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Pride of Eden
The enthralling new novel from the acclaimed author of Fallen Land, The River of Kings, and Gods of Howl Mountain
Vietnam veteran, retired racehorse jockey, and keeper of secrets, Anse Caulfield rescues exotic big cats, elephants, and other creatures for Little Eden, a wildlife sanctuary near the abandoned ruins of a failed development on the Georgia coast. But when Anse’s prized lion escapes and is killed, he becomes obsessed with replacing her—even if the means of rescue aren’t exactly legal.
Anse is joined by Malaya, a former soldier herself, who after discharge hunted poachers decimating an elephant refuge in Africa; Lope, whose training in falconry taught him to pilot surveillance drones; and Tyler, a veterinarian who has found a place in Anse’s obsessive world.
From an ancient crocodile scarred by forced combat with other animals, a panther caged in a yard, a rare tiger destined to be harvested for its glands, a lion kept as a tourist attraction at a gas station, to a pack of wolves being raised on a remote private island off the coast, Anse and his team battle an underworld of smugglers, gamblers, breeders, trophy hunters, and others who exploit exotic game.
Pride of Eden is a brilliant fever dream of a novel: set on the eroding edge of civilization, rooted in dramatic events that are linked not only with each character’s past, but to the prehistory of America, where great creatures roamed the continent and continue to inhabit our collective imagination.
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Vietnam veteran, retired racehorse jockey, and keeper of secrets, Anse Caulfield rescues exotic big cats, elephants, and other creatures for Little Eden, a wildlife sanctuary near the abandoned ruins of a failed development on the Georgia coast. But when Anse’s prized lion escapes and is killed, he becomes obsessed with replacing her—even if the means of rescue aren’t exactly legal.
Anse is joined by Malaya, a former soldier herself, who after discharge hunted poachers decimating an elephant refuge in Africa; Lope, whose training in falconry taught him to pilot surveillance drones; and Tyler, a veterinarian who has found a place in Anse’s obsessive world.
From an ancient crocodile scarred by forced combat with other animals, a panther caged in a yard, a rare tiger destined to be harvested for its glands, a lion kept as a tourist attraction at a gas station, to a pack of wolves being raised on a remote private island off the coast, Anse and his team battle an underworld of smugglers, gamblers, breeders, trophy hunters, and others who exploit exotic game.
Pride of Eden is a brilliant fever dream of a novel: set on the eroding edge of civilization, rooted in dramatic events that are linked not only with each character’s past, but to the prehistory of America, where great creatures roamed the continent and continue to inhabit our collective imagination.
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304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2020
40 people are currently reading
4171 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Brown
12 books753 followersTaylor Brown is the award-winning author of the novels Fallen Land (2016), The River of Kings (2017), Gods of Howl Mountain (2018), Pride of Eden (2020), Wingwalkers (2022), and Rednecks (2024), as well as a short story collection, In the Season of Blood and Gold (2014). He's a recipient of the Montana Prize in Fiction and his first three novels were all finalists for the Southern Book Prize. He lives in Savannah, Georgia, where he is the founder and editor-in-chief of BikeBound, one of the world's leading custom motorcycle publications. His website is taylorbrownfiction.com. You can follow him on Twitter (@taybrown), Instagram (@taylorbrown82) and Facebook (@Taylor.Brown.Fiction).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
November 6, 2019
This is not an easy book to read. It’s pretty gruesome with multiple scenes of animal abuse, wild animals being tortured by poachers for the parts of the animal that will bring them big cash. Given the subject matter, this is not one I would normally read. I was compelled to read it, though, because Taylor Brown is such a gifted writer whose prose , even the gritty descriptions are just not to be missed. On the other hand, there is beauty here in the majesty of these exotic animals and in the passion and desire of the characters to protect and save them. It’s a moving story of their deep commitments to protect, save, set free these amazing creatures - wolves, tigers, lions. It’s an expose of barbaric poachers, of those exploiting the animals . There’s a message here, of course, but no preaching. The story and the writing are enough to get that across. The characters are complex and while we get the back story for Anse Caulfield, former jockey and Vietnam vet and Malaya, an Iraq war vet, I didn’t feel like I fully got a sense of them and I wanted to know more about them. Ironically, I got a better sense of Mosi , a lion at the center of one of their rescue missions. Maybe that’s what Brown intended. Recommended to fans of Brown’s writing. Fallen Land remains my favorite of Brown’s novels, but I believe that he is a born storyteller and I’ll read whatever he writes.
Read my friend Cathrine’s review. It tells about this in an eloquent way.
I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley .
Read my friend Cathrine’s review. It tells about this in an eloquent way.
I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley .
March 26, 2020
*all you people who just binge-watched tiger king? you're gonna want to read this one.*
this is my third book by taylor brown, and while Gods of Howl Mountain is still my favorite, this is one helluva book; stunning and brutal and filled with such powerful descriptions, if you are a reader easily made squeamish, this one will squeam you.
in fact, here's an open letter to anyone who has ever DM'd me or left a comment on one of my reviews of any book that has a dog in it, hand-wringingly inquiring if that dog is okay at the end of the book. if you can't handle it when a fictional dog dies nobly, which is generally how dogs die in fiction—self-sacrificing for the love of their person—you can't handle this book full of animals abused, hunted for sport, killed for their parts and discarded; one utterly wasteful death after another. i'm not someone who responds physically to the written word, and even i squirmed a little. that's how good taylor brown is at writing about the horrible realities of poaching, the exotic animal trade, and the myriad ways humans exploit the beasts of this world.
and when i say "you can't handle it," what i'm really saying is, "learn how to handle it," because if you don't, you'll become complacent and defenseless in your padded comfort zone, as unchallenged as mosi the lion, fed on already-dead meat in the enclosure where he's kept as a listless pet—a tourist attraction at a gas station off the interstate:
don't miss out on a strong, important book because you think it's gonna make you sad. just...be sad. let it rip your guts out. lean into it, let it affect you, and wear those scars with pride, you mighty cat.
having said that, yes, there are dogs in. this book, and the story of huey the dog is particularly designed to break a heart He looked up at Anse, as if to ask if he was doing right.
my heart:
and for all the parts that hurt, there are redemptive moments to counterbalance those hurts, as our intrepid human characters remove animals from these cruel situations and try to give them back their dignity and freedom, by any means necessary.
he's so skilled at descriptive writing that there are going to be scenes that'll hurt your feeling-bits, but not all of his word-paintings are painful, some are just vividly evocative and emotionally neutral, like a character imagining all of the tigers in captivity released into our neighborhoods:
aside from that, my only note is about the somewhat amorphous shape of the book. there's a cohesive story and many memorable scenes, but there's something unusual to its flow, something that feels...dreamy? slippery? i don't know how to articulate it, and it's not necessarily off-putting, but it's an oddly rendered narrative structure that kept me off-balance. someone smarter than me can pin it down, and i will just be the mouth-breather grunting out, "good book. read it."
*******************************
i'm already horrified a handful of pages in. very promising!
here is the part that horrified me five pages in. i am spoiler-tagging it because it is a very long passage, and i'm risking my life quoting so much from an arc, but it's too gorgeous and upsetting a scene not to share.
*******************************
still horrified! review to come!
come to my blog!
"I mean, if I was going down, I'd rather go with a bang than a whimper, you know? Sometimes, when I'm falling asleep, I think of breaking the latches on every lion and tiger cage in the world. Those cats streaming like fire and lightning into the night. Maybe, if we were forced to feel like prey again, like animals, we'd have a little more respect for the rest of the creatures we share this rock with."
this is my third book by taylor brown, and while Gods of Howl Mountain is still my favorite, this is one helluva book; stunning and brutal and filled with such powerful descriptions, if you are a reader easily made squeamish, this one will squeam you.
in fact, here's an open letter to anyone who has ever DM'd me or left a comment on one of my reviews of any book that has a dog in it, hand-wringingly inquiring if that dog is okay at the end of the book. if you can't handle it when a fictional dog dies nobly, which is generally how dogs die in fiction—self-sacrificing for the love of their person—you can't handle this book full of animals abused, hunted for sport, killed for their parts and discarded; one utterly wasteful death after another. i'm not someone who responds physically to the written word, and even i squirmed a little. that's how good taylor brown is at writing about the horrible realities of poaching, the exotic animal trade, and the myriad ways humans exploit the beasts of this world.
and when i say "you can't handle it," what i'm really saying is, "learn how to handle it," because if you don't, you'll become complacent and defenseless in your padded comfort zone, as unchallenged as mosi the lion, fed on already-dead meat in the enclosure where he's kept as a listless pet—a tourist attraction at a gas station off the interstate:
He was never meant to wear a coat so faultless, he knows. The old savannah kings are in his blood. Rulers of the black mane, who wore their scars with pride. Their shredded ears and eyeless sockets. Their coats were storied with old battles, never meant to shine in cages or trophy rooms.
don't miss out on a strong, important book because you think it's gonna make you sad. just...be sad. let it rip your guts out. lean into it, let it affect you, and wear those scars with pride, you mighty cat.
having said that, yes, there are dogs in. this book, and the story of huey the dog is particularly designed to break a heart He looked up at Anse, as if to ask if he was doing right.
