Reviews with content warning for Gore - What Should Be Wild

This book was a wild ride.
I love the writing style so much. The storylines, the characters, the feminine urge to go feral, the title, it all fits together so perfectly, and I am in awe of the way Julia Fine uses words. The story feels timeless and deeply personal, but also foreign and new. I loved the different perspectives and the stories intertwining to end up more than the sum of its parts.

On the other hand, there were some unresolved plot points,

why could she touch the dog? What happened to the rest of the women when the shadow disappeared? If the shadow got stronger when Maisie repressed her desires, why didn't she get weaker when Maisie started acting on them?

scenes I wasn't comfortable reading about, (definitely check the trigger warnings)

(I probably would not have read the book if I had known about the incest)

and I thought the ending was rushed and kinda unsatisfying.

After all the trouble she had getting to it and the long speech about life being more complicated than stories would lead you to believe, all it took to break the spell was a hug? I like the idea that embracing her desires and becoming whole was the key to free them but the way it was written made it seem too easy. Also the kiss at the end was unnecessary. All the female empowerment themes in the book, just to end with basically true loves kiss and a happily ever after? The love between Maisie and Matthew was obvious already, and with the style of the book, where most things are left half explained, the ending felt sudden and blunt.

Despite the flaws, this is one of the most unique, feminine and at times beautiful and creepy books I have ever read and I would highly recommend it.

Content Warnings

nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I’ve never read anything quite like this, a blend of magic and horror in a type of generational saga. It seems to exist out of time and place. There were SO many questions created, and so the farther I got into the book, the more excited I was for answers, but then I got more and more into it, and I was worried there weren’t enough pages left to possibly answer them…and unfortunately I was right. I really do love this book, I’m just confused as to tons of loose ends left and the resolution fell a bit flat. It’s beautifully written prose-wise, and I will definitely read whatever Julia Fine publishes next, but this left me wanting more!

Content Warnings

emmamoulton's review

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-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

5.0

Content Warnings

kayla_134's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

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