A review by megansmith
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Oof, this was pretty bleak! Lots of great writing here and I truly felt immersed in the scenery, but the weight of this just bears down on you from the first page all the way to the last. The message felt lost, or at least muddied, under the stifling weight of suffering being inherent to the human condition. I understood what the narrator was going for in the ending but it felt a bit trailing for me also. Lauren Groff is a very talented author, but this was not my favorite to read. Even The Matrix had some light moments, for being such a dark and religious book.