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Etna: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 26 Aug 26Beloved 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.
Hardcover
Expected publication August 26, 2026
About the author
Paul Yoon
16 books403 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 105 reviews
July 26, 2026
Short and strong. I liked the book and thought the dog POV was interesting. The minimal prose worked for me. The story overall got a bit wobbly in the middle third.
July 26, 2026
Thank you so much to Scribner Books for sending me an advance copy of Etna to read. This was a beautiful but sad story, told by a dog. Yes, that’s right. The whole book is told by Etna, a dog who was picked out when he was about a year old and trained to be of service in a war, a war that lasted for four years.
Let me say up front that I’m not especially a “dog person.” I like them well enough, but not enough to ever have one for a pet, basically. So you don’t need to really love dogs to appreciate this book.
Etna can speak to other dogs and other animals (he has one interesting conversation with a donkey, for example). He can also “speak” to certain humans, but not his handler Jason or Jason’s soldier buddy Brian, which is too bad. He could speak to the woman who picked him out at the farm, Soojin, but he doesn’t see her for long before he’s sent to be war-trained. He winds up being extremely useful, sniffing out land mines and attacking when needed. When the war is over, Etna tries to go home, to the farm he remembers. But he has no real idea where it is and how to get himself there. His adventures along the way form most of the story. We see the ruined landscapes and the desperate survivors through Etna’s eyes. The story is a sad one, but also mixed with humor and love and caring. It reminded me a bit of The Odyssey, with Odysseus trying to get home and meeting so many obstacles along the way.
This was my first book by Paul Yoon and I was impressed.
Let me say up front that I’m not especially a “dog person.” I like them well enough, but not enough to ever have one for a pet, basically. So you don’t need to really love dogs to appreciate this book.
Etna can speak to other dogs and other animals (he has one interesting conversation with a donkey, for example). He can also “speak” to certain humans, but not his handler Jason or Jason’s soldier buddy Brian, which is too bad. He could speak to the woman who picked him out at the farm, Soojin, but he doesn’t see her for long before he’s sent to be war-trained. He winds up being extremely useful, sniffing out land mines and attacking when needed. When the war is over, Etna tries to go home, to the farm he remembers. But he has no real idea where it is and how to get himself there. His adventures along the way form most of the story. We see the ruined landscapes and the desperate survivors through Etna’s eyes. The story is a sad one, but also mixed with humor and love and caring. It reminded me a bit of The Odyssey, with Odysseus trying to get home and meeting so many obstacles along the way.
This was my first book by Paul Yoon and I was impressed.
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.
July 28, 2026
Etna by Paul Yoon absolutely blew me away. This is one of those rare books that completely exceeded my expectations and reminded me how powerful storytelling can be. It’s filled with hope, heartbreak, love, and loss, and by the time I reached the final page, I felt like I had been on a deeply emotional journey.
One of the things that struck me most was how effortlessly Yoon pulls off something that I think is incredibly difficult to do well: writing anthropomorphized animals for an adult audience. It’s a fine line to walk. Too often, stories like this can come across as overly sentimental, simplistic, or even unintentionally silly. Etna never falls into any of those traps. Instead, Yoon creates animal characters that feel every bit as authentic and emotionally complex as the best human characters in fiction.
The main dog quickly became someone I cared deeply about. It didn’t take long before I stopped thinking of the character as “the dog” and simply saw them as an individual with fears, hopes, desires, and flaws. Every decision felt motivated by a genuine emotional reality, and every relationship carried real weight. These aren’t animals acting like people for the sake of a clever premise. They are fully realized characters with rich inner lives, and that’s what makes the novel so extraordinary.
Yoon’s writing is equally remarkable. His prose is graceful and understated, allowing the emotional moments to land naturally rather than forcing them. Whether the story is exploring joy, grief, companionship, or perseverance, it does so with a quiet confidence that makes those moments all the more powerful. I found myself completely immersed in the world he created, feeling every triumph and every heartbreak alongside the characters.
What I loved most, though, was the emotional balance of the novel. There is undeniable sadness here, but it never feels bleak. Even in its darkest moments, Etna is ultimately a story about resilience, connection, and the hope that can endure despite tremendous loss.
Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and Paul Yoon for granting me access to a digital ARC of this title.
One of the things that struck me most was how effortlessly Yoon pulls off something that I think is incredibly difficult to do well: writing anthropomorphized animals for an adult audience. It’s a fine line to walk. Too often, stories like this can come across as overly sentimental, simplistic, or even unintentionally silly. Etna never falls into any of those traps. Instead, Yoon creates animal characters that feel every bit as authentic and emotionally complex as the best human characters in fiction.
The main dog quickly became someone I cared deeply about. It didn’t take long before I stopped thinking of the character as “the dog” and simply saw them as an individual with fears, hopes, desires, and flaws. Every decision felt motivated by a genuine emotional reality, and every relationship carried real weight. These aren’t animals acting like people for the sake of a clever premise. They are fully realized characters with rich inner lives, and that’s what makes the novel so extraordinary.
Yoon’s writing is equally remarkable. His prose is graceful and understated, allowing the emotional moments to land naturally rather than forcing them. Whether the story is exploring joy, grief, companionship, or perseverance, it does so with a quiet confidence that makes those moments all the more powerful. I found myself completely immersed in the world he created, feeling every triumph and every heartbreak alongside the characters.
What I loved most, though, was the emotional balance of the novel. There is undeniable sadness here, but it never feels bleak. Even in its darkest moments, Etna is ultimately a story about resilience, connection, and the hope that can endure despite tremendous loss.
Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and Paul Yoon for granting me access to a digital ARC of this title.
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.
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 9, 2026
4.5, review to come
May 31, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss.
Wow this book! I truly have no words but I’ll try my best to say something coherent.
I knew Etna would be for me the moment I read the premise. It’s about a former military working dog setting out on a long journey home after the end of a devastating war. As someone who volunteers raising puppies to become guide dogs for the blind, working dogs already hold such a special place in my heart. I expected to feel connected to Etna, but I didn’t expect to be this moved.
This story is stunning. Yoon manages something that’s incredibly hard to pull off. Theresa animals communicate with each other and humans in a way that feels completely natural, never forced or cheesy. It’s done with such sincerity that it only deepens the emotional weight of the story.
At just around 200 pages, this is a pretty short novel. However, Yoon packs so much meaning, beauty, and quiet devastation into every page that it doesn’t seem slight. I would have happily spent another 200 pages in Etna’s world, but there’s something powerful about how contained and intentional the story is.
At its core, Etna is about survival, loss, and the hope of finding your way back home, even if home isn’t necessarily a place, but a sense of belonging.
Wow this book! I truly have no words but I’ll try my best to say something coherent.
I knew Etna would be for me the moment I read the premise. It’s about a former military working dog setting out on a long journey home after the end of a devastating war. As someone who volunteers raising puppies to become guide dogs for the blind, working dogs already hold such a special place in my heart. I expected to feel connected to Etna, but I didn’t expect to be this moved.
This story is stunning. Yoon manages something that’s incredibly hard to pull off. Theresa animals communicate with each other and humans in a way that feels completely natural, never forced or cheesy. It’s done with such sincerity that it only deepens the emotional weight of the story.
At just around 200 pages, this is a pretty short novel. However, Yoon packs so much meaning, beauty, and quiet devastation into every page that it doesn’t seem slight. I would have happily spent another 200 pages in Etna’s world, but there’s something powerful about how contained and intentional the story is.
At its core, Etna is about survival, loss, and the hope of finding your way back home, even if home isn’t necessarily a place, but a sense of belonging.
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.
June 10, 2026
Shows you the ravages of war from the point of view of those who never wanted to go to war. No judgement, just depiction from the point of view of a dog. Totally engrossing and heartbreaking.
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.
July 1, 2026
I am so happy I received an early copy of this book (thank you netgalley and the publisher!!) What a powerful, poetic, concise, reflective novel.
Etna is a slim book (just over 200 pages) told through the perspective of a dog, Etna, as he embarks on his journey home after serving as a war dog alongside human troops. I have not read a book with an animal narrator in a looooong time (I'm talking decades) so I wasn't sure how this book would go for me, but seeing war, and its destruction, through the eyes of a dog was brilliant. It makes everything seem that much more pointless.
I think the power of this novel lies in how short it is. We get sparse, but compelling, observations through Etna. We see how bonds are both easily made and broken during war. The ending was a perfect fit for the novel.
I have seen buzz for this book and it is rightly deserved.
I feel like some early reviewers have harped on how brutal the book is with descriptions of war, death, etc. Maybe something is wrong with me (lolol), but I didn't think it was that intense. Not in a bad way, just in a way that I wanted to point out because I think many readers can handle the tough stuff in this book.
Etna is a slim book (just over 200 pages) told through the perspective of a dog, Etna, as he embarks on his journey home after serving as a war dog alongside human troops. I have not read a book with an animal narrator in a looooong time (I'm talking decades) so I wasn't sure how this book would go for me, but seeing war, and its destruction, through the eyes of a dog was brilliant. It makes everything seem that much more pointless.
I think the power of this novel lies in how short it is. We get sparse, but compelling, observations through Etna. We see how bonds are both easily made and broken during war. The ending was a perfect fit for the novel.
I have seen buzz for this book and it is rightly deserved.
I feel like some early reviewers have harped on how brutal the book is with descriptions of war, death, etc. Maybe something is wrong with me (lolol), but I didn't think it was that intense. Not in a bad way, just in a way that I wanted to point out because I think many readers can handle the tough stuff in this book.
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.
May 10, 2026
Such an emotional read and so beautifully done. The perspective of the dog made it feel incredibly intimate and heartbreaking in the best way, and this one completely earned the five stars for me.
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 Goodreads Giveaways
This short novel packed a punch. I don’t know that I’ve read anything from a dog’s perspective before, and I really enjoyed the symbolism the author used to compare to refugeeism, isolation, connection, and the hope of home.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
▹Format: 📕 Physical book
Thank you to Scribner, Paul Yoon, and Goodreads for the gifted copy. This book comes out August 4, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: A dog from a small coastal farm is taken from his family to fight in the country’s war. While he loses things along the way, he also finds people and animals in the most surprising places when he decides to journey back to his home after the war is over.
– Location: Fictional country (though real countries are named)
– POV: Single first-person
– Tropes: refugeeism, war, isolation, connection, migration, legacy, hope, meaning of home
– Content warning: death (animal and human; due to war or violence but not overly descriptive), being taken from the comfort of your home/family, forced military service, assimilation, starting over, isolation/loneliness, grief, exile
– Representation: aftermath of war/trauma (PTSD), displacement from war
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I know that I will never fully understand the depths of this book as someone born into a middle-class, American, privileged life. But the author’s use of symbolism and lucid prose really put me in the shoes of a dog who has been to battle and seen the worst of the world that just wants to remember what the feeling of “home” is like.
While this takes place in a fictional setting, I could see the parallels to our current world. A world where we breed soldiers and favor like-minded ideals vs. a tapestry of experiences and desires.
Etna’s desire to connect to his heritage by returning to the place he was born, even if only ghosts remain is actually bringing tears to my eyes as I type this. It was harrowing and downright dangerous and I was rooting for so many of the characters he encountered along the way.
This is told in four parts, using representation from the different landscapes we all encounter to show Enta’s journey. It was an effective approach in my opinion.
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. Etna’s odyssey will resonate with many.
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven——————✧—————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
▹Format: 📕 Physical book
Thank you to Scribner, Paul Yoon, and Goodreads for the gifted copy. This book comes out August 4, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: A dog from a small coastal farm is taken from his family to fight in the country’s war. While he loses things along the way, he also finds people and animals in the most surprising places when he decides to journey back to his home after the war is over.
– Location: Fictional country (though real countries are named)
– POV: Single first-person
– Tropes: refugeeism, war, isolation, connection, migration, legacy, hope, meaning of home
– Content warning: death (animal and human; due to war or violence but not overly descriptive), being taken from the comfort of your home/family, forced military service, assimilation, starting over, isolation/loneliness, grief, exile
– Representation: aftermath of war/trauma (PTSD), displacement from war
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I know that I will never fully understand the depths of this book as someone born into a middle-class, American, privileged life. But the author’s use of symbolism and lucid prose really put me in the shoes of a dog who has been to battle and seen the worst of the world that just wants to remember what the feeling of “home” is like.
While this takes place in a fictional setting, I could see the parallels to our current world. A world where we breed soldiers and favor like-minded ideals vs. a tapestry of experiences and desires.
Etna’s desire to connect to his heritage by returning to the place he was born, even if only ghosts remain is actually bringing tears to my eyes as I type this. It was harrowing and downright dangerous and I was rooting for so many of the characters he encountered along the way.
This is told in four parts, using representation from the different landscapes we all encounter to show Enta’s journey. It was an effective approach in my opinion.
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. Etna’s odyssey will resonate with many.
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel
╰┈➤ ❝And every stranger's face I see; Reminds me that I long to be; Homeward bound, I wish I was, Homeward bound.❞
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven——————✧—————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.
I hazily remember reading Orwell's Animal Farm in middle school. The talking pigs, horses, dogs, sheep, et al, were very entertaining, and at that age a book with animals that talked didn't really seem all that strange. Of course, our English teacher rightly pointed out that Animal Farm was an allegorical novel meant to be read as a critique of Stalinist Russia and not read literally. Ah, so the talking pig is not a talking pig. Bummer.
Since then, I can't remember reading a novel where an animal or animals tell the story. So reading Paul Yoon's Etna was truly a new reading experience for me, one that was engaging and emotional from the start. I immediately connected to Etna's voice as he tells his story from his days as a pup, through a war, the war's aftermath, and his journey to find his way home. Yoon's choice to have Etna relate his story in short bursts of text--straightforward, unadorned, simple yet sharp as a knife--sounds, after reading for a bit, natural. Of course this is what a dog telling his story would sound like. No human nonsense, no unreliable narrator.
I'm sure other reviews of Etna will read the novel as an allegory for the horrors of war, the seemingly endless violence that humans are capable of inflicting on each other. The novel is brutal in its action, yet at times uplifting in its tone. The themes of survival, of rebuilding, of the need for community, are all part of the story. We all need a pack, as the novel suggests. Yet I did not come away with a very hopeful mood after finishing Etna, and I appreciated that. Yoon seems to be too much of a realist to infuse the novel with too much hope.
Although I would agree that the novel is probably correctly read as an allegory for all the above, part of me just wants to think that Yoon really wrote a novel about a dog named Etna who can actually tell his story, that Etna lives in a world where animals communicate with each other, and that there are a few lucky humans who can hear the conversation. Etna is worthy of more than just being an allegorical character. Etna's spirit, compassion, loyalty, intelligence, and drive are too well drawn for a stand-in. Etna is as real as any other fictional character. Read the novel and enjoy meeting this amazing dog.
I hazily remember reading Orwell's Animal Farm in middle school. The talking pigs, horses, dogs, sheep, et al, were very entertaining, and at that age a book with animals that talked didn't really seem all that strange. Of course, our English teacher rightly pointed out that Animal Farm was an allegorical novel meant to be read as a critique of Stalinist Russia and not read literally. Ah, so the talking pig is not a talking pig. Bummer.
Since then, I can't remember reading a novel where an animal or animals tell the story. So reading Paul Yoon's Etna was truly a new reading experience for me, one that was engaging and emotional from the start. I immediately connected to Etna's voice as he tells his story from his days as a pup, through a war, the war's aftermath, and his journey to find his way home. Yoon's choice to have Etna relate his story in short bursts of text--straightforward, unadorned, simple yet sharp as a knife--sounds, after reading for a bit, natural. Of course this is what a dog telling his story would sound like. No human nonsense, no unreliable narrator.
I'm sure other reviews of Etna will read the novel as an allegory for the horrors of war, the seemingly endless violence that humans are capable of inflicting on each other. The novel is brutal in its action, yet at times uplifting in its tone. The themes of survival, of rebuilding, of the need for community, are all part of the story. We all need a pack, as the novel suggests. Yet I did not come away with a very hopeful mood after finishing Etna, and I appreciated that. Yoon seems to be too much of a realist to infuse the novel with too much hope.
Although I would agree that the novel is probably correctly read as an allegory for all the above, part of me just wants to think that Yoon really wrote a novel about a dog named Etna who can actually tell his story, that Etna lives in a world where animals communicate with each other, and that there are a few lucky humans who can hear the conversation. Etna is worthy of more than just being an allegorical character. Etna's spirit, compassion, loyalty, intelligence, and drive are too well drawn for a stand-in. Etna is as real as any other fictional character. Read the novel and enjoy meeting this amazing dog.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Talking animals often appear in lighthearted, comedic, zany "kid" tales, but Etna is not that kind of novel. It is also not an allegorical narrative in the way of something like Animal Farm. Etna is by all generic counts a war novel and, specifically, a Korean War novel, even though it never mentions Korea by name (it does, however, reference the Americans, and Etna in fact primarily works with a Korean American named Jason. I don't know about the likelihood of a Korean American serviceman being put in a combat unit during the Korean War, but I will set aside these technicalities!).
What do we learn about "war" and "war stories" when seeing from the perspective of a dog? In a way, not too much that we wouldn't from a human perspective. True, it's perhaps because we see things from the dog Etna's perspective that contextualizing details are at times revealed belatedly. We also meet an interesting array of other dogs and even a donkey (Etna at one point also potentially communicates with a bird). And we observe more details about human characters based on their energy and behavior rather than, say, dialogue. But my sense is that the larger message about war is ultimately not that different from a humanist one, if only told from a dog's perspective: that one finds hope and possibility in home, less as a discrete physical place than a moment in a time -- a time of youth and unknowing, when one felt secure and loved. This is what all the dogs seek. It is also what the humans seek.
This somewhat antiquated vision of war as an exceptional violence, a break from a bucolic and peaceful past, is also what I think Yoon himself may be waxing nostalgic about, writing as he is in the age of forever wars. The upshot, I think, is that Etna can never find his home as it was (not exactly spoiler), to the extent that he cannot find "peace."
As for actual depictions of combat, there's not much. No overt ideological positioning. The most violence happens in the mysterious mountains, though it's not clear who is fighting whom and why.
On the whole, Etna is a novel that's easy to read and prompts genuine thought. I imagine that reviewers might be tempted to call it "deceptively simple," but I would say that it is actually simple, but that does not mean it is not profound.
What do we learn about "war" and "war stories" when seeing from the perspective of a dog? In a way, not too much that we wouldn't from a human perspective. True, it's perhaps because we see things from the dog Etna's perspective that contextualizing details are at times revealed belatedly. We also meet an interesting array of other dogs and even a donkey (Etna at one point also potentially communicates with a bird). And we observe more details about human characters based on their energy and behavior rather than, say, dialogue. But my sense is that the larger message about war is ultimately not that different from a humanist one, if only told from a dog's perspective: that one finds hope and possibility in home, less as a discrete physical place than a moment in a time -- a time of youth and unknowing, when one felt secure and loved. This is what all the dogs seek. It is also what the humans seek.
This somewhat antiquated vision of war as an exceptional violence, a break from a bucolic and peaceful past, is also what I think Yoon himself may be waxing nostalgic about, writing as he is in the age of forever wars. The upshot, I think, is that Etna can never find his home as it was (not exactly spoiler), to the extent that he cannot find "peace."
As for actual depictions of combat, there's not much. No overt ideological positioning. The most violence happens in the mysterious mountains, though it's not clear who is fighting whom and why.
On the whole, Etna is a novel that's easy to read and prompts genuine thought. I imagine that reviewers might be tempted to call it "deceptively simple," but I would say that it is actually simple, but that does not mean it is not profound.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Paul Yoon is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all of his works so when I heard about ETNA, I was ecstatic. The only thing that gave me pause was that the book was written entirely from a dog’s POV.
My 19-year-old senior dog passed away a few months ago and while I am not deep in my grief, it is one I try to keep at bay. He was 19. He lived a long and loved life. It was his time. Still, as I’ve previously written about (you can see my post on my substack), losing him was significant. I still struggle with it when I let myself feel the loss. So, I was hesitant going into this.
But, I love Yoon’s writing and trusted this one would be worth it. And it was.
Set in a fictional country in preset day, this story is told through the perspective of Etna, a military-trained dog who, after surviving the frontlines of war, embarks on a journey back home. True to Yoon’s style, the prose is sparse but gorgeous, and is an appreciated medium when the content is about war. I’ve said this about Yoon’s writing before, but he truly gives the reader the space and distance to explore the emotions that his words and storytelling evoke. And because of this, this short novel does not feel bleak. Yes, it can be and is incredibly sad. I cried. A lot. But, this was also hopeful and sweet. Instead of glorifying the traumas of war, it focuses on survival, resilience, and our innate need for connection to someone, to something. It focuses on a very basic fundamental need for safety and home, and what “home” means to us.
And, all of this is done through the perspective of Etna, a dog. What an incredible feat it is to not only write an entire story from an animal’s point-of-view but to do it so well. I am once again in awe of Yoon, his craft, and his stories. I wholeheartedly believed in Etna and Etna’s voice. Oh, how much I loved him.
I read this book with my whole heart, and thought about my (non-military trained) dog the entire time. I loved it. This book was just another reminder why Yoon is an auto-read/auto-buy author for me. And I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading about war (from a different perspective) and is also a dog-lover. It might be triggering for some, but I found it was done quite beautifully.
My 19-year-old senior dog passed away a few months ago and while I am not deep in my grief, it is one I try to keep at bay. He was 19. He lived a long and loved life. It was his time. Still, as I’ve previously written about (you can see my post on my substack), losing him was significant. I still struggle with it when I let myself feel the loss. So, I was hesitant going into this.
But, I love Yoon’s writing and trusted this one would be worth it. And it was.
Set in a fictional country in preset day, this story is told through the perspective of Etna, a military-trained dog who, after surviving the frontlines of war, embarks on a journey back home. True to Yoon’s style, the prose is sparse but gorgeous, and is an appreciated medium when the content is about war. I’ve said this about Yoon’s writing before, but he truly gives the reader the space and distance to explore the emotions that his words and storytelling evoke. And because of this, this short novel does not feel bleak. Yes, it can be and is incredibly sad. I cried. A lot. But, this was also hopeful and sweet. Instead of glorifying the traumas of war, it focuses on survival, resilience, and our innate need for connection to someone, to something. It focuses on a very basic fundamental need for safety and home, and what “home” means to us.
And, all of this is done through the perspective of Etna, a dog. What an incredible feat it is to not only write an entire story from an animal’s point-of-view but to do it so well. I am once again in awe of Yoon, his craft, and his stories. I wholeheartedly believed in Etna and Etna’s voice. Oh, how much I loved him.
I read this book with my whole heart, and thought about my (non-military trained) dog the entire time. I loved it. This book was just another reminder why Yoon is an auto-read/auto-buy author for me. And I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading about war (from a different perspective) and is also a dog-lover. It might be triggering for some, but I found it was done quite beautifully.
July 10, 2026
Book Review
Etna by Paul Yoon
Literary/Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
PUB DATE: Aug. 8, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This beautiful quiet story will stay with me for a long time. It amazes me that a slim novel of 204 pages can tell such a heartfelt story that feels so complete and conjures up so many emotions.
The country is at war and Etna, a puppy, is taken from his home, a farm by the sea, to be trained as a working military dog. Etna is a proud hard working dog partnered with his soldier Jason. Etna spends five long brutal years sniffing out landmines, bombs, the enemy, and other war-time dangers in an unrecognizable war-torn land. When the war finally comes to an end, Etna just wants to go home, to the farm by the sea where he lived with his mother and brothers and sisters, the other farm animals, and the quiet husband and wife. Etna leaves camp and sets out on a journey to find home. He doesn’t know where he is or how to get home, but he doesn’t let that deter him. On Etna’s long treacherous journey through the ruinous country, he meets humans and other dogs and animals, comes to terms with the trauma he has endured, and debates the chances that his home has survived the war.
I was totally engrossed in this story from the first page. I immediately fell in love with Etna, hoping he wouldn’t give up on finding home. The bleak atmospheric and sometimes dangerous setting is vividly described through Etna’s eyes. Etna’s keen observations and assessments of others and his surroundings are touching, thought provoking and insightful,all of which help Etna make decisions, persevere, and come to a new understanding of “home”.
Thank you to @scribnerbooks for the gifted physical advance reader copy of Etna by Paul Yoon. I highly recommend reading Etna if you like quiet haunting character driven stories. This is my first Paul Yoon book, and I now plan to read his previous work.
Etna by Paul Yoon
Literary/Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
PUB DATE: Aug. 8, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This beautiful quiet story will stay with me for a long time. It amazes me that a slim novel of 204 pages can tell such a heartfelt story that feels so complete and conjures up so many emotions.
The country is at war and Etna, a puppy, is taken from his home, a farm by the sea, to be trained as a working military dog. Etna is a proud hard working dog partnered with his soldier Jason. Etna spends five long brutal years sniffing out landmines, bombs, the enemy, and other war-time dangers in an unrecognizable war-torn land. When the war finally comes to an end, Etna just wants to go home, to the farm by the sea where he lived with his mother and brothers and sisters, the other farm animals, and the quiet husband and wife. Etna leaves camp and sets out on a journey to find home. He doesn’t know where he is or how to get home, but he doesn’t let that deter him. On Etna’s long treacherous journey through the ruinous country, he meets humans and other dogs and animals, comes to terms with the trauma he has endured, and debates the chances that his home has survived the war.
I was totally engrossed in this story from the first page. I immediately fell in love with Etna, hoping he wouldn’t give up on finding home. The bleak atmospheric and sometimes dangerous setting is vividly described through Etna’s eyes. Etna’s keen observations and assessments of others and his surroundings are touching, thought provoking and insightful,all of which help Etna make decisions, persevere, and come to a new understanding of “home”.
Thank you to @scribnerbooks for the gifted physical advance reader copy of Etna by Paul Yoon. I highly recommend reading Etna if you like quiet haunting character driven stories. This is my first Paul Yoon book, and I now plan to read his previous work.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely loved this novel. As the owner of a very spoiled rescue German Shorthaired Pointer mix, I already love dogs, and the story of Etna was so compelling and beautifully written, I was sad when it ended.
The novel is set in an unnamed country during the aftermath of an unnamed war and is told from the dog's point of view, which works so perfectly. Etna was only 10 or 11 months old when he was given to a woman in uniform named Soojin, who was looking for dogs that could help protect soldiers, sniffing out bombs, etc. Etna, as he is named by Soojin, is mystified when he realizes that Soojin can speak to him -- not verbally, but by thought. Soojin is a soothing presence to Etna, even as she tells him he is now a "war dog." There's another dog in the truck with them, named Fuji, and the two dogs will become fast friends.
This is all told in flashback form, and Etna serves his country well, although he always misses his family and his farm near the sea. It is very illuminating to read about how important a role dogs play in armed conflicts. Despite getting shot at, hurt, being in constant fear (yet always performing their duties), these animals were true heroes and heroines.
After the conflict ends, Etna decides to run away from the army and -- even though it will be treacherous and with little chance of success -- return to his farm by the sea. Etna's journey is fascinating, filled with the humans and other animals he encounters, the danger he and everyone else faces, and the uncertainty of what he will find if and when he gets home.
This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year, and I highly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Scribner/Simon & Schuster for the eARC and the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions are my own.
The novel is set in an unnamed country during the aftermath of an unnamed war and is told from the dog's point of view, which works so perfectly. Etna was only 10 or 11 months old when he was given to a woman in uniform named Soojin, who was looking for dogs that could help protect soldiers, sniffing out bombs, etc. Etna, as he is named by Soojin, is mystified when he realizes that Soojin can speak to him -- not verbally, but by thought. Soojin is a soothing presence to Etna, even as she tells him he is now a "war dog." There's another dog in the truck with them, named Fuji, and the two dogs will become fast friends.
This is all told in flashback form, and Etna serves his country well, although he always misses his family and his farm near the sea. It is very illuminating to read about how important a role dogs play in armed conflicts. Despite getting shot at, hurt, being in constant fear (yet always performing their duties), these animals were true heroes and heroines.
After the conflict ends, Etna decides to run away from the army and -- even though it will be treacherous and with little chance of success -- return to his farm by the sea. Etna's journey is fascinating, filled with the humans and other animals he encounters, the danger he and everyone else faces, and the uncertainty of what he will find if and when he gets home.
This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year, and I highly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Scribner/Simon & Schuster for the eARC and the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*Thank you Scribner for sending an advanced copy*
This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a devastating tale about an ex-military dog, Etna, and his journey to finding the place he once called home. It is a quiet devastating story told from the perspective of Etna, and through his POV we experience the destruction of war, and are faced with question of is there really a good or a bad side in war when the act of war is a cycle that never stops and is perpetuated by all kinds of people.
What really made me love this book was Yoon's writing style. I found it to be complimentary to Etna's POV. The omission of quotation marks and the short, simple, yet intentional sentences made me feel like I was in the mind of a wise yet war torn dog that has a good grasp of how dangerous and how beautiful the world can be. I also loved the side characters. there were many moments of tenderness between Etna and the characters he met along the way. It is these moments that shape this theme of friendship/kinship(however you want to define it) as a powerful source of hope and strength through trying times.
While I devoured this book (or maybe it devoured me?), I felt a bit unsatisfied with the ending. And maybe that's the point. That it is an ending where the reader has to sit with the discomfort of not knowing exactly how the story ends. While I can appreciate that sort of ending for what it is, I felt like I wanted something more concrete and fleshed out. The ending felt fleeting; like it happened and passed, and all I'm really left with is the trauma of the journey.
I feel like this is a book I would like to read again (maybe in a year or two) to see how I feel about the ending, but for now, the content of this book is something I have a feeling that I just have to sit with.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a devastating tale about an ex-military dog, Etna, and his journey to finding the place he once called home. It is a quiet devastating story told from the perspective of Etna, and through his POV we experience the destruction of war, and are faced with question of is there really a good or a bad side in war when the act of war is a cycle that never stops and is perpetuated by all kinds of people.
What really made me love this book was Yoon's writing style. I found it to be complimentary to Etna's POV. The omission of quotation marks and the short, simple, yet intentional sentences made me feel like I was in the mind of a wise yet war torn dog that has a good grasp of how dangerous and how beautiful the world can be. I also loved the side characters. there were many moments of tenderness between Etna and the characters he met along the way. It is these moments that shape this theme of friendship/kinship(however you want to define it) as a powerful source of hope and strength through trying times.
While I devoured this book (or maybe it devoured me?), I felt a bit unsatisfied with the ending. And maybe that's the point. That it is an ending where the reader has to sit with the discomfort of not knowing exactly how the story ends. While I can appreciate that sort of ending for what it is, I felt like I wanted something more concrete and fleshed out. The ending felt fleeting; like it happened and passed, and all I'm really left with is the trauma of the journey.
I feel like this is a book I would like to read again (maybe in a year or two) to see how I feel about the ending, but for now, the content of this book is something I have a feeling that I just have to sit with.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Etna by Paul Yoon is a beautifully written and deeply reflective novel that explores themes of loss, displacement, memory, and human connection. Set against stark and atmospheric landscapes, the story follows characters whose lives are shaped by isolation and emotional distance, yet who continue searching for meaning and belonging. Yoon’s writing is quiet and restrained, but every sentence carries emotional weight, creating a powerful reading experience through subtlety rather than dramatic action.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its immersive atmosphere. Yoon paints vivid scenes that make the settings feel almost alive, mirroring the loneliness and resilience of the characters themselves. The pacing is deliberate and contemplative, allowing readers to fully absorb the emotional undercurrents running beneath the surface of the story. Rather than relying on plot twists, the novel focuses on small human moments and the lingering effects of grief and history.
Yoon’s prose is elegant and lyrical, making Etna feel literary without becoming inaccessible. Readers who enjoy introspective fiction and character-driven storytelling will likely appreciate the novel’s emotional depth and thoughtful structure. While the slow pace may not appeal to those looking for fast-moving drama, the novel rewards patience with a moving and memorable exploration of human endurance and connection. Overall, Etna is a haunting and beautifully crafted work that stays with the reader long after the final page.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its immersive atmosphere. Yoon paints vivid scenes that make the settings feel almost alive, mirroring the loneliness and resilience of the characters themselves. The pacing is deliberate and contemplative, allowing readers to fully absorb the emotional undercurrents running beneath the surface of the story. Rather than relying on plot twists, the novel focuses on small human moments and the lingering effects of grief and history.
Yoon’s prose is elegant and lyrical, making Etna feel literary without becoming inaccessible. Readers who enjoy introspective fiction and character-driven storytelling will likely appreciate the novel’s emotional depth and thoughtful structure. While the slow pace may not appeal to those looking for fast-moving drama, the novel rewards patience with a moving and memorable exploration of human endurance and connection. Overall, Etna is a haunting and beautifully crafted work that stays with the reader long after the final page.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
SYNOPSIS
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?
My heart after this book. Paul Yoon takes us through wartime, seeing it through the eyes of a military dog. I haven't been this moved by a story in a very long time. Thank you to Scribner for the physical copy of this book, but I highly suggest listening to it on audio. The narrator, Shrader Thomas, brought depth and emotion to this story as the voice of Etna. I loved that this story had a touch of magical realism as well. I highly recommend this book for readers who love animals and who love seeing situations from a unique point of view.
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?
My heart after this book. Paul Yoon takes us through wartime, seeing it through the eyes of a military dog. I haven't been this moved by a story in a very long time. Thank you to Scribner for the physical copy of this book, but I highly suggest listening to it on audio. The narrator, Shrader Thomas, brought depth and emotion to this story as the voice of Etna. I loved that this story had a touch of magical realism as well. I highly recommend this book for readers who love animals and who love seeing situations from a unique point of view.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
“The unforgettable story of a working dog, Etna, who, after a devastating war, embarks on an odyssey in the hopes of returning home.” The publisher provided this one sentence and I just knew it was meant to be. It is quite serendipitous, to use one of my old SAT words, when I finished The Iliad a day or two ago and am on a weekend break before starting The Odyssey on Monday.
The book sucker punched me right in my feelings pocket. Even if we don’t know where home is, we still know what it is. For Etna, home wasn’t simply food, water, and shelter. It was having a pack, a place to be quiet, and a place where he was understood. A fight, a battle, an earthquake, or an act of violence might destroy the familiar physical and metaphorical landmarks we are accustomed to, but Etna always believed he would know home when he found it. 4.75 stars
Both the print and audiobook versions are great ways to enjoy the book. It is easily done either way in just a few hours at around 200 pages. For an added bonus, the audiobook narrator reminds me a lot of Liam Neeson, if you like that sort of thing. I did.
Thanks to Scribner, Simon & Schuster Audio, Paul Yoon (author), Edelweiss, and Libro.fm for the digital review copy and advance listening copy of Etna narrated by Shrader Thomas. Their generosity did not influence my review.
The book sucker punched me right in my feelings pocket. Even if we don’t know where home is, we still know what it is. For Etna, home wasn’t simply food, water, and shelter. It was having a pack, a place to be quiet, and a place where he was understood. A fight, a battle, an earthquake, or an act of violence might destroy the familiar physical and metaphorical landmarks we are accustomed to, but Etna always believed he would know home when he found it. 4.75 stars
Both the print and audiobook versions are great ways to enjoy the book. It is easily done either way in just a few hours at around 200 pages. For an added bonus, the audiobook narrator reminds me a lot of Liam Neeson, if you like that sort of thing. I did.
Thanks to Scribner, Simon & Schuster Audio, Paul Yoon (author), Edelweiss, and Libro.fm for the digital review copy and advance listening copy of Etna narrated by Shrader Thomas. Their generosity did not influence my review.
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 Netgalley
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best way. Following Etna, a military dog navigating life after war, is both heartbreaking and unexpectedly hopeful. Yoon writes with such tenderness about trauma and resilience. The journey feels real and earned, and watching Etna search for home while processing everything he's lost is genuinely moving. The prose is beautiful without being pretentious, and the pacing keeps you invested from start to finish.
What really got me is how the book doesn't shy away from the complexity of peacetime. It would be easy to make this a straightforward survival story, but instead Yoon explores how broken everything still is after war, how people and animals struggle to piece themselves back together. The side characters feel lived-in, and the relationships Etna forms matter. There's real tenderness here that caught me off guard.
My only issue is that some parts felt slightly rushed toward the end, and I wanted more time with certain characters. The ending is satisfying but left me wanting to sit with it longer. Still, this is a remarkable little book about finding hope and home in impossible circumstances. Highly recommend if you want something that sticks with you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
What really got me is how the book doesn't shy away from the complexity of peacetime. It would be easy to make this a straightforward survival story, but instead Yoon explores how broken everything still is after war, how people and animals struggle to piece themselves back together. The side characters feel lived-in, and the relationships Etna forms matter. There's real tenderness here that caught me off guard.
My only issue is that some parts felt slightly rushed toward the end, and I wanted more time with certain characters. The ending is satisfying but left me wanting to sit with it longer. Still, this is a remarkable little book about finding hope and home in impossible circumstances. Highly recommend if you want something that sticks with you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
EXCEPTIONAL
Dogs are just the best. Honestly. And while I’ve never read Paul Yoon before, I’d lay my last paycheck on the fact that he agrees.
A spare, beautifully wrought tale of home-going told through the clear and simple voice of Etna, a military working dog, this was a unique experience for me as a reader. I’ve often wondered what my dogs think about, what kinds of attachment they have to place versus people, and what is most important to them. Yoon channels Etna, and other animals, gently and (what feels like) authentically.
The story is not dramatic. It is a tale of war and its aftermath. But it is not gut wrenching in the ways you might expect with a dog as the narrator. It unfolds in waves, and the reader is borne along with the storyline like the tide coming to shore. Themes include migration, loss, grief, loyalty, love, hope and once again finding one’s sense of place.
Those sensitive to scenes of combat, injury and wartime violence should read with caution. Animal loss occurs but without gore or abuse.
Recommended for dog lovers as well as those who enjoy literary fiction and magical realism with aspects of war.
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the advance copy for review. Etna will be available at all retail outlets on 8.4.2026.
Dogs are just the best. Honestly. And while I’ve never read Paul Yoon before, I’d lay my last paycheck on the fact that he agrees.
A spare, beautifully wrought tale of home-going told through the clear and simple voice of Etna, a military working dog, this was a unique experience for me as a reader. I’ve often wondered what my dogs think about, what kinds of attachment they have to place versus people, and what is most important to them. Yoon channels Etna, and other animals, gently and (what feels like) authentically.
The story is not dramatic. It is a tale of war and its aftermath. But it is not gut wrenching in the ways you might expect with a dog as the narrator. It unfolds in waves, and the reader is borne along with the storyline like the tide coming to shore. Themes include migration, loss, grief, loyalty, love, hope and once again finding one’s sense of place.
Those sensitive to scenes of combat, injury and wartime violence should read with caution. Animal loss occurs but without gore or abuse.
Recommended for dog lovers as well as those who enjoy literary fiction and magical realism with aspects of war.
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the advance copy for review. Etna will be available at all retail outlets on 8.4.2026.
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.
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