I’m going to be honest, it feels like a weird time to be reading dystopia. But when it’s this well-written, it’s worth it.

In some future America, we have slipped into a complete autocracy in which people have no expectation of privacy and anyone who isn’t White is at risk of being put in a detention center. Kadija is a Brown badass freedom fighter, part of the resistance network which has been driven deep underground. She received a weird assignment on her (dead? detained?) crew chief’s secure modular device and finds herself in the middle of the woods in Appalachia trying to locate a woman who disappeared from society some time ago.

Cynda is a high sensitive individual - she can control “nectar”, which basically allows her to alter the threads of life and also….suggest…people do what she wants them to. She had been participating in a research project (High Sensitive Person Project) trying to better understand people who are considered “Sensitives”, but something has driven her all the way to her “Eden” and she is living alone, completely off the grid, and has no intention of ever leaving.

Kadija and Cynda wind up on a journey that exposes this strange new society and shares fascinating vignettes of the types of groups that would spring up in this environment. There are The Real Queens (Karens on steroids), who the government allows to operate in the interest of the State, and terrifying good old boys - looking for anyone of color who they can send to detention centers. But there are also fascinating places of resistance, all connected in an unseen web, which help our protagonists on their journey. Although Kadija has a deceptively straightforward mission, navigating the country is anything but simple. Their path from a safe hotel to an almost cult-like safe space called Mercy Haven, run by Sisters, to her old crewmates house, to an extraordinarily posh neighborhood keeps the reader, as well as the protagonists, on their toes. Wrenn did an amazing job of bringing the reader along on the journey with the protagonists - I felt the cortisol flood my system as I was just sitting on my couch because I was constantly concerned for my new friends. Every new situation posed a threat and felt very high stakes.

Wrenn’s character writing is excellent - the secondary characters were all defined individuals, and all played critical roles in getting our protagonists to where they needed to go. I think Wrenn is also the queen of prickly women - both Cynda and Kadija have extraordinarily high walls draped in thorny plants to keep anyone from getting close. Getting to know each other was slow, but they saw pieces of their own wounded souls in each other and that led to a deep, unbreakable connection.

Questions about scientific research ethics and the things that fellow scientists (and funders) will turn a blind eye to are central to this book. Outside of the overall government, the “big bad” in this book is Dr. Bryant Peters a scientific leader who conducts research on Sensitives - a group of people who have specific sensory super-abilities, but are othered in society. Part of the selling point of his research (and schools he founded) to families is making these individuals more “normal”.

I will say that this is the least escapist things I have read in a while. I generally like dystopia, but in these times, dystopia feels a little too close to home. If you are feeling overwhelmed and defeated, this might not be the book for you right now, even though it’s excellent. Be kind to yourself first and foremost.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up. This was a very interesting read. As the story starts there isn't a whole lot on the side of world building so it did take me a min to fully grasp where the story was taking place. It almost felt like reading a continuation of a book that had already somewhere had explained those things. This was a pretty heavy book despite the gorgeous cover, and there were times where I genuinely didn't understand what was happening. The story line was also a but frustrating for me as I felt like there was no real progression in the big picture of the story. I think overall this one just wasn't for me as I just really couldn't get into it.

Oh to read this book! Such a good example that a good story will always fill our hearts... such good characters... such a good story... I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

This is a tough one to review. It is an interesting book about how some people in our society are treated and how close we are to a future that is out of control. I'll admit it's not an easy or "fun" read. The setting of this story feels too similar to the future waiting for us if we don't do something to change it. It's a little heavy handed at times and I'll admit I prefer my books to be a little more subtle. But it's touching on a lot of important subjects.

Cynda and Kadija are very interesting main characters and I enjoyed their journey into realising how important they are for each other. I also really liked the slow reveal of the powers they both had and how they worked.

I'll admit that at times this book felt like a sequel. I think it was due to the world building and the author not giving us enough to build the world we are in. Maybe it's due to how similar it ended up to ours in the end. But I still struggled with the big picture of the story, and with a feeling that I was already supposed to understand the settings of this book. My other issue was that Kadija is set up to be this big time revolutionary but in the end we find out that what she's trying to stop is just one thing in this nightmare reality. She's not working on the structural issues that allowed this to happen in the first place, just stopping one guy. My issue is that... This won't change what is happening in the world of this story, not even short term. So in the end it feels like a fruitless exercise in revenge.

This is definitely a story that will work for some people, it just wasn't for me.

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Whatever you may think of dystopian novels, world building, etc., just forget it. This story finds us dealing with an environment that is all too familiar to our current situation: The government forgetting/ignoring what habeas corpus means; those at the top of the socioeconomic totem pole are basically running the show (ethically or not) at the expense of minorities; and marginalized groups are subject to ignorance and shall we say, less than charitable conduct. There is always resistance though, some of it with willing and not-so-willing participants and this is where the story begins for us. Our author begins by taking us back to nature, and the all natural. Because isn’t that where recovery, renewal, and rebirth come from? She also focuses on our senses, which throughout this story I got the feeling was being used to show that the vast majority of people’s senses are quite deadened these days. We are, in fact, desensitized. So we meet Cynda and Kadija, and when rebel Kadija convinces Cynda to return to the “civilization” she left to help put a stop to an outrageous experimental program, they embark on the type of adventure that has you on the edge of your seat while cringing at what we’ve become.

Perhaps the timing was poor or perhaps it was impeccable. The day I reached a point in the novel where our main characters were in a series of dangerous hiding out spaces, was also the day I visited the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. To know that story and then read this one knocked my mind out in a way that is too overwhelming for words. I don’t normally quote the Bible, but it’s true that there really is nothing new under the sun.

I’ve previously abandoned Ana K. Wrenn’s first book because of the wordiness and winding writing style. This second foray into writing for the author sounded very interesting. I love me some dystopian stories.
And that’s where it’s already a miss to me, yes, it’s a bit dystopian but the world building is very lacking to me. I don’t feel like it’s dystopian at all. A world at war? Possibly. Dystopian? Nope, not so much.
It took me a rather long time to get through this book, and in the end I am not even sure what I read about. The books showed potential, but it was lacking for me.
I think this author’s writing style might just not be for me. This stuff happens, it’s not to say this is a bad book, or bad writing. The book/ the author and simply don’t match.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this very strange book

Cynda is based in the Appalachian mountains, not hiding exactly but she doesnt want to be found so when Kadija turns up demanding that she goes back and helps put right what went wrong with her experiment cynda isnt happy....

there is a lot wrong with the world now....and kadija has a job to do.... cynda must obey and help

as the warring pair travel together an understanding happens between them.... but danger is always around them and betrayal is something that can happen when they least expect it....

was never to sure on this one... but the relationship between the two main characters was enough to keep me reading...

As I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. Cynda didn’t seem like a character I could feel any connection to. Then there was Kadija and I wasn’t sure what her angle was for wanting Cynda to leave her paradise in the mountains. As the story unfolds and we understand the characters more I came to enjoy these characters and the depth they had.
The way Ana K Wrenn writes you can feel and visualize the places in this book. The way she describes the Appalachian Mountains you can feel the love she has for it.
This book is written in such a way that it feels like a peek into the future. Which feels off putting at times. But there is hope throughout the story.
Do yourself a favor and don’t rush through this book. Take your time and immerse yourself in this world, let yourself engage and experience your five senses.
Thank you to Ylva Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honesty review.

Superb! Strong female leads, dystopian world and great plot twists. Really really enjoyed this. Fantastic work, thank you author. Thank you to # NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. A favourite author definitely

This is a sapphic dystopian novel set with America, the Appalachian area where we meet our main characters Kadija and Cynda. Kadija a freedom fighter and sent on a mission to return to civilisation with Cynda and destroy the research institute she previously escaped from.

This is a slow burn where connections build firstly in Cynda’s Eden where Kadija is not in her element and then further through their journey together back to civilisation.

This has some wonderful writing and some interesting world building that could be a bit on the nose given the current climate. But some fantastic character development but I would have liked further insight into the backstory and a times the story for me felt a bit too long in places. However an interesting story that I would recommend when this comes out on the 21st May. I was given an opportunity to read this via an ARC on NetGalley.

The Wilding of Em's Path by Ana K. Wrenn is an eerie cautionary tale about a future that does not seem far removed from the current reality of the United States. Wrenn writes of a world that has devolved into a dystopian society in which underground networks are necessary to assist those who are othered before they can be 'disappeared,' trafficked, or turned in to authorities. Voter suppression, anti-protest policies, anti-immigration sentiment, anti-queer rhetoric, racism, and other forms of systemic oppression create an unsafe, volatile environment in which hope is steadily dimming.
Cynda and Kadija could not be more different, except for their shared status as highly sensitive individuals. Kadija pulls Cynda from her refuge, urging her to confront the toxic colleagues of her past in hopes of exposing a rogue scientist who is conducting horrendous experiments on individuals with heightened sensitivities—<em>"a neurobiological phenomenon"</em>—in a Mengele-esque manner.
The author skillfully paints a bleak yet realistic vision, and the thin thread of hope still running through the chaos.
The battle for humanity is being fought on all fronts as Kadija and Cynda journey on their mission. They grow closer with reliance on one another, shared trauma, and a deeper connection. Individually, they are complex, interesting characters. I like the way they ground one another. I would have liked to <em>feel</em> more chemistry between them, although their relationship is not about romance but is vital to their mission's success.
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"They held one another without speaking, as if both understood that love during the darkest times was the fiercest act of resistance two women could offer the world."
</blockquote>
I enjoy the author's writing style and creativity, while she also draws from reality in constructing this complicated and precarious setting. Wrenn effectively combines heavy, realistic content with science fiction elements and a sapphic relationship subplot. I recommend this novel and will be reading her other as well.
#BIPOC #researchscientist #freedomfighter #dystopian #scifi #oppositesattract #HEA #hope #racism #anti-immigration #sapphic
I received a free ARC from the author through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

In all the bleakness: hope
Ana K Wrenn continues to write fascinating books with her distinct voice. The Wilding of Em‘s Path is a dystopian novel. It takes current, chilling developments in the US to its bleak, possible conclusions. We now see the blueprint, Wrenn delivers with her novel the new oppressive society which might be build on it.
The darkness is balanced by good people and the growing understanding between Cynda/Em, the hermit, and Kadiya, the freedom fighter. There is heartbreak, love, frighteningly familiar scenes, beauty, hope, fears and courage, broken cities, a deep connection to nature and the deep forests of the Appalachians.
The first chapters are especially captivating - an impressionistic kaleidoscope of feelings, observations, thoughts, nature introducing the two main characters and the wilderness. A roadtrip leads to discoveries: good, bad, abysmal, love, home, betrayal.
Not an easy read, a book that needs to be digested slowly. Don‘t despair though, there are many pockets of hope and beauty.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

Emily Cynda Berman hides in Eden while the word is going under. Kadija is sent to retrieve her since the world needs her special abilities, the ECB effect. Cynda is the key to end the madness going on in the world, she may be able to stop the horrible Peters.

The book was beautifully written, angsty and dystopian so really my type of story. I must however admit that I struggled a bit while reading since so complex and perhaps too many layers to consider. Thus, I had a lot of mixed feelings when finishing the book a few days ago. After thinking about the story for a few days I realized it is a story that stuck in my mind so I may have liked it a lot more than I initially thought. With that said I think the book would have benefitted a lot with more backstory and a long epilogue so we could see that Cynda and Kadija really get their HEA.

Its quite difficult to balance dystopian fiction without getting too close to modern society but this worked! I enjoyed the slow burn, the myriad of emotions, and the character development! Wonderful job!

A bit too close to the potential dystopian times upon us for my own comfort, but a truly enjoyable and immersive read.

The setting is descriptive in the Appalachian and our main character Kadija (badass freedom warrior) is attempting to draw Cynda out of her current wilderness safe space to enact a rebellion on the research institute she escape and left years ago.

The story as a whole was dark but very well written, truly drew me in. I loved the setting and science that was tied in.

Really cool read, thanks for the ARC!

May cut too close to modern reality for some readers at times
I liked this story more than her first book. The dystopian storyline may not be everyone's cup of tea right now and this one rubs up close or overlaps with aspects of current reality depending on where you live in the world. I'm not used to reading books in this genre when they're not 'ripped from the headlines' necessarily but also don't feel like a distant possible future; it's a bit more unsettling and less escapist reading. The dark themes may trigger some readers; that may be a given. There is however humor and some lighter feel good moments to offset the drama and darker stuff.
Main characters Cynda and Kadija are fun to follow around; the cat and mouse scenes with each of them believing themselves to be the cat in that scenario are entertaining reading. Kadija is beyond fish out of water when on Cynda's turf and Cynda is frequently underestimated by several characters, to their detriment. There are some endearing secondary characters and quirky ones who are easy to imagine. Chapter endings are often written in such a way that you want to continue reading into the next chapter and beyond.

I appreciate author Wrenn's contrast of so-called 'civilization' with the woods where Cynda lives. The intriguing powers possessed by various characters and their exploitation in part thanks to research funding and corrupt negotiations, with wealthy donors steering or dictating the direction and focus of research provides ample food for thought in modern day. I don't think I've ever read a book with such a high focus on smell and scent but it adds dimension to the reading and may heighten the reader's own olfactory awareness along the way. The ending and resolution are shorter compared to the long build up to get there and some readers may question whether justice was served in the end; a few minor questions lingered in my mind when I finished the story but that may be intentional to enhance the uncertainty of the dystopia. Although the story is set in part in Appalachia, the settings could have just as easily been in numerous other parts of the USA or other countries so it feels like a 'could be happening in my backyard' kind of tale again adding to that dystopic feel.

I'm not a big reader of dystopian stories, especially lately, but I read thru this one quickly in a matter of days with several very long reading sessions of 'just one more chapter' happening on repeat. If you want unconventional characters in a slow simmer slow burn romance and don't mind dark themes in your reading material, give this one a read and check out Wrenn's first book as well particularly if you're in academia.

What can I possibly say to convey how much I loved this book! It is a sapphic dystopian story yet deeply resonated with the times we live in today. A terrifying glimpse of what we may be heading towards in a way only Ana K. Wren can express. It is an unfolding love story struggling and surviving in the most difficult of times. It is a glimpse into the experiences of highly sensitive people, told through a story we can all sink into and surface with an even deeper understanding of ourselves and others. It is a lesson in trusting our own intuition, our gut feelings, and how we can balance and refuel when we’ve given too much. It is a reminder to keep hope alive and remember that even in the darkness, the light will shine again. These lessons are in between the lines of this story and are understood at a more subtle, yet visceral level. These are the elements that touched me deeply and left me in gratitude and respect for Ana’s ability to tell a story that resonates on multiple levels while touching on difficult topics and evoking emotions throughout.

The main characters have depth and invite the reader in to gain a deeper understanding of their life experiences that have brought them to where they are. The relationship between Cynda and Kadija is complicated and poses a threat to the isolated world Cynda has created for herself, her safety, her sanity. When Kadija arrives at her secluded refuge in the forest she brings with her the past Cynda has worked so hard to leave behind. She has no desire to venture out into the world that has caused her such pain and where violence and hatred has taken root.

Kadija is a freedom fighter, a warrioress. She is committed to the fight against the people in power that would rather see her and those like her dead. She is a woman of color, a highly sensitive woman and a representation of all that they want to use and destroy. Her mission is to bring Cynda back with her to stand against the destructive research institute that Cynda was part of and escaped years ago.

As their connection deepens and attraction builds, will they survive what awaits them as they journey back to civilization?

5 stars is not enough when rating this book. It is a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ylva and Ana K. Wren for the arc. I am honored to leave my honest review.