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Etna
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20 copies available
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Beloved author and winner of The Story Prize, Paul Yoon, is back with the unforgettable story of a working dog, Etna, who, after a devastating war, embarks on an odyssey in the hopes of returning home.
Set in a fictional country in the present day, this is a story told through the eyes of an ex-military dog, Etna. After surviving years of a devastating war, Etna decides one night to leave the men he has fought alongside for years and return home—to the place where he was taken from when he was young, in the thin but persistent hope that if a home exists for him, it might be there.
Thus begins an exhilarating odyssey told through the eyes of a dog as he traverses across ruined landscapes and fights to survive in a world that, even in peacetime, proves to be just as precarious. Along the way, he encounters other animals and humans who are attempting to figure out how to start again. What makes a life when there is no home to go back to? How do we begin to trust each other again after such profound loss?
This is a novel about the power of an idea, about never giving up, and ultimately a novel about finding hope in the most dire of times.
Set in a fictional country in the present day, this is a story told through the eyes of an ex-military dog, Etna. After surviving years of a devastating war, Etna decides one night to leave the men he has fought alongside for years and return home—to the place where he was taken from when he was young, in the thin but persistent hope that if a home exists for him, it might be there.
Thus begins an exhilarating odyssey told through the eyes of a dog as he traverses across ruined landscapes and fights to survive in a world that, even in peacetime, proves to be just as precarious. Along the way, he encounters other animals and humans who are attempting to figure out how to start again. What makes a life when there is no home to go back to? How do we begin to trust each other again after such profound loss?
This is a novel about the power of an idea, about never giving up, and ultimately a novel about finding hope in the most dire of times.
208 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 4, 2026
6779 people want to read
About the author
Paul Yoon
19 books375 followersPaul Yoon was born in New York City. His first book, ONCE THE SHORE, was selected as a New York Times Notable Book and a Best Debut of the Year by National Public Radio. His novel, SNOW HUNTERS, won the 2014 Young Lions Fiction Award.
A recipient of a 5 under 35 Award from the National Book Foundation and a fellowship from the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, he is currently a Briggs-Copeland Lecturer at Harvard University along with his wife, the fiction writer Laura van den Berg.
A recipient of a 5 under 35 Award from the National Book Foundation and a fellowship from the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, he is currently a Briggs-Copeland Lecturer at Harvard University along with his wife, the fiction writer Laura van den Berg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 29, 2025
"As time went on, the more hurt she was, the more she wanted to hurt.
And the blue in her eyes grew less blue, and I could never explain that."
At the outset, I didn't think this book would work for me as well as Yoon's previous novels have. A war/post-war story from the point of view of a dog? But then I get to passages like the one above and I'm reminded of what I adore about Paul Yoon--his ability, in a few words, to convey a world of feeling.
And the blue in her eyes grew less blue, and I could never explain that."
At the outset, I didn't think this book would work for me as well as Yoon's previous novels have. A war/post-war story from the point of view of a dog? But then I get to passages like the one above and I'm reminded of what I adore about Paul Yoon--his ability, in a few words, to convey a world of feeling.
January 28, 2026
Etna is one of my most anticipated releases for 2026 and I was very excited to get the ARC.
This book is absolutely stunning. What a beautifully written and moving story. Etna is a wonderful protagonist and his observations about a country ravaged by war moved me deeply. I enjoyed meeting all of the different people and animals he encounters.
I know it’s early in the year, but this one is going to be tough to beat. I’ll be buying the hardcover once it’s out in August.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This book is absolutely stunning. What a beautifully written and moving story. Etna is a wonderful protagonist and his observations about a country ravaged by war moved me deeply. I enjoyed meeting all of the different people and animals he encounters.
I know it’s early in the year, but this one is going to be tough to beat. I’ll be buying the hardcover once it’s out in August.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 9, 2026
4.5, review to come
November 23, 2025
This intimate and lyrical novel brings readers into the embodied consciousness of Etna, a war dog as desperate to return home to the seaside farm where he was born as Odysseus was to get back to Ithaca. Through encounters with humans and animals alike, Etna uses his military training to protect those he comes to love while regaining the open heart of a loving animal. A gorgeous read that will stay in my mind for years to come.
April 27, 2026
Boy did I not want this book to end!
Written in a fictional country from the perspective of a dog pulled from his puppyhood in a coastal village to become a military dog—this novel is written almost as one long beautiful poem. One in which animals are depicted magically just for being themselves, existing, surviving.
Short and bittersweet because where war occurs, there are often more fatalities than anything else, this novel is definitely on my top ten and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to go on an unexpected journey, with Etna.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review ARC. This one is going on my bookshelf when it comes out.
Written in a fictional country from the perspective of a dog pulled from his puppyhood in a coastal village to become a military dog—this novel is written almost as one long beautiful poem. One in which animals are depicted magically just for being themselves, existing, surviving.
Short and bittersweet because where war occurs, there are often more fatalities than anything else, this novel is definitely on my top ten and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to go on an unexpected journey, with Etna.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review ARC. This one is going on my bookshelf when it comes out.
March 20, 2026
A review of an advanced copy.
A short story beautifully written like a poem. A story of war told through the eyes of a dog, Etna (named after the volcano), and his journey to find his way back home. Along the way he meets others, both people and animals, to help guide him back to the coast, which was his home as a puppy.
A short story beautifully written like a poem. A story of war told through the eyes of a dog, Etna (named after the volcano), and his journey to find his way back home. Along the way he meets others, both people and animals, to help guide him back to the coast, which was his home as a puppy.
February 24, 2026
It’s always a soft spot with me to read a book that is told through the eyes of an animal. I recently read “tortoise tale” (where a tortoise’s life could span over 100 years….can you imagine all this tortoise has seen)….ETNA, told through the eyes of a military trained dog, going through a war, the war ending, and traversing through an apocalyptic, war beaten landscape…..to return to his seaside farm he was born into….is the perfect scenario to attract my attention! I was engaged with all the people…and animals he met trying to attain his goal….GO ETNA!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and Paul Yoon for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Paul Yoon’s Etna is a unique story told through the eyes of a dog named Etna who was trained as a military dog to sniff out landmines and assist in combat during a modern-day war. Once the war is over Etna longs to return home, and we the readers join him on his journey through a country still reeling from the devastation of war.
Oh. My. God. This book blew me away. It is a short book and is an “easy” read (content aside), but every word felt so intentional and important. There are layers and metaphors to be discovered and dissected, but the book was so enjoyable and thought-provoking even without diving into the deeper meanings behind Yoon’s words. Etna the dog was lovable, somehow relatable, and both naive and wise. I felt a deep connection to Etna and every character he spent time with. The images of war and its aftermath were balanced with a narrative of love, survival, and the first seeds of hope. I can see this book becoming an instant classic.
I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoys a semi-dystopian story or thinking about what goes on in a working dog’s mind.
Paul Yoon’s Etna is a unique story told through the eyes of a dog named Etna who was trained as a military dog to sniff out landmines and assist in combat during a modern-day war. Once the war is over Etna longs to return home, and we the readers join him on his journey through a country still reeling from the devastation of war.
Oh. My. God. This book blew me away. It is a short book and is an “easy” read (content aside), but every word felt so intentional and important. There are layers and metaphors to be discovered and dissected, but the book was so enjoyable and thought-provoking even without diving into the deeper meanings behind Yoon’s words. Etna the dog was lovable, somehow relatable, and both naive and wise. I felt a deep connection to Etna and every character he spent time with. The images of war and its aftermath were balanced with a narrative of love, survival, and the first seeds of hope. I can see this book becoming an instant classic.
I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoys a semi-dystopian story or thinking about what goes on in a working dog’s mind.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This was a quick read. I received this book from an owner of an Indie Bookstore near where I live.
An interesting tale of a dog trained to fight for military purposes (war). The journey the dog went on, other dogs and animals it had relationships with, and his journey back to home from where he started. You could hear it talking in your head as you read the book. Dogs have their own body language and they can speak amongst themselves, and so you got to read these thoughts from one another.
ETNA was a very strong, brave dog that barely made it out alive. He protected the ones he liked and killed when he had to kill to protect them.
The only thing I really didn't like to read was the dog using the "F" word. It didn't seem appropriate as it makes the dog sound "human", but then again maybe there is no other way for it to show its anger? Not sure, but it felt off when I heard the dog use that word a few times. It just seemed wrong. Perhaps because I see dogs as innocent compared to humans. Not sure why I feel the way I do about it.
