in the most eye-rolling of thrillers. But that's exactly what I got here.
None of the characters' actions that drove the mystery part of this story made any sense. Every bad thing that happened in here can be traced back to the two main characters not talking about one essential topic. Instead, we get a lot of jumpy paranoia between the two of them that magically morphs into... instalust? Okay sure, you got me. I, too, often find myself unable to stop wanting to jump the bones of someone I suspect is trying to kill me.
But it's more than that. I really couldn't connect with any of the characters at all. I didn't like how dismissive Rowan was of her husband and his views, all the while complaining that he couldn't see her side. I didn't like how the book portrayed Hank or mental illness. I didn't like how Dominic reads like a male character written by a female author. None of them really rang true, and it was hard for me to overcome that deficit.
The topic of climate change is a big part of this story and while I appreciate Charlotte McConaghy tackling such an important issue, I feel like it was awkwardly done and lacked subtlety. It often came across as if the author was trying to club me on the head with it, going so far as to include nonfiction passages of nature spoken through the voice of a nine-year-old. To say it felt inauthentic and took me out of the story is an understatement. I wish the author had gone for a more subtle approach, trusting that the reader will follow her, instead of hammering her messages into my head over and over again.
I do feel like the story started to shape into something with emotional resonance towards the last third of the book, and the scene with the whale and her baby was particularly well-done. But then as we progress towards the denouement, we again lost subtlety in favor hamfistedness in the form of a certain development near the end. It felt unnecessary to the story, as if it was put there simply for emotional manipulation, to tug on the heartstrings and wring as much emotion from the reader as possible.
I don't know what else to say other than I feel extremely disappointed with my reading experience. I think this is a case where my expectations just weren't in line with reality. What I wanted was a character-driven mystery with elements of climate change that would really bring something new to the table and leave me with food for thought. What I got instead was some mishmash of eye-rolling domestic thriller and dull descriptive prose, two things sure to put me into a slump.
But hey, what do I know? Like I said, everyone else is loving this, so don't let my grouchiness dissuade you from giving it a try.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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August 13, 2025
4.5 ⭐️!!!
This was so unexpectedly amazing!! I tried to read it during a slump & put it down for a few weeks, but I’m so glad I read it when I did!
We follow a family on a severely isolated island & a woman who washes ashore unexpectedly (everyone’s confused why she’s there, she’s suspicious of them, they’re suspicious of her, and I’m suspicious of everyone)
I loved the setting of this story & how it felt like its own character - the nature was described so vividly! Each pov we got kept my attention and had my curiosity peaked constantly, & as we got more pieces to the mystery of it all, I literally couldn’t put the book down I needed to know the answers
Highly recommend even if it’s not your typical genre!!!
This was so unexpectedly amazing!! I tried to read it during a slump & put it down for a few weeks, but I’m so glad I read it when I did!
We follow a family on a severely isolated island & a woman who washes ashore unexpectedly (everyone’s confused why she’s there, she’s suspicious of them, they’re suspicious of her, and I’m suspicious of everyone)
I loved the setting of this story & how it felt like its own character - the nature was described so vividly! Each pov we got kept my attention and had my curiosity peaked constantly, & as we got more pieces to the mystery of it all, I literally couldn’t put the book down I needed to know the answers
Highly recommend even if it’s not your typical genre!!!
March 5, 2025
i would give this book 100 stars if goodreads let me 🤎👏🏼🦭🥹😩 WOWOWOWOW THIS WAS SO FREAKING GOOD AND I LOOOOOVED IT!!!!! if there is one book you pre order, make it this one.
many of my followers know that ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES is quite literally one of my favorite books of all time. i knew it would be nearly impossible for Charlotte to write a book better than that / a book that i love more than that… but, she came verrryyyyy close to doing that with WILD DARK SHORE 🥹🤯❤️🔥
HIGH PRAISE GUYS!!!!!! i mean it!!!
while it’s extremely character driven, it’s also so plot heavy—i’m not kidding you when i say that 100 things happened in this book and every chapter had some action. it will be so hard for you to put it down!!
there were truly so many things i loved about this book:
🦭 the setting. i learned soooo much from this one, arguably even more than in wolves or migrations. her nature writing inspired by true events is truly so enjoyable to read
❤️ the characters. it’s very rare that a reader can read finish a book and say they loved absolutely every single character… and in this one, i did. (well, the main 5 ones anyway… you’ll know what i mean 😂) ANYWAYS, they are all amazing. my heart is especially with Fen and Rowan… but sweet Orly was also an absolute joy
🥹 the emotion and connection that i felt to this book immediately is something that needs to be studied. i was so emotionally invested that i sat down and read this book in two sittings and stayed up reading it until 1am because i simply didn’t want to leave these characters or this world. by the end of the book, i was absolutely sobbing and have the tear stains on my pillow to prove it 😂
📚 all of her books have this, but the genre bending. in this one, you can expect some mystery and suspense, a slow burn romance, nature writing and almost some historical fiction, a shocking ending, beautiful litfic… you really get it all.
i could go on for 40000000 more paragraphs but i think you get it. this book is SPECIAL. its a 6 star. emotional, creative, unique, action packed and devastatingly beautiful.
review to come on my IG. thank you to Flatiron for the gifted early copy. but a bigger thank you to Charlotte for writing this (and for answering my questions and word vomit post finishing ❤️)
this book comes out in March but i can promise you that i won’t shut up about it literally ever and i’ll keep reminding you that you need to pre-order this and buy it immediately as soon as it’s on the shelves :-)
PS in case you finished and you’re also wondering—yes, the author always knew it would end like that.
🥹😭🦭😩🥰🫶🏼🌊🤯🐧🐳⛴️💔
EDIT—i re-read this on audio and loooove the narration!! full cast, mainly by Saskia Maarleveld aka the goat. however i think the physical is the way to go on this one. the beautiful descriptive writing about the setting and the overall vibe comes through stronger that way IMO!
many of my followers know that ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES is quite literally one of my favorite books of all time. i knew it would be nearly impossible for Charlotte to write a book better than that / a book that i love more than that… but, she came verrryyyyy close to doing that with WILD DARK SHORE 🥹🤯❤️🔥
HIGH PRAISE GUYS!!!!!! i mean it!!!
while it’s extremely character driven, it’s also so plot heavy—i’m not kidding you when i say that 100 things happened in this book and every chapter had some action. it will be so hard for you to put it down!!
there were truly so many things i loved about this book:
🦭 the setting. i learned soooo much from this one, arguably even more than in wolves or migrations. her nature writing inspired by true events is truly so enjoyable to read
❤️ the characters. it’s very rare that a reader can read finish a book and say they loved absolutely every single character… and in this one, i did. (well, the main 5 ones anyway… you’ll know what i mean 😂) ANYWAYS, they are all amazing. my heart is especially with Fen and Rowan… but sweet Orly was also an absolute joy
🥹 the emotion and connection that i felt to this book immediately is something that needs to be studied. i was so emotionally invested that i sat down and read this book in two sittings and stayed up reading it until 1am because i simply didn’t want to leave these characters or this world. by the end of the book, i was absolutely sobbing and have the tear stains on my pillow to prove it 😂
📚 all of her books have this, but the genre bending. in this one, you can expect some mystery and suspense, a slow burn romance, nature writing and almost some historical fiction, a shocking ending, beautiful litfic… you really get it all.
i could go on for 40000000 more paragraphs but i think you get it. this book is SPECIAL. its a 6 star. emotional, creative, unique, action packed and devastatingly beautiful.
review to come on my IG. thank you to Flatiron for the gifted early copy. but a bigger thank you to Charlotte for writing this (and for answering my questions and word vomit post finishing ❤️)
this book comes out in March but i can promise you that i won’t shut up about it literally ever and i’ll keep reminding you that you need to pre-order this and buy it immediately as soon as it’s on the shelves :-)
PS in case you finished and you’re also wondering—yes, the author always knew it would end like that.
