Review by Freya Bennett
Wild Dark Shore is a haunting and beautiful ode to family, the environment, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit. Set on Shearwater, a tiny island near Antarctica, the story follows Dominic Salt and his three children, who are the last caretakers of the island after it has been abandoned due to rising sea levels. Once a hub for researchers and home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater now stands as a symbol of loss and survival. The Salts’ mission is simple: pack up the seeds and move them to safer ground. But amidst the wild beauty of their isolated life, the toll of solitude weighs heavily on them.
The situation takes a dramatic turn when a storm washes a woman named Rowan ashore. As the Salts nurse her back to health, their initial suspicion transforms into affection, and they begin to rediscover the feeling of family. Yet, Rowan harbours secrets of her own—secrets that lead her to question not only her reasons for coming to Shearwater but also the truth about Dominic and the Salts’ past. When Rowan uncovers signs of sabotage and a freshly dug grave, she realises there’s much more at play than she first thought.
Charlotte McConaghy has truly mastered the art of the page-turner. Her writing is crisp, full of tension, and masterfully structured with twists that kept me on the edge of my seat well past my bedtime. This book is heartbreaking yet heartwarming, exploring love in its many forms—romantic, familial, and the profound bond between humans and nature. It’s a love letter to the human spirit, showing that even in the face of destruction and loss, we are capable of healing and connection.
An unforgettable read, if Wild Dark Shore doesn’t become a movie or series, I will be truly devastated. My first five-star book of the year.
You can get your hands on Wild Dark Shore from March 5th, 2025.