Anyways, fun read, but not something I would re-read. Glad to of read it though. Try it out for yourself!
An interesting tale of a dog trained to fight for military purposes (war). The journey the dog went on, other dogs and animals it had relationships with, and his journey back to home from where he started. You could hear it talking in your head as you read the book. Dogs have their own body language and they can speak amongst themselves, and so you got to read these thoughts from one another.
ETNA was a very strong, brave dog that barely made it out alive. He protected the ones he liked and killed when he had to kill to protect them.
The only thing I really didn't like to read was the dog using the "F" word. It didn't seem appropriate as it makes the dog sound "human", but then again maybe there is no other way for it to show its anger? Not sure, but it felt off when I heard the dog use that word a few times. It just seemed wrong. Perhaps because I see dogs as innocent compared to humans. Not sure why I feel the way I do about it.
Anyways, fun read, but not something I would re-read. Glad to of read it though. Try it out for yourself!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
War and the aftermath from a dog's perspective. Etna follows the titular character as he navigates life throughout the war and thereafter in his quest to return 'home'. It is a novel about home, friendship and family (finding your pack!), and starting over after losing everything.
This book packs a lot for a relatively short read. Haven't read a ton of books from the perspective of a dog, (The Art of Racing in the Rain comes to mind, but not much else) so I went into this with no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by Paul Yoon's sparse prose, I thought it lended itself well to a dog's perspective. Despite the complex challenges and hardships that Etna faced on his journey, the distillation of events in his unique voice made the story read deceptively simple. However, there are tersely packed metaphors in each challenge that Etna encounters. In many ways I wished I'd read this as part of a class or in a group so I could talk through each! Will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Thank you to Paul Yoon, Scribner, and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book packs a lot for a relatively short read. Haven't read a ton of books from the perspective of a dog, (The Art of Racing in the Rain comes to mind, but not much else) so I went into this with no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by Paul Yoon's sparse prose, I thought it lended itself well to a dog's perspective. Despite the complex challenges and hardships that Etna faced on his journey, the distillation of events in his unique voice made the story read deceptively simple. However, there are tersely packed metaphors in each challenge that Etna encounters. In many ways I wished I'd read this as part of a class or in a group so I could talk through each! Will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Thank you to Paul Yoon, Scribner, and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A book that ends too soon, bleak in its themes but engaging and heart rending at times. Reminds me a little of Plague Dogs with sparse but meaningful prose. A dog is taken from his home as a pup to be trained in an unnamed war in an unnamed country. He's chosen from his litter by a woman named Soojin, who can communicate with dogs, and she names him Etna. She's quickly out of his life when he's brought to the army base and trained to fight and sniff for bombs. After the war, he decides to try to go back to his home by the sea, and look for his army dog friend Fuji, who ran away a long time ago. There's quite a bit of seemingly aimless wandering and we see the damage and aftermath of the war through the people and animals trying to survive. We don't stay with any of the animals we meet for very long, and you get the feeling quickly that this journey isn't going to go the way you'd hope. My main gripe with the book is that it just ends too soon, as if the author couldn't find anything more for Etna to do or find, like he'd made a world too bleak to keep looking into. Still certainly worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ETNA is an interesting story that portraits the horrors of war being shown and told by the POV of a war dog. We witness what Etna witnesses. The interactions with humans and other animals. Etna witnesses his human master being killed during the war and then he decides to find his way back home. Back home when he was a puppy and lived in a farm with his mother and siblings. He wishes to go back and he'll need some help to do so. He meets along the way other dogs, and some other free animals, that are also survivors of that war.
It's a short novel, divided into 4 chapters only (each one with a different setting) and Yoon's prose is poetic and yet unsettling sometimes, in my opinion. I wouldn't say exactly that it is fast-pacing or easy to go through because we are, after all, witnessing - alongside Etna - the consequences, the repercussions of a war. But there is a beautiful and hopeful message to the end.
I'd recommend this book to any literary fiction readers out there who could enjoy reading a book through the eyes and thoughts and memories of a dog.
Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
It's a short novel, divided into 4 chapters only (each one with a different setting) and Yoon's prose is poetic and yet unsettling sometimes, in my opinion. I wouldn't say exactly that it is fast-pacing or easy to go through because we are, after all, witnessing - alongside Etna - the consequences, the repercussions of a war. But there is a beautiful and hopeful message to the end.
I'd recommend this book to any literary fiction readers out there who could enjoy reading a book through the eyes and thoughts and memories of a dog.
Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 16, 2026
Thank you Scribner Books @scribnerbooks and Paul Yoon for this free book!
“Etna” by Paul Yoon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Animal-based fiction.
After surviving years of a devastating war, military dog Etna leaves his unit to try to return to the seaside farm where he was born. He travels across ruined landscapes, and fights to survive in a precarious, post-war world. On his journey, Etna revisits places he worked during the war, and finds them changed. He meets people and animals struggling to readjust to “peacetime” after a brutal war.
Author Yoon tells Etna’s story from the dog’s perspective, reflecting on home, loss, and hope. He ponders: What makes a life when there is no home to go back to? How do we begin to trust each other again after such profound loss? He explores the politics of destruction, and the emotional wisdom of our non-human friends. It draws parallels to Odysseus’s journey, it’s about never giving up, about finding hope in bad times, it’s moving, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #paulyoon #etna
“Etna” by Paul Yoon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Animal-based fiction.
After surviving years of a devastating war, military dog Etna leaves his unit to try to return to the seaside farm where he was born. He travels across ruined landscapes, and fights to survive in a precarious, post-war world. On his journey, Etna revisits places he worked during the war, and finds them changed. He meets people and animals struggling to readjust to “peacetime” after a brutal war.
Author Yoon tells Etna’s story from the dog’s perspective, reflecting on home, loss, and hope. He ponders: What makes a life when there is no home to go back to? How do we begin to trust each other again after such profound loss? He explores the politics of destruction, and the emotional wisdom of our non-human friends. It draws parallels to Odysseus’s journey, it’s about never giving up, about finding hope in bad times, it’s moving, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #paulyoon #etna
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Etna follows our title character, who happens to be a military-trained dog, as he journeys through a war-torn landscape to get back to the place in which he was born. Imagine the Odyssey as told through the eyes of a dog. This book packed a powerful punch with a large scope in a small amount of pages, and I was enthralled from beginning to end. I especially appreciated the backdrop of the war, Yoon keeps many of the details of what exactly has happened in the world ambiguous, much like it would be for our furry friends, and that made the book that much more impactful. The cast of characters that Etna runs into along the way were heartfelt and realized, I simply could not put it down. The ending felt a bit rushed, however, I would have liked to spend a bit more time exploring the Mountains before making it to the final section of the book. Otherwise, this was a wonderful, if sad, book that will stick with me for a long time. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was expecting this one to be a lengthy read, but I was pleasantly surprised that this slim novel packed so much punch.
Etna, a farm pup, is taken from his home to become a bomb and explosives sniffing dog in a war that’s ravaging his country. As he builds relationships during and after the war, he finds himself reflecting on what home means.
After the war is over, he decides to find his way back home — wherever that may be. He meets both good and evil along his route, dives into his past while looking forward to an uncertain future.
What I really loved about this book was Etna’s heart and the longing for home that so many of us feel when life pulls us away.
This is a beautiful telling of one dog’s journey home and how choosing to fight for love and kindness will always be worth it, even if we experience loss along the way.
Thank you to Paul Yoon, his publishers, and NetGalley for the early read. Grateful I was approved for this one ❤️
Etna, a farm pup, is taken from his home to become a bomb and explosives sniffing dog in a war that’s ravaging his country. As he builds relationships during and after the war, he finds himself reflecting on what home means.
After the war is over, he decides to find his way back home — wherever that may be. He meets both good and evil along his route, dives into his past while looking forward to an uncertain future.
What I really loved about this book was Etna’s heart and the longing for home that so many of us feel when life pulls us away.
This is a beautiful telling of one dog’s journey home and how choosing to fight for love and kindness will always be worth it, even if we experience loss along the way.
Thank you to Paul Yoon, his publishers, and NetGalley for the early read. Grateful I was approved for this one ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A beautiful tale of a dog taken as a puppy and trained to fight along soldiers in an unnamed war, and his attempt to return to the place he was born after the war is over.
