My Review:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars

This is a story about Travis Wren, an unconventional private investigator, who can find victims/missing people just by holding an object they have touched in the past. In this case, he is looking for children’s author Maggie St. James, who wandered into the forest, eerily similar to the one in her books, and never came back. Her mother gives him a hint: Pastoral, a commune that was formed in the 70’s that shunned the outside world in favor of a simple way of life. Theo, a member of Pastoral, finds Travis’s car years later, and wonders where this man went. No one is allowed in or out of the community due to the fear of the “rot”from the outside world that they think could decimate their community. Along with his wife Calla, they try to unveil the secrets that their community leader is hiding from them.

This story is immediately captivating and bewitching. The more you read, the more there are layers to the story that unfolds into deeper secrets. As soon as you think you figured it out, there are other tiny details that reveal to be a much bigger part of the story. I was immediately reminded of the M. Night Shyamalan’s the Village and basically any movie/story about a creepy cult leader. I loved it!

Thank you to Atria Books & Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Another great work from Shea Ernshaw. I loved the tension that ran through this story, something eerie and uncertain. I liked the way the story took shape, first following the private investigator and then a jump into the community itself. Learning about the community through three different perspectives was so interesting. This story will be with me for awhile.

This book was well written and a little bit confusing. I enjoyed the story and I followed it I guess it just was't what I was expecting, Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure about this book when I started, though I have loved Ernshaw’s YA books. It can be a bit meandering to follow Travis’ story, but the style of voices starts to become stronger and more clear as the story goes. This is a mystery, and yet also a story about people, about culture, about fear. I recommend for anyone who loves stories with twists and turns.

This book took me for a wild ride. I kept thinking I knew what was going on, but the author continued to prove me wrong. I loved every minute of this suspenseful plot.

This book was incredible! The story kept me hooked from the beginning. The way the characters are developed and the intricacy of the plot really elevate this novel. I highly recommend if you enjoy mysteries and thrillers with a little fantasy woven in. Major “The Village” vibes throughout this one. Great until the end! Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this advanced read.

Five years after popular Children's author, Maggie St. James, goes missing, her parents hire Travis Wren to search for her. Known for her dark fairy tale-style stories, it seems Maggie may have wandered into her own nightmare. Travis, although a last resort of sorts, has an uncanny ability for finding people; one that channels his own very unique set of abilities.

Chasing one particular clue, Travis heads out alone into a cold, unforgiving stretch of forest in search of a place known only as Pastoral. Founded in the 1970s, Pastoral is a commune, where the residents gathered searching for a simpler way of life. Fully self-reliant, Pastoral was essentially able to cut itself off from the rest of the world. According to local lore, the commune shouldn't exist anymore, but after Travis stumbles upon it, he disappears just like Maggie before him.

Years later, a commune member, Theo, breaks the rules of the community and explores past the marked boundary. It is at that time that he discovers a broken down old truck once owned by a man named Travis Wren.

Theo and his wife, Calla, come to believe that Travis wasn't just in Pastoral at some point, he's been in the their house. They both become completely focused on solving the mystery. Who was Travis and what was he doing there? They believe it had something to do with a woman named, Maggie, but they don't know her either. The more they dig, the more the couple come to understand that the community they thought they knew so well, may not be the safe oasis they've always believed it to be.

Calla's sister, Bee, who has been secretly engaged in a romantic relationship with the community's charismatic leader, begins to come to her own unsavory conclusions about Pastoral. Have they all been living a lie?

A History of Wild Places is a unique and contemplative story, channeling all the haunting vibes of The Village. I really enjoyed how this story began. Getting to know Travis, his abilities and the case he was currently assigned to. I became attached to him very quickly and was shocked when he disappeared.

For me the pace slowed a bit once I was introduced to our main characters in Pastoral. Eventually it picked back up, most notably after Theo and Calla begin investigating who Travis was and what might have happened to him.

Overall, I felt a little detached from Calla and Theo. While I liked them both, they were initially so rigid, it was hard to relate to them in a way. As the story progressed, however, I felt them both loosening up as their commitment to the community began to wane. The pace steadily increases from there as Calla, Theo and Bee continue to lift the veil from Pastoral.

Ernshaw's writing is absolutely beautiful. There's something so enchanting about it, as she truly has the ability to build out a sense of place. I could picture the setting of Pastoral perfectly in my mind. She really excels at atmosphere.

This is an intricate story; one I had to think about quite a bit upon completion. I was torn on how to rate it. I did really, really enjoy this story, but it never crossed the line into love territory for me. I think mainly because it slowed down a bit too much for my taste around the middle. With this being said, this is Ernshaw's Adult debut and I think she did a fantastic job expanding into that space. This is a great book, one that I know so many Readers are going to absolutely adore.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This one will stick with me for a long time!

True rating 4.5/5.

“Accidents can turn people into grave diggers.”

Where do I start. I have sat on this review for almost a week. Yes, I know that is a bit much for me, but it has truly needed the time to simmer in my head. I am probably the worst when it comes to preparing myself for when a favorite author decides to branch in a new and exciting direction. I saw Ernshaw and adult debut and just about wet myself in excitement. Did I over excite myself? Yes. Oh yes. Was the excitement worth it. I can officially say that yes, I definitely think it was.

I think I’ve gotten so wrapped up in the need for “wows” and twists and “oh damns” in my reading that I forget to step back and appreciate the slow build plot. My real life is so fast paced now that my book reading is turning into the same unidentifiable rush to get to the end. What Ernshaw did was make me slow the hell down and immerse myself in her writing, her words, her atmosphere and her imagery. It made me re-kindle my love affair with her story telling.

This is one you’ll need to go into blind. You’ll need to let the mystery build around you and let your eyebrow raise and the confusion set in. You’ll harken to certain M. Night Shyamalan movies and appreciate the overall tension that increases with each page. You’ll value the themes of love, escape, hardships, secrecy, family and freedom. You’ll appreciate the spine-tingling challenges and you’ll be frustrated. I think I shook my kindle in utter pent-up aggression a couple times.

Do I think this is a novel for everyone? No. This is a slow teasing drip of deliverance down a parched man’s throat and I don’t see all readers appreciating that. Would I recommend it? You bet your last darn dollar I would! I found something whimsical and calculating in these pages and it teased my mind to think beyond the surface of the story. Like I’ve mentioned, it’s a narrative that creeps along. The perspective is told in three POVs and I did have to back track a couple times because I confused the heck out of myself. There are a few portions that I felt might have skipped a few key points but overall I did not want to put this one down.

Thank you, Atria Books, for the opportunity to read and review one of my highly anticipate novels of the year. All thoughts are my own. A digital ARC was provided for review.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Travis has a gift--he can sense where people have gone by touching their objects--and he uses is to find missing people. When the famous author, Maggie goes missing, he sets out to find her; what he finds is the hidden community of Pastoral. And secrets lurk within.

If you like the film The Village, then this is definitely the book for you. There are so many interesting twists in this one. I really love the various POVs in this book and how they are used to give various perspectives on what is happening. I like the way this was divided into different parts and how everything came together.

And once again, I absolutely love Shea Ernshaw's atmospheric writing style!

I did feel this was a tad predictable in places and it didn't always grip me the way it was meant to, but I enjoyed this overall!

CW: brainwashing, gaslighting, missing persons, suicide, death, gore

Marked safe from my first ever thriller/suspense read ✅

Wow. What a journey this was.

I normally never read thriller or suspense books. I am scared of everything so I wasn’t sure how I would like it but since I received an advanced copy I thought it would be a good time to try and I am so glad I did!

I really enjoyed this book. I went into it blind and I honestly think it is the way to go. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I think you should pick it up and enjoy the ride. There were truly more plot twists than I can count on one hand which was refreshing because I feel a lot of reads can become predictable and follow the same tropes.

Pick this up if you like…
🍃books with different POVs
🍃intriguing characters with depth and development throughout the book
🍃gradual-build suspenseful reads
🍃haunting and ominous undertones
🍃wonderful writing and atmospheric storytelling
🍃books with gratifying endings

I was curious as to how everything would come together and it was done so well. You leave the book with all your questions being answered and you are just left to reflect on the rollercoaster you just experienced. I truly felt a connection to all three main characters and I accredit it to the detail and intricate weaving of all the storylines. One of the most memorable reads I have had in a while.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

🌲 A History of Wild Places 🌲
by Shea Ernshaw
.
What. A. Ride.
.
Atmospheric. Thrilling. Haunting. All words I would use to describe this twisty mystery. Set in the remote community of Pastoral, A History of Wild Places was absolutely immersive in its secrets and its scenery. Psychological thriller set in the woods? Yes. Please.
.
When Maggie St. James disappears, Travis Wren reluctantly sets off to find her. But nothing is what it seems, and who - or what - can be trusted?
.
I love a good “what the!?” moment while I read, and this standalone adult novel by Shea Ernshaw did NOT disappoint. It had me questioning everything, even my own real-life choices.
.
If you like M. Night Shyamalan movies and gorgeous writing, look no further. Also - how cute is the jacket and the hardback cover?
.
Pick up this book today so we can get it where it belongs: the NYT Bestseller List.
.
Thank you to Netgalley for my original e-ARC copy, thank you to Atria for publishing this gorgeous book, and thank you to Shea for writing a story that will haunt the corners of my mind for quite some time 🖤

“I've often wondered if power does this to a man: unravels him slowly over time, doubt itching beneath his flesh until it's all that's left.”

Shea Ernshaw quickly became one of my auto-buy authors after I fell in loved with her YA novels, The Wicked Deep and Winterwood. Her writing style sucks me in and completely immerses the reader in whatever world she has crafted.

A History of Wild Places is no different.

When I opened Ernshaw's adult debut, I wasn't really sure what kind of story I would find. Her previous two books I'd read had elements of fantasy but, as far as I knew, this one did not. What it had was an underlying mystery, an unsettling little town that gave off strong The Village(2004) vibes, and the threat of something dangerous in the woods.

The atmosphere in this novel is top notch. Even when a character is going about a mundane task like stepping into the house out of the rain, there is still that slightly disquieted vibe running throughout the page. You know there is something horrible going on under the surface of the story, you can almost taste it, but it taunts you and you can't put the book down until you reach the climax and all the pieces start falling into place.

I loved this book and will continue picking up anything by Ernshaw. There is nothing quite as satisfying as being swept away in a good story and she does it so well.

This was a beautifully written story with so many twists and turns. I'll admit in the beginning I felt like the story dragged but it was all for a specific purpose. I don't know if I could have lived in a place called Pastoral but I appreciate the simplicity of it all LOL. Once things started to reveal themselves I can't believe how I didn't recognize some things that were so obvious, but the twist at the end with Levi definitely threw me for a loop. The story has so many layers that take us through a ride of haunted fairy tales and getting lost in the wildness of your mind and finding a sense of home.

A History of Wild Places was a wild ride. It was atmospheric, quietly propulsive, and compelling from page one.

Travis Wren has been hired by the parents of a famous children’s book author. The woman--Maggie St. James--disappeared in a rural PNW community five years ago. Travis has a supernatural knack for finding people. Because of his own tragic past, he’s determined to find answers for Maggie’s family.

Theo, a member of a reclusive commune finds Travis’s truck just outside the border of their remote community, so we spent the majority of the book trying to figure out where he is, if he found Maggie, and what happened to each of them. Theo has spent his life inside the borders of Pastoral. He lives with his wife Calla and her sister, Bee. The residents have been forbidden to leave the property--told the risk of bringing back potential “rot” is too high. The disease is already killing the living things around the border, so those in power will stop at nothing to keep folks safe inside.

The setting was surprisingly idyllic. I think under the right circumstances, Pastoral sounds like a place I could see myself loving. Like all fairytales, however, darkness creeps in and villains abound. Each character fights to see “the light” and save the day.

I tried not to let my overthinking brain ruminate on themes that this book may or may not contain, but I think one could glean a LOT in these pages. I have a love-hate relationship with unreliable narrators, but I have nothing but LOVE for A History of Wild Places. I enjoyed each bit of loose thread that unraveled along the way, ultimately weaving itself back into a gripping tale that will mesmerize its readers.

Thanks so much to Atria books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of A History of Wild Places!

This book was whimsical, magical and everything I've wanted. This is my 3rd book I've read from the author and by far ny favorite so far. This story was amazing!

4/5 stars. This book begins with Travis. He has an ability to retrieve memories from items of theirs. He has been paid to find a author that went missing 5 years ago. However, while he is on his track to find her, he also goes missing. A man named Theo finds his truck in the woods, and he attempts to find Travis and Maggie with his wife, Calla. This was a different story line than I have ever read before. I enjoyed the book, but felt it was a little confusing when the story switched from Travis to Theo and Calla. Other than that, it was a great read and I enjoyed the characters. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

I've read all three of Shea Ernshaw's books and this one is by far my favorite! Her writing has always been great but with each book it continues to improve, and I thought that was the best part of this book. I do think the overarching plot and story is solidly good and there are definitely mysterious elements and twists involved that I didn't see coming, but the real selling point is in her writing. If you like atmospheric, slightly creepy, woodsy-type vibes, this book (and really all her books) will definitely be for you.

Ernshaw is a best-selling author of YA books ("The Wicked Deep", "Winterwood" and "A Wilderness of Stars"), but this is her first adult novel. We are introduced to Travis, who has been gifted with some psychic ability. He has been hired to find Maggie who is a famous writer of dark and creepy children's books. She has been missing for five years and just as he gets close, Travis goes missing as well. The story then switches to the community of Pastoral, and isolated place that no one leaves from. Theo and Calla live there with Calla's sister Bee. They have been told that if they leave, they will die from the 'rot' that lives beyond the borders...but Travis feels a need to go past the borders and explore. This is an atmospheric, somewhat creepy tale that is reminiscent of darker fairy tales. It is a wonderful recommendation for readers who enjoy stories that are unusual but still easy to follow.

Having enjoyed Earnshaw’s atmospheric YA novel, The Wicked Deep, I was definitely interested in checking out her crossover into adult fiction. What I discovered is that some of the things that worked for me in the YA book don’t necessarily work for me in an adult read.

What works: Earnshaw has an amazing talent for choosing words that create a picture.

What doesn’t work: The slow pace of the majority of the book made it hard to plow through to the action,

I imagine that an author who is making a first foray into writing a genre different from what they usually write would have a certain amount of challenge to break away from the familiar. It seems like that’s the case here. Chronologically adults, the characters often seem teenagery, complete with teenage dramatics. The ending of the book also felt very YA to me. While a teen might enjoy the ending, I found it quite a letdown, especially after persevering through the slow paced start.

Having one adult novel under her belt, perhaps a second adult book will take another step away from the YA feel. Adult readers who really enjoy reading YA are likely to enjoy this one more than I did.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All of the stars in my rating for this book go to the beautiful prose of Shea Ernshaw. The writing in this book is elegiac… simply beautiful with a shroud of haunting cast over it.

This isn’t a quick read book. This is a book you take your time with, because it will take its time with you. That isn’t to say it’s boring. But it’s not a rollicking ride, either. This book is an atmospheric stroll through dark, creepy woods and walking on eggshells amongst an isolated, paranoid cult. There are three major characters in this both, and while they are all captivating in their own way, I found I enjoyed Bee’s story arc the most.

That being said: the turn in this book was predictable to me. Very predictable. I wasn’t counting on guessing it with less than half the book over.

But this is a beautifully-written book with themes that are, in turn, horrific and touching. And it may not end exactly how you envision. I highly recommend it.