thought I was going to really like this book, when I read the synopsis and blurbs, but it turned out to just be okay to me.

I found that the book became sluggish to me at times. There were a lot of technical terms for logging that I had no idea what meant. That to me bogged the book down.

The only characters I liked where Rich, and Colleen. The others got on my nerves. There was a little violence in the book. Remember that when you read this.

Thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’d like to start off by saying that this book would probably be most enjoyable for people who enjoy 1970s US historical fiction, as well those that are into environmental-themed reads. The novel’s concept is interesting, and you really get to know each of the characters involved. Although I found myself frequently getting distracted and could barely focus on this read; I spent months trying to read this chunks at a time so I could review this as fairly as possible Dr spite my apparent disinterest. I snagged this as a ARC from @netgalley, as I had heard great things about it. I found that I learned quite a bit about how the logging process goes, and it inspired a variety of conversations with my relatives about their memories of the time. As someone who has seen the environmental changes to my Southern California town over a few years, I felt for those residents of Damnation Springs that represented everyone who was tired of our forests being destroyed. I’ve seen my town get drier, hotter, and a whole lot less green. Even if I did not really care for the writing style, I will agree that it was covering some very important issues. I think what really made this a 3/5 for me though was the ending; it felt too cliche after the originality of the rest of the story.

I was very excited by the description of this story - a family drama built about the logging industry and a little mystery about why there are so many miscarriages in their community. There were things that I liked about this book, especially Colleen and the quiet relationship that she shares with Rich, but also things that were not my cup of tea. The story starts off slowly, with a lot of description of the place, and the industry, and the families and then...stays slow for a very long time. Davidson is a lovely writer and I'm glad that I read it, but wanted it to be more than it ended up being.

This book is incredibly amazing and written so beautifully. The prose is like listening to a song that tugs at your heartstrings. Set in 1977 California and parts of Oregon, Rich and Colleen find themselves at polar opposites regarding of issues surrounding them and their family as well as many people in their community. Rich is a tree-topper and Colleen is a non-professional midwife. She's seen many miscarriages and even had eight herself; however, it isn't immediately known why this is. Chub is their five-year-old son who has his own POV which is very unusual in a book of this nature, so as I was reading it I kept wondering if something horrific was going to happen to him. He is a pertinent part of the story. I liked all of their characters but there were some characters I despised as they were bullies or I simply didn't like what they stood for. This family learns to fight for their position in their community via who they are and Rich and Colleen are not always on the same side. Marital problems arise and that's never a good thing, but they find ways to maneuver through difficult times but not without tragic events.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I was pretty emotionally invested in Colleen’s story and the environmental impacts of the forestry industry in this town. Rich was alright. Chub was cute.

Was going to be a 4 star read for me, but the ending. After so much tragedy, what’s the point at just tacking on some more at the end like that?

I just reviewed another book and interestingly I am going to have to express almost the exact same sentiments about this one. Basically, Damnation Spring has an interesting premise and setting. BUT... it was too long, one POV was far more interesting than the other, not much happens until the last 1/4 of the book, and I was slightly bored throughout. My main complaint is that there was too much logging jargon. I just feel like this book could have been so much better than it was.

You know those shows/books when a character tells a big whopper and continues to build on that lie until he or she is caught? Well, this book gave me anxiety, because I knew in the end the consequences for Rich’s deceit were going to be horrendous.

Ash Davidson’s debut was beautifully and lyrically written. Her descriptions of people and places were impressive; I felt like I was in the community and could see the people and the sites. Here’s a description of one person: “… heavy torso thrust forward like a toad walking upright.” Brilliant!

The author was born in Arcata, California, the epicenter of the Damnation Spring, and she clearly did her research about the era and the challenges facing the logging industry, (albeit she included too excessive minutiae about the processes involved in harvesting timber.) The book also contained fascinating information on the effects of toxins such as Agent Orange. It authentically set in the late 1970s—the clothes they wore, the cars, they drove, the foods they ate. Tab, Coca-Cola’s first diet soft drink was all the rage (discontinued in 2020) and I had plenty of friends who depended on it. Yuck.

Although much of the novel was gorgeous, it was heavy on metaphor and simile, and the multiple narratives didn’t work written in third person. Her overuse of words and phrases was distracting. “Burl bowl” was used 15 times.

In the end, Damnation Spring is about a heart-wrenching clash between environmentalists and loggers that destroyed families and an industry by an author to watch. 3.5 stars.

Set in the 1970's, Rich is a tree topper, his livelihood dependent on the local logging company. His wife Colleen is raising their young son and helping the community by serving as a midwife. Rich is given the opportunity to purchase a track of land containing one of the largest redwoods in the area. When environmentalists flood into town, his investment and livelihood is threatened. Simultaneously, the logging companies have been spraying the weeds and brush with chemicals. Deformed babies, miscarriages, and problem with the local wildlife begin to emerge.

This book was extremely slow moving. While minor and mundane tasks were highlighted in excruciating details, the environmental concerns and actual logging seemed to be rushed and briefly covered. The characters were extremely detailed and realistic, which was probably the best part of the book. Unfortunately, this is not one I would re-read or recommend.

I had a very hard time getting into this book, and overall I thought it was just ok. The writing is very flowery and overly descriptive, lots of logging jargon which was confusing at times, and I did not find the ending to be satisfactory. This is the story of a logger and his family versus the "tree-huggers " who are investigating the effects of the poisons being sprayed for decades to keep undergrowth under control, set in the late 1970s.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a beautifully written gut-wrenching story. It's set in the late 1970's in a logging town. It's about a family who's way of life is starting to drastically change. The hillsides are sliding, the water is muddier than ever with less fish and they are running out of good wood to cut. Everyone can see the hillsides changing but no one is adding anything else up. They aren't counting the birth defects, the strange cancers or the miscarriages. They are justing making their living, pushing through one day at a time, many like their dads and moms before them. It's a little peak into our history - a time when earning a living by logging was a whole town's way of life.

The story is so engrossing, right from the beginning. You are wrapped up in the little town, learning most of the neighbors quickly. The rhythm of their day is easy to slide in to, the 4 am wake up, the kids all tumbling together to play and the way they all lean on each other to ease their burdens. But you can see the cracks and you can feel that you're an outsider, peaking in at the moment it's all starting to happen.

I loved the characters, the story, the town. I raged as they raged, I cried as they cried, and I loved every page of this story (even when it broke my heart). I will definitely look for more from this author. I might even re-read this one (something I rarely rarely do!)

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Damnation Spring is about the conflict between loggers and environmentalists. Quite a timely topic.

Unfortunately while well researched, it took 200 pages to get past the author's research about logging.

It seemed like a book I would love, but unfortunately, it took too long to get to the story, and then it was short-lived.

How do you protect and provide for your family while being asked to go against your community and the only way of life that you know? This is the dilemma that Rich & Colleen face in Ash Davidson’s novel “Damnation Spring”. Set in Northern California amidst what is now the Redwood parks (state and national) during the 1970s, Davidson develops several conflicts: husband v. wife; sister v. sister; loggers v. environmentalists; and landowners v. the government. Rich & Colleen are caught in all of this. Rich, a third-generation logger, tries to attain his dream of buying a ridge full of majestic Redwoods, including the 24-7 tree AND creating a family. Colleen longs to be a mother of several children. She cherishes her only son, nicknamed Chub, and grieves the multiple miscarriages she has suffered. As a midwife, she realizes that many women in the area have suffered miscarriages and stillbirths. Children are born with extreme disabilities; Colleen knows that it is from the toxic sprays used to kill the undergrowth. These sprays saturate every part of the community, causing most of the conflicts for the characters, particularly Colleen & Rich.

I wanted to love this book, especially after visiting the area in California, but the narrative became repetitive and drawn out. In addition, there is a shift in tone in the last 1/4 of the novel as if Davidson needed to wrap up the plot rather quickly. In addition, the author also shifts point of view from Rich, Colleen, or Chub to Colleen’s sister. This shift is out of place and unnecessary. Overall, the other characters are flat and predictable, except for Lark., who is endearing. I did enjoy some of the novel but became bored with how drawn out it is.

As a high school English teacher, I would not recommend this novel to my students. They would not connect with the characters and the logging jargon would be cumbersome. The character and plot development are not complex enough to be suitable for Advanced Placement classes either.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Scribner for the advanced copy.

This book was interesting but just took way too long to develop. The take on climate change was unique, but this was a slow read for me and I almost gave up. But for all the positive reviews, I may not have continued. I think this just wasn’t my style of book.
Thanks Netgalley for a ARC.

A creative shift in perspective on the climate change debate.. The story takes a long time to develop, as do some of the characters. There are lots of details about logging that bog down the story a bit, but may be of interest to some.

Book of the Month pick about loggers in the Pacific Northwest. This is not a subculture I am familiar with and I found it interested to learn more.

Definitely not a typical read for me, it was an odd choice for book of the month. It was unique but that’s about it for me. I didn’t really take anything away from the story,

Lots of detailed description but good story about the PNW and loggers. Also a book-of-the-month pick.

When I saw this was a BOTM pick, I knew it had to be good! I tend to love historical fiction/contemporary fiction. I loved the setting of this book, but it was just a bit too slow for me. This one was rather long too which just seemed to make things drag along for me. I would give this one three stars. It’s great for people who like outdoorsy/woodsy settings. But be prepared to read this one slowly.

In terms of style and prose, this book is very well written (in my opinion). But, honestly, it gave me a lot of Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver vibes right from the beginning and for a lot of the book. Small, low-income town, not a lot of options for residents, with there being a major industry employing most of the town thus raising any suspicions environmentally about the industry causes a tussle amongst locals. Some infidelity, some internal family strife.

The author came into her own further into the book, and ended overall really well. There were a few things holes she opened towards the end that didn't get resolved that bugged me a bit, but overall, a good book (and if you haven't read Flight Behavior, then everything above is moot).

This was a pretty incredible story! Lots of layers and characters. I liked this book overall. Very good!