“But here is the nature of life. That we must love things with our whole selves knowing they will die.”

Charlotte McConaghy is back and I am again overwhelmed!

A haunting love letter to nature, this time with a focus not only on the destructive power of global warming, but on tiny seeds. Seeds that grow into plants, plants that feed. Incredible vignettes, told through the pure eyes of a child, help the reader appreciate the seeds’ value and come to terms with the impossible decisions of which ones are more worthy than others to save. (The story of the Dinosaur Tree hits hard.) A family at the remote edges of the world, alone and falling apart, is faced with the enormous task of trying to save the seeds, save history, save the future.

And this is where the author shines. She’s passionate, not preachy. She shows mega sized impacts through the intimate lens of a family and a mysterious woman, already struggling with their own individual demons and ghosts. I was completely enthralled in the escalating tension, an excellent buildup of love and survival. The reader is first pulled into the story of humans, then into the reality of the changing world. And she writes with such a reverent connection to nature, it’s just absolutely beautiful. I felt so in awe of nature…the wildlife, seals, albatross, humpback whales, penguins, and the seeds. But the human story brought tears to my eyes.

The audiobook was superb. Multiple narrators left me transfixed, with their tension filled buildup of suspense and grief and loss and ultimately, love. Recommend the listen!

Thank you #macmillanaudio #flatironbooks and #netgalley for sharing this beautiful ARC #wilddarkshore
And thank you, @charmcconaghy
@charlottemcconaghy for writing with your soul!

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the review copy. Wild Dark Shore is a complex and mesmerizing read but it's also one that for me might be better as a phsyical read over audio. I say that as a big fan of audio and out of a lot of respect for the voice acting, which was excellent. This one doesn't work on audio for me because of slow pacing and the back and forth with characters, that is sometimes a deal breaker for me for an audio as I listen when I am driving and need to be taken away and caught up in dialogue and plot and here... that doesn't quite happen.
What is here though is a powerful and well written plot and story, one that unfolds step by step and weaves in McConaghy's deft notes on climate and plot with romance and memorably drawn characters. So while maybe a pass for me on audio not a pass on a book and hey... the audio might be a big win for you.
4 stars for the plot, not going to knock a well produced audiobook because I didn't like the book on audio. :) great narration and production.

"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghy is a gripping novel set on a remote island where the Salt family encounters a mysterious woman washed ashore amidst escalating climate crises. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, the family confronts their deepest fears and desires while battling both external and internal storms.

This novel earns a solid four-star rating for its masterful blend of suspense, emotional depth, and environmental themes. McConaghy's eloquent prose vividly captures the raw beauty and peril of the natural world, immersing readers in a setting that is both haunting and mesmerizing. The complex characters are richly developed, each grappling with personal struggles that resonate deeply. The narrative's exploration of love, loss, and survival against the backdrop of climate change adds a poignant layer to the story. While some readers may find the pacing deliberate, it allows for a profound connection to the characters and their journeys. Overall, "Wild Dark Shore" is a compelling read that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC 🥰

It took me a while to suss out this story when I picked it up, but once things started to unravel… I was hooked. Dom gave weird vibes at the beginning, and his sudden obsession with Rowan caught me off guard. In the end, I never really resonated with his character… but I appreciated what he went through and the way he was always there for his children. The kids were beautifully written and I loved the relationship between Ollie and Rowan especially. Their moment coming out of the seed vault shaft together was heartbreaking and maternal.

I learned a ton from the author, about seeds and plant life, unconditional love between siblings, about what it is to live on a remote island, isolation, and adhering to strict rations. McConaghy wrote Shearwater sooo beautifully; the island was a character in and of itself... stunning and volatile, with a wild temperament. I so appreciate the research that went into this, and I feel like Wild Dark Shore succeeds in telling a cautionary tale about climate change. The last handful of chapters are gripping; the ending wasn’t everything I had hoped for, it was perfect in a way I couldn’t imagine.

Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough!! I have never read anything like it.

Such a beautifully done audiobook! I loved the narration and it paired really well with the ebook version.

In extreme isolation, a family resides on a small island off the coast of Antarctica, overseeing a lighthouse that protects the world's largest seed bank. Dominic, a single father, and his three children are the remaining inhabitants after scientific researchers evacuated due to rising sea levels and increasingly severe storms. During one such storm, Dominic's daughter rescues a woman from the sea. The questions arise: who is she, and how did she end up on such a remote island? As they care for her, Dominic's family and the woman discover that their lives are intricately connected by deeply held secrets and emotions on both sides.

