Into the Mouth of the Wolf

by Erin Gough

Part thriller, part queer romance, Into the Mouth of the Wolf is the stunning, long-awaited new YA novel from the award-winning author of Amelia Westlake.

Dear Iris,

If all goes well I will be in touch by this evening. If you hear nothing, contact Glassy Bay International Travellers’ Hostel and ask after me. Use our real names.

Your Mama xxx

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, LGBT, Mystery, Queer, Lesbian, Romance

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2024

About the author

Erin Gough is a fiction writer whose short stories have been published in a number of journals and anthologies, including Best Australian Stories, The Age, Overland, Southerly and Going Down Swinging. Her work has been broadcast on radio. She has also worked as a freelance writer and columnist. Awards Erin has received for her short fiction include first place in the Banjo Patterson National Short Story Competition, the Wimmera Literary Competition, the University of British Columbia “Ubyssey” Literary Competition and the FAW Frank Page Award for Short Story Writing. She is a past recipient of the Varuna Eleanor Dark Flagship Fellowship for Fiction, an Australian Society of Authors Mentorship, a Bundanon residency and an Australia Council Emerging Writers Grant.

Reviews

[Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content warnings: murder, references to earthquakes, references to bushfires.

Rep: Iris (MC) is cis and lesbian. Lena (MC) is cis, lesbian, and Armenian-Australian (note that lesbian is not used on page for either but they're lesbian). Prash (MC) is cis, hetero, and Indian-Australian. Marty (MC) is cis, white, and hetero. Side enby character.


I've been a fan of Erin Gough's works for several years now. Ever since The Flywheel came out, in fact.

This book was nothing like I was expecting. There was some twists and turns that even I didn't see, and that's saying something.

I adored the characters, the pacing, and the mystery of it all.

This was a wild ride from start to finish, and I enjoyed every single moment of it.


This is 4.5 rounded up for goodreads.

[Kai Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin Gough’s Into The Mouth of the Wolf feels like a conversation that is still running after the final page. The questions that the characters are asking, and the challenges that they are facing, are our questions and our challenges. I was most enthralled by the relationships that were threaded throughout the different storylines, both the connections between the teens themselves and those that they had with their families, neighbours, governments and the environment. This book offers readers drama, heartache and, above all, stubborn hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, making Into The Mouth of the Wolf an adventure novel for our times.

Thank you to Hardie Grant for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[hannah! · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty cool but I couldn’t really follow the story lol

[Bec S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but I was left wanting both more and less.

I wanted more of the earthquakes and the dystopia vibe, more about some of the secondary characters.

Less intertwining of real life current politics (its just not for me in novels, but could be alot of other people's cup of tea!)

There were moments where I wasn't sure which character I was reading and could have done with named chapters to make it a bit easier to follow.

However, overall an interesting story, some great characters development, a whole mix of tropes and kept me interested right the way through.

[Clare Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

March 2025
Well deserving of a nomination for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers. I hope it wins!

*********
July 2024

"What sense did it make to say supernatural when the natural world was incredible enough?"

At first I was liking this, then I started loving it. Reading at the same time as Bridge by Lauren Beukes was surreal. I recommend everyone do the same.

"There, in the middle of the bay, were the stars and the whole night waiting."

[Lawzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something a little different for me, Thriller and Romance, but touching on climate change and imagining a future suffering through catastrophic natural disasters. It's so real and so relevant as the world experiences more and more of this. And to read a story by an Australian author, set in Sydney, was so enjoyable. I enjoyed the journey, the raw emotions, young love, and the twists and turns. Will read more of Gough's stuff!

[Clare Rhoden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel starts out very strongly with the relationship between Iris and her mother, on the run in a world devastated by recurrent earthquakes. The opening scenes are awesome. I loved them and couldn't wait to read on.
For me, the best features of this story are the younger characters, who are more rounded and complex than the adults in their scenarios. There are complicated relationships between the youngsters and the queer romance aspects are well realised. These aspects give the book sturdy YA credentials.
Then suddenly the narrative takes us through an undersea crossing into a fantasy/sci-fi mirror world where things are almost equally dystopian. It's kind of spacey-wacey (to align with the Whovian timey-wimey) like there's a sudden introduction of the folding-map from A Wrong Turn at the Office of Unmade Lists.
Overall, a good and enjoyable story, and one that makes me want to check out Erin Gough's back catalogue.

