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The Weight of Sand
Some battles don't end when you come home.
Cal Bishop left a part of himself in Afghanistan-alongside brothers whose names are now etched into stone. Back in coastal North Carolina, he's a man adrift, haunted by flashbacks, sleepless nights, and the weight of promises he couldn't keep.
Then Ana walks into his life. She doesn't try to fix him. She listens. She stays. And slowly, against the backdrop of salty winds and quiet mornings, Cal begins to believe in something he thought he'd buried hope.
Through memories of combat and the wrenching aftermath, The Weight of Sand is a deeply human story about love that grows in the cracks, the ghosts we carry, and the courage it takes to set them down.
Cal Bishop left a part of himself in Afghanistan-alongside brothers whose names are now etched into stone. Back in coastal North Carolina, he's a man adrift, haunted by flashbacks, sleepless nights, and the weight of promises he couldn't keep.
Then Ana walks into his life. She doesn't try to fix him. She listens. She stays. And slowly, against the backdrop of salty winds and quiet mornings, Cal begins to believe in something he thought he'd buried hope.
Through memories of combat and the wrenching aftermath, The Weight of Sand is a deeply human story about love that grows in the cracks, the ghosts we carry, and the courage it takes to set them down.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2025
14 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Wolf Gunnar
3 books10 followersWolf Gunnar writes immersive, unflinching dark fiction that pushes readers to the edge of their comfort and into places they didn’t know they craved. Known for blending psychological terror with sensual intensity, Gunnar’s stories strip characters bare, exploring obsession, dominance, and the thin line between desire and destruction.
When not writing, he is building, creating, and plotting the next story that will leave readers breathless, unsettled, and wanting more.
When not writing, he is building, creating, and plotting the next story that will leave readers breathless, unsettled, and wanting more.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Soul-Deep, Heartbreaking Masterpiece That Stays With You
The Weight of Sand by Wolf Gunnar didn’t just tug at my emotions it wrecked me in the most beautiful way. This book feels like standing in the middle of a silent desert with your heart cracked open, letting every buried memory finally rise to the surface. It’s intimate, aching, and written with a tenderness that hits so deeply it almost hurts to breathe.
Gunnar has this incredible ability to capture the kind of pain people carry quietly the wounds that don’t bleed on the outside but shape every choice, every fear, every fragile moment of hope. The characters in this story are so human, so beautifully broken, that it’s impossible not to feel every tremor of their grief and every flicker of their longing. At times, I had to stop reading just to steady myself.
The emotional weight of this book is crushing in the best way. It’s about loss, yes, but also about the desperate need to hold on. It’s about the pieces of ourselves we bury to survive… and what happens when someone appears who sees through all of it. The vulnerability, the quiet desperation, the moments where love feels too heavy and too necessary at the same time it’s breathtaking.
Gunnar’s writing is poetic without ever feeling distant. Every sentence feels like a confession; every chapter leaves something lingering in your chest. The imagery is gorgeous, the pacing is perfect, and the ending… it shattered me and stitched me back together in the same breath.
This isn’t just a story it’s an emotional experience. One that leaves you raw, reflective, and overwhelmed in the most cathartic way. If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost deeply, or carried memories that refused to fade, this book will speak to you.
Five stars isn’t enough. This book deserves its own constellation.
**CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS THIS IS A MILITARY COMBAT PTSD RELATED BOOK**
The Weight of Sand by Wolf Gunnar didn’t just tug at my emotions it wrecked me in the most beautiful way. This book feels like standing in the middle of a silent desert with your heart cracked open, letting every buried memory finally rise to the surface. It’s intimate, aching, and written with a tenderness that hits so deeply it almost hurts to breathe.
Gunnar has this incredible ability to capture the kind of pain people carry quietly the wounds that don’t bleed on the outside but shape every choice, every fear, every fragile moment of hope. The characters in this story are so human, so beautifully broken, that it’s impossible not to feel every tremor of their grief and every flicker of their longing. At times, I had to stop reading just to steady myself.
The emotional weight of this book is crushing in the best way. It’s about loss, yes, but also about the desperate need to hold on. It’s about the pieces of ourselves we bury to survive… and what happens when someone appears who sees through all of it. The vulnerability, the quiet desperation, the moments where love feels too heavy and too necessary at the same time it’s breathtaking.
Gunnar’s writing is poetic without ever feeling distant. Every sentence feels like a confession; every chapter leaves something lingering in your chest. The imagery is gorgeous, the pacing is perfect, and the ending… it shattered me and stitched me back together in the same breath.
This isn’t just a story it’s an emotional experience. One that leaves you raw, reflective, and overwhelmed in the most cathartic way. If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost deeply, or carried memories that refused to fade, this book will speak to you.