my heart:
and for all the parts that hurt, there are redemptive moments to counterbalance those hurts, as our intrepid human characters remove animals from these cruel situations and try to give them back their dignity and freedom, by any means necessary.
he's so skilled at descriptive writing that there are going to be scenes that'll hurt your feeling-bits, but not all of his word-paintings are painful, some are just vividly evocative and emotionally neutral, like a character imagining all of the tigers in captivity released into our neighborhoods:
He thought of three thousand tigers bobbing through the darkness, knifing between rows of tract houses and pausing to stare through kitchen windows, watching families like roasts in the oven. They would flash across the highways of West Texas, passing through the lights of minivans and semi-trucks, then disappear again into the desert night, pursued by the manic sabers of helicopter searchlights. A red wreckage left in their wake, the remains of coyotes and stray dogs and children on trampolines. Nature's serial killers, single-minded and remorseless, released into the night.
aside from that, my only note is about the somewhat amorphous shape of the book. there's a cohesive story and many memorable scenes, but there's something unusual to its flow, something that feels...dreamy? slippery? i don't know how to articulate it, and it's not necessarily off-putting, but it's an oddly rendered narrative structure that kept me off-balance. someone smarter than me can pin it down, and i will just be the mouth-breather grunting out, "good book. read it."
*******************************
i'm already horrified a handful of pages in. very promising!
here is the part that horrified me five pages in. i am spoiler-tagging it because it is a very long passage, and i'm risking my life quoting so much from an arc, but it's too gorgeous and upsetting a scene not to share.
*******************************
still horrified! review to come!
come to my blog!
November 22, 2019
I finished this book not only emotionally drained, but also throughout awed by the talent of this author. His first book, Fallen Land, captured my attention, his following endeavors firmly cemented him into an author that I will drop everything to read immediately. He can put together characters and events in a detailed manner, making them unforgettable.
Here the world is on the verge of a collapse, due to mans mistreatment of nature , and his own greed. There are few main characters, but all have suffered emotionally and physically in the past. They come together at Eden, a sanctuary for mistreated animals. If you are an animal lover this will be a hard read, but it also shows that their are still those who care, have in fact made it their lifes mission to serve and protect.
This is intense, descriptive, so much do that I felt as if I was not only reading, but was instead watching from within. Do you know there are more tigers in the state of Texas, than there is left in the wild? I couldn't believe this, so had to look it up and yes, it is true. Fixed hunts, where the animals are set up for the hunter. Big men, big hunters, can't take on the animals on the own terms. Sickening, some of the horrible things people do and accept.. Lawrence Anthony, the elephant whisperer, a man I much admire, makes a few short appearances. Mans cruelty to animals, the animals like Mosi, the lion, who is only acting to his nature, doesn't kill just to have or destroy, but for food. By books end one should realize that the animals are much nobler, than the humans who attempt to capture, maim or kill.
One should finish this book angry, angry at our lack of respect and caring for the animals of our world. A little hopeful to that there are still those who care enough to try to help and save. At the end of the last chapter there was something that made me smile, perfectly placed and so right. This is a book I will never forget and one that I encourage all to read.
ARC from St. Martin's press.
Here the world is on the verge of a collapse, due to mans mistreatment of nature , and his own greed. There are few main characters, but all have suffered emotionally and physically in the past. They come together at Eden, a sanctuary for mistreated animals. If you are an animal lover this will be a hard read, but it also shows that their are still those who care, have in fact made it their lifes mission to serve and protect.
This is intense, descriptive, so much do that I felt as if I was not only reading, but was instead watching from within. Do you know there are more tigers in the state of Texas, than there is left in the wild? I couldn't believe this, so had to look it up and yes, it is true. Fixed hunts, where the animals are set up for the hunter. Big men, big hunters, can't take on the animals on the own terms. Sickening, some of the horrible things people do and accept.. Lawrence Anthony, the elephant whisperer, a man I much admire, makes a few short appearances. Mans cruelty to animals, the animals like Mosi, the lion, who is only acting to his nature, doesn't kill just to have or destroy, but for food. By books end one should realize that the animals are much nobler, than the humans who attempt to capture, maim or kill.
One should finish this book angry, angry at our lack of respect and caring for the animals of our world. A little hopeful to that there are still those who care enough to try to help and save. At the end of the last chapter there was something that made me smile, perfectly placed and so right. This is a book I will never forget and one that I encourage all to read.
ARC from St. Martin's press.
November 13, 2020
Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my!
Brown writes so passionately and eloquently in this latest work of art. What a talent. He didn’t let me down in his previous 3 novels, and this is another captivating one.
Two renegades on a mission to rescue animals stolen by owners from their native lands. Whether from the rolling lands of the Savannah or the jungles of South America. The descriptions are palpable. But they mostly hunt for big game - illegally capturing those animals in captivity and bringing them to a wildlife sanctuary.
Ansar and Malaya are 2 war survivors damaged as much as the animals they save. Rescuing them is also a balm of healing.
Intense descriptions of these majestic animals. This one will evoke respect for the largest of animals who roam this earth and also those who will go to any lengths to protect them.
Writing awesome as are the characters.5⭐️
Brown writes so passionately and eloquently in this latest work of art. What a talent. He didn’t let me down in his previous 3 novels, and this is another captivating one.
Two renegades on a mission to rescue animals stolen by owners from their native lands. Whether from the rolling lands of the Savannah or the jungles of South America. The descriptions are palpable. But they mostly hunt for big game - illegally capturing those animals in captivity and bringing them to a wildlife sanctuary.
Ansar and Malaya are 2 war survivors damaged as much as the animals they save. Rescuing them is also a balm of healing.
Intense descriptions of these majestic animals. This one will evoke respect for the largest of animals who roam this earth and also those who will go to any lengths to protect them.
Writing awesome as are the characters.5⭐️
February 13, 2020
The Pride of Eden is described as a “fever dream of a novel” in the book’s synopsis and it’s an apt description. The story of Anse, a retired jockey who runs an exotic animal sanctuary in Georgia, the book encompasses a wild assortment of characters. Brown does a great job describing the place, the animals and the people. But I consistently felt off kilter while reading this, as if it truly was a dream.
The book can be gruesome in parts, starting with the killing of a rhino for its horn. But it’s those engrossing scenes that also drew me in and captured my attention.
We hear from a variety of characters here. Not just Anse and Malaya, an Iraqi veteran who also hunted poachers in Africa, but the bad guys and even Mosi, a lion.
This book will grab you. It’s not an easy read. The animal cruelty in the book will piss you off. Anse’s backstory brought tears to my eyes.
The writing is lush and poetic. The man truly is a wordsmith. It’s not a fast paced book and at times, it did drag somewhat.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
The book can be gruesome in parts, starting with the killing of a rhino for its horn. But it’s those engrossing scenes that also drew me in and captured my attention.
We hear from a variety of characters here. Not just Anse and Malaya, an Iraqi veteran who also hunted poachers in Africa, but the bad guys and even Mosi, a lion.
This book will grab you. It’s not an easy read. The animal cruelty in the book will piss you off. Anse’s backstory brought tears to my eyes.
The writing is lush and poetic. The man truly is a wordsmith. It’s not a fast paced book and at times, it did drag somewhat.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
September 7, 2019
*5 stars plus, plus, plus!! This story grips you right from the start--the rather sad tale of what our civilization has come to in our role as stewards of the earth. There are villains and heroes here in equal measure.
Vietnam vet and former racehorse jockey Anderson 'Anse' Caulfield operates a wildlife sanctuary on the Georgia coast he calls Little Eden. As the story begins, his lioness Henrietta has managed to escape and is once again roaming free in the tall grasses of a nearby abandoned housing development. Anse enlists the reluctant aid of fireman Lope to help track her down. After the hunt comes to a sad ending, Lope begins showing up at the sanctuary to help feed the animals and practice his falconry.
Also working at the sanctuary is Anse's lover, the veterinarian Tyler. She has a stricter moral code than Anse so he doesn't always tell her how he obtains the animals he brings to Little Eden.
They come to be joined by Malaya (which she says means 'freedom in Tagalog), who served two tours in Iraq and later contracted in South Africa, tracking ivory and rhino poachers. She and Anse become a great team, on a mission to rescue exploited exotic animals any which way they can.
Among the villains, there is the trophy hunter Winter Melton, owner of Lion Gas, who wants to keep the magnificent lion Mosi caged on display as a mascot for his truck stop. And the wolfman, Horn, who keeps purebred wolves and crossbreeds them with dogs for sale to people who want something a little wilder than the average dog. And the people importing exotic birds, which often sicken and die in their cages. And the goofy survivalist brothers who want to collect a few of every species in cages to save for the end times.
Taylor Brown is a wordsmith par excellence. These characters are remarkable, wild and overgrown just like the savannah they inhabit. My favorite character of all is Mosi--I loved experiencing the world through his eyes.
What The Overstory did for our understanding of trees and their systematic decimation for profit, this book does for the state of wildlife. As the denizens of Little Eden are prone to say: 'There are more captive tigers in the state of Texas alone than in the wild in the whole rest of the world.'
