Wild Dark Shore
By Charlotte McConaghy
- Release Date: 2025-03-04
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • #1 AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR SO FAR 2025
An ENTHRALLING new novel from the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING author of Migrations and Once There Were Wolves
"A WILDLY TALENTED writer." ―Emily St. John Mandel
“SPELLBINDING...Exceptionally imagined, thoroughly humane.” —Washington Post
“Abounds with EVOCATIVE nature writing.” —The New York Times Book Review
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.
Reviews
Poignant story, uplifting
5By lthoma2Harsh environment. Threatened by climate change, you get a real feeling for the choices we will have to make. But that is just the backdrop to a gorgeous story about all the dimensions of love. Beautiful book! Could not put it downAn emotional, but fulfilling drama, in a very cool setting!
5By Mike EzepchickWow, this was such an emotional and sentimental read. This touched on all things from love, loss, and impending global doom via climate change. It’s a heavy read but very worth it. McConaghy did such a good job at creating a unique environment (a sub-arctic island that’s full of wildlife) and dropping in a very captivating, intertwined mystery/drama between real, genuine characters - all with their own thoughts, feelings, backstory, and even trauma. The story flew by because I was so interested in this family and their relationship with Rowan. McConaghy’s prose was great too, she’s a very talented writer and definitely knows how to write with emotion. Will definitely be reading her other books!So good!
5By TcdickersonLots of plot twists, couldn’t guess even if you tried. Quick and easy read!Chaos Brought By Climate Change
5By BigAppleGregTouching story with unexpected twists and turns; and with a greater, deeper meaning. It will chill your bones.Amazing.
5By Isrightasrain16Simply amazing.Great read!
5By The best staffExcellent read!! Very interesting and full of feelings and mysteries throughout. A wonderful book.Beautiful
4By ashnoboaBeautifully written; I got lost in the prose. Lost in the story. Without taking it all away, I am angry….its abrupt. It’s angry. It’s Shearwater.Terrible terrible story line
1By Riles-2013I tried… I tried so hard to get into this book but I couldn’t picture the setting, the scenes, all of it. The characters were great, loved them, but the story itself and saving the seeds is just terrible.Well written, but the agenda makes me crazy and hard to enjoy
2By daly lifeSad that it took this viewpoint and so stronglyWild Dark Shore
4By GWYNEDD READERWell written, good characters, interesting, and engaging.A must read!
5By Super swimmer girlAmazing, loved!! Highly recommendOld story line
2By HandakinaMaybe a good book for a 14 yr old. Uses an old story line embedded in a different environment. Characters are juvenile in more ways than one, especially the lead female character. Save your money.Brilliant.
5By TresEpiqueTimely and beautifulTrue to it’s title
5By croweboysmomThe author brought these characters to life, everything felt like it came to life actually! It seemed as though I was experiencing all the highs and lows in this tale firsthand! Loved it and couldn’t put it down!What a magnificent ride!
5By JsmwoodsAfter I strapped myself in and rode into this novel, the characters, and I include all of the inhabitants of this island and sea as characters, I lived this story and so very glad of it….READ AGAIN PLUS FOR CLUB
5By Dogcat@15 stars means to read again from now on! Love the setting, the mysteries, the characters, the knowledge, etc. Great book!Wow!
4By Janine 23This is my first book by this author and I love her writing style. It id very lyrically engaging and I felt myself being transported into the Antarctic wilderness with this family. I was on the edge of my seat,Amazing
5By swede18I liked the characters, the theme, and the way it was written. I feel like I lived it and saw it in a movie.