Five stars isn’t enough. This book deserves its own constellation.
**CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS THIS IS A MILITARY COMBAT PTSD RELATED BOOK**
September 18, 2025
Of all the similar themed books I read so far, this is the first book where PTSD and a veteran's life post war is represented closer to reality. I said closer to reality because I get the sense that this is a lighter version of how a veteran in Cal's position, going throught what he has, reacts to a mail box thunk or a bicycle horn. I would immagine that three years before we get immersed into Cal's story there were stonger feelings popping up left and right after a trigger.
The relationship between Cal and Ana is elusive at best, although I hope from the bottom of my heart that at least one Cal out there finds his Ana. She says the right thing at the right time, holding space, not demanding, always ready with the right coping technique and most of all provides relentless support that is constant. I need Ana in my life, I think we all do.
Favorite parts of the book: "STAY" & Morales's Porch.
Least favorite: I am left wanting to know more about Ana. I know Cal's story and his healing process were the main focus of this book while Ana was his support. I personally think we could have learned more about Ana without taking away from the main plot/focus. What made her the person she is? Maybe Cal got to know her the first 3 years after he moved home and find out all the answers to my questions, but I wish we got some flashbacks about getting to know her too.
And then there was the inlet showing up almost every chapter. To describe something in 30+ ways and making it sound different every time is amazing!
The immersive writing is combined beautifully with Hemingway's iceberg technique. I would have rated this book 5* if not for the sparse info about Ana.
The relationship between Cal and Ana is elusive at best, although I hope from the bottom of my heart that at least one Cal out there finds his Ana. She says the right thing at the right time, holding space, not demanding, always ready with the right coping technique and most of all provides relentless support that is constant. I need Ana in my life, I think we all do.
Favorite parts of the book: "STAY" & Morales's Porch.
Least favorite: I am left wanting to know more about Ana. I know Cal's story and his healing process were the main focus of this book while Ana was his support. I personally think we could have learned more about Ana without taking away from the main plot/focus. What made her the person she is? Maybe Cal got to know her the first 3 years after he moved home and find out all the answers to my questions, but I wish we got some flashbacks about getting to know her too.
And then there was the inlet showing up almost every chapter. To describe something in 30+ ways and making it sound different every time is amazing!
The immersive writing is combined beautifully with Hemingway's iceberg technique. I would have rated this book 5* if not for the sparse info about Ana.
November 11, 2025
This was an exceptional story, told in an extraordinary way, with brilliant writing. It's abstract (even the dialogue) in the same way poetry is abstract, and it hits as hard as good poetry. The writing is not lyrical, it's raw, emotional, and incredibly powerful.
The book is from a single POV; there is a love interest, and that part is both in the background of what the character is going through, and at the same time -a very important part of his journey. Part of the story takes place in the present, and a part of it is told in flashbacks that don't follow a straight timeline. The story is about grief, and dealing with the consequences of going to war - and this is a way too simple explanation of what it actually is, but so much of it were emotions, and imagery, so I don't know how to describe it better. I felt most of the story rather than consciously follow the plot, if this makes any sense.
The story is heavy and not the easiest to read, but it's worth every second and every effort. It wasn't a book, it was an experience.
The book is from a single POV; there is a love interest, and that part is both in the background of what the character is going through, and at the same time -a very important part of his journey. Part of the story takes place in the present, and a part of it is told in flashbacks that don't follow a straight timeline. The story is about grief, and dealing with the consequences of going to war - and this is a way too simple explanation of what it actually is, but so much of it were emotions, and imagery, so I don't know how to describe it better. I felt most of the story rather than consciously follow the plot, if this makes any sense.
The story is heavy and not the easiest to read, but it's worth every second and every effort. It wasn't a book, it was an experience.
September 21, 2025
This book hit me on a deeply personal level. I could connect with this in so many ways. I never would've understood what these men and women go through had i not married a war veteran. And u watched him go through these struggles on a daily basis.
This story rings true. and Ana was so patient, so caring. understanding in ways some people just don't know how.
the struggles that Cal faced on a fault basis i can only imagine how hard it was for him. and to have Ana in his corner, as his rock was just so heart felt. this was a very emotional book. one definitely worth reading if you want more of an understanding as to what some of our vets deal with when they come home from war.
This story rings true. and Ana was so patient, so caring. understanding in ways some people just don't know how.
the struggles that Cal faced on a fault basis i can only imagine how hard it was for him. and to have Ana in his corner, as his rock was just so heart felt. this was a very emotional book. one definitely worth reading if you want more of an understanding as to what some of our vets deal with when they come home from war.
