Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Haunting and tragic, Wild Dark Shore is a beautiful narrative about fighting for one's family and keeping hope alive even in the darkest of times. The narrators were great for the varying POVs of this book. Although Shearwater Island is fictional, it is based on Macquarie Island, which is home not only to a research base but many, many seals and penguins! The land and the sea, from albatross to whale, are as much characters in this book as the Salt family and Rowan, the mysterious woman who washes up on Shearwater after a violent storm. Wild Dark Shore has plenty of twists and turns, some of which I did not see coming until the very end, and lots of suspense. The ending is a real nail-biter, but so worth the journey. As dark as the story can be at times, with its focus on climate change disasters, grief, and family secrets, it is also full of love, survival, and hope. This is the first book I've read by Charlotte McConaghy, despite owning several, and I look forward to reading them now that I've had a taste of her lyrical, haunting writing style.

The most intriguing aspect of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is its unique and immersive setting - a remote island near Antarctica named Shearwater. Here single father Dominic Salt and his three children manage a seed bank that houses thousands of rare seeds frozen in an underground vault. The island was also a research base, but operations recently ceased due to rising sea levels resulting from global warming.

As Dominic packs up selected seeds for evacuation, a terrible storm hits Shearwater, and a woman is washed ashore. Who is she? Why is she in this remote area? How will her presence impact members of the Salt family?

Wild Dark Shore has a very strong sense of place; I felt the ruthless weather conditions and the extreme isolation of the island. However, there are too many elements in this plot - climate fiction, suspenseful mystery, family drama, and romance. I would’ve enjoyed this more without unrealistic expectations from the all the hype.

I listened to the audiobook which was engaging with multicast narration performed by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West. This is the first of Ms. McConaghy’s novels I’ve read.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for advanced access to the audiobook; all opinions are my own.

Wow! This story mixed so many genres - science fiction, romance, non-fiction elements, etc. The multiple character narration was excellent and helped deepen my understanding of characters, their thoughts and emotions. The story is so deep and moving, and heartbreaking and full of hope. I found myself changing my mind on Rowan, from unlikeable to incredibly selfless and a hero. The setting served as an additional character, with climate change causing intense storms in a remote island off the coast of Antarctica.

4.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for the advanced listener's copy!

“Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.”
― Charlotte McConaghy, Wild Dark Shore

This is my first time reading McConaghy but I have been hearing how great her books are for years! I was very excited to get this one, especially on audio. This was a full-cast narration which I feel added a lot to the book. The voices were unique and well-suited to each character. The writing was amazing. The atmosphere that McConaghy builds on this bleak, cold island that is on the last edge of existence is fantastic. The island is a character of its own. It breathes with life, the animals, the landscape, and the water surrounding it. Yet it is dying, the water ready to envelop all the living beings that remain.
There is so much here, and I would just recommend you pick it up. The themes of climate change, parenting, marriage, the power of nature - they are strong, beautiful, and terrifying.

WILD DARK SHORE was my first foray into Charlotte McConaghy’s work, and I can absolutely see why readers love her immersive writing. With short chapters and a beautiful yet isolated landscape, the book was both approachable and captivating.

I did feel that the negative effects of climate change and the sordid history of the island offered enough of an emotional punch that some of the personal conflict could have been omitted. Without going into spoilers, the culmination could have had an entirely different outcome had the adults simply talked to one another.

From an audio perspective, the cast of narrators truly brought the story to life. Saskia Maarleveld has been a favorite of mine since I listened to LITTLE THIEVES, and whenever I see her listed as a voice actress, I know that the performance will be great. WILD DARK SHORE was no exception.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

A deeply atmospheric novel, about a family living on an isolated island with teams of scientists who are caretakers of the worlds largest seed bank. There is love, grief, and forgiveness all set against the backdrop of the island, wildlife and climate change. There are multiple point of views with strong characters that continue to grow and develop all the way through to the amazing last chapter.

I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, which is a genre I love, but books in this genre can start to feel repetitive and indistinguishable after having read so many. It’s rare that I’m wowed by a unique story or a surprising twist, but "Wild Dark Shore" sets itself apart from other mystery/thrillers--and I was completely enthralled by this one. This unique story had a little bit of everything--mystery, family drama, romance--and the atmospheric, remote island complete with a lighthouse was reminiscent of my favorite "The Light Between Oceans." The setting was vivid, with stunning descriptions that breathed life into the wild, enigmatic island and all of its inhabitants. And I fell in love with all of the characters. I know the Salt family will stay with me for a long time.
I thought the ALC was fantastic, with a cast of narrators that really brought each character to life. A big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this one!

"But here's the nature of life; that we must love things with our whole selves knowing they will die."

"Any rebellion I had was just the quiet anger always swallowed down."

"What pain it is that grief can come in moments."

"I thought I would die wanting you so badly."

After listening to the achingly beautiful atmospheric Wild Dark Shore, by the phenomenally brilliant, always leaves me emotionally drained, author Charlotte McConaghy, I sat with tears streaming down my face. Partly from the dramatic end to this profound work of literary fiction, but mostly from the astounding descriptive prose that brought me to a world, once filled with promise, to one in turmoil, as a storm looms to wash it all away.

On a tiny island near Antarctic, Dominic and his 3 children, Raff 18, Fen 17 and Orly 9, are the last to leave this eco research facility that houses the last seeds vital to plant life on Earth. Rising sea levels make the island uninhabitable and they must find a way to save the seeds. When a storm washes ashore a nearly drowned woman their lives are changed forever.

Rowan is a mystery. Dominic didn't expect to have feelings for her. He took his family to this island to run from love and grief. Rowan's never wanted children but these 3 are making her feel unfamiliar emotions or maybe they're making her remember them.