[Mavis Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a mess.

So. The blurb seemed somewhat promising - it's a mystery and it's queer! I love both of those things. And then I start the book. It starts well enough, and then the plot just goes in way too many directions. It feels like the author was trying to tick off some sort of quota for what the "youth" want in a book - queer characters, climate change, critique of capitalism, some critique of the government - but it all comes across as forced and unnatural, and all of that stuff is barely delved into because the book is like 300 pages and trying to do far too much (and does all of it poorly!).

Around a quarter of the way in, the plot becomes "her mother got nerfed because she knew too much Science", and then just a little bit later the book gets very unscientific (and never explains anything or goes into any detail about it! like, "here's alternate dimensions. this was never alluded to earlier and we never even begin to explain how or why they exist and it's kinda pointless in general cause we could've just had her drive a car somewhere else). It got to a point where I was legitimately hoping the ending would be "... and it was all a dream/hallucination/some elaborate coping mechanism/etc" because that would've made more sense than what actually happened in this book!

I do not recommend it, but it's not my least favourite book (because I cared a little bit about the characters, unlike in my least favourite books). I am a bit of a hater for things I hate so take this review with a grain of salt, but I did hate this book. I do not hate a lot of books. There are books I don't like, but this book made me angry because of how stupid everything in it was. It felt very fanfiction-y as well, and I mean that in the worst way possible.

[LoLo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concepts but I really struggled to buy into the premise and the romance, especially because at times it was hard to differentiate the two girls.

[liv :) · Rating 1 out of 5]

.... awful, quite literally how is this nominated.

[Amanda Jenkins | smut.reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay Erin tell me all your secrets!!!

This book!!! The dystopian world with disasters like earthquakes and bushfires happening not to mention being set in SYDNEY. I felt every human emotion possible through each chapter, set in 3 parts. Hop in Sydneysiders cause you’re in for a wild ride. The mystery, the heart wrenching discoveries that made me keep reading into the early hours of the morning which led me to feel all the feels for Lena and Iris.

Put a fork in it cause I’m done! This is pure perfection, thank you Erin for this masterpiece of a book.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Into the Mouth of the Wolf is set in a dystopian world where earthquakes are happening all over Sydney and people are escaping the city.
Rohan Moretti has evidence that a big corporation is putting profit over safety. Rohan and 17 year-old daughter Iris are now being pursued. They must be silenced!

Lena is feeling isolated by her sexuality, she hasn't met anyone like her. When she meets Iris online there is an immediate spark and as they get to know each other an affection grows. Iris desperately needs to escape her pursuers and Lena promises to help.

I raced through this story. It is a fast paced mystery read with a whole host of likeable strong teens who face moral issues head on. There is plenty of drama to keep the reader invested.

Into the Mouth of the Wolf is part thriller, part climate fiction with a side of romance.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings: gun violence, natural disasters, explosions, dystopian government situations, death of a parent

I.......don't know how to feel about this book. I've heard many people raving about it, and it's on the CBCA Older Readers shortlist. But personally? I just found this confusing. Also, why the hell is the publisher pushing it as a romance when that's literally the tiniest of tiny subplots??

[rachel x]

“Part thriller, part queer romance, Into the Mouth of the Wolf is the stunning, long-awaited new YA novel from the author of Amelia Westlake.

Omg FINALLY! I’m so keen

[Maddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so this was both better than I was expecting but then so disappointing.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I’m gonna be honest the romance felt so forced - with both pairings. I just think it could have done without it as it really did not add anything to the story and it just felt clunky, they just like felt butterflies or something and then that’s all there is to indicate there’s a crush and then they kiss and like… where’s the chemistry? Also we’re in a climate apocalypse babe let’s have some priorities

I’m so so mad with all the plot points that didn’t get wrapped up!!!! I’m SO on board with the cli-fi aspect, I genuinely think it was really cool!! But then we don’t really get much info about the clean machines or like anything else worldbuilding wise which was so disappointing because I wanted more!!!!
You know what I’m just mad at a lot of plot points being dropped so I’m going to list them:
•Rohan dying - why?
•Kazumi - how did they know all this/backstory pls??
•Blue - who the fuck is she and why does she never come back?
•MR CLEAN BEING IRIS’ DAD??? - a truly monumental plot twist that didn’t go anywhere when there was so much potential
•Marty - what the fuck happened there
•Iris’ grief after losing her mum who is her best friend and then having to start a new life entirely on her own in a new place at the age of like 18 at most?! - where was the emotions????

