this is my favorite book of 2025 and who knows how far back. i was blown away by all of it. the narration was magnificent. the level of nature took me right there. in spite of the fact that this is a sad scary story about climate change, it is also a brilliant story about nature and resilience and the beauty that surrounds us, EVERY SINGLE DAY. and this goes for humans, too. might we stop and value our relationships more. might we care more tenderly for our loved ones. might we speak up and openly instead of hiding. so many things to ponder and take away. i love armchair adventure and this book really fits the bill. the characters are rich and complex. there is something for everyone but it is especially a book for readers who care about the earth and about our tender hearts. read this book!

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The most intriguing aspect of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is its unique and immersive setting - a remote island near Antarctica named Shearwater. Here single father Dominic Salt and his three children manage a seed bank that houses thousands of rare seeds frozen in an underground vault. The island was also a research base, but operations recently ceased due to rising sea levels resulting from global warming.

As Dominic packs up selected seeds for evacuation, a terrible storm hits Shearwater, and a woman is washed ashore. Who is she? Why is she in this remote area? How will her presence impact members of the Salt family?

Wild Dark Shore has a very strong sense of place; I felt the ruthless weather conditions and the extreme isolation of the island. However, there are too many elements in this plot - climate fiction, suspenseful mystery, family drama, and romance. I would've enjoyed this more without unrealistic expectations from the all the hype.

I listened to the audiobook which was engaging with multicast narration performed by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West. This is the first of Ms. McConaghy's novels I've read.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for advanced access to the audiobook; all opinions are my own.

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