A full cast of voice actors Saskia Maarleveld,
Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, and
Steve West give their souls to these broken beings.

Like her previous books, the writer tells a story of a family in pain, shocking revelations, and profound love; all while bringing awareness that our selfish greed is destroying the planet that we do not inhabit alone. Wild Dark Shore left me breathless.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. Opinions are my own.

Truly one of the best stories I have ever read! And one of the few books to make me cry actual tears.

Synopsis:
On an island occupied by a single family, a woman washes up on shore. What happened to the other people on the island? And why did the woman come out here to such a remote and isolated place? As the storms turn lethal and the island itself continues to disappear into the ocean, ulterior motives will clash and loyalties will be tested.

Review: With a tone that's bleak yet hopeful and an exquisite style that evokes all the senses, the narrative prose is such that you'll want to lose yourself in. The island comes to life in an otherworldly, folklore-feeling tale, with characters you'd die for and a plot you'll want to live for.

✨My rating: 5

Themes:
- Climate change
- Conservation efforts
- Grief
- Redemption
- Forgiveness

Emoji Vibes:
🌊⛈️💔🦭🐋🥼🎻🌱

This was incredible on audio. Not my normal style of book, but I was obsessed with this one immediately. It’s very atmospheric and I cared about all the characters.

I don't know what's wrong with me, but this one didn't hook me like it did most people. This book had so many different levels covering grief and loss as well as love and family.

I’m a clear outlier here, but I had a lot of trouble getting into this one. I only had the audio to guide me, and while the narrators were all terrific, I’m not sure if that’s why I struggled to connect with this one. It just sounded all so dreary and I had to continuously rewind and re-listen to parts, because my mind kept drifting off. I think this was more of a me problem, so I wouldn’t *not* recommend it to anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: March 4, 2025

4 stars
I enjoyed this though I don't think I would have picked it up on my own if it hadn't been gifted to me so I am appreciative that I got to experience it. There was some really great character development and insights throughout the book and some twists I didn't see coming. I'm still not sure if I loved or hated the end; I guess a little of both.

I loved that there were multiple narrators, it really helps you get into each character and make the POV switch more easily as you are listening. All the narrators did a great job.

An amazing book! Charlotte McConaghy creates a story about family, love, grief, and forgiveness against the backdrop of climate change, It is told from multiple POVs and they each lend such sweetness and emotion to the story. This is a book that will be remembered for a long time.

I was given an advanced reader copy of this title by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. A very compelling read that I highly recommend. Loved the character development!

Atmospheric.
Haunting.
Intense.
Immersive.

Flawless.

That’s all you really need to know about this book. Set on a remote island in the sub-Antarctic, this is a story based on climate change and human survival that will gut you on so many levels. Facing regret for your decisions. Keeping faith when everything feels hopeless. The notion of doing absolutely anything possible to protect your children. The symbolism was remarkable.

It was such a vivid, powerful read, you will feel as if you have been transported to this weather beaten island, and it’s a story that will really stick with me. I liked but didn’t love the author’s last two novels but I was truly blown away by the intensity and beauty of this one. I found myself having to set it down often as it just was so intense and I would need an emotional break. And the whale scene…oh, the whales.

From the first few pages I had the feeling. You know, the one you covet and you feel like you just might have an epic 5⭐️ in your hands. And by the last page it was true—this book was perfection.

This is a beauty of a book and will be a top read of ‘25 for me for sure.

All of the stars.

Wild Dark Shore is about a family that lives on a remote research island that houses a seed bank. They have become isolated due to a series of events over the preceding few months. We learn what these events are slowly throughout the book. A woman named Rowan washes ashore adding to the intrigue. It was hard for me to fall in love with this book. The pacing felt really slow, not much really happened. There were just a lot of changes in perspective and jumping back and forth from current to present. There was also occasionally graphic language that felt out of place. I was very interested in the seed bank side of the story. If you like dark brooding characters you will probably enjoy more than I did. Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to an advance copy of this audiobook!

Loved this! I thought it was so atmospheric and I love how Charlotte McConaghy weaves a mystery and character study into climate fiction. I thought all the characters were so intriguing and the audio was great!

This is a really powerful book. It’s beautifully narrated and such a moving story of family, love and loss, and the fragility and resilience of nature.

I kept getting caught in the story of climate change impacts and the family charged with keeping a cavern of seeds that were meant to help the world start over if needed - kind of pre-apocalyptic with ongoing apocalypse vibes if that makes any sense.

The setting is a small, harsh, vibrant island - but the story does not feel contained or constrained by that. It’s expansive and incorporates a lot of flashbacks and timeline maneuvers that keep the pacing going. The incredible heart of these characters - their ability to deal with trauma and still move forward is moving and heart wrenching. By the end I just wanted to cry for them all while hoping that they all find happiness as the story ends. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ALC! This was a really great one to read on audio.

Rating 5 Stars- Favorite of the year to date...

Review:

I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend for this title. The narrators immediately pull you into the loud, cold, raw natural world of the island off the coast of the arctic circle . The characters are in a tense situation that leaves the reader unsure of who they should trust up to the very last chapter. The theme of the violent clashing of humanity with the natural world is compelling. I was especially affected by Rowan's chapter recalling her experience with a natural disaster in her recent past in another part of the world. I love the relationships between the father and his four children. All the characters seemed so vulnerable and true that I couldn't help but weep. The vibes alone are immaculate and deserve 5 stars. I will surely be reading more books by Charlotte McConaghy.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an audio copy of this book.

Blurb:

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.

Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.

But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.

A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.