Basically I was invested because the plot and ideas were genuinely so cool and well thought out but I felt like they kind of dropped off after the midpoint reveal and then everything else just felt inconsequential and so many plot threads were just left gaping open!!! Why set up all this if it’s for nothing!!

I want to make clear that I’m so annoyed BECAUSE of how much potential there was and how invested I was, I’m just so disappointed because it just feels like it could have been so much better!

[Scarlett Ashington · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
My first cli-fi (the first time I’ve heard about it as well) but I really enjoyed it. I read it as a judge for the DANZ competition and it makes me so sad that I never would’ve hear of it if u hadn’t been asked to judge it. This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read. The setting was amazing. I’ve never been to rural Australia so it was so cool to read about the small towns scattered around the country. The detail in this book is insane which made it so immersive. The characters were all so diverse and different from each other which I really liked. The detail of the characters were also insane. I felt like these people were real. Like they could’ve lived next door. The book itself was a captivating one. From the start it is clear there is a secret. In the attempts to find out one secret, another mystery needs solving. Frequent plot twists and reveals contribute to both mysteries. By the end everything makes sense but not in a “ahh there’s so much information how does this all work” but in a “OH THAT MAKES SENSE” way. That is one of the few times I’ve felt like that. It seems like everyone in the towns and the towns themselves have secrets. My jaw was dropping at the big plot twists and the small ones. There are too many genres to describe this book but I think dystopian is the most fitting genre. As the book goes on the children end up rebelling again the adults and government which feels very dystopian. The only critiques I’ll make are that the science of the crossing I didn’t quite understand as it was a multiverse thing and I never seem to understand those. Also I did struggle sometimes with remembering all the characters. This book didn’t give me a 5⭐️ feel but I did really enjoy 😁

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an odd one, and turned out to be more eco warrior style fiction than I had anticipated, set on an alt Earth. There’s great diversity and reps in here, and I loved that it was just part of the story, not something constantly pointed out or made as a bone of contention.
Iris and her mother live in a world of constant earthquakes where most of the population has given up trying to live in permanent structures and travel around Australia. Though these two are more transient than most, because someone is after them.
We get six chapters from Iris’s POV, then it swaps to a few other characters and introduces us to their lives.
It never really hit that thriller mark for me, more like it just left questions that took time to answer. (Even at the end, it leaves a lot of them hanging). It’s not much of a romance either, though the elements are there. Most of these characters spend very little time together, so it’s difficult to really have that connection and chemistry between them.
The pacing is great, and there’s constantly something happening or a question that crops up, and a few twists (though I do think there was too much foreshadowing to ever truly be a surprise.) Though why the hell were they using the dump sites if they knew it caused earthquakes? Surely they’d just get a shovel and bury it somewhere.
It builds really well towards the end and final conflict, but that feeling of imminent danger and suspense never really hit. It comes together quite nicely as everything falls into place and all the disjointed pieces eventually slot where they need to be. Nothing overwhelming though.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good story, whether it be a book or documentary that exposes the truth behind lies and cover ups and while this is fiction, the concept with the Clean Machines was an interesting one. It did leave you thinking about things that are done on our planet, to sustain and keep it healthy, that may actually be doing more harm than good.

I enjoyed the romance, founds friends/family and working through grief aspects to it and all of the characters were very vivid and bought something different to the story. Marty was my favourite character, she was strong, savvy, intelligent and put herself on the line and really came through for them all.

I was left with many questions at the end though, one being what happened to Kazumi? and how did they know a crossing was happening at that time? (Did I miss something? 🙈) and did the other side just disappear or is it still there? What happened to the other people 🤔
It also would have been nice to see a “fast forward” of what the world was like some time in the future and whether things had gotten better, worse or were they still trying to expose the truth.

