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ashyq's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
cyan_altaria's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
2.75
The tension with seeing the cult of Pastoral was good, but the magic was just weird. It's wasn't woven into the story well at all. It felt abrupt and out of place. Honestly, the magic tanked this by a whole star. Seeing Theo and Calla stay in Pastoral also felt out of character. The ending was really bad, and things didn't feel properly explained
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
laurenleigh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While I think this was a great story written well, I cannot believe they had not one, not two, but three TERRIBLE narrators. It makes me wonder if the direction is to blame, because they all had such a flat, lifeless, weak tone. I’m referring to the three main characters, who do 90% of the book. The first narrator who does just the first chapter was amazing and totally got me hooked. If it wasn’t for that stellar opening, I would not have kept on. This reading experience was a practice in separating narrator from text, because the work itself was quite good. It was an interesting plot, especially in this time, and I can’t help but compare the characters’ fear of Rot with our fears of Covid. Not that they are the same by any means, but it was a thought-provoking read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement, Xenophobia, Blood, and Murder
paperd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
gm_vak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
mateoj's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
oooooookay. where do I start.
this is really badly written—not just the plot construction (which wasn't good, either) but the writing itself. I call it "fanfic voice" and I legitimately have not read something written this way since middle school. first person present tense. short, abrupt sentence fragments. italicizing the narrator's thoughts. multiple narrators with identical voices. I'm sorry, it was truly so bad. also, there were multiple typos and grammar/punctuation issues in my library ebook copy, which... come on. that's embarrassing.
the other big issue: using blindness as a plot device, ESPECIALLYcuring the character of their blindness as part of said plot device is really shitty, and even if this author doesn't feel embarrassed about her writing, I hope she feels ashamed of that narrative decision.
this is really badly written—not just the plot construction (which wasn't good, either) but the writing itself. I call it "fanfic voice" and I legitimately have not read something written this way since middle school. first person present tense. short, abrupt sentence fragments. italicizing the narrator's thoughts. multiple narrators with identical voices. I'm sorry, it was truly so bad. also, there were multiple typos and grammar/punctuation issues in my library ebook copy, which... come on. that's embarrassing.
the other big issue: using blindness as a plot device, ESPECIALLY
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
tamara_joy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
As the back cover says, "a riveting, atmospheric thriller" is right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury
tormerritt's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Have you ever had a book hangover?
Where you can't start another book because you are still living in the most recent book you read? You constantly think about it even after the last page is finished? The emotions you experienced while reading it still remain... That is what I am feeling currently over, A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw.
I had to take a while to think about this review because I know anything that I write, won't give justice to this incredible book.
A History of Wild Places is about a man named Travis Wren who is hired as a last ditch effort to find Maggie St James, a children's author who has gone missing. Travis is known for his psychic abilities and is able to see "after images" or memories of another person with a touch of an object that belonged to them. Travis starts on a quest to find Maggie, but ends up finding a lot more than expected. I don't want to go into too much more detail and give away the book.
Ernshaw has such a rich and beautiful writing style, you feel mesmerized by the words on the page and transported in to this confusing, but also, enchanting and wild place. With this gorgeous prose, she invokes a sense of dread and darkness throughout this book. This story completely enveloped me and I've never felt so immersed or lost within a book. What a phenomenal, thrilling, and unique experience this was.
If you are fascinated with commune living/cults, nature, the PNW wilderness you should go pick this up ASAP. If you want a tense, atmospheric, and mysterious read.... GO BUY THIS BOOK! I will never stop reccomending this one. As with all of the books I read, please check TW!
I'm sad that it is over and need so much more of this book. I want to read it over and over again. It is absolutely a new five-star favorite and it will remain displayed on my shelf, as it is truly a work of art.
Thank you Shea Ernshaw for creating a truly amazing reading experience for me. You are a new favorite author and I have purchased all of your other books immediately after reading A History of Wild Places. I cannot wait to dive into them! (I am most excited for Long Live the Pumpkin Queen coming out in July!) ❤
Where you can't start another book because you are still living in the most recent book you read? You constantly think about it even after the last page is finished? The emotions you experienced while reading it still remain... That is what I am feeling currently over, A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw.
I had to take a while to think about this review because I know anything that I write, won't give justice to this incredible book.
A History of Wild Places is about a man named Travis Wren who is hired as a last ditch effort to find Maggie St James, a children's author who has gone missing. Travis is known for his psychic abilities and is able to see "after images" or memories of another person with a touch of an object that belonged to them. Travis starts on a quest to find Maggie, but ends up finding a lot more than expected. I don't want to go into too much more detail and give away the book.
Ernshaw has such a rich and beautiful writing style, you feel mesmerized by the words on the page and transported in to this confusing, but also, enchanting and wild place. With this gorgeous prose, she invokes a sense of dread and darkness throughout this book. This story completely enveloped me and I've never felt so immersed or lost within a book. What a phenomenal, thrilling, and unique experience this was.
If you are fascinated with commune living/cults, nature, the PNW wilderness you should go pick this up ASAP. If you want a tense, atmospheric, and mysterious read.... GO BUY THIS BOOK! I will never stop reccomending this one. As with all of the books I read, please check TW!
I'm sad that it is over and need so much more of this book. I want to read it over and over again. It is absolutely a new five-star favorite and it will remain displayed on my shelf, as it is truly a work of art.
Thank you Shea Ernshaw for creating a truly amazing reading experience for me. You are a new favorite author and I have purchased all of your other books immediately after reading A History of Wild Places. I cannot wait to dive into them! (I am most excited for Long Live the Pumpkin Queen coming out in July!) ❤
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
readwithanne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Pregnancy
kristie_deaver's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I could not put this book down. I loved the mystery slowly unfolding, yet the book never feeling slow. My only confusion was timeline. There where times when I felt confused about when we were with Calla, Theo and Bee. Overall, I would have loved to see more diversity called into the book. This story is a chilling tale that will take you into the world of Pastoral; the only way out is through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, and Pregnancy