One of the best animal POV novels that I’ve read. It all works as an eloquent mediation on the ravages of war on both people and animals, and the lands they inhabit both together and separately.
As an animal loving vegan I had some qualms about reading this. I would not enjoy descriptions of animal abuse. But rest assured, I was not traumatized by anything in this book. There are sad moments, yes, but nothing that will induce nightmares. It is all done with obvious affection for the animal kingdom by the author. I plan to buy copies of this for several people on my Christmas list this year.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.
One of the best animal POV novels that I’ve read. It all works as an eloquent mediation on the ravages of war on both people and animals, and the lands they inhabit both together and separately.
As an animal loving vegan I had some qualms about reading this. I would not enjoy descriptions of animal abuse. But rest assured, I was not traumatized by anything in this book. There are sad moments, yes, but nothing that will induce nightmares. It is all done with obvious affection for the animal kingdom by the author. I plan to buy copies of this for several people on my Christmas list this year.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 Stars - I wasn’t sure about this one at first. A book told from a dog’s point of view made me think it might feel a little YA or sentimental, but it really didn’t. This ended up surprising me in a really good way. The writing is pretty simple, but it still hits emotionally. There’s a quiet, heavy feeling throughout without it ever trying too hard. It almost felt like a fable at times, and some parts were really beautiful in a very understated way. The war is there in the background, but it’s not overwhelming. I did take a little while to get into it, and I wouldn’t have minded a bit more from some of the human characters, but overall I really liked it. Definitely not what I expected, and I’m glad I read it.
March 9, 2026
Yoon writes the most vivid and moving quiet moments I’ve read in fiction, and his new novel Etna is a perfect distillation of this skill.
Some of the stunning moments here: the scent of a morning kiss leftover on a cheek; the remnants of a jaw; the clouded cataracts of an aging dog.
And, for at least the second time in his books, Yoon has left me speechless at the description of a butterfly.
Yoon observes the devastating and glorious moments of life through the eyes, the nose, the tender paws, the triangle ears of a combat dog. Yoon’s hallmark spare and lucid language gripped me, and by the end I felt more alive in seeing the world as Etna.
Some of the stunning moments here: the scent of a morning kiss leftover on a cheek; the remnants of a jaw; the clouded cataracts of an aging dog.
And, for at least the second time in his books, Yoon has left me speechless at the description of a butterfly.
Yoon observes the devastating and glorious moments of life through the eyes, the nose, the tender paws, the triangle ears of a combat dog. Yoon’s hallmark spare and lucid language gripped me, and by the end I felt more alive in seeing the world as Etna.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for the ebook. This is a lovely novel about a harrowing subject, the story of a military dog, Etna, serving during a war. Etna is basically a puppy when he is taken from his family on the farm by the sea that was his home. We get glimpses of his training and a bit more of the war itself, but after four years of conflict and the declared peace, Etna decides to make the long trek home. The story really comes alive with the dogs and humans that help him on his various adventures.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A very unique and special read. Sparse but meaningful prose-- the author says a lot with few words. I loved learning about Etna's world (bleak as it may be) especially the special bond he has with the woman who named him. This would be a great book club pick-- it begs to be shared and discussed. It was very short though. I would have loved to spend a little more time with Etna. This is one that I will definitely consider re-reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
I was able to read an Advanced Reader Copy via my local independent bookstore.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading, but by the end, this book left me in tears in the best way possible. While the book tells the story of Etna trying to find his way home, his journey leads you on a path of discovery along the way. When you live through such harsh things like war and trauma, is peace something you can find again? How do you deal with loss, with making friends again, with living life? This story gently guides you into what some of those answers can look like, while threading through some absolutely beautiful quotes and moments.
This book is one I'll absolutely be buying a copy of when it's published and I cannot wait!
This one quote will be sticking with me for a while. (Also, I fully realize that since this is an ARC, the final quote might change.)
"Don't be so hard on yourself, she says. You're here. You're breathing. You arrived and you survived."
