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velsbooknook's review against another edition
5.0
I read Once There Were Wolves last year and really enjoyed it so I was very excited to read McConaghy's debut novel. In the beginning I did not think that I would be so invested in the last migration of the Arctic Terns but oh well I was! The writing style was so eerie and atmospheric having me turn page after page. The topics of climate change and animal extinction were so real and scary. I was invested in all timelines and I loved to find out everything about the main character Franny. Seeing her in the present and in past events that made her the woman she is now. This story was dark and cruel, yet also beautiful and breathtaking. Be sure to check trigger warnings since some events were very heavy. I loved this book a lot and it has a special place in my heart. If it sounds like something you would enjoy I encourage you to give this one a go.
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Blood, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Grief, Violence, Death, and Sexual assault
onceandfuturereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Blood, Animal death, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Murder
thespinystacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Blood
sebs_gaybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
mmmm, well you could say that *flash through of all Franny's questionable decisions fueled by her immense trauma*
It's been a bit of a cold period in terms of my heart being truly shattered by a book. I haven't had the soul-crushing emotions that come from a devastating read, and I was beginning to think I'd become to tough; not to fret, I do indeed still have some semblance of a heart. And this book reminded me of that fragment I do have left.
god, this book. Migrations, you son of a bitch, how DARE YOU make me feel so many things. It's a rough journey, so if any of the content warnings are triggering, please take heed when reading this. Especially
This futuristic dystopian-like world McConaghy created is honestly more terrifying then the most AI centered ones of past and recent. The idea of nearly ALL of wildlife going extinct, it's horrific. And not just because it feels so likely for our current world. The way she writes about silent forests, beaches with no seagulls and the magic of finding a cave with terns nesting. It's the conversations around conservation, but only of species that have a direct positive impact and desirability for humans. That sort of 'environmental savior' purely for the benefit of our own species.
Franny's desperate fight to see the terns, something that changes meaning with every chapter. And when we get to the end and see the birds, and we know what this means, it was just so hard to read. I have never been one to throw books across rooms with rage or intense passion, mostly because my books comes from the library, but I did gently nudge this book off my bed.
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Car accident, Blood, Death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Miscarriage, and Child death
oceanxbluess's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Murder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Vomit
Minor: Animal death, Police brutality, and Grief
amberinbookland's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Rape, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Grief, Confinement, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Car accident, Blood, Miscarriage, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Death of parent, and Animal death
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Set in a probably not so far future where climate change has caused 80% of the earth’s animals to go extinct. The last flock of Arctic Terns is about to undertake its last migration from the Arctic to Antarctica, and Franny wants to follow them. We follow Franny on her journey and get flashbacks to her life so far occasionally.
Although Franny is not always the most likeable character, I was really immersed in her story. I always wanted to know what happens next or what happened in her past. Although it’s a very slow-paced plot, it never gets boring. The writing is beautiful, melancholic and atmospheric (it was hot outside, but I was freezing with the characters). I love how the title and the story go together, and just the structure of the plot. (Which is technically non-linear, but there are so many parallels.) The plot is not always the most believable or logical, and the characters make some questionable decisions along the way. But the plot isn’t the most important part of the book anyways in my opinion. Also, it’s a sad and depressing story, but there is hope.
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
ekmook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Abandonment, Animal death, Car accident, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
eligru's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So many things in one story, so many amazing characters. So much swimming and fighting for nature, for sanity and for survival. Loved it.
Graphic: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Miscarriage, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Self harm, and Vomit
Minor: Chronic illness
alyssasaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Blood, Abandonment, and Self harm