It is fast paced and if is on your radar, please don’t let my review sway you from picking it up - I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thank-you Tandem Collective and Erin for choosing me to take part in this Readalong ❤️

[Jorjah Bamford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that keeps you engaged from the beginning.
I have a hard time picking up a book again after I’ve put it down, but this one made sure I kept coming back.

My only grievance is that the blurb doesn’t do it justice. I picked this up for my reading club at school during book week, and when I’m told to read a book rather than finding it by my own interest, I have a hard time actually getting to reading it. The blurb didn’t help in capturing my attention either, but after reading it, I’m annoyed I didn’t start it sooner! I feel if the blurb had dived a bit more into the story and given a way just a little bit more, it would engage a lot more people. Otherwise a fantastic read.

The way this was written is pure genius. So many different storylines were incorporated into one. Normally when writers do that it can become messy and hard to follow, however, Erin balanced them all perfectly and it enhanced the story immensely.

I’ve been looking for a book that I don’t end up getting bored with halfway through. And this is it. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/adventure with a side of teenage drama.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thank you to Hardie Grant for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. From the moment I started, I knew it was going to be good.

This is a story of love and loss, fear and courage. It’s part thriller, part romance, with a hint of dystopia. It is also a message about the climate, our world, and the ways we should be protecting it.

I loved all our main characters so much. Iris, Lena, Marty and Prash all have such distinct, unique voices and I loved getting to know them over the course of this book. Lena is definitely my favourite of the group, though. I loved her strong moral compass, her loyalty, her fierce determination, her fear and uncertainty, the clarity that finally came to her. I found her by far the most relatable.

I don’t want to say too much because I think everyone is best going into this knowing as little as possible. It’s full of twists and turns, interesting characters, with just enough romance to keep your heart guessing too, and I can’t recommend it enough.

[Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into The Mouth of The Wolf is one of those books that makes you think. Not just about what is happening within its pages, but also what is happening in our world. About ecosystems and the health of our planet. What are we doing to sustain it?

Not only does this novel cover heavy world topics, it also tackles elements that every reader can relate to. Loss of a parent, sexuality, family, found family, coming of age, finding yourself.

We get to see the same story told from multiple points of view, see our protagonists live through the trauma of loss, of fighting for a better world, and of learning to trust themselves and eachother.

Into The Mouth of The Wolf is easy to read, fast paced and makes you question your knowledge and stance on environmental sustainability. It has so many strong female MC's that aren't afraid to speak their truths. I only have one question... what happened to Kazumi!?

Thankyou so much to Tandem Global Collective for having me join the Readalong for this title. And to Hardie Grant for sending a review copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you again to #tandemglobalreadalong @hardiegrantkids, and @eringoughwriter

My Review
I love to read YA fiction and find that those book and series' are often first on my 'read every year' list. This was my first queer romance and my first Erin Gough read.

I could not put this book down. From the first few pages where I was thinking 'fugitive situation' to the next few where I thought it was a futuristic world, it kept me guessing and very interested.

I thought the characters were written beautifully with all sorts of cultures, identities and personality types represented. My favourite had to be Lena because of her trusting and loving persona. A close second was the kickass Kazumi although we could only guess at what happened to them as their story finished with the last time Iris saw them.

Without giving anything away, I was getting science fiction/alternate dimension vibes all the way through and I loved the clever way that the story brought about the 2 settings and never really explained the exactness of how.

This story touched on parental loss, climate change, big industries, and finding yourself and all in a lovely way that never went over the top or just skimmed the surface. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and I hope to see more of them, although I'm not sure that it's a sequel type of book.

All in all, I loved it and Erin Gough has a new fan! I'll be leaving my review where all the cool kids are and giving it 5 stars. My thanks to Hardie Grant and Tandem for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm going to gift a copy in return to my nibling who, I think, will love it just as much as me!

[Manpreet A Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ѕeт ιn and aroυnd Ѕydney, тнιѕ ѕтory delveѕ υѕ ιnтo тнe мaιn тнeмeѕ oғ clιмaтe cнange (earтнqυaĸeѕ мoѕтly), a вιт oғ polιтιcѕ and love & loѕѕ oғ parenт.

Ιrιѕ, 17 year old ιѕ on a rυn wιтн нer мoтнer, Roнan мoreттι only тo ĸeep тнeмѕelveѕ ѕaғe ғor нιdιng a ѕecreт oғ a coмpany caυѕιng clιмaтe cнange wιтн тнeιr acтιvιтιeѕ & ғocυѕιng on proғιтѕ. Нowever, wнen Roнan jυѕт dιѕappearѕ and leaveѕ Ιrιѕ on нer own, ѕнe нaѕ only one place тo go- A place мenтιoned ιn нer leттer вy Roнan тo нer daυgнтer.

Тнen тнere ιѕ Lena, wнo ιѕ ѕcared тo ѕнare нer ѕeхυal ιdenтιтy wιтн anyone eхcepт wнen ѕнe geтѕ and eмaιl ғroм Ιrιѕ looĸιng ғor нer мoтнer, ѕнe ғeelѕ a connecтιon.

Тнere are a loт мore cнaracтerѕ aѕ well and all oғ тнeм нave тнeιr roleѕ ѕo мυcн ιnтer-connecтed aѕ we read ғυrтнer. Ι ғelт тнe вooĸ waѕ noт ғor мe тнoυgн Ι waѕ cυrιoυѕ тo read ιт тo ĸnow тнe endιng. Ι waѕ a вιт dιѕappoιnтed wнen Ι coυldn'т ғιnd any ιnғorмaтιon oғ wнaт нappened тo ĸazυмι вy тнe end.

3.5 !

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this from Hardie Grant, book is out in May.

… there will still be time for love stories at the end of the world. This is one of the ideas swirling around this remarkable new book from Aussie YA fave, Erin Gough.

Very accurate to call it ‘We Were Liars’ meets ‘Station Eleven’ with queer romance elements.

This was *extraordinary* and not least because it’s one of the best genre mash-ups and a staunchly “uncategoriseable” book, precisely because it refuses to be one thing. The abiding through-line I adored was the idea that there’s still room for love & discovery even amongst catastrophe; both of the seismic global-boiling climate-fiction kind, and the whodunnit/whydunnit mystery of the human psyche kind too.

A new favourite.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!
I found this a really interesting read. I loved the dystopian world that was set in Australia, so it felt somewhat familiar while also just out of reach. I loved learning about the world and was intrigued by the earthquakes & bushfires and what on earth was going on.

The characters were what made the story for me though - they jumped off the page and had me feeling all the emotions at all times.

I think the only thing I didn't like was that we didn't get an ending for one character, but you can't get a wrap up for everybody and it allows me to imagine how I would like their story to wrap up!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book! I was sceptical of the premise at first but eventually came to like the changing perspectives and how everything eventually interwoven itself in the middle of the plot. It wonderfully explores climate change, grief, friendships etc. through YA lenses. The characters are quite distinct and unique to their own personalities, which slowly builds a connection between them and the reader. The only reason I gave this novel 4 stars was because of the forced romance and rushed pacing -- some parts were glossed over and left open (e.g. the reveal of her father, reasons behind crossing the border)

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it as one of the CBCA shortlist books for YA readers. It was definitely a book that had you trying to work how things were linked. Futuristic focus where rubbish disposal methods were now causing earthquakes across Australia. And Iris and her mum are on the run from something - but we have to piece the events and characters together to work out who is chasing them and why? The plot then moves into a new realm of 2 worlds that takes the book to another unexpected level.
Appropriate for Year 7+ readers

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA dystopian sci-fi book set in Australia kept me engaged for the entire book. It was an interesting premise although lacking in a bit of scientific explanation for my liking. It did have some interesting and engaging characters however and I did find myself caring about what happened to them. There were some secondary characters that I would have liked to have learnt more about however I also can see that that would have blown out the size of the book. Overall I enjoyed this book and found it a fast paced read.

[chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

this novel is so many things at once and it just works so well. this is a ‘part thriller, part queer romance’ part cli-fi story with characters that just burst off the page. it was completely addictive to read. it highlights how there is still space for live and growth and discovery during times of unrest and disaster, which is incredibly encouraging. i couldn’t put this down and i will be shoving this book down everyone’s throats until it is officially out.

[Dayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted a breezy read and this book delivered. A YA book with heavy undertones about corruption and greed over collective good. The teenagers are all very horny which is their most consistent characteristic. There was nothing particularly surprising in the narrative but a quick easy read that was overall enjoyable.