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading, but by the end, this book left me in tears in the best way possible. While the book tells the story of Etna trying to find his way home, his journey leads you on a path of discovery along the way. When you live through such harsh things like war and trauma, is peace something you can find again? How do you deal with loss, with making friends again, with living life? This story gently guides you into what some of those answers can look like, while threading through some absolutely beautiful quotes and moments.
This book is one I'll absolutely be buying a copy of when it's published and I cannot wait!
This one quote will be sticking with me for a while. (Also, I fully realize that since this is an ARC, the final quote might change.)
"Don't be so hard on yourself, she says. You're here. You're breathing. You arrived and you survived."
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The hero of Paul Yoon's new novel is ETNA, an intelligent and highly observant working dog trained to fight, detect bombs, and protect the soldiers in his company in an unknown country during an unnamed war. Etna longs for connection and the recovery of a more innocent and peaceful time. As Etna sets out on a trek to find the seaside home he knew as a puppy, his journey underscores the violence and destruction that war wreaks on the natural environment and all living things. ETNA is a poignant novel about hope and perseverance in the face of immeasurable danger and loss.
March 4, 2026
3.5🌟 I can’t deny the beauty of this book. The sentences read like poetry. It is, however, incredibly bleak and I found it very depressing! I not only rooted for Etna to survive, but I also yearned for him to find his family. It made me so sad that, just when I thought Etna had found a “pack” to settle with, they were gone and he was left alone. I wanted to jump into the book and rescue this fearless and loyal dog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Advanced copy from the publisher and Net Galley. This was a harrowing and poetic read. However, I do think it was a lot of telling and not showing and it was difficult to get emotional about what happens to characters since they just flutter and in and out of the story. It really portrays the devastation and nonsense of war and violence, and there were moments where my heart was pounding by how overwhelming the destruction is. Overall, a short and interesting read from the perspective of a dog.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love books that tell their stories through the voices and thoughts of animals — Perestroika in Paris, Remarkably Bright Creatures, The Tortoise’s Tale — and now this one. We follow Etna, a military dog, through war and then a challenging journey back to his original coastal farm home. Along the way we meet other animals and humans. Publishes in August. ❤️ Put it on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A powerful book about war from the POV of a combat dog. Etna is a fascinating character, though I admit to being nervous about his profession and how many casualties I'd have to witness through this eyes. For the most part, the novel focuses more on the landscape of war than on individual losses, but those are also inevitable. Seeing humanity through a dogs' eyes was both tender and terrible.
Review of advance copy
wow. it’s been a long time since i’ve read an animal novel, so i didn’t quite know what to expect, but this blew me away. way too relevant to today, and beautifully, poetically written. it is bleak, and at times unjust, but i also found it to be a deeply empathetic portrayal of life after (or during) war.
read this when it comes out, you won’t regret it.
read this when it comes out, you won’t regret it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25
This is a unique read. Told from the perspective of Etna, the sweetest dog, the story follows his journey through wartime as he attempts to find his way back to the farmland where he was born.
Along the way, we see the world through his eyes—the various humans and animals he encounters and the impact they have on one another. While the prose is simple, it is meaningful and stays with you. This story really spoke to me.
This is a unique read. Told from the perspective of Etna, the sweetest dog, the story follows his journey through wartime as he attempts to find his way back to the farmland where he was born.
Along the way, we see the world through his eyes—the various humans and animals he encounters and the impact they have on one another. While the prose is simple, it is meaningful and stays with you. This story really spoke to me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Whether he's writing from the point of view of a child or in this case, a dog, Paul Joon gives empathy to every setting. The themes of his work that I've read always include an unconventional narrator and the effects of war. Also a search for home and security. A slim novel, but one in which the reader is immersed and transported.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Somehow this book reminded me of Homeward Bound despite the heavy setting; media from the innocent perspective of animals just feels automatically more wholesome.
The writing in this slim novel was beautiful despite its simplicity, and the story of Etna's journey back home through a war ravaged country was so moving with some fantastic supporting characters. I'm amazed by the author's creativity in using a dog's voice to tell this story as well. This is one that will definitely stay with me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
The writing in this slim novel was beautiful despite its simplicity, and the story of Etna's journey back home through a war ravaged country was so moving with some fantastic supporting characters. I'm amazed by the author's creativity in using a dog's voice to tell this story as well. This is one that will definitely stay with me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
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