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Willows Rewilded
A Silent Spring?
It proves anything but…
After a century of dereliction, Toad Hall stirs back to life.
Its revival is led by the irrepressible Horatio Toad, newly returned to his ancestral home with six wives, no money, and a plan to save the estate by making nature pay. His uneasy partner is Georges Montgolfiere, an eccentric and radical Rewilder who speaks of a Silent Spring—an eerie absence of birdsong and wildlife, a warning etched into the land itself.
Horatio dreams of zipwires, cafés, and gift shops. Georges dreams of ecological redemption. Ideology collides with insolvency—and neither is prepared for what happens when rewilding begins.
Mole resurfaces amid chaos. Badger is furious—his precious truffle beds have been plundered. Ratty, now vegan and identifying as a vole, is shedding fur and certainty in equal measure. A translocated otter family grapples with sewage, indigestion, and regret. Coexistence, it turns out, is easier to imagine than to achieve.
Something is stirring in the undergrowth.
Boundaries begin to shift. Loyalties blur. Old hierarchies falter.
As the balance between animal and human quietly tips, Toad Hall becomes a testing ground for a far more unsettling What Happens When Nature Stops Accommodating Mankind—And Starts Answering Back?
Willows Rewilded is a sharp, witty, and delightfully irreverent reimagining of Kenneth Grahame’s world. Part political satire, part literary parody, part environmental allegory, and firmly low fantasy, it skewers rewilding, modern politics, and animal—and human—folly.
Nature rarely falls silent.
And when it speaks, it is not always gentle.
It proves anything but…
After a century of dereliction, Toad Hall stirs back to life.
Its revival is led by the irrepressible Horatio Toad, newly returned to his ancestral home with six wives, no money, and a plan to save the estate by making nature pay. His uneasy partner is Georges Montgolfiere, an eccentric and radical Rewilder who speaks of a Silent Spring—an eerie absence of birdsong and wildlife, a warning etched into the land itself.
Horatio dreams of zipwires, cafés, and gift shops. Georges dreams of ecological redemption. Ideology collides with insolvency—and neither is prepared for what happens when rewilding begins.
Mole resurfaces amid chaos. Badger is furious—his precious truffle beds have been plundered. Ratty, now vegan and identifying as a vole, is shedding fur and certainty in equal measure. A translocated otter family grapples with sewage, indigestion, and regret. Coexistence, it turns out, is easier to imagine than to achieve.
Something is stirring in the undergrowth.
Boundaries begin to shift. Loyalties blur. Old hierarchies falter.
As the balance between animal and human quietly tips, Toad Hall becomes a testing ground for a far more unsettling What Happens When Nature Stops Accommodating Mankind—And Starts Answering Back?
Willows Rewilded is a sharp, witty, and delightfully irreverent reimagining of Kenneth Grahame’s world. Part political satire, part literary parody, part environmental allegory, and firmly low fantasy, it skewers rewilding, modern politics, and animal—and human—folly.
Nature rarely falls silent.
And when it speaks, it is not always gentle.
- GenresFantasy
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2024
12 people are currently reading
933 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 9, 2025
Craving a departure from my typical, emotionally heavy reads-namely, tales of doomed romance-I sought something truly different.
Imagine my surprise, then, to find not one, but two love stories within these pages! Despite my initial hesitation, the narrative completely captivated me. I was utterly hooked, and even experienced a genuine laugh-out-loud moment, complete with a coffee-spraying incident.
This book, a testament to Colin Childs's natural storytelling prowess, was exactly the refreshing change I needed.
I won this ebook through a Goodreads giveaway. It did not reflect on my review.
Imagine my surprise, then, to find not one, but two love stories within these pages! Despite my initial hesitation, the narrative completely captivated me. I was utterly hooked, and even experienced a genuine laugh-out-loud moment, complete with a coffee-spraying incident.
This book, a testament to Colin Childs's natural storytelling prowess, was exactly the refreshing change I needed.
I won this ebook through a Goodreads giveaway. It did not reflect on my review.
October 16, 2025
Wind in the willows as an adult. Was nostalgic and witty in some parts. I won this as a Goodreads giveaway. While the satire on environmentalism and politics is sharp, the pacing can feel uneven, and the humor may not resonate with all readers. Nonetheless, it’s a creative and bold reimagining for those open to a more adult, whimsical take on a classic tale.
March 20, 2025
Willows Rewilded by Colin Childs is a fun and thought-provoking read. The story follows Horatio Toad as he returns to his family home after many years, but things don’t go as planned. His dream of turning the estate into a theme park clashes with the vision of a rewilder, Georges Montgolfiere, who wants to restore the land to nature.
The book is full of humor, interesting characters, and clever storytelling. I enjoyed how the animals each have their struggles Ratty’s new identity, Badger’s missing truffles, and the otters’ unexpected troubles made the story lively and engaging. The mix of humor, nature, and a bit of mystery kept me turning the pages.
Colin Childs has created a unique and enjoyable book that makes readers think and smile. It's an excellent read for anyone who enjoys witty and imaginative stories!
The book is full of humor, interesting characters, and clever storytelling. I enjoyed how the animals each have their struggles Ratty’s new identity, Badger’s missing truffles, and the otters’ unexpected troubles made the story lively and engaging. The mix of humor, nature, and a bit of mystery kept me turning the pages.
Colin Childs has created a unique and enjoyable book that makes readers think and smile. It's an excellent read for anyone who enjoys witty and imaginative stories!
March 2, 2025
This is a voluntary review of a GoodReads giveaway win of a Kindle ebook.
I never read the original Wind in the Willows. I must have had a deprived childhood. So I made a quick read of the childhood classic to get familiar with the characters.
I must not be the target audience for this Adult version. I did not finish. I tried.
In reflection, it may have been a mistake to read these two books back to back. The dichotomy is just too abrupt. Like the original, not a lot of setup, we are just dropped into the lives of our characters. I am reluctant to give poor reviews, but for me, this story was just a very disappointing adult version. I didn't stick around long enough to see if it improved along the way or concludes well.
Go find your next GoodReads.
I never read the original Wind in the Willows. I must have had a deprived childhood. So I made a quick read of the childhood classic to get familiar with the characters.
I must not be the target audience for this Adult version. I did not finish. I tried.
In reflection, it may have been a mistake to read these two books back to back. The dichotomy is just too abrupt. Like the original, not a lot of setup, we are just dropped into the lives of our characters. I am reluctant to give poor reviews, but for me, this story was just a very disappointing adult version. I didn't stick around long enough to see if it improved along the way or concludes well.
Go find your next GoodReads.
April 11, 2025
This was a book I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
It was an ok read. It was entertaining, but it was not an "I couldn't put it down" read. And don't expect it to be anything like the "The Wind in the Willows". Some of the same characters and "neighborhood", but not the same kind of book. And don't let your children read it; this book is for grown ups.
It was an ok read. It was entertaining, but it was not an "I couldn't put it down" read. And don't expect it to be anything like the "The Wind in the Willows". Some of the same characters and "neighborhood", but not the same kind of book. And don't let your children read it; this book is for grown ups.
November 27, 2025
I tried... could not get past pg 77.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews