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What Should Be Wild
In this darkly funny, striking debut, a highly unusual young woman must venture into the woods at the edge of her home to remove a curse that has plagued the women in her family for millennia—an utterly original novel with all the mesmerizing power of The Tiger’s Wife, The Snow Child, and Swamplandia!
Cursed. Maisie Cothay has never known the feel of human flesh: born with the power to kill or resurrect at her slightest touch, she has spent her childhood sequestered in her family’s manor at the edge of a mysterious forest. Maisie’s father, an anthropologist who sees her as more experiment than daughter, has warned Maisie not to venture into the wood. Locals talk of men disappearing within, emerging with addled minds and strange stories. What he does not tell Maisie is that for over a millennium her female ancestors have also vanished into the wood, never to emerge—for she is descended from a long line of cursed women.
But one day Maisie’s father disappears, and Maisie must venture beyond the walls of her carefully constructed life to find him. Away from her home and the wood for the very first time, she encounters a strange world filled with wonder and deception. Yet the farther she strays, the more the wood calls her home. For only there can Maisie finally reckon with her power and come to understand the wildest parts of herself.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2018
425 people are currently reading
13200 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 789 reviews
March 11, 2018
Maybe I'm slightly biased, but I'm a fan.
June 12, 2018
They grew me inside of my mother, which was unusual, because she was dead.
There's a lot to love about Fine's debut novel, a book that blends magical realism with lore. The opening chapters are among its most dazzling: a child with a peculiar, dare I say it magical talent; a foreboding, two-hundred year old house; and a tangled wood with a secret that spans generations.
Unfortunately, the narrative is weakened by the introduction of a secondary character whose presence disrupts an otherwise marvelous book. From that point forward, the characters shift into one-dimensional cutouts ensnared in an unoriginal love triangle and whose actions are wholly predictable.
And that ending. Whew! What a letdown.
Amusing pops of macabre imagery, an enticing mystery, and bursts of sumptuous prose hint at the wonders of Fine's imagination and make this a worthwhile read. All in all, a promising debut. I'm keen to see what Fine publishes next.
The stretches of wood that had marked the first leg of our travels had grown smaller and farther between, usurped by long laps of moorland, purpled with heather and spackled with rock. It was a landscape more lonesome and majestic than any I had known. If the forest filled me with awe at the earth, the strength of the life that burst through it, this country was the saga of the sky: its infinity, the way the clouds hung low like honey as it settled into tea. Even the walking could have been heavenly, were it not for thirst and hunger, and the boys' continued bickering about whether or not we were lost.
May 21, 2018
"darkly funny"? I must have missed that.
This story had some interesting ideas, but in the end it just did not hold together enough for me.
I found it hard to follow the jumping around of character's lives, and the overall setting as far as time, was confusing...She lived in a castle near a village, basically, but in current day...England? It wasn't clear. There were a few parts that shined! But not enough logic for the story to flow smoothly, and not very likeable characters.
And the ending was totally anticlimactic.
Too many questions:
-How come some things died and shriveled up when she touched them(plants) , and others sort of just went into stasis (animals)?
-So... why did the wood hold the women? Because of the spell from Alys' sister? Or because it was being decimated? Or? Not clear.
-What was Marlowe? Was he a dog or not, and where did he come from and why and how? And where did he go?
-What did the book and the carving matter?
-Killing and reviving creatures is one thing - bringing the long dead or terminally wounded back to life and controlling them is something else. There was a whole necromancy angle here that didn't make sense and was never explored.
-How would someone who has only really interacted with 2 people in their whole life be surprised that they are not a good judge of character? It's like the backstory was totally forgotten.
-Dude. Fresh injuries do not immediately produce pus. Pus is a sign of infection, which develops over time. Hard to believe a human from this planet would be unaware of that (twice!).
-So in the end she joins with her dark self, and... what? She is just normal and that is it? What was the point of it all?
- What happened with Imogen's baby?
(sigh)
But don't let it get you down! For the good ideas it had, there are other resources - If you want to explore more around the idea of the sentient woodland, or the spiral experience, then check out these:
~ The Spiral Dance by R. Garcia y Robertson (if you can find it!)
~ Robert Holdstock's Mythago Cycle (leaves others in the dust!)
~ The Mapmaker's War by Ronlyn Domingue
and of course:
~ Uprooted by Naomi Novik
This story had some interesting ideas, but in the end it just did not hold together enough for me.
I found it hard to follow the jumping around of character's lives, and the overall setting as far as time, was confusing...She lived in a castle near a village, basically, but in current day...England? It wasn't clear. There were a few parts that shined! But not enough logic for the story to flow smoothly, and not very likeable characters.
And the ending was totally anticlimactic.
Too many questions:
-How come some things died and shriveled up when she touched them(plants) , and others sort of just went into stasis (animals)?
-So... why did the wood hold the women? Because of the spell from Alys' sister? Or because it was being decimated? Or? Not clear.
-What was Marlowe? Was he a dog or not, and where did he come from and why and how? And where did he go?
-What did the book and the carving matter?
-Killing and reviving creatures is one thing - bringing the long dead or terminally wounded back to life and controlling them is something else. There was a whole necromancy angle here that didn't make sense and was never explored.
-How would someone who has only really interacted with 2 people in their whole life be surprised that they are not a good judge of character? It's like the backstory was totally forgotten.
-Dude. Fresh injuries do not immediately produce pus. Pus is a sign of infection, which develops over time. Hard to believe a human from this planet would be unaware of that (twice!).
-So in the end she joins with her dark self, and... what? She is just normal and that is it? What was the point of it all?
- What happened with Imogen's baby?
(sigh)
But don't let it get you down! For the good ideas it had, there are other resources - If you want to explore more around the idea of the sentient woodland, or the spiral experience, then check out these:
~ The Spiral Dance by R. Garcia y Robertson (if you can find it!)
~ Robert Holdstock's Mythago Cycle (leaves others in the dust!)
~ The Mapmaker's War by Ronlyn Domingue
and of course:
~ Uprooted by Naomi Novik
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2018
Ohhhhhh dear. This is such a shame.
I was so enthralled by the first fifty pages of this book, and really thought I'd be in for a deliciously dark treat. Julia Fine's prose is stunning, and she's not afraid to get WEIRD with her writing, which I really appreciate. She immediately strikes the perfect mood, delivers such a wonderful setup, introduces such interesting concepts, aaaaaand then...
it just completely nosedives in its execution. This bursting-with-potential story about women goes off the rails with the introduction of two male characters to our protagonist's storyline, which very predictably veers into Love Triangle Territory™. These two male characters are both I'd Rather Watch Paint Dry BORING and the protag's relationships with them both are boring. Add a really strange, out-of-place abduction plot to the mix and suddenly I felt like this book was meandering and had lost all its intrigue. In all fairness, this clearly allegorical book isn't really plot-driven to begin with, but still, one can't help but feel that a much more interesting and exciting path could be forged from these really fascinating ideas, especially since Fine's prose is top-notch.
Moreover, it's obvious that sexuality is the heart of this book; it's very much about girls discovering their burgeoning sexualities, exploring lust and desire, dealing with repression and unmet needs, being ostracized for said desires, etc. As such, the absolute heteronormativity throughout was super glaring and actually kind of surprising for something published in 2018. I genuinely kept waiting for at least a glimmer of diversity in this regard, and it never showed up. What we're left with is a narrative about women (who desire men), and messages about women being ostracized for desiring (men) and presumably how women should embrace their desire (for men) which...okay, sure! It's just not all too exciting to me, as I've read that a million times before, from people who have been writing about that for hundreds of years. And maybe I'm just being harsh, but it left this whole story feeling kind of stale and narrow-sighted, especially when you hold it up against books such as Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire.
Edit: I forgot to add that there are also some scenes in this book where consent was very ??? and it was never really commented on. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
Anyway, I'd be willing to pick up something else by Julia Fine in the future because, as I said, her prose and her ideas are really, really wonderful. But after a strong start, this particular storyline and these particular characters ended up not working for me at all.
I was so enthralled by the first fifty pages of this book, and really thought I'd be in for a deliciously dark treat. Julia Fine's prose is stunning, and she's not afraid to get WEIRD with her writing, which I really appreciate. She immediately strikes the perfect mood, delivers such a wonderful setup, introduces such interesting concepts, aaaaaand then...
it just completely nosedives in its execution. This bursting-with-potential story about women goes off the rails with the introduction of two male characters to our protagonist's storyline, which very predictably veers into Love Triangle Territory™. These two male characters are both I'd Rather Watch Paint Dry BORING and the protag's relationships with them both are boring. Add a really strange, out-of-place abduction plot to the mix and suddenly I felt like this book was meandering and had lost all its intrigue. In all fairness, this clearly allegorical book isn't really plot-driven to begin with, but still, one can't help but feel that a much more interesting and exciting path could be forged from these really fascinating ideas, especially since Fine's prose is top-notch.
Moreover, it's obvious that sexuality is the heart of this book; it's very much about girls discovering their burgeoning sexualities, exploring lust and desire, dealing with repression and unmet needs, being ostracized for said desires, etc. As such, the absolute heteronormativity throughout was super glaring and actually kind of surprising for something published in 2018. I genuinely kept waiting for at least a glimmer of diversity in this regard, and it never showed up. What we're left with is a narrative about women (who desire men), and messages about women being ostracized for desiring (men) and presumably how women should embrace their desire (for men) which...okay, sure! It's just not all too exciting to me, as I've read that a million times before, from people who have been writing about that for hundreds of years. And maybe I'm just being harsh, but it left this whole story feeling kind of stale and narrow-sighted, especially when you hold it up against books such as Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire.
Edit: I forgot to add that there are also some scenes in this book where consent was very ??? and it was never really commented on. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
Anyway, I'd be willing to pick up something else by Julia Fine in the future because, as I said, her prose and her ideas are really, really wonderful. But after a strong start, this particular storyline and these particular characters ended up not working for me at all.
August 23, 2021
3.5/5
It took me longer than it should to realize why I didn’t like this more while reading it. I mean, it has interesting magical elements, the characters are well built, with an overall quirky tone (many times I felt that I was reading something by Wes Anderson) and some dark, messed up stuff is happening in there, which is always appreciated; also, no problematic aspects.
So, what’s the problem? Well, 80% in (after reading this for a whole month) I realized: we never get directly to the freaking point. There’s so much detouring and unnecessary details before letting things happening or people talking that made me want to scream. And exactly because of that I’m pretty sure that a good 30% of what I read never registered with me.
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I simply just don’t have enough patience. Again, it’s not a bad book by any means, I just wish I’d enjoyed it more.
Ps the cover is everything 😩
It took me longer than it should to realize why I didn’t like this more while reading it. I mean, it has interesting magical elements, the characters are well built, with an overall quirky tone (many times I felt that I was reading something by Wes Anderson) and some dark, messed up stuff is happening in there, which is always appreciated; also, no problematic aspects.
So, what’s the problem? Well, 80% in (after reading this for a whole month) I realized: we never get directly to the freaking point. There’s so much detouring and unnecessary details before letting things happening or people talking that made me want to scream. And exactly because of that I’m pretty sure that a good 30% of what I read never registered with me.
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I simply just don’t have enough patience. Again, it’s not a bad book by any means, I just wish I’d enjoyed it more.
Ps the cover is everything 😩
June 2, 2018
What Should Be Wild is the book I've been waiting for, maybe since I was a little girl. What Should Be Wild is a promise, a warning, a breath of fresh air, frankly. Julia Fine, in her debut (!!!), deftly draws on fairy tales, seeks out their darkest roots, to craft a feminist story that carefully, almost cautiously, explores the ways in which women have been subjugated time and time again, but she seeks out the chinks of light, the ways in which women have attempted to subvert their forced obeisance, and introduces us to a deft world of magic that is more, and less, than it seems.
Our main character, Maisie, is a delight. At once timid and bold, hampered in a neat metaphor for the taboo of the female body by a curse that grants her the ability to kill and revive, whether she'd like to or not, with her touch, Maisie is the heart of the book. While the world and mythology that Fine has created is immersive and compelling, it would be nothing without Maisie, or the other Blakely women we're introduced to in sparse moments, learning them and their stories so intimately but with incredible brevity. Fine has a knack for making her characters walk off the page with only a couple of pages. Lucy, Mary, Emma, Helen, Kathryn, Imogen, and Alys are all fully-fledged, with hopes and dreams and challenges, and yet we see them only in quick, vivid snatches. Part of this is because their stories are all of ours - women who have been stifled by society, by family, by injustice, cruelty, social mores, and ultimately the demands placed upon women by a society who has decided they are always, in some way or another, too much of something. In that way, Julia Fine has succeeded where so many other have failed - she gets to the heart of the feminist issues of her novel without beating one over the head with it, and yet the reader comes out stronger, indignant, hopeful, empowered.
While I did feel there were a few places in which the story dragged, in which a bit of careful editing might have cropped out twenty to thirty pages, particularly the scenes with Rafe and Coulter two thirds of the way through, I found the plot points tight and successful. Even the scenes which dragged were worth reading to stay cocooned in Fine's prose, which is atmospheric and, really, just gorgeous. Her fairy tale had a sense of calling back to the telling of a Grimm's tale on a chilly winter night, shivering in a blanket near a fire while your grandmother drops her voice and pulls you into a world completely unlike your own, and yet so like it, because that's what fairy tales are. There is a pull, a lure, to What Should Be Wild, as dangerous and insidious as the wood that forms the backdrop for the novel - just cracking the cover is enough to draw you in and forget that you are not there, with Maisie and Matthew.
Hats off to Julia Fine, whose work I'll be waiting for avidly, now. No pressure.
Our main character, Maisie, is a delight. At once timid and bold, hampered in a neat metaphor for the taboo of the female body by a curse that grants her the ability to kill and revive, whether she'd like to or not, with her touch, Maisie is the heart of the book. While the world and mythology that Fine has created is immersive and compelling, it would be nothing without Maisie, or the other Blakely women we're introduced to in sparse moments, learning them and their stories so intimately but with incredible brevity. Fine has a knack for making her characters walk off the page with only a couple of pages. Lucy, Mary, Emma, Helen, Kathryn, Imogen, and Alys are all fully-fledged, with hopes and dreams and challenges, and yet we see them only in quick, vivid snatches. Part of this is because their stories are all of ours - women who have been stifled by society, by family, by injustice, cruelty, social mores, and ultimately the demands placed upon women by a society who has decided they are always, in some way or another, too much of something. In that way, Julia Fine has succeeded where so many other have failed - she gets to the heart of the feminist issues of her novel without beating one over the head with it, and yet the reader comes out stronger, indignant, hopeful, empowered.
While I did feel there were a few places in which the story dragged, in which a bit of careful editing might have cropped out twenty to thirty pages, particularly the scenes with Rafe and Coulter two thirds of the way through, I found the plot points tight and successful. Even the scenes which dragged were worth reading to stay cocooned in Fine's prose, which is atmospheric and, really, just gorgeous. Her fairy tale had a sense of calling back to the telling of a Grimm's tale on a chilly winter night, shivering in a blanket near a fire while your grandmother drops her voice and pulls you into a world completely unlike your own, and yet so like it, because that's what fairy tales are. There is a pull, a lure, to What Should Be Wild, as dangerous and insidious as the wood that forms the backdrop for the novel - just cracking the cover is enough to draw you in and forget that you are not there, with Maisie and Matthew.
Hats off to Julia Fine, whose work I'll be waiting for avidly, now. No pressure.
March 19, 2018
I think Julia Fine's debut novel What Should Be Wild is a fresh new voice for the literary community. The story was a bit confusing in the beginning but everything became clear at the end. Such an inventive, distinct, unique new story. i received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I am very excited to tell you that I loved this book.
This is a "coming of age" story about Maisie Cothay, who comes from a long line of women who are cursed. The story is told in two parts - Maisie and the women who are cursed living in a hidden realm in the forest. Maisie is cursed with the inability to touch another being - she can kill and revive with a single touch. Having lived her entire life without the ability to touch, hold hands, hug another human has affected her emotionally. Can you imagine not ever being able to touch another human being?
When tragedy strikes, Maisie disappears for what she thinks is a few hours. Turns out she has been gone three days and her father, Peter, has set off to find her. She embarks on a journey to find her father and discover the truth about herself and the woods.
I thought this a very inventive, creative story. Fine's writing draws you on and allows you to emotionally attach to the characters. I loved how different this was from anything else I have ever read.
What Should Be Wild releases on May 8, 2018.
This is a "coming of age" story about Maisie Cothay, who comes from a long line of women who are cursed. The story is told in two parts - Maisie and the women who are cursed living in a hidden realm in the forest. Maisie is cursed with the inability to touch another being - she can kill and revive with a single touch. Having lived her entire life without the ability to touch, hold hands, hug another human has affected her emotionally. Can you imagine not ever being able to touch another human being?
When tragedy strikes, Maisie disappears for what she thinks is a few hours. Turns out she has been gone three days and her father, Peter, has set off to find her. She embarks on a journey to find her father and discover the truth about herself and the woods.
I thought this a very inventive, creative story. Fine's writing draws you on and allows you to emotionally attach to the characters. I loved how different this was from anything else I have ever read.
What Should Be Wild releases on May 8, 2018.
July 14, 2019
Vague spoilers ahead:
Wow. What a disappointment. The only thing keeping this from one star was Julia Fine's technical writing skill and my odd and almost spiteful desire to finish the story, mostly so that I could say I had. What started out as a beautiful, dark, interesting plot quickly turned into a nonsensical, poorly plotted attempt at allegory, with almost no payoff at the end. It's been a long time since I was so frustrated with a protagonist (and this may have largely had to do with the audiobook narrator's somewhat petulant reading of Maisie, but probably not). The ambiguity in time and place was likely intentional, though it was a poor choice. Does this take place in England? It sure seems like it might, though it's never mentioned and neither narrator had an accent. Is Maisie home-schooled? No explanation. Is there any consequence for the murder Maisie commits? Who knows? The novel is full of holes and non sequiturs, and all the characterizations outside of Maisie were inadequate. The parts I enjoyed most were the historic flashbacks to the other Blakely women, but even these fell flat after a while. I'm so frustrated at a book that could have been incredible - Fine is clearly a good writer. Her prose is beautiful, her descriptions poetic and detailed. And yet, her plotting needs work. Ugh. I'm going to be irritated about this for a while.
Wow. What a disappointment. The only thing keeping this from one star was Julia Fine's technical writing skill and my odd and almost spiteful desire to finish the story, mostly so that I could say I had. What started out as a beautiful, dark, interesting plot quickly turned into a nonsensical, poorly plotted attempt at allegory, with almost no payoff at the end. It's been a long time since I was so frustrated with a protagonist (and this may have largely had to do with the audiobook narrator's somewhat petulant reading of Maisie, but probably not). The ambiguity in time and place was likely intentional, though it was a poor choice. Does this take place in England? It sure seems like it might, though it's never mentioned and neither narrator had an accent. Is Maisie home-schooled? No explanation. Is there any consequence for the murder Maisie commits? Who knows? The novel is full of holes and non sequiturs, and all the characterizations outside of Maisie were inadequate. The parts I enjoyed most were the historic flashbacks to the other Blakely women, but even these fell flat after a while. I'm so frustrated at a book that could have been incredible - Fine is clearly a good writer. Her prose is beautiful, her descriptions poetic and detailed. And yet, her plotting needs work. Ugh. I'm going to be irritated about this for a while.
February 3, 2018
What Should Be Wild had me hooked from the start, carefully layering in the mysterious elements of a fantastical world and its fascinating characters. Julie Fine's narrative pacing is brilliant, painting a vivid, satisfying picture that draws you into her world while leaving enough questions to keep the momentum of the story. The twisty, darkly beautiful atmosphere of the book reflects the inner lives of it's characters as the plot unfolds carefully, leaving the reader hungry for answers while relishing the building suspense.
What Should Be Wild tells the story of Maisie, a teenage girl with the strange ability to give and take life with a touch. Raised by her father in the her mother's remote ancestral home, Maisie's loneliness and confusion is palpable and her desire to see what else the world offers feels universal, even to those of us without magical curses.
While the heart of the story belongs to Maisie, the book takes time to explore the stories of her maternal ancestors, women who are each cursed in their own way. These women's stories add depth to Maisie's with their painful depictions of women's souls battling the societal expectations that could destroy them.
I couldn't put this book down, racing to get to the gripping conclusion, then sad to pit it down for the last time. I would highly recommend this book for lovers of realist fantasy, feminist fairytales, specific yet universally relevant coming-of-age stories, or just great books.
What Should Be Wild tells the story of Maisie, a teenage girl with the strange ability to give and take life with a touch. Raised by her father in the her mother's remote ancestral home, Maisie's loneliness and confusion is palpable and her desire to see what else the world offers feels universal, even to those of us without magical curses.
While the heart of the story belongs to Maisie, the book takes time to explore the stories of her maternal ancestors, women who are each cursed in their own way. These women's stories add depth to Maisie's with their painful depictions of women's souls battling the societal expectations that could destroy them.
I couldn't put this book down, racing to get to the gripping conclusion, then sad to pit it down for the last time. I would highly recommend this book for lovers of realist fantasy, feminist fairytales, specific yet universally relevant coming-of-age stories, or just great books.
February 15, 2018
A dark, imaginative fairy tale that kept me enthralled! Very highly recommended.
June 29, 2018
Thank you so much Harper Books for my free copy of WHAT SHOULD BE WILD by Julia Fine - all opinions are my own.
This is a dark, unique, and creative debut that combines the style of an age old fairy tale with modern nuances. Maisie Cothay is sixteen years old and leads a cursed life. She has the rare ability to resurrect the dead and kill any living thing. She’s had to live her entire life without touching a single soul. Growing up, her only company is her father and a housekeeper until one day she disappears. Maisie believes she’s only gone for a few hours but it’s actually days. When her father goes to look for her, he disappears as well. This is a coming-of-age story where Maisie looks to the past for answers.
I devoured and savored every page of this book. Maisie is such an interesting character and I am completely fascinated by her story. But I am mostly enraptured by the women in the woods, by their stories, and how they came to be there. They are all waiting for the girl with incredible powers to set them free. The character development is outstanding and the writing is elegant and really draws you in. I was completely invested and attached to the characters. And can we please talk about this cover?!! It’s stunning! WHAT SHOULD BE WILD is inventive and I was swept away in the story.
This is a dark, unique, and creative debut that combines the style of an age old fairy tale with modern nuances. Maisie Cothay is sixteen years old and leads a cursed life. She has the rare ability to resurrect the dead and kill any living thing. She’s had to live her entire life without touching a single soul. Growing up, her only company is her father and a housekeeper until one day she disappears. Maisie believes she’s only gone for a few hours but it’s actually days. When her father goes to look for her, he disappears as well. This is a coming-of-age story where Maisie looks to the past for answers.
I devoured and savored every page of this book. Maisie is such an interesting character and I am completely fascinated by her story. But I am mostly enraptured by the women in the woods, by their stories, and how they came to be there. They are all waiting for the girl with incredible powers to set them free. The character development is outstanding and the writing is elegant and really draws you in. I was completely invested and attached to the characters. And can we please talk about this cover?!! It’s stunning! WHAT SHOULD BE WILD is inventive and I was swept away in the story.
May 20, 2018
The concept for this book was really interesting, but I felt the author didn’t do enough with it. Maisie can kill or reanimate with a touch due to a very old family curse. The story builds on dark fairy tales and feminist themes, but it is hard to connect with the characters.
May 8, 2018
3.5 dark fantasy stars
You can follow my reviews here on my blog https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
Maisie has the power of life or death. She is a young girl grown to adulthood without being able to be touched or to touch others for her touch brings both death and life. She is hidden away with her father, Peter, an anthropologist, who tries to investigate the woods that surround their home and bring with it a hidden curse.
The women in Maisie's family have vanished into the woods for countless number of years and although her father uses Maisie as more of an experiment, he does not tell her of the dangers that lurk within this dark and mysterious woods.
Men have traveled into these woods and when they return, if indeed they do, they bear stories that are both strange and bordering on the bizarre.
What Maisie's father knows is that women in the line of this family have been disappearing for a thousand years. He forbids Maisie from ever venturing into the woods. He does love her even though he can never touch her, hold her, or offer her any kind of physical comfort.
When her father, Peter, goes missing, Maisie must venture into a world she has been kept away from. She needs to find Peter, but the woods though keep calling to her, anxious for her return.
When she returns will she be ale to find the self that she has become? Can she live with her power and the wild nature of the woods that surround her both in the physical and the mystical world? Can Maisie be the one who is above to banish the curse that has plagued her family?
This was a dark tale, one of mystery and one that made the reader think about folklore and how the practices of ancient times have come down to us today.
Thank you to Julia Fine, Harper Collins, and Edelweiss for providing an ARC of this enigmatic novel.
Publishing date May 8, 2018
You can follow my reviews here on my blog https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
Maisie has the power of life or death. She is a young girl grown to adulthood without being able to be touched or to touch others for her touch brings both death and life. She is hidden away with her father, Peter, an anthropologist, who tries to investigate the woods that surround their home and bring with it a hidden curse.
The women in Maisie's family have vanished into the woods for countless number of years and although her father uses Maisie as more of an experiment, he does not tell her of the dangers that lurk within this dark and mysterious woods.
Men have traveled into these woods and when they return, if indeed they do, they bear stories that are both strange and bordering on the bizarre.
What Maisie's father knows is that women in the line of this family have been disappearing for a thousand years. He forbids Maisie from ever venturing into the woods. He does love her even though he can never touch her, hold her, or offer her any kind of physical comfort.
When her father, Peter, goes missing, Maisie must venture into a world she has been kept away from. She needs to find Peter, but the woods though keep calling to her, anxious for her return.
When she returns will she be ale to find the self that she has become? Can she live with her power and the wild nature of the woods that surround her both in the physical and the mystical world? Can Maisie be the one who is above to banish the curse that has plagued her family?
This was a dark tale, one of mystery and one that made the reader think about folklore and how the practices of ancient times have come down to us today.
Thank you to Julia Fine, Harper Collins, and Edelweiss for providing an ARC of this enigmatic novel.
Publishing date May 8, 2018
March 17, 2018
3.5 Stars.
What a delicious and dark fairy tale/magical realism/fantasy - I'm unsure how to actually categorize this one! Very unique and probably won't be for every reader because of how different it is. The main storyline is Maisie, her unique ability to bring things to life or to kill them with her very touch, and her quest to find her father, Peter, when he disappears - seemingly to go looking for her.
And then we get my favorite parts - the darker side. Where the women in the forest, who span decades and lifetimes, are waiting. Waiting for the girl with the special power, whose spirit has been dampened all these years. I absolutely LOVED the background stories of each of them. Honestly, I had no idea what was going on half of the time... and yet I was utterly fascinated with where the book was going.
I try very hard not to read reviews of books I plan to read and review .. yet there were a couple of unavoidable ones going around about the feminist point of the book. Um, I must be a horrible woman as I didn't really catch that "theme" in this read. Or maybe it's not something I was looking for. Instead, I took this read as almost lore, the past lives of Maisie, how she came to have this power and the decisions she has to make along the way.
I was slightly let down by the ending. Don't get me wrong, I loved the final part where we get to learn exactly how Maisie came to have these powers. However, I think I expected there to be more of an epic conclusion of some kind. Kind of like that firecracker you light up and then it just kind of fizzles out... has a little pop but no colorful bursts.
If you like magical realism, "feminist" fairytales (or just darker fairy tales in general), and a unique read about a forest who steals women, then you should definitely give this book a read. I absolutely love the unique way it was written and the over all darker side of Maisie's history.
Thank you to Harper Books for this copy!
What a delicious and dark fairy tale/magical realism/fantasy - I'm unsure how to actually categorize this one! Very unique and probably won't be for every reader because of how different it is. The main storyline is Maisie, her unique ability to bring things to life or to kill them with her very touch, and her quest to find her father, Peter, when he disappears - seemingly to go looking for her.
And then we get my favorite parts - the darker side. Where the women in the forest, who span decades and lifetimes, are waiting. Waiting for the girl with the special power, whose spirit has been dampened all these years. I absolutely LOVED the background stories of each of them. Honestly, I had no idea what was going on half of the time... and yet I was utterly fascinated with where the book was going.
I try very hard not to read reviews of books I plan to read and review .. yet there were a couple of unavoidable ones going around about the feminist point of the book. Um, I must be a horrible woman as I didn't really catch that "theme" in this read. Or maybe it's not something I was looking for. Instead, I took this read as almost lore, the past lives of Maisie, how she came to have this power and the decisions she has to make along the way.
I was slightly let down by the ending. Don't get me wrong, I loved the final part where we get to learn exactly how Maisie came to have these powers. However, I think I expected there to be more of an epic conclusion of some kind. Kind of like that firecracker you light up and then it just kind of fizzles out... has a little pop but no colorful bursts.
If you like magical realism, "feminist" fairytales (or just darker fairy tales in general), and a unique read about a forest who steals women, then you should definitely give this book a read. I absolutely love the unique way it was written and the over all darker side of Maisie's history.
Thank you to Harper Books for this copy!
March 25, 2018
Little Maisie Cothay was born from her mother’s dead body. Right away (thankfully) her father discovered that the touch of her bare skin would kill- or resurrect. It could even happen repeatedly- she killed her father several times before reaching toddlerhood. She could even resurrect the long dead, which necessitated coating all the bare wood floors and trims in the house she grew up in with several coats of varnish, and making sure she only wore synthetic fiber clothing. She grew up in her mother’s decrepit Blakely family mansion in a large forest, with only her anthropologist father (who seems to see her as a long running experiment) and the housekeeper for company. Her father educated her and she read everything in the large library- being careful to wear gloves, of course. But one day the housekeeper dies, she accidently runs into the housekeeper’s nephew, and her father disappears. This is when she decides she must go on a quest to find her father.
She’s not the first girl of her mother’s family to go into the forest, which was forbidden to her. Through the years, many have gone in and not returned. Maisie also finds herself going into the city and meeting new people for the first time. It’s a very abrupt and sudden coming of age as she explores both areas, and finds that evil can wear an attractive face.
The story is a fantasy, coming of age, fairy tale. Unlike in most fairy tales, the girl is the hero, not the princess in distress. There is a sleeping beauty, but she isn’t waiting for a prince to kiss her. It’s well written, and I liked the back stories of the Blakely women in the woods. I enjoyed the book, but I can only give it four stars; there were some problems with pacing, and something lacking in the Blakely women in the woods.
She’s not the first girl of her mother’s family to go into the forest, which was forbidden to her. Through the years, many have gone in and not returned. Maisie also finds herself going into the city and meeting new people for the first time. It’s a very abrupt and sudden coming of age as she explores both areas, and finds that evil can wear an attractive face.
The story is a fantasy, coming of age, fairy tale. Unlike in most fairy tales, the girl is the hero, not the princess in distress. There is a sleeping beauty, but she isn’t waiting for a prince to kiss her. It’s well written, and I liked the back stories of the Blakely women in the woods. I enjoyed the book, but I can only give it four stars; there were some problems with pacing, and something lacking in the Blakely women in the woods.
February 3, 2018
Since the Time Traveler's Wife is one of my favorite books I was excited to read anything Audrey Niffenegger strongly endorsed. Overall, really a wonderful read.
The basic premise is that a girl, Maisie, is born with the ability/curse to kill or being back to life anything she touches. The book made me reconsider my perspective on physicality in a new way. After her dad disappears, Maisie is forced to leave her safe hideaway. During her explorations of this well-built world, we are introduced to other intriguing women in Maisie's family who have gone missing in the woods along her house. The characters are written with depth and complexity and the writing is tight yet unique. Once I got going I finished it in one sitting!
The basic premise is that a girl, Maisie, is born with the ability/curse to kill or being back to life anything she touches. The book made me reconsider my perspective on physicality in a new way. After her dad disappears, Maisie is forced to leave her safe hideaway. During her explorations of this well-built world, we are introduced to other intriguing women in Maisie's family who have gone missing in the woods along her house. The characters are written with depth and complexity and the writing is tight yet unique. Once I got going I finished it in one sitting!
March 2, 2018
What Should Be Wild is an incredibly unique and intriguing story filled with the perfect mix of magic and adventure. This story has a wonderfully dark edge that makes the mythical elements more real. Maisie is written so that you somehow relate to her lonely and isolating upbringing and root for her along the way. The characters she meets in her search for her father increases the mystery of her existence and add to her background. Highly recommend for those that want a different kind of story.
April 1, 2018
Maisie Cothay is a 16 years old who has the power to kill or resurrect another living creature, who has never felt another persons touch or picked a flower. She and her father, an anthropologist widower, live on the edge of a mysterious forest. After her dad vanishes, she sets off to uncover the truth regarding the woods, her father's studies, with the hopes in lifting her curse. What Should Be Wild is a fairy-tale crossed with magical realism for grown-ups with similarities to Beast of Extraordinary Circumstance.
May 9, 2025
I received this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I was almost hesitant to read this one - a girl who can kill or resurrect with just her touch. I felt like it could go either way - it could be a fantastic or a very trite fairy tale. I'm glad I took a change with this one because it was fantastic. It honestly blew me away and there was so much depths and layers to the story. The writing was great, and the world development was great. Highly recommended.
I was almost hesitant to read this one - a girl who can kill or resurrect with just her touch. I felt like it could go either way - it could be a fantastic or a very trite fairy tale. I'm glad I took a change with this one because it was fantastic. It honestly blew me away and there was so much depths and layers to the story. The writing was great, and the world development was great. Highly recommended.
May 20, 2018
Thank you to Edelweiss, HarperCollins and Julia Fine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A young girl grows up without ever having held someone’s hand or received the comfort of a hug. She has a strange, magical ability whereby the tiniest brush against her skin causes death or gives life. Her father, Peter, has kept her isolated on his deceased wife’s estate. He is afraid of Maisie’s powers and makes sure that she abides by a strict set of rules, including never to touch a living thing. After all, she killed her own mother in utero. Peter is a scientist and conducts many experiments on Maisie growing up, trying to understand her powers. While he keeps her identity a secret, he has written many academic papers on his daughter’s abilities. Maisie knows how dangerous she can be but assumes all children are born this way and one day, she will grow out of it. After all, grown ups can touch each other without any sort of consequence. Until, one day, she discovers that she alone is different and Maisie begins to question whether or not she is special, or is she indeed, cursed. She begins to rebel and one day breaks one of her father’s strictest rule about not entering the surrounding forest.
Maisie’s maternal line is filled with tragedy. We learn, through alternating chapters, that some of her ancestors are trapped in the forest that surrounds the estate. Each has their own story that has led them to live out their days in this alternate forest, where time stands still. Maisie has grown up hearing the folk tales of what has happened to people who have not heeded the warning to stay out of the forest. But one day, while trying to get home, she stumbles into this strange place. She knows she is somewhere different because she can touch anything and no harm comes to it. She hugs trees and keeps a blade of grass as proof that she is not dreaming. She is startled to see a girl who could be her twin, except for her black eyes and a dark aura about her. After what seems like a few hours, Maisie returns home, only to discover that she has been gone for three days. Her father is missing and Maisie is convinced he has gone looking for her and is somehow trapped in the forest. She goes through Peter’s notes hoping to find a clue as to how to find him, not having any idea how to reenter this alternate forest. A handsome stranger approaches Maisie, announcing himself as a colleague of Peter’s, and offers to help Maisie locate her father. Maisie will need the help of her ancestors, a book of magic and lots of courage to help her solve this mystery.
Be prepared, if you are to read this book. This is not just some dark fairy tale with some magical fantasy thrown in. This story definitely has some horror elements to it that I was not expecting. It seemed to come out of nowhere and I was turned off by the gore and level of violence. Don’t get me wrong - I love a good horror novel. I’m just unconvinced that it was a necessary element to the story telling. I felt that this book was trying to be too many things and I wish it had stayed true to its roots of how the story was set up in the first half of the novel. It was compelling and interesting just figuring out why Maisie had that power, how her ancestors were connected and I didn’t mind the dash of romance thrown in for good measure. Also, because there were so many elements to the story, many things that were set up were not answered. I don’t want to get into specifics so as to not reveal ANY spoilers, but there were fundamental plot lines that were just left hanging, not explained or just resolved so quickly that it was disappointing. Why take the time to set these things up if they are not going to be revealed.
I know many people loved this book and some of my dislike could be a just “not for me” situation. It was an enjoyable read just not without some issues.
A young girl grows up without ever having held someone’s hand or received the comfort of a hug. She has a strange, magical ability whereby the tiniest brush against her skin causes death or gives life. Her father, Peter, has kept her isolated on his deceased wife’s estate. He is afraid of Maisie’s powers and makes sure that she abides by a strict set of rules, including never to touch a living thing. After all, she killed her own mother in utero. Peter is a scientist and conducts many experiments on Maisie growing up, trying to understand her powers. While he keeps her identity a secret, he has written many academic papers on his daughter’s abilities. Maisie knows how dangerous she can be but assumes all children are born this way and one day, she will grow out of it. After all, grown ups can touch each other without any sort of consequence. Until, one day, she discovers that she alone is different and Maisie begins to question whether or not she is special, or is she indeed, cursed. She begins to rebel and one day breaks one of her father’s strictest rule about not entering the surrounding forest.
Maisie’s maternal line is filled with tragedy. We learn, through alternating chapters, that some of her ancestors are trapped in the forest that surrounds the estate. Each has their own story that has led them to live out their days in this alternate forest, where time stands still. Maisie has grown up hearing the folk tales of what has happened to people who have not heeded the warning to stay out of the forest. But one day, while trying to get home, she stumbles into this strange place. She knows she is somewhere different because she can touch anything and no harm comes to it. She hugs trees and keeps a blade of grass as proof that she is not dreaming. She is startled to see a girl who could be her twin, except for her black eyes and a dark aura about her. After what seems like a few hours, Maisie returns home, only to discover that she has been gone for three days. Her father is missing and Maisie is convinced he has gone looking for her and is somehow trapped in the forest. She goes through Peter’s notes hoping to find a clue as to how to find him, not having any idea how to reenter this alternate forest. A handsome stranger approaches Maisie, announcing himself as a colleague of Peter’s, and offers to help Maisie locate her father. Maisie will need the help of her ancestors, a book of magic and lots of courage to help her solve this mystery.
Be prepared, if you are to read this book. This is not just some dark fairy tale with some magical fantasy thrown in. This story definitely has some horror elements to it that I was not expecting. It seemed to come out of nowhere and I was turned off by the gore and level of violence. Don’t get me wrong - I love a good horror novel. I’m just unconvinced that it was a necessary element to the story telling. I felt that this book was trying to be too many things and I wish it had stayed true to its roots of how the story was set up in the first half of the novel. It was compelling and interesting just figuring out why Maisie had that power, how her ancestors were connected and I didn’t mind the dash of romance thrown in for good measure. Also, because there were so many elements to the story, many things that were set up were not answered. I don’t want to get into specifics so as to not reveal ANY spoilers, but there were fundamental plot lines that were just left hanging, not explained or just resolved so quickly that it was disappointing. Why take the time to set these things up if they are not going to be revealed.
I know many people loved this book and some of my dislike could be a just “not for me” situation. It was an enjoyable read just not without some issues.
April 2, 2018
I can't say I'm typically a fan of the books folks categorize as magical realism, but this....this felt both real and was like magic in its ability to transport me into its little world.
Maise has never felt a kiss on her cheek, a warm hand in hers, skin-on-skin. With a simple touch, she can kill. Or, alternately, she can revive. There's a beautiful description of her toddling across a lawn, leaving a brown trail of dead grass behind her; they even had to coat the wood used to build their old home or else it would come alive with her touch. Maise's mother died while carrying her and her scientist father most certainly loves her but also treats her as more of a study subject than a daughter. The woman who serves as a housekeeper, nanny, grandmother, and more loves Maise too but also, as Maise learns, has a life outside her job too.
While this is mostly Maise's story - a coming-of-age tale about learning about the worlds and about herself - it is also the story of women who came before. For centuries, there have been women who simply vanished into the woods. We meet them too, women who never felt quite like they fit in the world and are now trapped in someplace other.
To say much more might be to say too much. I might already have done so. But this book captured me. The language was lovely. The women were strong and powerful, but also flawed and uncertain of themselves. The love is flawed too, from the father-daughter relationship to the relationship with oneself. I can't easily voice (read: type) what it was about this book that captured me, but I was drawn into its world and wanted to know what happened to every character.
There were a few places/subplots that I didn't care for, but this still ranks as the best book I've read in some time. You need to be willing to suspend disbelief, but you'll be rewarded it you do. 4.5 stars, happily rounded up to 5 when that isn't allowed (but still 4.5 given the few pieces that didn't work for me). I can only return to where this review started, the book finds real (fleshy, full) characters and real internal struggles (loving, fearing, growing) in a world with a bit of magic.
(Review based on an advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Maise has never felt a kiss on her cheek, a warm hand in hers, skin-on-skin. With a simple touch, she can kill. Or, alternately, she can revive. There's a beautiful description of her toddling across a lawn, leaving a brown trail of dead grass behind her; they even had to coat the wood used to build their old home or else it would come alive with her touch. Maise's mother died while carrying her and her scientist father most certainly loves her but also treats her as more of a study subject than a daughter. The woman who serves as a housekeeper, nanny, grandmother, and more loves Maise too but also, as Maise learns, has a life outside her job too.
While this is mostly Maise's story - a coming-of-age tale about learning about the worlds and about herself - it is also the story of women who came before. For centuries, there have been women who simply vanished into the woods. We meet them too, women who never felt quite like they fit in the world and are now trapped in someplace other.
To say much more might be to say too much. I might already have done so. But this book captured me. The language was lovely. The women were strong and powerful, but also flawed and uncertain of themselves. The love is flawed too, from the father-daughter relationship to the relationship with oneself. I can't easily voice (read: type) what it was about this book that captured me, but I was drawn into its world and wanted to know what happened to every character.
There were a few places/subplots that I didn't care for, but this still ranks as the best book I've read in some time. You need to be willing to suspend disbelief, but you'll be rewarded it you do. 4.5 stars, happily rounded up to 5 when that isn't allowed (but still 4.5 given the few pieces that didn't work for me). I can only return to where this review started, the book finds real (fleshy, full) characters and real internal struggles (loving, fearing, growing) in a world with a bit of magic.
(Review based on an advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
March 21, 2018
Cursed. Maisie Cothay has never known the feel of human flesh: born with the power to kill or resurrect at her slightest touch, she has spent her childhood sequestered in her family’s manor at the edge of a mysterious forest. Maisie’s father, an anthropologist who sees her as more experiment than daughter, has warned Maisie not to venture into the wood. Locals talk of men disappearing within, emerging with addled minds and strange stories. What he does not tell Maisie is that for over a millennium her female ancestors have also vanished into the wood, never to emerge—for she is descended from a long line of cursed women.
I received this as an E-Arc from Edelweiss and fell in LOVE with this story. From birth, not being able to touch another person. Never to feel the comfort of another's arms or the warmth of a hug. Especially being a child and denied that contact that is so important in the early years. I loved the characters and the world that was created in dimensional to ours.
The interloping stories between the main protagonist and the characters set throughout time was beautifully written. The bits and pieces of history intertwined with our main story was like icing on the cake. Maisie's journey to find herself and find the cause behind this curse is such a unique and spellbinding story. The ability to kill and resurrect anything living is a disturbingly different plot than I have ever read before.
The character building and plot twist kept me absorbed from the very beginning. I NEEDED to know what would happen to Maisie, Peter, Matthew ! Why were these women trapped in the woods? What would happen if they were freed? Where does the Maisie fit in ? All these questions are answered and more.
This deliciously dark novel is something totally new and exciting. I give it 5 Stars and recommend picking it up and your earliest convenience.
I received this as an E-Arc from Edelweiss and fell in LOVE with this story. From birth, not being able to touch another person. Never to feel the comfort of another's arms or the warmth of a hug. Especially being a child and denied that contact that is so important in the early years. I loved the characters and the world that was created in dimensional to ours.
The interloping stories between the main protagonist and the characters set throughout time was beautifully written. The bits and pieces of history intertwined with our main story was like icing on the cake. Maisie's journey to find herself and find the cause behind this curse is such a unique and spellbinding story. The ability to kill and resurrect anything living is a disturbingly different plot than I have ever read before.
The character building and plot twist kept me absorbed from the very beginning. I NEEDED to know what would happen to Maisie, Peter, Matthew ! Why were these women trapped in the woods? What would happen if they were freed? Where does the Maisie fit in ? All these questions are answered and more.
This deliciously dark novel is something totally new and exciting. I give it 5 Stars and recommend picking it up and your earliest convenience.
March 18, 2018
All the fairy tales warn children of going into the woods alone. Nothing good ever comes out of it. "What Should Be Wild" has the eerie quality of all those lovely Grimm fairy tales and an off kilter feel to it. A child is born, the mother dies leaving the father to raise her alone in the old secluded family home. He keeps her and her secret hidden so her only companions are her dad and the housekeeper.
Her touch can kill and a retouch can bring back life. Maisie hungers for the touch of another human - a hug from her father and later, the same from the young man who will help her. Meanwhile, deep in the hidden realm of the wood, all the women in Maisie's family exist waiting to be freed. Classic Gothic fairy tale blended with a fantasy world that borders on horror and a mysterious curse. Beware your next walk in the woods alone. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Her touch can kill and a retouch can bring back life. Maisie hungers for the touch of another human - a hug from her father and later, the same from the young man who will help her. Meanwhile, deep in the hidden realm of the wood, all the women in Maisie's family exist waiting to be freed. Classic Gothic fairy tale blended with a fantasy world that borders on horror and a mysterious curse. Beware your next walk in the woods alone. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
May 24, 2018
once upon a time there's a girl and everything she touches dies, including her mother while the girl was still in her womb, which is a GREAT premise for a story but somehow every other aspect of this fell flat with me. lots of cliche "oh gosh, the boy who was trying to protect me the whole time actually WAS looking out for my best interests" and a ton of flashback history of the girl's family that didn't really have anything to do with anything, in the end, concluded by the most anti climactic non-ending ever. this was a mess. tw for a ton of horrific animal violence. 1/5.
a review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
a review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
did-not-finish
August 1, 2018Not giving this a star rating because I did not finish it. I tried, I really did. The writing was beautiful, but I just couldn't get engaged in the story. Conceptually, it's pretty out there and, although the author is clearly outrageously talented, I just felt emotionally disconnected from the characters and I couldn't justify continuing.
October 19, 2020
Five magical, feminist, bewitched stars!
I started this book two years ago. TWO. YEARS. I devoured the first half and fell so in love. I was excited every time I opened the book. I couldn't wait to pick it up again.
And then...
I beta read for a friend, and then had to read an ARC to review, and before I knew it, this book was collecting dust on my bedside table and it kept getting pushed off by things I HAD to read.
Jack and I booked a weekend getaway in a cabin in North Georgia for my birthday last week, and I brought this book with me, and once again, I found myself swept away in the story within the first chapter after I picked it back up. I devoured the rest of it hungrily in just a couple of days.
I'll never forget the feeling of reading this all cozied up by the fire after a long day of hiking. <3
But, personal experience aside, this is a must for anyone who loves young adult with a dash of fantasy, mystery, and woman power. I was so intrigued by the concept and I LOVED getting to know all of the female ancestors that made up the entire family. This wasn't just one girl's story -- it was the story of her entire family, of ALL of us, as women. I absolutely loved it.
Five stars and highly recommended! Going on my favorites of 2020 for sure.
I started this book two years ago. TWO. YEARS. I devoured the first half and fell so in love. I was excited every time I opened the book. I couldn't wait to pick it up again.
And then...
I beta read for a friend, and then had to read an ARC to review, and before I knew it, this book was collecting dust on my bedside table and it kept getting pushed off by things I HAD to read.
Jack and I booked a weekend getaway in a cabin in North Georgia for my birthday last week, and I brought this book with me, and once again, I found myself swept away in the story within the first chapter after I picked it back up. I devoured the rest of it hungrily in just a couple of days.
I'll never forget the feeling of reading this all cozied up by the fire after a long day of hiking. <3
But, personal experience aside, this is a must for anyone who loves young adult with a dash of fantasy, mystery, and woman power. I was so intrigued by the concept and I LOVED getting to know all of the female ancestors that made up the entire family. This wasn't just one girl's story -- it was the story of her entire family, of ALL of us, as women. I absolutely loved it.
Five stars and highly recommended! Going on my favorites of 2020 for sure.
February 22, 2019
This was a good read. It had a magical feel to it that gave it a dark fairytale feeling.
May 8, 2018
What Should Be Wild was a captivating read from beginning to end. As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, my interest was piqued. If I may be perfectly honest, the stunning cover was what first caught my eye. Gorgeous, and so fitting for this dark tale.
It’s difficult to imagine a life in which you can’t truly experience touch – such a basic human interaction that we crave from the moment we take our first breath. Maisie Cothay was not your basic, average girl. Her slightest touch could snuff the life out of a human being or other living thing, but another swipe, poke or brush could also bring it back to life. While I can’t blame her father for being cautious around Maisie, I can blame him for his lack of fatherly behavior and affection. He was more interested in treating his only daughter as a subject in one of his studies than in nurturing a real relationship with her. This resulted in Maisie living an extremely sheltered and lonely life. My heart broke for Maisie’s unusual life and condition, and I was completely invested in her and her story throughout the book’s entirety.
What Should Be Wild drew me in with its unique and richly descriptive story. It brought me back to my own youth and all of the stories that I remembered reading when I was a child. The fairy tales and lore that were not always the happily ever afters that we have been subjected to in more modern day retellings. No, these were the stories that warned children of the dangers of the world and what could possibly be lurking out there beyond the safety of their own homes and surroundings. Julia Fine created this grim, dark feeling of foreboding and executed it superbly.
This was an intriguing, entertaining, and alluring read. Brimming with curses, family heritage, determination and human spirit, Julia Fine’s debut was a great introduction to her originality and beautiful, vivid writing. I’m looking forward to reading more by her in the years to come.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via Edelweiss).
It’s difficult to imagine a life in which you can’t truly experience touch – such a basic human interaction that we crave from the moment we take our first breath. Maisie Cothay was not your basic, average girl. Her slightest touch could snuff the life out of a human being or other living thing, but another swipe, poke or brush could also bring it back to life. While I can’t blame her father for being cautious around Maisie, I can blame him for his lack of fatherly behavior and affection. He was more interested in treating his only daughter as a subject in one of his studies than in nurturing a real relationship with her. This resulted in Maisie living an extremely sheltered and lonely life. My heart broke for Maisie’s unusual life and condition, and I was completely invested in her and her story throughout the book’s entirety.
What Should Be Wild drew me in with its unique and richly descriptive story. It brought me back to my own youth and all of the stories that I remembered reading when I was a child. The fairy tales and lore that were not always the happily ever afters that we have been subjected to in more modern day retellings. No, these were the stories that warned children of the dangers of the world and what could possibly be lurking out there beyond the safety of their own homes and surroundings. Julia Fine created this grim, dark feeling of foreboding and executed it superbly.
This was an intriguing, entertaining, and alluring read. Brimming with curses, family heritage, determination and human spirit, Julia Fine’s debut was a great introduction to her originality and beautiful, vivid writing. I’m looking forward to reading more by her in the years to come.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via Edelweiss).
February 14, 2018
I wanted to love this book so much, I really did. It had all the elements I love in a story: strong female characters, magical realism, creepy forests... and yet this entire story just fell flat for me. I found much of it to be a slog and I kept reading because I was really hoping for a giant twist/reveal at the end. Instead, I feel like I caught onto what was happening pretty early on and so I was just finishing it just to say I'd gotten to the end/be proven right.
I didn't hate it at all, but I didn't connect emotionally to any of the women, particularly because I felt like the author was trying so hard to make that happen. There was an overarching lesson that women have been put upon for centuries and often are forced to seek refuge from the harshness of the world, and a lot of stuff about embracing the darker elements of ourselves, yada yada, but it all just felt so heavy-handed that I couldn't take that lesson to heart. I'm a little disappointed, but I think perhaps for a younger audience that's not quite so cynical about the world, this could be good.
I didn't hate it at all, but I didn't connect emotionally to any of the women, particularly because I felt like the author was trying so hard to make that happen. There was an overarching lesson that women have been put upon for centuries and often are forced to seek refuge from the harshness of the world, and a lot of stuff about embracing the darker elements of ourselves, yada yada, but it all just felt so heavy-handed that I couldn't take that lesson to heart. I'm a little disappointed, but I think perhaps for a younger audience that's not quite so cynical about the world, this could be good.
February 3, 2018
this is a rare and enchanting read. the author has a distinct and powerful writing style that immediately pulled me in. the ain character who is cursed is smart and funny and makes such an unusual premise feel not only plausible but real and relatable.
i loved the sections that traveled bacl into the lives of maisies female ancestors too. they are imaginative and atmospheric and really chilling. its a book thats chock full of feminist characters and themes without ever hitting you over the head with them.
i cant wait for the author's next book!!
i loved the sections that traveled bacl into the lives of maisies female ancestors too. they are imaginative and atmospheric and really chilling. its a book thats chock full of feminist characters and themes without ever hitting you over the head with them.
i cant wait for the author's next book!!
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