This world feels like our own, but is distinctly different, five teens, all from different backgrounds and temperaments are forced to travel together in search of answers.

I really loved this book. The initial hook grabbed me, but the plot twist and character interactions really kept me coming back. The audiobook was read well and was a joy to listen to! I can say that at the beginning, because characters are so different, they tend to butt heads and argue a lot, this is later sorted out when the story starts to focus on the strange world around them. Identities (think trans and sapphic) are handled well and feel somewhat natural in the context of the book. The prose is really gorgeous, and feel textured, making this story feel like a YA on the borderline of YA.

The ending was truly the icing on the top. Would HIGHLY recommend for fans of "Yellowjackets" or "The Society"

This is exactly what it said it was going to be in the blurb, in the best way.

Childhood can be scary and finding your way to yourself can be stop-and-go. The fantastical elements in the caravan serve as stand-ins for those basic truths, while also introducing the complications of indoctrination and abuse.

I'm normally not a huge fan of a narrator in a polyphonic book, but the 4th wall breaking moments worked really well here and the voice actor is especially talented at making themself sound like an old and trusted confidante.

I really appreciate a stand-alone fantasy, and most of me hopes that this is one, but I also wouldn't mind finding out what happens after the ending.

Audiobook ARC provided by NetGalley.

This work was saturated with purple prose, using so many words to say so little. The number of similes per page was just absurd. A few of the samples of this kind of writing include "somnolent limbo in dappled specters," eyes of "shadowed ichor." the "tectonic strength of his pounding heart," "forcing his tone to wear a mask of condescension even while his heart forgets the choreography of his pulse" - and all of this was within the first few pages of the first chapter. I also disliked how the fourth wall was constantly broken in one POV in ways that felt like spoon-feeding the reader or belaboring points.

The work changes POVs frequently among the characters who were left alone in their camp. According to what we're told, the characters were part of an insular community together and had known each other for awhile. However, it came across more as if they barely knew one another and decided they instantly hated each other, with one of the characters constantly bullying for no apparent reason. This resulted in a lot of interpersonal drama that did nothing to move the plot or build the characters, and just got tiresome. There's no real plot, the characters aren't developed beyond quirky appearances, and the parameters of this world weren't really explained, leaving nothing for me to connect with or like about this one.

The premise of this one was interesting, which is why I picked this up. But I honestly can't recommend this at all. I'm a bit of an outlier here, so if the premise sounds good to this one don't take my word for it. My thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

H.E. Edgmon's "We Can Never Leave" delivers a fascinating dive into existential science fiction. The core concept is immediately compelling: a group of individuals wake up and everyone else is gone. Edgmon masterfully crafts such a convincing atmosphere, making the reader experience the characters' growing confusion right alongside them.
The world-building, while confined, is incredibly inventive, presenting logical yet increasingly unsettling. The prose is sharp and effective, perfectly conveying the characters' internal struggles and the strange, evolving nature of their predicament.
If you're seeking a sci-fi novel that delves into the more cerebral and existential aspects of the genre, one that will leave you pondering long after the last page, this is definitely a compelling read.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. I love Edgmon's work and this book is no different. It being narrated by Vico Ortiz made me extra excited. The book keeps his suspense and darkness all through out the story, and although the plot twist wasn't one, the outcome of it was. The only downside: There were huge parts of the story I had trouble following along. Luckily it wasn't so I couldn't follow the plot itself.

Aaaaaaaaa HE Edgmon has done it again, leaving me with stinging eyes in the car with dinner cooling in the passenger seat as I spend those last few minutes finishing up the audiobook of We Can Never Leave...

Before:

I'd never heard Vico Ortiz as a narrator/audiobook performer before but I'm familiar with them from Our Flag Means Death -- and let me tell you, as an audiobook narrator/performer they are a DELIGHT. They keep each character very separate and very easy to identify from dialogue alone and are able to switch from Amon's raspy voice to Cal's dry Daria-esque cynicism to Hugo's teen boy cadence to Felix's soft and sweet hopefulness all the while pulling you into the story itself. Even the omniscient narrator has its own vibe, sometimes taking asides to talk to us, the listeners. It's fantastic. (New tab: Google: Vico Ortiz audiobook narration)

Let's move onto the story:

One morning, after the bonfire celebration of that month's new moon, five older teens awaken to find themselves completely alone. All the adults in their Caravan (which is wonderfully not just a wink nudge at segregated religious allegories but an open stare) are just... gone. And so, they set out to try and find one other community they know about, several states away... and maybe find some answers, or maybe even more questions, along the way. In short! Though that two-sentence descriptor doesn't touch on what's great about this book, which starts and ends with the writing-- the sort of clear yet semi-prosey descriptors and dialogue that put you as a reader right into the thick of things. Even in a story full of comparisons and allegory, sometimes the narration was again quite open and pointed about it but it was framed in such a way that honestly I loved it, it didn't feel like an author not trusting a reader and pointing something out to them. I liked that we didn't get the full breadth of what was fully going on in the Caravan -- because none of our quintet did, either. Somehow, the mystery of it appealed to me more than if everything had been laid out and bare. Each character was complex in a way that as human nature dictates we may want to root for someone or other at various times, but should we? And on the other hand, why shouldn't we? Lots to think about, lots to enjoy.

