Reviews

I enjoyed the book and liked the characters in it. I found the concept interesting and thought I would enjoy opting to do it myself! I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending though.

elizabethfisher's review against another edition

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4.0

I wanted to love this book but it fell flat for me in some ways. Without the epilogue, I think this would have gotten 3 stars from me. The writing style didn't really fit the story or the context in the way I would have liked and some of the descriptions were just brutal. I wanted sweeping, beautiful language to pair with the Wilderness, but I feel like the really imagery-heavy scenes were of terrible things (mainly thinking of some of the animal slaughter scenes). Overall, I thought the setting and story were really compelling and the characters were well developed, if unlikeable. I was totally engaged in the story, even though it's on the longer side and thought Cook did a fantastic job of creating a believable and terrifying dystopia. I think this is one that will stick with me for awhile and will also be one that I change my mind about 100 times.

annieu's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

5.0

mairi96's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

diddy_shovel's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A challenging read, but in a good way, and so well written too. What was so interesting to me was that pretty much all the characters were so flawed, and many were even unlikeable, yet they were so gripping at the same time. The exploration of Bea and Agnes's relationship was particularly well done - obviously, due to the setting, theirs isn't a typically mother-daughter dynamic, but the challenges they faced as Agnes matured felt so similar to what happens within most families. Agnes only wants to be independent but at the same time desires the love of her mother; it is hard to see that this is so often challenged and blocked rather than nurtured by the others. On the other hand, Bea has so many difficult choices to make about her family and it is villified by Agnes who can never understand how selfless and caring her mother is.

I really appreciated Glen's presence: although he wasn't without his flaws, he was a good moral compass and slice of humanity within the story as the rest of the group descended into a primal state. It was also refreshing to have someone to genuinely sympathise with, particularly as I developed almost a hatred for many of the characters (Carl, the Rangers, the Newcomers, and - in many ways - Bea and Agnes). I also loved the exploration of "evolution" and what is/n't natural, particularly with the arrival of the Newcomers and the perceptions they brought. Though the study aimed to cultivate a more natural lifestyle, the extent to which it was managed meant you realised very quickly this was impossible: it was fascinating to see the consequences of this unfold.

There were very few things I that would have made the story better. As is often the case with dystopian novels I read, I often craved more world-building and an exploration of the "bigger picture" of the Wilderness State and the City. Though the ending was rushed, the final events of the book were also rushed and filled with urgency, so it was fitting; however, I did wish for better closure of the story. Overall though, this was such a gripping read and hit so many strong notes for me. While so many stories explore how people change nature, it was so refreshing to explore how nature impacts the human condition and what it means to thrive.

cmitchell's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

jenage's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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