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eruby's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. Beautiful, aching, and tragic yet hopeful despite it all. I could hardly put it down between the beautiful writing and the snippets of Franny's past that left me wanting to know more. My only complaint is that the very end where her father shows up felt abrupt and tacked on . But overall I thought this book was breathtaking.
Editing to add that this book has made me extremely grateful for all the birds and other animals in the world, and has truly made me appreciate them when I see and hear them.
Editing to add that this book has made me extremely grateful for all the birds and other animals in the world, and has truly made me appreciate them when I see and hear them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide
corriejn's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I really, really hated this book. It was a gradual but very steady decline from being into it at the start, and just hating it more and more through the entire thing, right up until the end. I did not like the main character (or many of the other characters, for that matter). I hated the really creepy AF main romantic relationship. I hated how many things the author got wildly wrong about wildlife research and conservation (like things that were pretty egregious and would have been super simple to just google). I hated the whole storyline. I hated how predictable some of the things were, that the author tried to keep mysterious throughout the book and reveal later.
I do get why some people might like this book. They're just wrong. (Sorry, but did I mention I really really hate it?)
I do get why some people might like this book. They're just wrong. (Sorry, but did I mention I really really hate it?)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
brittanyrbell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage
gibetal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, and Medical trauma
kates_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
While I didn’t love this as much as ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES, it was a very interesting book with lots of genre bending elements. Again, the authors commentary of the environment and conservation were my favorite.
The characters were so unique and original, while still being realistic. The tension between Franny and the fisherman was beautifully written — as she actually gets to know these characters, her once firm convictions become less black and white. I think the author captured the complexities and nuances of humanity. No one is all good or all evil; we are all just trying to get through it and find some beauty along the way.
Franny’s life is full of trauma and most of the book immerses the reader in her depression. Yet the story ends with hope, which I believe is what the authors wants us to take away. The world can be cruel and we need to be help accountable for the harm we have caused it, but we must not lose hope for if we do we won’t work towards making it better.
The non-linear timeline of the novel was interesting and made it feel more mysterious. However, the revelation was a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, the story made you feel the darkness but it was a thought-provoking and tender read.
The characters were so unique and original, while still being realistic. The tension between Franny and the fisherman was beautifully written — as she actually gets to know these characters, her once firm convictions become less black and white. I think the author captured the complexities and nuances of humanity. No one is all good or all evil; we are all just trying to get through it and find some beauty along the way.
Franny’s life is full of trauma and most of the book immerses the reader in her depression. Yet the story ends with hope, which I believe is what the authors wants us to take away. The world can be cruel and we need to be help accountable for the harm we have caused it, but we must not lose hope for if we do we won’t work towards making it better.
The non-linear timeline of the novel was interesting and made it feel more mysterious. However, the revelation was a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, the story made you feel the darkness but it was a thought-provoking and tender read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
onceandfuturereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
I can definitely see the appeal of this book, it just wasn’t for me. Melodrama is not my favorite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical trauma, and Murder
jess_segraves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Loved the shorter, alternating chapters going back in time to give us context and clues, and I felt much more invested getting to part 2. However, most of the characters' actions and motivations made no sense to me, even if we assume a suspended dystopian future and Franny's generational trauma.
I guess in the end it felt too much nature, and falling into tendencies or expectations without processing them until it was too late.
I guess in the end it felt too much nature, and falling into tendencies or expectations without processing them until it was too late.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide attempt
k_eje's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Upon finishing this book (in my car after work because I had to know how it ended), I cried. I haven’t cried over a book in a long time but I cried because Migrations was so beautiful. I felt like I, myself, had been on a journey. And let me tell you, that journey was rough. It was hard to bear witness to and devastating at times but it was also heartwarming and hopeful. It’s easy in regards to conservation efforts to feel pessimistic and resigned but McConaghy reignited my hope where I’d thought none could be found. Rarely, have I come across a book where certain lines take my breath away, both in their beauty and in how deep they cut. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It was just what I needed and beautifully written.
*I would suggest checking trigger warnings though as it could be hard to read for some.*
*I would suggest checking trigger warnings though as it could be hard to read for some.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage
danireads01's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage
smasterson3's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
I loved Once There Were Wolves and I’d been saving this one for my “break in case of emergency” stash. Gosh was this both beautiful and vulnerable in a way that is both comforting and hard to read. I love her writing and the way she explores the complexity of grief and love. I also really enjoyed the tie in to nature and following the tern migration. *def check content warnings*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Miscarriage