Unfortunately this was archived before I could finish it, but what I did manage to listen to from it was amazing, so I'm giving it a good rating and will have to just purchase it instead. Keep up the good work !!

“Once a myth is formed, it takes over the truth.”

Wake the Wild Creatures is a book impossible to put in just one box. I discovered the story through both its ebook and audio version and the immersive experience was just unbelievable as the narrator did an incredible job.
This book is extraordinary by its almost dreamy violence (yes, I know), by how captivating it is. It’s complicated to pay the story the respect it deserves without spoiling, though. Indeed, we discover –and understand– Talia’s childhood at the same time she does, as she remembers episodes from different timelines. We wander –and wonder– by her sides, in the mist, and try to sort out what is real, a dream and something mystical in between. There isn’t a strict moral compass here, and that was particularly interesting to build my own idea, as we understand that it’s always the same who have to suffer, and to be condemned.

The story is carried by a magnificent prose that links us to nature as it explains Talia’s genesis. The mix between the timelines is particularly interesting because it’s quite disturbing, it blurs the lines even more and brings questions and several illuminations about the situation, without giving a black and white answer. What is right or wrong? Who are the true predators? Where is the danger? Talia walks through all these questions, and her determination grows even taller than it was during the prologue.
This is a book about women, girls, sorority and mothers. All the patterns mix between each others, especially between Talia and Pola. Talia (and the reader) is thrown out of balance, manipulated, but always has some kind of free will and think, even though it’s uncertain and wobbly.
I truly adored getting lost into that mystic and protective forest full of fog, letting the book haunt me, lingering in my mind like an alarm and a comforting presence all at once. For now, one of my favorite reads of the year.

Thank you to the author, TBR tours, Little Brown Books and Hachette audio for the ALC and eARC. My opinions are my own.

Wow! what a haunting and lyrical exploration of girlhood, freedom, and inherited rage.

The setting against the misty backdrop of a hidden mountaintop refuge was so vivid to me and I truly felt so immersed into the story.

Talia’s journey back to the Neves is full of aching questions, buried secrets, and the fierce pull of a mother/daughter bond shaped by survival.

Whimsical… yet grounded in raw emotion. Very atmospheric.

I didn’t enjoy the dual timeline, but the main character makes this book a lot better for me. I also don’t think I enjoyed the audiobook as much as I had hoped for so I will read a copy once it’s published.

Though it's been three years since she left the Neves, the abandoned mountaintop hotel where she had lived with her mother and a group of abused women escaping the world, Talia still finds it difficult to navigate in society. Living with her aunt and cousins, she feels disconnected from nature and hates dealing with sexism and capitalism. After visiting her mother in prison, she makes a plan to get back to her mountaintop home.

The flashbacks to Talia's life at the Neves were a bit confusing at times, especially in the beginning, and it never became clear to me what was the point where Talia decided to make the journey back or what exactly her mother had done. Only about halfway did it start to become clear what was going on at the Neves. The resolution with Talia's mother didn't quite feel complete to me, and the ending left a lot open. I'm not sure if this is meant to be a series or not. It seemed structured like a thriller but didn't have high enough stakes to keep me riveted.

Talia has only known the Neves, the abandoned hidden hotel in wilderness of the Catskills. Her mother, Pola, brought her there when she was an infant and raised her off the grid, hiding from the outside world where she is wanted for murder. Pola slowly builds a small community in the woods of like minded women hiding from men, violence, and the law. But they've been discovered and Pola is taken into custody and Talia is experiencing the world for the first time at 13, forced to live with an aunt, uncle, and cousin she's never met. She longs to escape back to the Neves.

This book was a thought provoking read on mother/daughter relationships, community, family, capitalism, and violence. It was interesting and hard to put down once I got into it! I'm planning on recommending it to teens and adults.

This is incredible! I loved every single moment of it. I loved the narration. This was just a wonderful book in a million different ways. Our protagonist is almost a feral child. She has grown up in an old abandoned motel hidden deep in the mountains, at first with only her mother, and later with only women and children. But now she is living with her aunt in the suburbs,
I love the slight elements of the paranormal and the bonds the girls form.
It was beautiful.

This was unlike anything I've read recently! Split timeline and almost a split POV, this story follows Talia from the community up on a mountain her mother founded to the real world where she is forced to grapple with the harsh realities of life & continually staying true to herself and trying to get home. Even this little synopsis doesn't do it justice!

Trigger warning for rape/sexual assault would be helpful -- although it's not very explicit.

I really enjoyed listening to Wake the Wild Creatures, not just for the story itself but for how beautifully it was told. The narrator did an exceptional job; their voice had a natural rhythm and emotion that made it feel like they were truly telling a story, not just reading one. The fluctuations in tone, the pacing, and the feeling behind the words brought Talia’s journey vividly to life.

The story itself is raw, truthful, and deeply honest. It doesn't shy away from the pain, confusion, or messiness of being human. That’s what stood out to me the most. It reminded me of how deeply human we all are, how we long for connection, understanding, and a place to belong.

Wake the Wild Creatures explores those feelings with grace and intensity. It’s not just a coming-of-age story. It’s a reminder of our shared vulnerability and strength. I came away from it feeling reflective and moved.

4.5 ⭐️

The beautiful cover of this book is what captured my attention, but the story, characters and underlying messages are what kept my attention, and completely blew me away. The writing is rich and vibrant while still being easy to read. I really liked a lot of the characters, and felt I could relate to them throughout their journeys. A wonderful read, that I couldn’t put down!

I enjoyed the story of Talia and the environment she lived in. I would definitely rate this book as Fantasy, due to its mystical and magical points. The story was well told, but also there was room left to wonder what happens in the future. You don't get a clear idea as to what happens to Talia's mother....or perhaps I didn't understand the explanation.

Wake the Wild Creatures is a unique and gripping YA audiobook. The cover is stunning and the story will hook readers immediately! Recommended for all YA collections!

Floored.

I saw Nina LaCour recommend WAKE THE WILD CREATURES and was beyond excited when I was approved for the audiobook ARC.
And damn, this book DELIVERED.
I won't spoil anything, so this review is gonna be mostly vibes. And let me tell you, the vibes were excellent. A captivating tale of eeriness, a raging teen, community, pains of being AFAB. (Definitely check out the content warnings for this book, though!)
As a nature lover, I particularly enjoyed Talia's connection with/respect for the wilderness. The story is filled with messy, complicated characters. I found the relationship between Talia and her cousin super compelling, realistic, beautiful, nuanced. Incredible storytelling all around. I couldn't stop listening. The narration by Helen Laser was perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I really, really enjoyed this book, and I'm thrilled to have had the chance to read and review it.

Now, onto the actual review. (Mild to medium spoilers ahead. You have been warned.)

This was my first Nova Ren Suma book. I was not familiar with the author and requested this book based on the plot description alone. It did not disappoint. "Wake the Wild Creatures" is a beautiful, haunting story of a teenager taken from the only life she's ever known (in what outsiders would call a "cult" situation) and thrust into "the real world."

The story is told in two waves -- present day and flashbacks of the character's childhood.

It's a little bit YA (according to the description -- it doesn't necessarily READ like a YA book), a little bit mystery/suspense, and a little bit urban fantasy. The primary themes are female empowerment, survival, and how our pasts shape and determine our futures. There's also a strong prevailing dance with the idea of captivity vs. sanctuary -- what defines each? can the lines ever be blurred? is it captivity if the whole world says it is but it feels like home instead?

In short, it's a very complex story for something marketed as "YA."

A little background info:

Our MC, Talia, spent her entire childhood living wild in the Catskill Mountains with her mother and other women trying to escape the horrors of the outside world. They live in an abandoned hotel that doesn't appear on any maps or show up on aerial searches. Many of the women who live there, including Talia's mother, are -- by definition -- criminals. But they're criminals who murdered rapists, child abusers, and other not-so-great people. Others aren't criminals but ARE escaping those same situations in their own private lives.

When Talia turns 13 (the book's opening), outsiders find her, and her mother (a murderer) surrenders herself rather than let Talia be taken into the system. In turn, she arranges for Talia to live with her sister (Talia's aunt) in the outside world.

Growing up wild in a place that she believes to be magical has not necessarily equipped Talia for the modern world of money, high school dances, and other modern conveniences. It's also left her with an understandably skewed view of "men." She fears and distrusts them but is also incredibly naive about their motivations and actions.

The flashback scenes are incredible -- almost enchanting -- and allow the story of Talia's past to unfold at just the right pace. The modern-day scenes are heartbreaking and emotional. Talia's only goal is to get back to the Neves (the hotel), but along the way, she becomes close with someone in "the real world," too.

The events that unfold leave Talia with more questions than answers. Was it her fault that her mother was taken? Is her community in the Neves still there? Did someone betray them? Was "the magic" real? Or was it just a lie she and the other women told themselves to feel safe?

As far as plot goes, that's as much as I will say.

What I WILL explain is why I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5, and that was due to the "magical" elements. (The medium spoilers happen here, so read on at your own risk.)

For 90-95% of the book, the reader is led to believe that there is no real magic. It's just a story created to make the community feel more secure and self-contained. However, at the end, things happen that can only be explained through the use of actual magic. Coming so late in the book, it didn't seem realistic, nor did it seem to fit with the rest of the story.

I didn't hate it, and I understand why it had to happen the way it did. But I felt like it took some of the story's credibility away.

Still, it was a great book with absolutely gorgeous prose, and the hotel was so vividly and beautifully described as to become a character in and of itself -- and one I'd very much love to visit.

Despite my irritations with the magical elements, I'd still highly recommend this to readers of all ages.

this was an arc in the form of an audiobook advance copy. thank you to netgalley, author, nova ren suma, and the publisher, hatchette audio/little,brown young readers.

coming off yellowjackets this gave me some of the same sort of vibes in storytelling, it it’s YA, and isn’t the show but i drew some parallels. it also reminded me much of some pieces of the hunger games, i was finding so much joy and excitement in this read as i discovered more in the story and felt parallels to joy in favorite pieces. it had a softness but a deep bitterness with impeccable writing.

Wake the Wild Creatures instantly grabbed my attention with its stunning green cover, the ominous title and the enticing blurb by Nina LaCour … I’m so glad I picked this atmospheric YA novel by author Nova Ren Suma a first for me and I’m excited to check out her backlist!

Talia grew up the ruins of Neves an abandon hotel in the mountains of the Catskills with her mother Pola and a group of other women who seeked safety within the fog covered woods. Until one day when they were found… now Talia has been living with her Aunt on the Flatlands for three years waiting for a sign from Pola that it’s safe to return to Neve.

A book to add to your Girlhood TBR. Jumping back from present to past you get a full experience of the mysterious land that feels like a fever dream. This book was timely and thought-provoking. With themes of found family and belonging it will be one I will be thinking about for some time.

Thank you Little, Brown Young Readers/ Hachette Audio
Releases 5/6

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.Andthebookshelf/