September 4, 2025
Very Interesting
This book is completely different to what I normally read (fantasy, romance, dark romance) but the writing style had me hooked and very quickly turning the pages.
The story is heartbreaking and uplifting and offers a glimpse into a world very few of us see beyond the news.
The normal sounds we hear all day mean something completely different to Cal and each sound takes him back to another time and place and people - going through that with him in the book is an eye opener for sure
Thank you for the ARC opportunity Wolf
This book is completely different to what I normally read (fantasy, romance, dark romance) but the writing style had me hooked and very quickly turning the pages.
The story is heartbreaking and uplifting and offers a glimpse into a world very few of us see beyond the news.
The normal sounds we hear all day mean something completely different to Cal and each sound takes him back to another time and place and people - going through that with him in the book is an eye opener for sure
Thank you for the ARC opportunity Wolf
September 2, 2025
This is going to be a book I recommend to everyone! The story was just as amazing as it was heart wrenching. As the wife of a Veteran I can’t even begin to say how much this book means to me and my husband. We were able to read it together and simultaneously have some conversations that we have never had about his own service. Thank you so much for giving such grace and space to those who usually continue on in silence! Top 5 of 2025!
September 4, 2025
ARC read. I believe this is the first book by Wolf Gunner and I have to say, if I could give it more than a 5 star rating, I would. He has done an incredible job at really diving into this character (a Marine) with PTSD. Using a dual timeline, it goes into amazing detail with what Cal went through in Afghanistan and also how he deals with it. He does find a love interest, Ana, within the present timeline, that is written so beautifully as to how she helps him navigate and supports him when dealing with flashbacks and just day to day life. Wolf has an extraordinary way of bringing these main characters as well as the secondary characters to life on the page. I was not disappointed with this beautiful story and I highly recommend it.
September 11, 2025
The Weight of Sand is an emotional story that gives you a fresh perspective on what soldiers face when they come home. The journey of finding the courage to move forward is beautifully portrayed.
I got so attached to the characters that I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just two days! Wolf Gunnar does an amazing job of making you feel what these characters are going through. This book truly makes you think about the sacrifices made by our soldiers and the challenges they face after returning home.
If you’re looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking read, I definitely recommend checking out The Weight of Sand!
I got so attached to the characters that I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just two days! Wolf Gunnar does an amazing job of making you feel what these characters are going through. This book truly makes you think about the sacrifices made by our soldiers and the challenges they face after returning home.
If you’re looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking read, I definitely recommend checking out The Weight of Sand!
September 11, 2025
“It’s like fog’s an editing tool. You only see the part of the picture it wants you to.”
🪖🪖🪖🪖🪖
🪖Military Veteran
🪖PTSD Rep
🪖Slow Burn
🪖Found Family
🪖Small Town
🪖Dual Timeline
🪖Healing Through Connection
🪖Metaphorical Object Restoration
🪖Emotional Catharsis Ending
🪖🪖🪖🪖🪖
While I am normally a smutty mood reader, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and am so glad that I did. I literally have zero experience with PTSD and the veterans in my life have been fortunate enough to NOT experience it themselves, so I was not fully prepared for the emotions in this.
Cal is continually haunted by memories from his time served in Afghanistan. Normal mundane sounds, that we take for granted, are enough to transport him back to that time & place. Some of the flashback scenes are hard to read, due to their nature, but Wolf balances the past & present quite well.
Ana is a quiet rock who stands by him and doesn't try to fix him. She lets him be and supports him through her strength and friendship. She asks him little questions to help him navigate things & ground himself...but she doesn't push.
Wolf did NOT shy away from the hard stuff in telling this story, and I greatly appreciate that. The majority of us will never experience what these veteran's do, but this glimpse really puts things into perspective.
Thank you to Wolf for this ARC!
🪖🪖🪖🪖🪖
🪖Military Veteran
🪖PTSD Rep
🪖Slow Burn
🪖Found Family
🪖Small Town
🪖Dual Timeline
🪖Healing Through Connection
🪖Metaphorical Object Restoration
🪖Emotional Catharsis Ending
🪖🪖🪖🪖🪖
While I am normally a smutty mood reader, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and am so glad that I did. I literally have zero experience with PTSD and the veterans in my life have been fortunate enough to NOT experience it themselves, so I was not fully prepared for the emotions in this.
Cal is continually haunted by memories from his time served in Afghanistan. Normal mundane sounds, that we take for granted, are enough to transport him back to that time & place. Some of the flashback scenes are hard to read, due to their nature, but Wolf balances the past & present quite well.
Ana is a quiet rock who stands by him and doesn't try to fix him. She lets him be and supports him through her strength and friendship. She asks him little questions to help him navigate things & ground himself...but she doesn't push.