🥹😭🦭😩🥰🫶🏼🌊🤯🐧🐳⛴️💔
EDIT—i re-read this on audio and loooove the narration!! full cast, mainly by Saskia Maarleveld aka the goat. however i think the physical is the way to go on this one. the beautiful descriptive writing about the setting and the overall vibe comes through stronger that way IMO!
March 6, 2025
this book just changed my life. i'll be back later with my full thoughts (if i can even put them into words). but until then, i just need to sit and cry for a sec.
March 20, 2025
Absolutely obsessed with this book & also bawling my eyes out. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over this one.
August 4, 2025
There’s nothing I can write here that could truly give enough praise or express how much this book meant to me—it might just be the best thing I’ve read all year. It made me scream-cry. It hurt me more than I expected. It shattered me into pieces. It opened up so many old wounds.
It made me reflect on the wildness of nature, the fragility of species, the instinct to survive, the future of humanity, broken families, grief, pure love, obsession turning into madness, claustrophobia, guilt, sacrifice, and motherhood. And yet, somehow, it also gave me a tiny glimmer of hope—that with the help of those we love, we can still stand up after hitting the deepest, most painful rock bottom.
I haven’t read something so tragic, heart-wrenching, and yet so achingly beautiful in a long time. The ending felt like tiny needles piercing my heart—I cannot stop crying. This is one of those rare books that delivers the most cathartic ugly cry and haunts you forever with its unforgettable characters, perfectly built mystery, and slow-burning intensity leading to a brilliant twist. As a work of fiction, survival thriller, and mystery, it took my breath away.
Picture this: a family of four—a father, two teenagers, and a young child—living on a remote island near Antarctica called Shearwater. Once a bustling hub for researchers, it’s now desolate, with only this family left behind, tasked with packing up seeds to transport to safer ground. The boat meant to retrieve them is five weeks away. But as the sea level rises, the electricity fails, the radio breaks, and there’s no signal, their survival becomes increasingly uncertain. Then, a mysterious woman washes ashore, bloodied and barely alive, claiming to have fled a tragedy—the house and land she built, now reduced to ashes.
Her name is Rowan. As she recovers, she finds herself drawn into the family’s orbit. Dominic, the father, is still grieving the loss of his wife, struggling to express his emotions while raising his children with strict discipline. He’s hiding something too—bloodstains he once scrubbed clean in the now-abandoned research facility. What happened there?
Rowan becomes suspicious. Why does the family act like they’ve seen a ghost after learning who she is? Why do they whisper behind closed doors? Even little Orly seems to be speaking to someone invisible. Is the island haunted? Or is there something even more sinister going on beneath the surface? Has Rowan put herself in grave danger by coming here? Is the family succumbing to madness bred by isolation? Or is the truth even more devastating than she imagined?
One thing is certain—Rowan should never have come.
Overall: As a thriller, the pacing, tension, climax, and gut-wrenching twist were flawlessly executed. As a novel, it absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. Some chapters felt like they bled off the page. I sobbed through more than one.
Ten gazillion stars—well earned. Don’t just add this book to your TBR. Buy a copy. Read it immediately. If you skip this one, you’re missing out on one of the best books of the year.
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It made me reflect on the wildness of nature, the fragility of species, the instinct to survive, the future of humanity, broken families, grief, pure love, obsession turning into madness, claustrophobia, guilt, sacrifice, and motherhood. And yet, somehow, it also gave me a tiny glimmer of hope—that with the help of those we love, we can still stand up after hitting the deepest, most painful rock bottom.
I haven’t read something so tragic, heart-wrenching, and yet so achingly beautiful in a long time. The ending felt like tiny needles piercing my heart—I cannot stop crying. This is one of those rare books that delivers the most cathartic ugly cry and haunts you forever with its unforgettable characters, perfectly built mystery, and slow-burning intensity leading to a brilliant twist. As a work of fiction, survival thriller, and mystery, it took my breath away.
Picture this: a family of four—a father, two teenagers, and a young child—living on a remote island near Antarctica called Shearwater. Once a bustling hub for researchers, it’s now desolate, with only this family left behind, tasked with packing up seeds to transport to safer ground. The boat meant to retrieve them is five weeks away. But as the sea level rises, the electricity fails, the radio breaks, and there’s no signal, their survival becomes increasingly uncertain. Then, a mysterious woman washes ashore, bloodied and barely alive, claiming to have fled a tragedy—the house and land she built, now reduced to ashes.
Her name is Rowan. As she recovers, she finds herself drawn into the family’s orbit. Dominic, the father, is still grieving the loss of his wife, struggling to express his emotions while raising his children with strict discipline. He’s hiding something too—bloodstains he once scrubbed clean in the now-abandoned research facility. What happened there?
Rowan becomes suspicious. Why does the family act like they’ve seen a ghost after learning who she is? Why do they whisper behind closed doors? Even little Orly seems to be speaking to someone invisible. Is the island haunted? Or is there something even more sinister going on beneath the surface? Has Rowan put herself in grave danger by coming here? Is the family succumbing to madness bred by isolation? Or is the truth even more devastating than she imagined?
One thing is certain—Rowan should never have come.
Overall: As a thriller, the pacing, tension, climax, and gut-wrenching twist were flawlessly executed. As a novel, it absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. Some chapters felt like they bled off the page. I sobbed through more than one.
Ten gazillion stars—well earned. Don’t just add this book to your TBR. Buy a copy. Read it immediately. If you skip this one, you’re missing out on one of the best books of the year.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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April 5, 2025
idk I feel like the hype is a little high for this one. I really wish GR would give us half and quarter stars bc this is a true 3.5 stars for me right now.
After the death of his wife during childbirth, Dominic moves his family and takes a job as lighthouse keeper on a remote island near Antarctica. The island is home to a seed vault and research station. The effects of climate change are forcing them to move as the permafrost is melting and it’s no longer safe.
While waiting for the ship to pick them up, a woman is washed ashore.
As she is nursed back to health, she detects that maybe all is not as idyllic as it seems.. can she trust their stories? Or are they really hiding a terrible truth?
The story slips between genres from heart-breaking literary fiction to thriller more than once. On the one hand, the Salt family are barely holding things together on the island. Dominic and Raf are frozen in grief for lost loved ones. Fen is turning near feral among the elephant seals and royal penguins. Orly talks to ghosts. Rowan is also nursing a broken heart.
And yet, many of the poignant moments in the novel are interrupted by the revelation that something terrible happened on the island before Rowan arrived. Why is there a passport and a laptop hidden in the floor of the tool shed? Who smashed the radio, making it impossible to contact the mainland.
I did enjoy this one, it's extremely atmospheric with lush lyrical prose - love those aspects. I just found that the story moved so slow. On top of the pacing being slow, I listened to the audio for this one and while it wasn't a poor production in any sense - I did feel that the narrators tone didn't always work for me. All of them. LOL. They speak so low and soft and I get that it's trying to fit the vibe of the book but between the slow pace and the soft voices I couldn't stay engaged.
The twists didn't really move me and the ending felt disappointing. I think with this one, I enjoyed the vibes and the characters for the most part, but wasn't a big fan of the overall story.
🧡Contemporary x Lit Fic
🧡Great Character Development
🧡Rotating/Multi POV
🧡Realistic Dealing with Grief
🧡Mystery/Thriller Components
🧡Interesting Family Dynamics
🧡Dangers of Isolation
🧡Hidden Motives
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
After the death of his wife during childbirth, Dominic moves his family and takes a job as lighthouse keeper on a remote island near Antarctica. The island is home to a seed vault and research station. The effects of climate change are forcing them to move as the permafrost is melting and it’s no longer safe.
While waiting for the ship to pick them up, a woman is washed ashore.
As she is nursed back to health, she detects that maybe all is not as idyllic as it seems.. can she trust their stories? Or are they really hiding a terrible truth?
The story slips between genres from heart-breaking literary fiction to thriller more than once. On the one hand, the Salt family are barely holding things together on the island. Dominic and Raf are frozen in grief for lost loved ones. Fen is turning near feral among the elephant seals and royal penguins. Orly talks to ghosts. Rowan is also nursing a broken heart.
And yet, many of the poignant moments in the novel are interrupted by the revelation that something terrible happened on the island before Rowan arrived. Why is there a passport and a laptop hidden in the floor of the tool shed? Who smashed the radio, making it impossible to contact the mainland.
I did enjoy this one, it's extremely atmospheric with lush lyrical prose - love those aspects. I just found that the story moved so slow. On top of the pacing being slow, I listened to the audio for this one and while it wasn't a poor production in any sense - I did feel that the narrators tone didn't always work for me. All of them. LOL. They speak so low and soft and I get that it's trying to fit the vibe of the book but between the slow pace and the soft voices I couldn't stay engaged.
The twists didn't really move me and the ending felt disappointing. I think with this one, I enjoyed the vibes and the characters for the most part, but wasn't a big fan of the overall story.
🧡Contemporary x Lit Fic
🧡Great Character Development
🧡Rotating/Multi POV
🧡Realistic Dealing with Grief
🧡Mystery/Thriller Components
🧡Interesting Family Dynamics
🧡Dangers of Isolation
🧡Hidden Motives
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
March 8, 2025
bitch this was stunning
March 6, 2025
This was….fine? I really don’t understand the hype here. The writing is definitely quite lyrical and certainly places the reader in the wild and unrelenting wilderness of the island, it was certainly atmospheric. But all that great setting just couldn’t get me to really feel sucked in by the plot or characters. They felt like the briefest of brush strokes which felt like I was trying to sustain myself on crumbs. The lust to romance subplot felt so random and out of place. I couldn’t understand how the characters got there with so much alleged ~suspicion~ on both sides.
Add to that that I didn’t really get what this was trying to say about environmental conservation or climate change, mental illness, or grief and trauma, and I just feel really meh. This feels like it promises a lot but delivers on very little. The outside world seems to have all these vague issues and plagues of environmental crisis but we don’t know what those are or if they’re even a reality. There’s a lot of talk about ghosts, it seems like mostly as a representation for trauma and loss but given there also those with mental health issues, it’s hard to say.
Overall this was fine but not particularly emotionally or intellectually stimulating or evocative and I found the forced mystery quite boring. Overall my sense is that poor Dom’s kids are committed to putting him in an early grave with their actions. Yes yes I know there’s the whole narcissist and all but I swear their actions were so spectacularly strange to me it boggled my mind a bit.
Add to that that I didn’t really get what this was trying to say about environmental conservation or climate change, mental illness, or grief and trauma, and I just feel really meh. This feels like it promises a lot but delivers on very little. The outside world seems to have all these vague issues and plagues of environmental crisis but we don’t know what those are or if they’re even a reality. There’s a lot of talk about ghosts, it seems like mostly as a representation for trauma and loss but given there also those with mental health issues, it’s hard to say.
Overall this was fine but not particularly emotionally or intellectually stimulating or evocative and I found the forced mystery quite boring. Overall my sense is that poor Dom’s kids are committed to putting him in an early grave with their actions. Yes yes I know there’s the whole narcissist and all but I swear their actions were so spectacularly strange to me it boggled my mind a bit.
June 13, 2025
this is a book that definitely prioritizes style, but fortunately also has the substance to back it up.
while i didnt find the writing pretentious, like i did with CMs other books, i do think its a kind of narrative that wont be for every reader. its the backbone of the story, but its slow and really relies on subtle language to provide nuanced feelings. but i found it to be the perfect kind of writing for such a haunting setting, with the island being one of the main characters itself.
other than the atmosphere and the salts way of life, i really found dom to be the most compelling aspect of the story. i really enjoyed reading about him and how he views the world in terms of his family. his children were all lovely, but i found myself looking forward to his POV chapters more.
so, if youve enjoyed CMs other books, this should be your next read because i think this is her best work yet. or, if you havent read any of her stuff, but enjoy moody, thematic stories about life and living, this should be your next read because its quite poignant.
↠ 4 stars
while i didnt find the writing pretentious, like i did with CMs other books, i do think its a kind of narrative that wont be for every reader. its the backbone of the story, but its slow and really relies on subtle language to provide nuanced feelings. but i found it to be the perfect kind of writing for such a haunting setting, with the island being one of the main characters itself.
other than the atmosphere and the salts way of life, i really found dom to be the most compelling aspect of the story. i really enjoyed reading about him and how he views the world in terms of his family. his children were all lovely, but i found myself looking forward to his POV chapters more.
so, if youve enjoyed CMs other books, this should be your next read because i think this is her best work yet. or, if you havent read any of her stuff, but enjoy moody, thematic stories about life and living, this should be your next read because its quite poignant.
↠ 4 stars
March 15, 2025
McConaghy takes us to an incredibly isolated and haunted place to give us a glimpse of the disastrous effects of global warming and what the future could look like.
We are on Shearwater island, Antarctica. A father and his 3 kids reside in a lighthouse protecting a seed bank while the island is slowly being flooded, threatening to destroy not only the seeds, but those who remain there. Yet, a body washes up on shore. Barely alive. But she is and she has questions -as do they.
McConaghy’s writing is beautiful but intense. The scenery, vivid; the fauna, lush; The wildlife, wonderous. She contrasts humanity and its degradation to the beauty of a place where seals, penguins, birds exist in harmony. A story of grief, fear, loss, but also one of hope and strength.
5⭐️
Note: The story is based on Macquarie Island* McConaghy’s IG has some stunning pics of the research she did for this story.
Highly recommend all her stories*
We are on Shearwater island, Antarctica. A father and his 3 kids reside in a lighthouse protecting a seed bank while the island is slowly being flooded, threatening to destroy not only the seeds, but those who remain there. Yet, a body washes up on shore. Barely alive. But she is and she has questions -as do they.
McConaghy’s writing is beautiful but intense. The scenery, vivid; the fauna, lush; The wildlife, wonderous. She contrasts humanity and its degradation to the beauty of a place where seals, penguins, birds exist in harmony. A story of grief, fear, loss, but also one of hope and strength.
5⭐️
Note: The story is based on Macquarie Island* McConaghy’s IG has some stunning pics of the research she did for this story.
Highly recommend all her stories*
April 1, 2025
I’m gonna need a movie adaptation ASAP
March 10, 2025
5+++
Such a beautiful book!
Simply Amazing!
This is the third book by this extremely gifted Australian
author and my third 5 star read, though this is my favorite…3 for 3 🙂
This novel is set on a remote island between Australia and Antartica, based on the real island of Macquarie Island.
The family that has lived here for the past eight years… overseeing the lighthouse… I fell in love with each of them, though they were fractured… until … a woman’s body washes up on the shore..
On this island is a research center doing tests and preservation due to climate change.
A lot happens here.. think “ thriller” in part.
Her descriptions of the seals and penguins and whales, and land, oceans, etc… gorgeous!
Please, do read!
It’s early in the year, but I’m going to say it will be my favorite of the year!
.
I follow her on Instagram and she made a few research trips with her young family to the real island it’s based on… the pics are beautiful!
Such a beautiful book!
Simply Amazing!
This is the third book by this extremely gifted Australian
author and my third 5 star read, though this is my favorite…3 for 3 🙂
This novel is set on a remote island between Australia and Antartica, based on the real island of Macquarie Island.
The family that has lived here for the past eight years… overseeing the lighthouse… I fell in love with each of them, though they were fractured… until … a woman’s body washes up on the shore..
On this island is a research center doing tests and preservation due to climate change.
A lot happens here.. think “ thriller” in part.
Her descriptions of the seals and penguins and whales, and land, oceans, etc… gorgeous!
Please, do read!
It’s early in the year, but I’m going to say it will be my favorite of the year!
.
I follow her on Instagram and she made a few research trips with her young family to the real island it’s based on… the pics are beautiful!
December 10, 2024
I was hooked from the first pages as I was taken to this remote island between Australia and Antarctica. With a blend of introspective first and third person narratives from the points of view of of the five main characters, I was taken into the worried minds and broken hearts of a father, his three children and the woman who washed ashore .
It’s intense as the place that was supposed to be where the seeds for future generations would be saved is also in danger from natural disaster and the lost mind of a researcher. It’s suspenseful and moving as secrets are revealed. The writing is as beautiful as in McConaghy’s previous novels and thematically similar with the world in crisis because of climate change . She vividly describes the consequences without preaching. The impact is reflected in this family in crisis. A man in the depth of grief talks to his dead wife , imaging her next to him, trying desperately to help his children with their own losses and trauma , struggles to find out how this woman will fit into their lives .
The isolation, fear, worry and uncertainty each of the characters who bear their own trauma is heartbreaking, tempered only by their love for one another. Their connections to the natural world, the seals, the whales, the plants - is not one that is not familiar to me , but I could feel theirs. I found it impossible not to fall for these characters .
I received a copy of this from Flatiron through Edelweiss.
It’s intense as the place that was supposed to be where the seeds for future generations would be saved is also in danger from natural disaster and the lost mind of a researcher. It’s suspenseful and moving as secrets are revealed. The writing is as beautiful as in McConaghy’s previous novels and thematically similar with the world in crisis because of climate change . She vividly describes the consequences without preaching. The impact is reflected in this family in crisis. A man in the depth of grief talks to his dead wife , imaging her next to him, trying desperately to help his children with their own losses and trauma , struggles to find out how this woman will fit into their lives .
The isolation, fear, worry and uncertainty each of the characters who bear their own trauma is heartbreaking, tempered only by their love for one another. Their connections to the natural world, the seals, the whales, the plants - is not one that is not familiar to me , but I could feel theirs. I found it impossible not to fall for these characters .
I received a copy of this from Flatiron through Edelweiss.
March 17, 2025
5+ phenomenal stars!
All Time Favourite Audiobook list! 🎧 🏆
Atmospheric.
Mysterious.
Haunting.
Dominic Salt and his three children live on Shearwater island. They are caretakers of the lighthouse and scientific research base on the remote island near Antarctica. Surrounded by nothing but seals, penguins and the vast ocean, they know the meaning of extreme isolation — rationing supplies that come by boat every six months. One day a woman’s body washes up on their shore and it changes their lives forever.
The vast isolation of this island setting was like a character in itself. There was a claustrophobic feel to the story that kept its grip tightened on me. The stormy, nature-focused atmosphere was vivid and palpable, making me feel like I was right alongside the characters with the churning of ocean waves wrapped in my every thought. The sea life was a fascinating element that I really enjoyed.
I was thoroughly enthralled from the first to last sentence. The characters were brilliant creations. Each and every character was exquisitely crafted to take a piece of my heart and will undoubtedly stay on my mind for a very long time. I thought the author did an outstanding job exploring the children’s bond with their single father who is still deeply grieving the loss of his wife who he continues to talk to.
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the fatherhood focus. I find I’m usually reading books more strongly focused on motherhood and mother-child relationships, so this was a refreshing perspective and fascinating step outside of that usual family dynamic. The children’s longing for a mother figure and innocence in trying to fill the void was heart wrenching.
This one came with a lot of hype and it delivered even more than I could have hoped. I can’t say there is a lot that happens but it’s the exquisite writing that had me enthralled with the mysterious haunting possibilities of what was to come. It is beautifully written slow burning suspense and mystery, not edge of your seat tension. I usually feel a stronger connection to either the plot/atmosphere OR the characters but this one had me equally mesmerized with each aspect. I could not pick which was done better.
Audio rating: 5+ stars! The cast of narrators was excellent. They brought this story to life in an unforgettable way. Each narrator adding a unique and meaningful layer to the listening experience. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for my ALC through NetGalley!
All Time Favourite Audiobook list! 🎧 🏆
Atmospheric.
Mysterious.
Haunting.
Dominic Salt and his three children live on Shearwater island. They are caretakers of the lighthouse and scientific research base on the remote island near Antarctica. Surrounded by nothing but seals, penguins and the vast ocean, they know the meaning of extreme isolation — rationing supplies that come by boat every six months. One day a woman’s body washes up on their shore and it changes their lives forever.
The vast isolation of this island setting was like a character in itself. There was a claustrophobic feel to the story that kept its grip tightened on me. The stormy, nature-focused atmosphere was vivid and palpable, making me feel like I was right alongside the characters with the churning of ocean waves wrapped in my every thought. The sea life was a fascinating element that I really enjoyed.
I was thoroughly enthralled from the first to last sentence. The characters were brilliant creations. Each and every character was exquisitely crafted to take a piece of my heart and will undoubtedly stay on my mind for a very long time. I thought the author did an outstanding job exploring the children’s bond with their single father who is still deeply grieving the loss of his wife who he continues to talk to.
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the fatherhood focus. I find I’m usually reading books more strongly focused on motherhood and mother-child relationships, so this was a refreshing perspective and fascinating step outside of that usual family dynamic. The children’s longing for a mother figure and innocence in trying to fill the void was heart wrenching.
This one came with a lot of hype and it delivered even more than I could have hoped. I can’t say there is a lot that happens but it’s the exquisite writing that had me enthralled with the mysterious haunting possibilities of what was to come. It is beautifully written slow burning suspense and mystery, not edge of your seat tension. I usually feel a stronger connection to either the plot/atmosphere OR the characters but this one had me equally mesmerized with each aspect. I could not pick which was done better.
Audio rating: 5+ stars! The cast of narrators was excellent. They brought this story to life in an unforgettable way. Each narrator adding a unique and meaningful layer to the listening experience. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for my ALC through NetGalley!
April 1, 2025
I didn’t even read the synopsis for this book before I read it. I just dove right in after previously having loved Charlotte McConaghy’s previous novels. And Wild Dark Shore was no different. This book was filled with beauty on every single page. I was captivated from the very first page, and I didn’t ever want this story to end.
There’s no way that I could ever describe the beauty, descriptions of nature, or the way I felt while reading this. I wanted to be there on the island of Shearwater with Dominic Salt and his three children- and then Rowan, the woman who washes up to shore one night.
I felt as if I was living through all their emotions, and I could feel every ounce of pain and grief. I could see the beauty of the island, and hear the crashing of the waves. I could vividly see the yellow eyebrows of the penguins, the albatross gliding in the air, and the seals giving birth to their pups. What some call isolation, some might call it tranquility…
I recommend going into this book blind as I did, and just savoring the words. I have a feeling that you will fall in love with the Salt family as I did. I also recommend having tissues nearby, because the ending was not what I expected. If you have ever felt total love , loss, or grief in your life- or have ever lived your life in survival mode, then please read this book.
All. The. Stars. ✨
“Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.”
This was my March, 2025 BOTM pick- and it was a winner! 🥇
There’s no way that I could ever describe the beauty, descriptions of nature, or the way I felt while reading this. I wanted to be there on the island of Shearwater with Dominic Salt and his three children- and then Rowan, the woman who washes up to shore one night.
I felt as if I was living through all their emotions, and I could feel every ounce of pain and grief. I could see the beauty of the island, and hear the crashing of the waves. I could vividly see the yellow eyebrows of the penguins, the albatross gliding in the air, and the seals giving birth to their pups. What some call isolation, some might call it tranquility…
I recommend going into this book blind as I did, and just savoring the words. I have a feeling that you will fall in love with the Salt family as I did. I also recommend having tissues nearby, because the ending was not what I expected. If you have ever felt total love , loss, or grief in your life- or have ever lived your life in survival mode, then please read this book.
All. The. Stars. ✨
“Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.”
This was my March, 2025 BOTM pick- and it was a winner! 🥇
April 20, 2025
I saw everyone raving about this and started getting serious FOMO😭 so I had to see what the hype was about. And wow, this was definitely unlike anything I’ve read before. Right from the beginning, you can tell there are a lot of secrets bubbling under the surface. Everyone’s holding onto something, and it really sets the tone.
The setting was super unique, and knowing it was inspired by a real-life island added this eerie, atmospheric vibe that totally elevated the story. It just felt so intentional and immersive.
I couldn’t quite give it a full 5 stars though, mostly because it felt slow and honestly, a little boring 😔for a good chunk of it. That might just be me, and I do think it was a deliberate choice by the author to let readers sit with the characters, their growth, and the environmental issues. Still, it dragged a bit for me.
The characters themselves were fascinating, each shaped by such complex backstories. I wasn’t super into the romance, though. It was just okay. And there was the thriller element that I thought was slightly above average, but not mind-blowing.
That said, I really did enjoy most of it and I’m glad I picked it up. Apparently, the author is known for weaving environmental themes into heartfelt narratives, so I’m definitely curious to check out her earlier works and I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!
The setting was super unique, and knowing it was inspired by a real-life island added this eerie, atmospheric vibe that totally elevated the story. It just felt so intentional and immersive.
I couldn’t quite give it a full 5 stars though, mostly because it felt slow and honestly, a little boring 😔for a good chunk of it. That might just be me, and I do think it was a deliberate choice by the author to let readers sit with the characters, their growth, and the environmental issues. Still, it dragged a bit for me.
The characters themselves were fascinating, each shaped by such complex backstories. I wasn’t super into the romance, though. It was just okay. And there was the thriller element that I thought was slightly above average, but not mind-blowing.
That said, I really did enjoy most of it and I’m glad I picked it up. Apparently, the author is known for weaving environmental themes into heartfelt narratives, so I’m definitely curious to check out her earlier works and I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!
March 28, 2025
A slow burn mystery......
The setting is the fictional island of Shearwater. It is a research base housing the world's largest seed bank. The Salt family are the only inhabitants and it is their job to pack up and protect the seeds. Apparently, global warming has wreaked havoc and everything is threatened.
A mystery woman washes ashore during a storm and her connections to the island will slowly reveal.
I was curious to find out what would happen with her, but the way it went didn't seem logical to me.
I listened to the audio which was very well narrated. I didn't connect with any of the characters though and struggled to imagine the scenario that unfolded. It was fine and atmospheric, but I had too many questions in the end.
Lots of rave reviews so I'm an outlier here!
The setting is the fictional island of Shearwater. It is a research base housing the world's largest seed bank. The Salt family are the only inhabitants and it is their job to pack up and protect the seeds. Apparently, global warming has wreaked havoc and everything is threatened.
A mystery woman washes ashore during a storm and her connections to the island will slowly reveal.
I was curious to find out what would happen with her, but the way it went didn't seem logical to me.
I listened to the audio which was very well narrated. I didn't connect with any of the characters though and struggled to imagine the scenario that unfolded. It was fine and atmospheric, but I had too many questions in the end.
Lots of rave reviews so I'm an outlier here!
March 31, 2025
3.5 ⭐️……I just couldn’t get into it? Is this just me?
July 28, 2025
4 ⭐️
”Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.” Charlotte McConaghy, Wild Dark Shore
Although this was a very bleak and somber read, I can understand why Charlotte McConaghy has such a huge fan base. Her writing is lyrical and gorgeous, immersing you in a world that feels both desolate and alive. Despite the harsh and unforgiving setting, the author brilliantly captures the raw, breathtaking beauty of nature, even at the end of the world. Shearwater Island felt like more than just a setting; it was a character in the story. The broody cover and title were a great choice and both fit the story perfectly.
There are a lot of elements at play in the story, and it really blurs the lines between genres. While there’s a mystery and a bit of romance, it mostly felt like literary fiction to me. It’s a cautionary tale about climate change that also touches on family, grief, mental health, survival, isolation, and resilience. The challenge with covering so many heavy themes in one book is that most of them only get surface-level attention instead of being explored in depth.
“But here is the nature of life. That we must love things with our whole selves, knowing they will die.”
While I did enjoy this book overall, a few things kept me from rating it higher. The first 20 percent moved really slowly and, to be honest, was a bit boring. Initially, I didn’t feel that pull to keep picking it back up. Also, as much as I love a good romance, it felt out of place here. They barely knew each other, hardly spoke in the beginning, and didn’t even fully trust one another, so it just didn’t work for me. Lastly, there was the dreaded miscommunication, and even though I can’t get into details without spoiling, it just didn’t make any sense to me why they couldn’t simply talk to each other once the mystery was revealed. After the slower pace of the first half, the gut-punch ending felt rushed and abrupt, which took away some of the emotional impact for me.
There were many things I really enjoyed about this story, but as an animal and nature lover, the whale scene and the wombat story especially stood out to me, along with Fen’s connection to the seals and penguins.
The book is told from alternating POVs (Dom's POV being my favorite), jumping between the five main characters, and the full cast of narrators made it easy to keep everyone straight. The audiobook was well done overall, but Orly’s voice threw me off a bit since he sounded more like a grown man than the nine-year-old he is in the story. Steve West’s narration of Dominic was excellent and definitely my favorite. Rowan’s flashbacks are mixed in with present events in her chapters without clear separation, making it difficult in the audiobook to tell what’s happening in the moment versus what was a memory. It was easier to distinguish between the two when reading on my Kindle. I alternated between the audiobook and reading on my Kindle, and while both formats worked, I ended up preferring the Kindle.
“Maybe that’s what being a parent is. Expanding to be more. Asking of yourself more, for them.”
I have both Migrations and Once There Were Wolves on my TBR and am looking forward to checking them out as well.
”Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.” Charlotte McConaghy, Wild Dark Shore
Although this was a very bleak and somber read, I can understand why Charlotte McConaghy has such a huge fan base. Her writing is lyrical and gorgeous, immersing you in a world that feels both desolate and alive. Despite the harsh and unforgiving setting, the author brilliantly captures the raw, breathtaking beauty of nature, even at the end of the world. Shearwater Island felt like more than just a setting; it was a character in the story. The broody cover and title were a great choice and both fit the story perfectly.
There are a lot of elements at play in the story, and it really blurs the lines between genres. While there’s a mystery and a bit of romance, it mostly felt like literary fiction to me. It’s a cautionary tale about climate change that also touches on family, grief, mental health, survival, isolation, and resilience. The challenge with covering so many heavy themes in one book is that most of them only get surface-level attention instead of being explored in depth.
“But here is the nature of life. That we must love things with our whole selves, knowing they will die.”
While I did enjoy this book overall, a few things kept me from rating it higher. The first 20 percent moved really slowly and, to be honest, was a bit boring. Initially, I didn’t feel that pull to keep picking it back up. Also, as much as I love a good romance, it felt out of place here. They barely knew each other, hardly spoke in the beginning, and didn’t even fully trust one another, so it just didn’t work for me. Lastly, there was the dreaded miscommunication, and even though I can’t get into details without spoiling, it just didn’t make any sense to me why they couldn’t simply talk to each other once the mystery was revealed. After the slower pace of the first half, the gut-punch ending felt rushed and abrupt, which took away some of the emotional impact for me.
There were many things I really enjoyed about this story, but as an animal and nature lover, the whale scene and the wombat story especially stood out to me, along with Fen’s connection to the seals and penguins.
The book is told from alternating POVs (Dom's POV being my favorite), jumping between the five main characters, and the full cast of narrators made it easy to keep everyone straight. The audiobook was well done overall, but Orly’s voice threw me off a bit since he sounded more like a grown man than the nine-year-old he is in the story. Steve West’s narration of Dominic was excellent and definitely my favorite. Rowan’s flashbacks are mixed in with present events in her chapters without clear separation, making it difficult in the audiobook to tell what’s happening in the moment versus what was a memory. It was easier to distinguish between the two when reading on my Kindle. I alternated between the audiobook and reading on my Kindle, and while both formats worked, I ended up preferring the Kindle.
“Maybe that’s what being a parent is. Expanding to be more. Asking of yourself more, for them.”
I have both Migrations and Once There Were Wolves on my TBR and am looking forward to checking them out as well.
May 3, 2025
Isolation. Grief. Secrets. Choices...
Wild Dark Shore is set on Shearwater Island, a research station and the world’s largest seed bank, between Tasmania and Antarctica. With sea levels rising, the research has ended, and it feels like the island is sinking.
Dominic Salt and his three children are the island's final caretakers. They seem broken, yet loving and committed to one another. Then, during a violent storm, a mysterious woman washes ashore, who also appears broken...
Wild Dark Shore is a contrast of emotions. It is beautiful and moving, surrounded by the island's lush vegetation, sea life, and each character's innate love of nature. Yet it is horrifying and gripping concerning the progressively dangerous storms and the churning, rising ocean. The atmosphere feels peaceful and welcoming, while becoming increasingly threatening and dangerous.
As an immersion read, I am mesmerized by McConaghy's gorgeous prose and storytelling. The audiobook's multicast narrations bring the characters to life and deliver unique and emotional recountings in shifting perspectives. The audiobook is an unforgettable experience and my preferred format.
Wild Dark Shore is the first book I have read by McConaghy, and I wonder why I waited so long to experience her talent. This story was a layered, complex, and visual experience from beginning to end.
5⭐
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Charlotte McConaghy for the gifted ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Wild Dark Shore is set on Shearwater Island, a research station and the world’s largest seed bank, between Tasmania and Antarctica. With sea levels rising, the research has ended, and it feels like the island is sinking.
Dominic Salt and his three children are the island's final caretakers. They seem broken, yet loving and committed to one another. Then, during a violent storm, a mysterious woman washes ashore, who also appears broken...
Wild Dark Shore is a contrast of emotions. It is beautiful and moving, surrounded by the island's lush vegetation, sea life, and each character's innate love of nature. Yet it is horrifying and gripping concerning the progressively dangerous storms and the churning, rising ocean. The atmosphere feels peaceful and welcoming, while becoming increasingly threatening and dangerous.
As an immersion read, I am mesmerized by McConaghy's gorgeous prose and storytelling. The audiobook's multicast narrations bring the characters to life and deliver unique and emotional recountings in shifting perspectives. The audiobook is an unforgettable experience and my preferred format.
Wild Dark Shore is the first book I have read by McConaghy, and I wonder why I waited so long to experience her talent. This story was a layered, complex, and visual experience from beginning to end.
5⭐
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Charlotte McConaghy for the gifted ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
March 1, 2025
Top of my list already for the year!!!
Absolutely incredible. Atmospheric. Dark. Twisty. All the things. Audio was phenomenal, but a bit hard to follow because there was so much going on.
Absolutely incredible. Atmospheric. Dark. Twisty. All the things. Audio was phenomenal, but a bit hard to follow because there was so much going on.
February 19, 2025
Wild Dark Shore is another gripping, thought provoking and mysterious novel by Charlotte McConaghy. She captures the isolation and the beauty of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. brilliantly. The island was once full of researchers but now it is home to Dominic Salt and his three children. There are precious seeds on the island that must be protected and transported off the island. The sea levels are rising and during a storm, Rowan, a woman washes up on the shore. Trust is a big issue in this book as many of the characters have secrets. Can Rowan trust the Salts? Cam the Salts trust Rowan?
I was swept away to the island of Shearwater by Charlotte McConaghy's beautiful writing and vivid descriptions. She captured the trapped feeling that I love in books. I have enjoyed two of her previous books, Once There Were Wolves and Migrations. Both involve bleak settings, research, survival, climate change, and people leaving things behind for research and the greater good.
I enjoyed the mystery of this book. I wonder what happened to the sabotaged radios and the graves. I also enjoyed the bonds of the family, the love, the choices and actions we make for those we love, the island, and the descriptions of the wildlife that lives on the island.
This book has many levels which deal with loss, grief, secrets, love, family, climate change, survival, and the future. This book moves at a slower pace and while I struggle immensely with slower paced books, I did not mind the slower pacing in Wild Dark Shore. I found that it fits the plot and descriptions of life on the island perfectly.
I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrators did a fantastic job of bringing Wild Dark Shore to life.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
I was swept away to the island of Shearwater by Charlotte McConaghy's beautiful writing and vivid descriptions. She captured the trapped feeling that I love in books. I have enjoyed two of her previous books, Once There Were Wolves and Migrations. Both involve bleak settings, research, survival, climate change, and people leaving things behind for research and the greater good.
I enjoyed the mystery of this book. I wonder what happened to the sabotaged radios and the graves. I also enjoyed the bonds of the family, the love, the choices and actions we make for those we love, the island, and the descriptions of the wildlife that lives on the island.
This book has many levels which deal with loss, grief, secrets, love, family, climate change, survival, and the future. This book moves at a slower pace and while I struggle immensely with slower paced books, I did not mind the slower pacing in Wild Dark Shore. I found that it fits the plot and descriptions of life on the island perfectly.
I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrators did a fantastic job of bringing Wild Dark Shore to life.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
April 16, 2025
What an utterly evocative, atmospheric, and lyrical book. From the very start of Wild Dark Shore, I was pulled into a world that felt just as vivid as the characters themselves. In what I can only describe as a love letter to nature, the depth of the descriptions was heart-stoppingly real. Piled on top of the claustrophobic setting, though, was a small cast of characters that had me feeling all of the feels. Transcending the black and white of words on a page, I was touched deeply by an exploration of survival, family, and love that surrounded these five individuals and their heartbreaking story. It was their thoughts and emotions that were told via distinct multiple POVs, however, that had me downright weak in the knees.
As for the plot, despite a slow burn first two-thirds, the literary fiction vibe matched nicely with the layers of secrets and lies. Filled with unbridled foreboding and rising suspense, the story of what happened “before” captured my mind. And as the storms picked up steam, so too did the events in the novel. You see, a jaw-dropping twist that had me whispering “Wait, WHAT?!” into the night and led to an adrenaline-fueled climax that was simply sublime. Immersive and stunning, as much as I needed to suspend all disbelief, I also could see the events playing out like that for real. After all, this premise was timely to be sure given the crisis of climate change and its impact on our world.
The only teeny, tiny warning that I have to dispense is that there was quite a bit of seemingly excessive talk about nature and species classifications in the first half of the novel. Notice I said “seemingly,” however. You see, it tied directly into the feel of it all. Just know that it did slow the pace down the littlest a bit. Despite that, though, it was beyond addictive—more like unputdownable—which led me to finish the book in just one mesmerized sitting.
All in all, while I would certainly classify this near-future tale as character-driven, it also had plenty of plot twists and shocking surprises. With a unique premise, palpable poignancy, and a whole crew of captivating characters, this genre-bending book was an utter home run. And when I say genre-bending, I mean it. A mashup of slow-burn romance, literary fiction, and mystery/suspense, there was something there for everyone to love as the writing was incisive, eloquent, and visceral in the extreme. So if you love a book that will make you sit up and think long after you’re done, this is most definitely the one for you. After all, despite it being outside of my go-to genres, it won’t be leaving my head any time soon. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.
Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.
But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late―and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.
Thank you to Charlotte McConaghy and Flatiron Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2025
Content warning: loss of a spouse, suicide, cancer, wildfire, drowning, infidelity (all mild)
As for the plot, despite a slow burn first two-thirds, the literary fiction vibe matched nicely with the layers of secrets and lies. Filled with unbridled foreboding and rising suspense, the story of what happened “before” captured my mind. And as the storms picked up steam, so too did the events in the novel. You see, a jaw-dropping twist that had me whispering “Wait, WHAT?!” into the night and led to an adrenaline-fueled climax that was simply sublime. Immersive and stunning, as much as I needed to suspend all disbelief, I also could see the events playing out like that for real. After all, this premise was timely to be sure given the crisis of climate change and its impact on our world.
The only teeny, tiny warning that I have to dispense is that there was quite a bit of seemingly excessive talk about nature and species classifications in the first half of the novel. Notice I said “seemingly,” however. You see, it tied directly into the feel of it all. Just know that it did slow the pace down the littlest a bit. Despite that, though, it was beyond addictive—more like unputdownable—which led me to finish the book in just one mesmerized sitting.
All in all, while I would certainly classify this near-future tale as character-driven, it also had plenty of plot twists and shocking surprises. With a unique premise, palpable poignancy, and a whole crew of captivating characters, this genre-bending book was an utter home run. And when I say genre-bending, I mean it. A mashup of slow-burn romance, literary fiction, and mystery/suspense, there was something there for everyone to love as the writing was incisive, eloquent, and visceral in the extreme. So if you love a book that will make you sit up and think long after you’re done, this is most definitely the one for you. After all, despite it being outside of my go-to genres, it won’t be leaving my head any time soon. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.
Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.
But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late―and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.
Thank you to Charlotte McConaghy and Flatiron Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2025
Content warning: loss of a spouse, suicide, cancer, wildfire, drowning, infidelity (all mild)
May 20, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Emotional, atmospheric, and haunting! This was such an immersive and emotional story, just the way I like my character-driven mysteries with a touch of suspense.
WILD DARK SHORE by CHARLOTTE McCONAGHY is a beautifully written, atmospheric, and deeply moving novel that immediately pulled me in and kept me emotionally invested from start to finish. The isolation of Shearwater, a tiny island near Antarctica, was so vividly described that I felt the biting cold and the ever-looming storm.
CHARLOTTE McCONAGHY delivers a layered, haunting, and powerful story here. The tension builds steadily as we follow Dominic Salt and his children, caretakers of the island’s seed bank, whose fragile existence is upended when Rowan mysteriously washes ashore. There’s an undeniable sense of unease woven into the narrative, and I was completely captivated as the characters unraveled their secrets. The story has a deeply melancholy feeling to it, and that sense of dread made it hard to know who to trust. I felt every ounce of uncertainty right along with the characters.
Even though this one moved at a slower pace, which sometimes makes it hard for me to stay invested, it really worked here. The steady, deliberate unraveling of secrets kept me emotionally engaged, and I never felt the pull of the story weaken.
🎧 The multicast narration elevated the experience even further. Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West brought such authenticity and emotional depth to the story. Each perspective was distinct and compelling, making me feel like I was right there on the storm-battered shores of Shearwater. I really enjoyed the excellent narration and performances, but I fear I may have missed some pertinent details of the story. I may want to revisit this one in print to catch what slipped by.
I absolutely loved how this book explored the resilience of the human spirit, the fierce bonds of family, and the sacrifices we make for the people we love. And the ending? It delivered an extremely touching message that left me deeply moved.
WILD DARK SHORE by CHARLOTTE McCONAGHY is a beautifully written, atmospheric, and deeply moving novel that immediately pulled me in and kept me emotionally invested from start to finish. The isolation of Shearwater, a tiny island near Antarctica, was so vividly described that I felt the biting cold and the ever-looming storm.
CHARLOTTE McCONAGHY delivers a layered, haunting, and powerful story here. The tension builds steadily as we follow Dominic Salt and his children, caretakers of the island’s seed bank, whose fragile existence is upended when Rowan mysteriously washes ashore. There’s an undeniable sense of unease woven into the narrative, and I was completely captivated as the characters unraveled their secrets. The story has a deeply melancholy feeling to it, and that sense of dread made it hard to know who to trust. I felt every ounce of uncertainty right along with the characters.
Even though this one moved at a slower pace, which sometimes makes it hard for me to stay invested, it really worked here. The steady, deliberate unraveling of secrets kept me emotionally engaged, and I never felt the pull of the story weaken.
🎧 The multicast narration elevated the experience even further. Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West brought such authenticity and emotional depth to the story. Each perspective was distinct and compelling, making me feel like I was right there on the storm-battered shores of Shearwater. I really enjoyed the excellent narration and performances, but I fear I may have missed some pertinent details of the story. I may want to revisit this one in print to catch what slipped by.
I absolutely loved how this book explored the resilience of the human spirit, the fierce bonds of family, and the sacrifices we make for the people we love. And the ending? It delivered an extremely touching message that left me deeply moved.
August 14, 2025
Omg 90% of you snorted seed dust from the vault. Truly. Even if you take out all the boring cheesy plant and nature crap…this book is still boring af. It didn’t even know what it wanted to be! A thriller? No. A romance? Ew no. That plotline made even less sense. Climate control? Barely. We had some oceans rising and people that were in love with seeds kinda sorta but no strong climate message. Grief? Maybe. Shitty parenting? Definitely! Weird ass kids that were narrated terribly and didn’t track with their age group? SUPER DEFINITELY! I couldn’t even picture this weirdo island. Trapdoors. Tunnels. Vaults. Nope. Couldn’t see it. And let’s not even talk about the ridiculously idiotic definition of “narcissism” and the cartoonish “Disney” villain that was introduced. Just why.
I feel like this is the “woke” book of 2025 that everyone feels like they are SUPPOSED to love.
I feel like this is the “woke” book of 2025 that everyone feels like they are SUPPOSED to love.
April 28, 2025
Charlotte McConaghy … I think you’re my favorite fiction writer.
This spoke to my soul, and ripped it apart at the same time
This spoke to my soul, and ripped it apart at the same time
March 29, 2025
Wow. This book is REALLY bad. No idea what all the rave is about.
Other people: "this book changed my life"
Me: "this book is awful"
Disappointed, considering all the praise. #1 pick from my indie bookseller. BoTM selection. Displays in bookstores everywhere.
Guess what? It sucks. It's overly dramatic without reason. Verbose without saying anything. The character development is on par with porn. It's trying to be something it isn't, dry as hell, makes no sense for long passages that don't resolve... characters making dumb decisions that you'd see in horror satire.
Just, skip this terrible attempt at a novel and choose something else. Don't believe the hype.
Other people: "this book changed my life"
Me: "this book is awful"
Disappointed, considering all the praise. #1 pick from my indie bookseller. BoTM selection. Displays in bookstores everywhere.
Guess what? It sucks. It's overly dramatic without reason. Verbose without saying anything. The character development is on par with porn. It's trying to be something it isn't, dry as hell, makes no sense for long passages that don't resolve... characters making dumb decisions that you'd see in horror satire.
Just, skip this terrible attempt at a novel and choose something else. Don't believe the hype.
January 29, 2025
My first time reading Charlotte McConaghy and how I loved every moment!!
🌊
A captivating story of a family whose members are facing individual struggles and feeling the far reaching grief of losing their matriarch. Dominic Salt is a widowed father of three who moved his family to Shearwater a remote island near Antarctica. They serve as caretakers on the island which houses a massive seed bank. With the researchers gone the Salts are the sole inhabitants of the island alongside the teeming wildlife. A woman washes ashore clinging to life and despite Dominic’s suspicions the Salts care for her injuries. As Rowan recovers she realizes the radios have been destroyed, so leaving Shearwater may not be as straightforward as she assumed.
The setting stands out as a character itself. The island with its secrets, seals,🦭 whales,🐋 and wild nature everywhere was stunning. The prose struck me with immediate force elegant without being flowery. The compelling plot and flawed characters made this an immersive treasure.
Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West were incredible narrators bringing this vivid emotional story to life.
I was hanging on every word!
🌟All the stars!!🌟
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an Advanced Listening Copy for review.
All opinions are my own.
🌊
A captivating story of a family whose members are facing individual struggles and feeling the far reaching grief of losing their matriarch. Dominic Salt is a widowed father of three who moved his family to Shearwater a remote island near Antarctica. They serve as caretakers on the island which houses a massive seed bank. With the researchers gone the Salts are the sole inhabitants of the island alongside the teeming wildlife. A woman washes ashore clinging to life and despite Dominic’s suspicions the Salts care for her injuries. As Rowan recovers she realizes the radios have been destroyed, so leaving Shearwater may not be as straightforward as she assumed.
The setting stands out as a character itself. The island with its secrets, seals,🦭 whales,🐋 and wild nature everywhere was stunning. The prose struck me with immediate force elegant without being flowery. The compelling plot and flawed characters made this an immersive treasure.
Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West were incredible narrators bringing this vivid emotional story to life.
I was hanging on every word!
🌟All the stars!!🌟
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an Advanced Listening Copy for review.
All opinions are my own.
March 7, 2025
I wish so badly that I liked this book — I had it on my TBR for months, had it preordered, and was so excited to read it. It just fell completely flat for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and was expecting much more of the mystery aspect but that fell short. There were parts I tried so hard to care about and I just… didn’t. I’m not sure what this book was supposed to be — a discussion of grief, a mystery, a thriller, a cautionary tale about climate change? I suppose it could be all those things but felt pulled in too many directions that I was just bored most of the book and only really liked the parts with the animals. It is very highly rated so I would still think it’s worth reading.
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