Thank you to St Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the widget eARC and to RBMedia/Recorded Books for the ALC, I loved this.

The author has a unique and interesting way of writing their books, but sadly this time I wasn't able to connect with the characters. I'm not sure if it was due to the narrator, Vico Ortiz used the same tones and inflections for all of the characters. They all sort of blurred together for me. The story was promising and it had all of the elements that I adore, so I think later I’ll try again to read it.

A very special thanks to Netgalley + Recorded Books + Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

This was an interesting read. The audio version was good. I was confused in some parts of the book, and I didn't really enjoy when the author spoke to me, the reader. I felt like it took me out of the story. I do think there is an audience that would really enjoy this story,

We can Never Leave

Five teenagers are part of a “caravan”. One day they wake up and no one else is there. Just the 5. These are all inhuman creatures by the way. They either have part animal features or some special magic. I was very confused with this book. The description made it sound like it was about hardships of being queer youth. Well, I didn’t see that at all, went over my head I guess. There’s a mystery which one sorta can guess and it’s alright. There’s some love, family aspects, but can’t say I enjoyed this one much.
The audio version has an extra character which I could not figure out the purpose of. There were parts of this book I simply did not understand 💁🏻‍♀️ The narration itself was perfectly fine.

Thank you Recorded Books Media, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for the ARC.

I am going to say, y'all should listen to the audiobook of this book over reading the physical book, because the way it is written fits so much better. I really enjoyed the cult like and religious aspect of it, the way the plot twist is set up, and how absolutely messed up the kids are. I appreciated the time switches and look into the different backgrounds, as well as the more current timeline and the struggle the group is going through. It was a delightful mix of horror, thriller, and contemporary that I appreciated.

I also appreciated how gender, racism, and similar was discussed, that even in a "perfect caravan" it still exists, even if people pretends it doesn't, due to existing within a society in which it does. I think the author handled it really well.

This audiobook has been so much fun. Vico Ortiz did an amazing job with everyone’s voices and really made the characters feel real.

The story is really good and reminds me so much of Sweet Tooth but if it was very different.

It is difficult for me to review this book because I enjoyed so much of it and yet was confused throughout other parts. I loved learning of the relationships and friendships between characters and how this altered their lives but also struggled to grasp the book well since it switched between prospectives. This could have been partially my fault since I sometimes do other things while listening and listen at a fast speed. As mentioned, I liked the book overall. My favorite part was probably the narrator because it spoke directly to the listener and even told things as if it knew what the listener were thinking.

There were sections where I did not know what was happening or did not enjoy the dialogue/events happening between the characters. I also struggled to keep the plot straight since they were often moving and I couldn't tell exactly how or where they were going. The end of the book was probably my favorite since it left on a cliff-hanger. If this book were to be continued, the section of finding out what happens and figuring out the mystery would probably be my favorite part.

Overall, the book was good and I enjoyed my time, but it didn't seem to be my perfect cup of tea.

Review also posted to Goodreads.

This review is only based on the audiobook experience I had with this story. I have a physical copy as well and my full review (and rating) may change after I have time to read the physical book.
Audiobook review:
First off, Vico Ortiz is one of my favorite narrators so there’s already a point earned there.
Each of the characters definitely has their own distinct voice (written character voice, not the voice acting), so it’s easy to distinguish who is who once you get a feel for how they speak/think.
The story was confusing at first with all the POV shifts and time jumps, and I did restart the audiobook about 25% of the way through just to make sure I wasn’t misinterpreting anything (I’m glad I did, and it was much clearer afterward).
I think perhaps the confusion is fitting for a story like this, because you as the reader are put into this confusing situation at the same moment the characters are, and all of their conflicting personalities and backgrounds are butting heads as they try to work together to figure out what has happened to them and their community.
This is definitely a character driven novel, and I love that. The end? WOW, was not expecting that. I had a sneaky feeling from the beginning that (spoiler: character name) had more to them than the story was letting on, but I wasn’t expecting THAT. I’m still not entirely sure what happened in its entirety, which is why I’m waiting for my physical copy so I can re read that ending.

I was unable to get into this one, so I did not finish. The premise sounded really interesting, but it’s just not what I thought it would be. It wasn’t executed hard to keep up with from the start with a handful of characters and different POV’s.

I am not going to lie, I was pretty confused for the first half of this novel... That being said, I think it made me want to listen to it even more?? The characters weren't necessarily likeable, but they all had such a human quality to them that I couldn't help but want to know more. I think here the confusing nature of the story really made it work. 

To preface, we have five not quite human teens wake to find everyone they know is gone. They only have each other, and so they set off to find others familiar to them and their families. Only things are weird and not clear cut, and they each seem to have some type of magic and it is unclear where these kids have come from. One has faint memories of knowing things, but doesn't actually remember anything before his time with the Caravan (a mysterious group they are all apart of). Each of these teens seem to have beef with one another, which begs the question... Can they survive each other to make it to their destination?