Wolf did NOT shy away from the hard stuff in telling this story, and I greatly appreciate that. The majority of us will never experience what these veteran's do, but this glimpse really puts things into perspective.
Thank you to Wolf for this ARC!
September 26, 2025
I don’t usually gravitate toward war-related fiction, but The Weight of Sand pulled me in from the first page and refused to let go. What struck me most was how deeply human this story is, it’s not about battles fought overseas so much as the ones fought in a person’s mind long after the uniform comes off. Cal’s struggles with PTSD felt raw, unpolished, and heartbreakingly real. Wolf Gunnar doesn’t sugarcoat his pain, yet he never strips Cal of his dignity. The relationship between Cal and Ana gave me chills. It’s quiet, slow, and patient, the exact opposite of the “love heals everything instantly” trope. Ana doesn’t save him; she just stands beside him, which somehow makes her presence even more powerful. I finished this book in tears, and for days afterward, I kept thinking about the weight we all carry, and how love can make it lighter without erasing it.
September 6, 2025
What a gut wrenching heart-felt story about survival and learning to rebuild after the aftermath of war. Cal is a marine who suffers PTSD disorder who is haunted by his time in Afghanistan. As a reader with the help of the author's flashbacks you can really understand what Cal has gone through.
I will admit that there are parts in the story that are hard to read, but the author has a way with balance in that he knows when to include bits of light enter Ana's character to the story. Ana, is a beckon of strength for Cal through her tenderness and the way she chooses to handle Cal's everyday struggles. This slow burn story was just so beautiful! Would definitely recommend!
I will admit that there are parts in the story that are hard to read, but the author has a way with balance in that he knows when to include bits of light enter Ana's character to the story. Ana, is a beckon of strength for Cal through her tenderness and the way she chooses to handle Cal's everyday struggles. This slow burn story was just so beautiful! Would definitely recommend!
October 20, 2025
stunning book
What can you say about this book to do it justice. Unbelievable,stunning, intricate weave of loss, healing and redemption. Ana was so patient with quiet strength for Cal. He fought so many demons and she gave him the strength to move forward and into the light. The horrors of war we will never understand we just have to remember those who fought for our freedoms and give them the respect they so rightly deserve.
What can you say about this book to do it justice. Unbelievable,stunning, intricate weave of loss, healing and redemption. Ana was so patient with quiet strength for Cal. He fought so many demons and she gave him the strength to move forward and into the light. The horrors of war we will never understand we just have to remember those who fought for our freedoms and give them the respect they so rightly deserve.
September 6, 2025
I really loved this book. It was lovely to read cal and anas relationship development
September 6, 2025
super book. realy easy to read. good story.
September 21, 2025
Loved it from start to finish. The suspense the heart wrenching moments it was all a chefs kiss.
October 7, 2025
This novel is a raw, heartfelt journey of a Marine vfacing down the ghosts of war and the invisible battles of PTSD. What struck me most was the honesty in the writing—the author doesn’t shy away from the darkness, the sleepless nights, or the weight of carrying memories that don’t let go. Yet at its core, this is a story about hope, healing, and the quiet power of love.
The veteran’s story isn’t about being “fixed” by someone else, but about finding the strength within himself when someone finally made space for him—without judgment, without demands. The simple woman who comes into his life isn’t there to rescue him; she’s there to see him. That act of truly being seen is portrayed as both radical and deeply human, and it’s what allows love to take root.
What I loved most was how the romance unfolded with tenderness, not as a fairy tale but as something real, grounded in patience and acceptance. The book shows that healing doesn’t come in dramatic breakthroughs, but in small moments of connection, trust, and vulnerability.
If you’re looking for a story that blends grit with grace—combat trauma and quiet redemption, scars and love—this book will stay with you. It’s a reminder that even the deepest wounds can begin to heal when someone is willing to sit with us in them, and that love can grow in the most unexpected places.
The veteran’s story isn’t about being “fixed” by someone else, but about finding the strength within himself when someone finally made space for him—without judgment, without demands. The simple woman who comes into his life isn’t there to rescue him; she’s there to see him. That act of truly being seen is portrayed as both radical and deeply human, and it’s what allows love to take root.
What I loved most was how the romance unfolded with tenderness, not as a fairy tale but as something real, grounded in patience and acceptance. The book shows that healing doesn’t come in dramatic breakthroughs, but in small moments of connection, trust, and vulnerability.
If you’re looking for a story that blends grit with grace—combat trauma and quiet redemption, scars and love—this book will stay with you. It’s a reminder that even the deepest wounds can begin to heal when someone is willing to sit with us in them, and that love can grow in the most unexpected places.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews