A review by constellation_library
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was quite the entertaining read, and far better than the other book of Ernshaw's that I read--The Wicked Deep, I think? That one was just average, but I felt that this one was done very well--serving some magical realism, psychological thriller, and cult vibes. I did have some issues with it, particularly in regard to certain content (involving babies) that was included as more of a shock-factor or emotional manipulation tactic instead of a necessary plot device or something to help with character development. I did call the twist at the end pretty early, but I still enjoyed seeing how it played out and the way in which Ernshaw chose to reveal everything. It was definitely a bit of a slower burn, but I do think the pace helped to build tension. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it if you enjoy creepy stories that focus on cult behavior.
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