In a twist I didn't see coming, this story creates a powerful narrative about cults, beliefs, and how we can suffocate in environments where we aren't allowed to question and love is conditional. 

Vico Ortiz did an amazing job on the audio narration, giving each character a very distinct voice and created a eerie tension in each distinct voice. If you love books that don't give everything away, reflect on human nature, and keep you guessing, I would pick this up. Thank you to the publisher for providing an ALC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Recorded Books and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

Well, that was horrible...and I absolutely ate up every single second. I'm not sure I completely understood everything, but I think that was a lot of the joy of it. I was not at all expecting the ending, and the way I gasped when it finally hit me....unmatched.

The creepiness of the setting and the premise really sets this story up for success. It lends itself to the real-life conversations about religion, cult-like life, and so much more while showing the awful faces behind the masks of these things.

I loved the narration and the way that everyone was so starkly different, it really helped you feel like you were getting to know the characters.

This is such a creepy, existential read, and if that doesn't get you to pick it up, then I don't know what will.

Soooooo this book was really interesting. I LOVED the concept. It addresses real life (raised in cult inspired) nightmares in a genuinely fantastical and creepy way. Each of the characters are really interesting with fascinating and complex backstories. Each character is unique it their personality, each responding to similar traumas in their own distinct and different ways. The author also does a great job exploring the relationships between the characters in a way that enhances the themes of exploring cult-induced trauma.

All that being said, I struggled to follow some things in this book. Soft world building can be very captivating in its own way and really help build mystery in a story like this with insidious undertones. However, if it leads to too many questions and not enough answers, it ends up steering away from engaging and tumbling into confusing. And I feel like this book really dances on that line. And I wish it had backed up a few steps.

The other complaint I have about this book is that it's kind of a lot of POVs AND it jumps around a lot in time which made following what was going on (in addition to what is probably too many world-basted questions) difficult. This might have been mitigated if I'd been physically reading it so I could have taken things a little more slowly in the beginning of the book while we're getting to know each of the characters, but then I also would have missed out on some of the awesome things about the audiobook including:

The awesome creepy whispers that I will probably have nightmares about.
The nuance in changes to narration style for different POVs. For this, I'm not talking about different voices for the dialog. I'm talking about reading the narrative

One thing I didn't like about the audiobook though was that there were definitely some bits of clunky editing where the sound would changes on single lines, phrases or sometimes individual words. It really messed up the immersion.

Another thing to note about this book is that there are instances where the narrative breaks the fourth wall. Sometimes I like that in a book, but this time, I'm not sure it was the best call. I don't know what it added and the further we got into the book, the more I felt like it just interrupted from the experience rather than adding anything.


It's listed as YA which makes sense since the story follows teens but I didn't feel like the quality of the prose was at all lacking. It managed to feel artistic while still feeling straightforward enough for a teen audience.

As for the ending, I could see some folks really hating the ending, but with one exception, I actually found the ending really satisfying and appreciate the book that much more for it. Even though this book is solidly fantasy, the approach and the ending gave it some Sci-fi kind of vibes that I really dug.

I recommend this book to anyone who interested in reading a creature-esque fantasy with themes of exploring trauma and horror and slight sci-fi undertones.

This one is a DNF for me, I'm sorry! The premise sounded very exciting and interesting but I am having a hard time getting into it. I feel like it's progressing really slow with not a lot happening, which is a shame because I do feel like the concept is there and the prose is well written. I'll keep my feedback to only netgalley and not goodreads for this one. Thank you for the ARC!

This contemporary fantasy hooked me from the beginning. The world that Edgmon created was so interesting because it allows for such a variety of characters, backgrounds, and presentations while still maintaining a tight group of characters. I thought the choice of how the mutations came to be was such a great choice because it orients you to the world without needing a ton of info-dumping for world-building. There is great queer and gender diverse representation.

The biggest drawback of this book is that there are so many POVs that it can get confusing keeping them straight. I think the book would read a lot easier with an omnicient 3rd person POV or just choosing a couple primary POVs.

I received an ALC of the audiobook from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 50%

Unfortunately, this just isn't for me. I don't think it's badly written in terms of the prose, and the premise is really interesting, but at halfway through, I'm still not getting into it. The characters' relationships and experiences have a very dark tone, without that being counterbalanced by much in the way of reasons to like or root for them. There's a fourth-wall breaking narrator as well, which sometimes works for me, but not in this case. It feels out-of-place-whimsical, but also annoying - the narrator keeps commenting that they can't tell me everything as the reader because they don't trust me.

I'm giving this three stars despite it being a DNF, because I think this probably is for someone, if not me, This may be more for readers who like dark coming-of-age stories. I love a fantasy mystery, and I'm always here for queer narratives, but I find this kind of dark teen intensity tough to deal with.

I really like Vico Ortiz and I have no complaints about the narration.