The compelling plot and intricate characters rendered this an immersive experience. Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West delivered exceptional narration, bringing this vivid and emotional story to life.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Netgalley and McMillian Audio for providing the advanced audio copy of *Wild Dark Shore*. Additionally, I commend Charlotte McConaghy for crafting an excellent story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this wonderful book by Charlotte McConaghy, wonderfully narrated by the cast of Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveldm and Steve West. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!

Dominic Salt and his three children (Raff, Fen, and Orly) are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica, and home to the world’s largest seed bank. With sea levels rising, the Salts are the only inhabitants and are packing up the seeds before being transported away. During a terrible storm, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, they all come back to life a bit. Until secrets start showing their faces.

This is a wonderful atmospheric novel. You can see the beauty of the landscape, the wildlife, but see the damage the world has done as well. The Salt family is completely isolated, running out of food and time, with no way to communicate with the outside world. When Rowen enters their tiny circle, she keeps the real reason she is there to herself, but the Salt family is full of secrets as well. It was taut and tense, as the family fight the elements as well as their personal demons. The audiobook was fabulous, with a full cast making the story even more immersive.

This one was not on my radar and I kept seeing it pop up on my Insta feed and wanted to give it a go

For me, this book was amazing . Mystery, family drama, overall a love story - love of nature, snd life .
In December 2024 I was on a sub Antarctica expedition cruise from New Zealand which stopped in Macquarie Island , which was one of the inspirations for this book . It is one of the most beautiful places in the world - penguins 🐧 everywhere . The fictional island the author has created is definitely a main character in this story - and for me one of the best parts of the book.

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The audio book has multiple narrators and I enjoyed listening to all of them and I believe they captured the atmosphere of the book and the characters really well

4.5 dark island stars

I listened to this one, and what a fantastic experience it was! Narrated by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld and Steve West. I loved the setting and the accents, and the book came alive for me in this format.

We meet the Salt family and the remote and threatened island of Shearwater, between Australia and Antarctica. Dominic is a strong father, and he has three children: Raff is the oldest, at 18, followed by Fen, at 17, and Orly, the precocious 9-year-old.

The island is significant for its wildlife and vast seed vault, which was set up to preserve seeds for the future. Climate change has led to a rising ocean, and the island will soon be covered with water. Scientists were working on the island to save as many seeds as possible and study the animals.

A woman washes up on the island, beaten and battered by the rocks near the shore. Where did she come from, and who is she? Fen rescues her, and the family nurses her slowly back to health.

This one has chapters from several characters and is voiced by different narrators. These are my favorite audiobooks because I don’t have the written cues a book offers, but the different voices tell me who the chapter is about.

The book contains several mysteries, and a sense of unease and looming disaster is evident throughout. Everyone seemed to have secrets, which are slowly unveiled. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of plant and animal life and was saddened that they would all disappear soon.

I grew to root for the unique Salt family and hoped they would all survive until the ship rescued them. I also hoped they could save as many seeds as possible for the future.

THIS BOOK WAS INCREDIBLE.

Atmospheric and dark. It had every element for me to go crazy for it. I was hooked from the beginning and the narration by Saskia and the full cast was beautifully done. I'll be thinking about this one for awhile (especially the ending!!!!!!) and recommending it to everyone I know.

Five stars! I absolutely adore this author. She somehow seamlessly mixes suspense, romance, and environmentalism together. Told from a multi-POV, this is a story about lies, deceit, love (found family, motherly love, and love for the land/animals), and surviving on an (almost) unlivable island near the Antarctic.

This was one of the best audios that I have ever listened to! With a full cast of narrators, you could hear and feel the emotion. It was fantastic. Highly recommend this author, she has impressed me with every release!

Dominic and Rowan are an unlikely match but there surroundings aren’t any less mysterious.

The setting of this novel carried much of the mystique offered in the story, however both MC’s jointly keep you hooked as you slowly learn secrets of their own.

This felt like a heavily somber story and you’re almost killed by the imaginary waves you hear while reading.

Just as well, I was immersed in researching the island throughout the read as well as after. It’s so intriguing and the perfect backdrop.

oopf...what a ride this was. Atmospheric, mysterious and at times freezing (yes I felt that wind), it was a book about the environment and the way in which our world is going...well that, and a family love that is strong even when it's being tested over and over again.

I flip flopped between physical and audio for this. Needing both to allow myself to feel every word being written and envision this island of ghosts and emptiness. The mystery of what happened to the FMC's husband and the death of the MMC's wife are just the outer edging of this one. The discovery is what happens when grief and trauma tether a family together or rip them apart.

There's quite a few triggers in it but I would say it is worth every second. The author's writing just gets better and better...wow.

ps. the ending :( oh gosh, might have needed Kleenex for that one

I love Charlotte McConaghy’s climate fiction.
Her stories are engaging, often heartbreaking, while also drawing a picture of our troubled earth.

Wild Dark Shore has everything I love: an island, a storm, a broken radio, and secrets.

A woman washes ashore a remote island near Antarctica after a storm. The Salt family, Dominic the island’s caretaker, and his three children, have been left to decommission a seed vault that was supposed to stand the test of time. Everyone has secrets that begin to surface as their lives intwine.

The audio also has the deepest voiced narrator with an accent I have ever heard. Highly recommend. Thank you @ for the audiobook!

Migration gave us birds.
Once There Were Wolves, wolves
Wild Dark Shore, a seed vault near Antarctica and sea life.
It is a stunning, beautiful read, and I loved it.

Fun fact: Prior to 2020 McConaghy was writing ya.

4/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this one, but I'm really glad I read it. This was great on audio -- the different narrators all did a fantastic job bringing their characters to life. My only qualm about this is that Orly's voice -- a supposed 9 year-old -- was clearly a grown man and that's just a pet peeve of mine. Otherwise, this was great.

This beautifully-written story was definitely more character-driven, which isn't normally my vibe. However, the perspective changes, a few short chapters and some big twists kept me interested. There was always something happening that made me want to keep listening. The setting was atmospheric and added to the overall suspense of the novel for sure, creating a really cool setting to match the premise. All three kids were so 🥹🥹🥹 -- all processing their losses in their own ways that just made me root for them so hard. I have a special soft spot for Fen -- who has been through so much and continues to be her true self. This book was truly heartbreaking, but heartwarming, too. Love can pop up in unexpected places and, while devastating at times, can be the strongest and most beautiful thing. This book was a great reminder of that!

4.25 stars

One part mystery + one part family drama + one part Climate Change = perfection!

Wild Dark Shore is the kind of novel that seeps into your bones—moody, atmospheric, and laced with an eerie beauty that lingers long after you turn the last page. The setting, a remote island near Antarctica, is so vividly drawn that you can practically taste the salt in the air and hear the distant crash of waves, making it feel like the landscape is a living, breathing character. The story unfolds with a slow-burning tension that keeps you hooked.

The characters are messy and deeply human, filled with secrets and contradictions. While some are easier to love than others, all feel undeniably real. The Salt family lives on the island: a dad and his three kids, all grappling with their issues and personal worlds. They are responsible for managing the world's largest seed vault, located on the island. One day, a woman named Rowan washes ashore during a severe storm. Initially, there are suspicions from both sides, but the Salts learn to trust Rowan, and she learns to trust them in return.

There are moments where the narrative meanders a bit, but when the novel finds its stride, it hits—with sharp emotional depth, haunting imagery, and a sense of unease that keeps you flipping pages well into the night. It's a perfect read for those who love gothic undertones, complex relationships, and a touch of the uncanny.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced audio copy!

This book sucked me in right from the beginning. The premise of the story being centered on a family that lives on a remote island where they store seeds was right up my ally. I love stories like this where you can learn in the process and this did not disappoint!

I feel like the mystery of what was happening on the island and the introduction of Rowan was well paced and things were revealed at just the right time.

I did feel like the entire story was a little melancholy and the climate change narrative was a little heavy in places but hey I get it - it is part of the foundation for the story.

I didn't totally connect with any of the characters and I did think a few things were a little bit of a stretch but overall this story kept me hooked and wanting to come back for more! Would absolutely recommend!

Rowan travels to Shearwater Island to find out what has happened to her husband, a researcher. The rising sea is slowly swallowing Shearwater, located between Australia and Antarctica. Rowan discovers a family who is hiding secrets in the bleak location. But what is this secret, and how does it impact her?

All the stars. Beautiful, heartbreaking, and filled with descriptions of a landscape you feel you could touch, Wild Dark Shore is a book you don’t want to miss.

I really wanted to love this one because there are so many cool elements, but I just couldn't get into it because all of the characters felt flat. I may end up trying to read the hardcover or paperback when it comes out because I really loved the idea of this book but between the characters and the flat narration I just struggled through the whole thing.