I was very fortunate to win an advance reader copy of this book in paperback form through a GoodReads giveaway. Many thanks.
Vietnam vet and former racehorse jockey Anderson 'Anse' Caulfield operates a wildlife sanctuary on the Georgia coast he calls Little Eden. As the story begins, his lioness Henrietta has managed to escape and is once again roaming free in the tall grasses of a nearby abandoned housing development. Anse enlists the reluctant aid of fireman Lope to help track her down. After the hunt comes to a sad ending, Lope begins showing up at the sanctuary to help feed the animals and practice his falconry.
Also working at the sanctuary is Anse's lover, the veterinarian Tyler. She has a stricter moral code than Anse so he doesn't always tell her how he obtains the animals he brings to Little Eden.
They come to be joined by Malaya (which she says means 'freedom in Tagalog), who served two tours in Iraq and later contracted in South Africa, tracking ivory and rhino poachers. She and Anse become a great team, on a mission to rescue exploited exotic animals any which way they can.
Among the villains, there is the trophy hunter Winter Melton, owner of Lion Gas, who wants to keep the magnificent lion Mosi caged on display as a mascot for his truck stop. And the wolfman, Horn, who keeps purebred wolves and crossbreeds them with dogs for sale to people who want something a little wilder than the average dog. And the people importing exotic birds, which often sicken and die in their cages. And the goofy survivalist brothers who want to collect a few of every species in cages to save for the end times.
Taylor Brown is a wordsmith par excellence. These characters are remarkable, wild and overgrown just like the savannah they inhabit. My favorite character of all is Mosi--I loved experiencing the world through his eyes.
What The Overstory did for our understanding of trees and their systematic decimation for profit, this book does for the state of wildlife. As the denizens of Little Eden are prone to say: 'There are more captive tigers in the state of Texas alone than in the wild in the whole rest of the world.'
I was very fortunate to win an advance reader copy of this book in paperback form through a GoodReads giveaway. Many thanks.
March 17, 2020
Chapters alternate without pattern between characters and animals. The prose is rich in figurative language and the premise is original.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me. It has a strong premise. The foundation of the novel lays concretely in animal rights and measures the value of animals. But, to me there was nothing beyond that. Although I thought Anse was interesting, I didn't feel connected to him or the rest of the characters. The storyline skipped around and I was confused about several scenes; I found myself re-reading quite often in order to grasp some sort of understanding of what exactly was happening. After a while, I found myself bored. Had the storyline been stronger, I would have enjoyed it more because I did like the dialogue concerning the unfortunate realities that animals face. The ending left me feeling underwhelmed. I didn't know where the story was going most of the time, and the resolution didn't provide me with answers.
Triggers include animal abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me. It has a strong premise. The foundation of the novel lays concretely in animal rights and measures the value of animals. But, to me there was nothing beyond that. Although I thought Anse was interesting, I didn't feel connected to him or the rest of the characters. The storyline skipped around and I was confused about several scenes; I found myself re-reading quite often in order to grasp some sort of understanding of what exactly was happening. After a while, I found myself bored. Had the storyline been stronger, I would have enjoyed it more because I did like the dialogue concerning the unfortunate realities that animals face. The ending left me feeling underwhelmed. I didn't know where the story was going most of the time, and the resolution didn't provide me with answers.
Triggers include animal abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own.
March 17, 2020
Taylor Brown has written another masterpiece. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Pride of Eden is about an eclectic, complex group of people living on the Georgia coast who devote their lives to rescuing and rehabilitating exotic animals. It’s a memorable story, exciting, most exquisitely written, with glorious storytelling. This is the type of book that reminds me why I read! More thoughts to come when I can gather them!
Big thanks to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Pride of Eden is about an eclectic, complex group of people living on the Georgia coast who devote their lives to rescuing and rehabilitating exotic animals. It’s a memorable story, exciting, most exquisitely written, with glorious storytelling. This is the type of book that reminds me why I read! More thoughts to come when I can gather them!
Big thanks to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
March 17, 2020
!! NOW AVAILABLE !!
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
-- Genesis 1:26
The Fact Sheet for Big Cat Public Safety Act states these statistics: ”There are 7,000 tigers (in the United States), more than live in the wild in the rest of world.”…”In fact, the U.S. is thought to be home to more captive tigers than are found in the wild.” The Humane Society estimates the largest population of tigers in the U.S. is in Texas, where anyone can own a tiger.
While the focus of this story involves the poaching of wildlife, the trade of skins, the sale of body parts for various reasons, along with the heinous conditions some of these animals are condemned to by those who capture them, it is also a condemnation of those people who have captured these animals, and then mistreated them. Those who have obtained them in order to financially profit, watching as their population is disintegrating. This situation sounds horrifying, sad, and it is.
But, this is Taylor Brown, and while this is shared with his requisite gorgeous prose, this story is riveting as well, as he slowly unveils the stories of the lives of both the animals on the wildlife sanctuary that is managed by Anse Caulfield, former Vietnam veteran. Anse’s memories of his time in Vietnam add more to the story, as do the day-to-day operations of Little Eden. Anse’s pride and joy is Henrietta, a lioness, who lives on the sanctuary on the coast of Georgia, and who has managed to escape as this story is just beginning to unfold.
Among the others involved with the sanctuary is Malaya, also a veteran, but who served in Iraq. She is equally invested in their roles as protectors of these animals and the world they live in, it is their sacred duty. The sanctuary veterinarian is Tyler, a woman who is close with Anse, although she doesn’t always agree with things he does. But, the focus in this story isn’t primarily about the people, the focus is less on their personal lives than it is on their joint concern for these animals.
This is one of those books that pulled me in completely from the first pages. Taylor Brown’s ability to weave this tale with the omniscient truth of the darkness that permeates this story, showing me these places, the wilderness and the beliefs on both sides of this story, and yet infusing this with just enough light. A very thought-provoking book, and as in life, not all stories end with a big ribbon tied in a bow, resolving every obstacle. This leaves us to reflect on our feelings on this topic, and about our roles as guardians of these animals, and of this world. As in his ‘The River of Kings,’ there is a strength in how this story is shared, there’s not a lot of soft, poetic, sweetness – but his devotion to this topic, to these majestic beasts of nature who, in addition to mankind, were created for their own place and purpose on this earth – that, to me, is both lovely, and the ultimate expression of love.
Pub Date: 17 Mar 2020
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC provided
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
-- Genesis 1:26
The Fact Sheet for Big Cat Public Safety Act states these statistics: ”There are 7,000 tigers (in the United States), more than live in the wild in the rest of world.”…”In fact, the U.S. is thought to be home to more captive tigers than are found in the wild.” The Humane Society estimates the largest population of tigers in the U.S. is in Texas, where anyone can own a tiger.
While the focus of this story involves the poaching of wildlife, the trade of skins, the sale of body parts for various reasons, along with the heinous conditions some of these animals are condemned to by those who capture them, it is also a condemnation of those people who have captured these animals, and then mistreated them. Those who have obtained them in order to financially profit, watching as their population is disintegrating. This situation sounds horrifying, sad, and it is.
But, this is Taylor Brown, and while this is shared with his requisite gorgeous prose, this story is riveting as well, as he slowly unveils the stories of the lives of both the animals on the wildlife sanctuary that is managed by Anse Caulfield, former Vietnam veteran. Anse’s memories of his time in Vietnam add more to the story, as do the day-to-day operations of Little Eden. Anse’s pride and joy is Henrietta, a lioness, who lives on the sanctuary on the coast of Georgia, and who has managed to escape as this story is just beginning to unfold.
Among the others involved with the sanctuary is Malaya, also a veteran, but who served in Iraq. She is equally invested in their roles as protectors of these animals and the world they live in, it is their sacred duty. The sanctuary veterinarian is Tyler, a woman who is close with Anse, although she doesn’t always agree with things he does. But, the focus in this story isn’t primarily about the people, the focus is less on their personal lives than it is on their joint concern for these animals.
This is one of those books that pulled me in completely from the first pages. Taylor Brown’s ability to weave this tale with the omniscient truth of the darkness that permeates this story, showing me these places, the wilderness and the beliefs on both sides of this story, and yet infusing this with just enough light. A very thought-provoking book, and as in life, not all stories end with a big ribbon tied in a bow, resolving every obstacle. This leaves us to reflect on our feelings on this topic, and about our roles as guardians of these animals, and of this world. As in his ‘The River of Kings,’ there is a strength in how this story is shared, there’s not a lot of soft, poetic, sweetness – but his devotion to this topic, to these majestic beasts of nature who, in addition to mankind, were created for their own place and purpose on this earth – that, to me, is both lovely, and the ultimate expression of love.
Pub Date: 17 Mar 2020
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC provided
October 22, 2019
The rescue of exotic animals is front and center of this exquisitely written novel. Anse Caulfield and his small band of misfits make it their lives’ work to save abused big cats and other animals from those who profit from their exploitation. Anse provides safety for these animals at his coastal Georgia sanctuary. Particularly majestic are the passages written from the lion’s point of view as he confidently claims his kingdom. It’s been decades since I’ve visited a zoo but I still recall feeling pity for ferocious animals not meant to live their lives within the confines of a cage. Given that we don’t seem to comprehend how to treat each other with empathy and kindness it shouldn’t surprise anyone that a criminal world surrounding exotic animals exists. Brown shines a light on this underworld with his blindingly brilliant writing. Be prepared for graphic scenes of animal abuse.
January 8, 2021
When I was much younger, I would visit a zoo, and other places where animals were displayed and be happy to see those bars that held them back from me. They couldn't hurt me, but as I grew older, I soon realized how awful it was to cage these animals. My heart would break and as I looked intently at these creatures, I saw sadness, a deep sadness that entrapped behind these bars was a way of life for these creatures. This feeling made this book even more heart rending for me. For they, unlike me, could never go home again.
Anse Caulfield is a rescuer. He is a Vietnam veteran, intent on his mission of being a man who saves exotic animals. He has established a sanctuary for lions, elephants, and other exotic animals and has called it Little Eden. There the animals are provided for, given love, attention, and most of all an environment of semi freedom. When Anse's prize lion escapes and is killed by an assistant, it sets in motion a deep desire in Anse to replace this beloved animal.
There are not only animals in the world of Little Eden. There are other people dedicated to the lives of the animals they save and rescue, even if not legal, their intent is the life of the creatures they have sworn to guard. There is Malaya, a former soldier, once a chaser of people who poached animals in Africa. There is Tyler, a veterinarian, important to Anse and much more than a doctor to his charges, and there is Lope, a falconer, a worker of drones. These people live their lives in service to the animals in their care and engage in a conflict to rescue animals trapped in lives of desperation, hunted for their body parts, their trophy value, their breeding ability, and as a lure or deterrent to nefarious business dealings.
There are notes of fantasy as Taylor Brown seems to crawl into the minds and hearts of not only his characters, but also the animals of the present and past. It is a tribute to what animals once were, where they came from, and how they roamed this planet free with the power of life within them. It's a look at the earth we now occupy where animals are often valued for what they can bring to their owners in the way of money, trapped in a world not of their making, having no way to escape. It is a sad commentary of where we are and how no matter what we seem to do, animals of the past, present and future are in danger. .....and is it not so that we, too, are animals? Are we not in the same kind of danger as our animals?
I recommend this beautifully written story to all those who not only love animals but also fear for the future of all. It is a tale containing harshness and riveting detail that is often times hard to read as often the truth is. It is the story of life, of dedication, of a person crying in the wilderness for the creatures of the past, present, and what is to come.
Thank you to Taylor Brown, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this book due out on March, 20, 2020.
My reviews can be seen here:
http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...
Anse Caulfield is a rescuer. He is a Vietnam veteran, intent on his mission of being a man who saves exotic animals. He has established a sanctuary for lions, elephants, and other exotic animals and has called it Little Eden. There the animals are provided for, given love, attention, and most of all an environment of semi freedom. When Anse's prize lion escapes and is killed by an assistant, it sets in motion a deep desire in Anse to replace this beloved animal.
There are not only animals in the world of Little Eden. There are other people dedicated to the lives of the animals they save and rescue, even if not legal, their intent is the life of the creatures they have sworn to guard. There is Malaya, a former soldier, once a chaser of people who poached animals in Africa. There is Tyler, a veterinarian, important to Anse and much more than a doctor to his charges, and there is Lope, a falconer, a worker of drones. These people live their lives in service to the animals in their care and engage in a conflict to rescue animals trapped in lives of desperation, hunted for their body parts, their trophy value, their breeding ability, and as a lure or deterrent to nefarious business dealings.
There are notes of fantasy as Taylor Brown seems to crawl into the minds and hearts of not only his characters, but also the animals of the present and past. It is a tribute to what animals once were, where they came from, and how they roamed this planet free with the power of life within them. It's a look at the earth we now occupy where animals are often valued for what they can bring to their owners in the way of money, trapped in a world not of their making, having no way to escape. It is a sad commentary of where we are and how no matter what we seem to do, animals of the past, present and future are in danger. .....and is it not so that we, too, are animals? Are we not in the same kind of danger as our animals?
I recommend this beautifully written story to all those who not only love animals but also fear for the future of all. It is a tale containing harshness and riveting detail that is often times hard to read as often the truth is. It is the story of life, of dedication, of a person crying in the wilderness for the creatures of the past, present, and what is to come.
Thank you to Taylor Brown, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this book due out on March, 20, 2020.
My reviews can be seen here:
http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...
November 12, 2019
3.5 rounded up, because...
Taylor Brown is a wonderful writer.
I loved Fallen Land and God’s of Howell Mountain, and for this reason when offered this book to read, I didn’t hesitate to grab it..not really knowing what it was about.
I admired these characters for their devotion to these wild/exotic animals and the dedication to their rescue, but I didn’t feel connected to them and the story moved extremely slow for me, but I did learn a lot.
However.. I will read anything this author writes.. he’s just that good.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Taylor Brown is a wonderful writer.
I loved Fallen Land and God’s of Howell Mountain, and for this reason when offered this book to read, I didn’t hesitate to grab it..not really knowing what it was about.
I admired these characters for their devotion to these wild/exotic animals and the dedication to their rescue, but I didn’t feel connected to them and the story moved extremely slow for me, but I did learn a lot.
However.. I will read anything this author writes.. he’s just that good.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!
November 2, 2019
5 🐅 🐘 🦏 🦍 🦁
Maylaya and Anse are two soldiers traumatized by war, both drawn to the plight of animals decimated by poachers for black market profit, as collateral damage in war or targets of big game hunter/murderers killing subdued prey on canned hunts, or as the targets of exotic animal trade. This is both their story and recognition paid to wildlife suffering from cruelty and exploitation as men subdue the earth; all its creatures, great and small.
Any reader familiar with Taylor Brown knows how well he does grit-lit. While not unexpected, his opening chapter depicting the brutality of poaching in Africa is hard reading. I usually draw the line at animal abuse but respect for his writing chops compelled me to continue. Warning to potential readers, it doesn’t improve, yet is tempered as it bears witness to victims unable to speak for or save themselves.
I’ve read all his books and Brown knows how to throw a great change up. His stories share similar themes, dark and grizzled, while exploring new turf. This was different, yet familiar at the same time with compelling characters percolating with male and female testosterone, both human and animal.
Mosi the lion is majestically drawn, you actually stalk the ground in his pawprints and catch the scent in his nostrils. He marks every page he’s on and was my favorite thing in this book. Seriously, if you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to prowl the understory as king or queen of the jungle start turning the pages.
Does Brown’s prose make it worth the pain it causes? You’ll have to decide that for yourselves—but Hot Damn! the man can write. This was a perfect blend of dark bittersweet fact and decadent fiction. If you’re already a fan I wouldn’t miss it. I came close to giving Gods of Howl Mountain five stars but fell just short. For me this is a solid gold 5 ⭐️ rating.
Much appreciation and thanks to St. Martin’s press for this ARC. The only thing better than winning a book from Goodreads giveaways is when it’s by one of your favorite authors.
Special shout out to the beautiful cover artwork!
Set for publication March 17, 2020.
Maylaya and Anse are two soldiers traumatized by war, both drawn to the plight of animals decimated by poachers for black market profit, as collateral damage in war or targets of big game hunter/murderers killing subdued prey on canned hunts, or as the targets of exotic animal trade. This is both their story and recognition paid to wildlife suffering from cruelty and exploitation as men subdue the earth; all its creatures, great and small.
Any reader familiar with Taylor Brown knows how well he does grit-lit. While not unexpected, his opening chapter depicting the brutality of poaching in Africa is hard reading. I usually draw the line at animal abuse but respect for his writing chops compelled me to continue. Warning to potential readers, it doesn’t improve, yet is tempered as it bears witness to victims unable to speak for or save themselves.
I’ve read all his books and Brown knows how to throw a great change up. His stories share similar themes, dark and grizzled, while exploring new turf. This was different, yet familiar at the same time with compelling characters percolating with male and female testosterone, both human and animal.
Mosi the lion is majestically drawn, you actually stalk the ground in his pawprints and catch the scent in his nostrils. He marks every page he’s on and was my favorite thing in this book. Seriously, if you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to prowl the understory as king or queen of the jungle start turning the pages.
Does Brown’s prose make it worth the pain it causes? You’ll have to decide that for yourselves—but Hot Damn! the man can write. This was a perfect blend of dark bittersweet fact and decadent fiction. If you’re already a fan I wouldn’t miss it. I came close to giving Gods of Howl Mountain five stars but fell just short. For me this is a solid gold 5 ⭐️ rating.
Much appreciation and thanks to St. Martin’s press for this ARC. The only thing better than winning a book from Goodreads giveaways is when it’s by one of your favorite authors.
Special shout out to the beautiful cover artwork!
Set for publication March 17, 2020.
December 2, 2019
Oh boy.....this novel from Taylor Brown.....is not always an easy read for animal lovers, but as it begins and and rangers hunt and eliminate poachers.....thanks to ex-army gal Malaya.....some justice is served.
Fast forward to Little Eden, a sanctuary for exotic wildlife.....Malaya's new home (after a bit of trouble with the Rangers), and we meet the proprietor, a little BIG man called Anse and his vet partner Tyler. We travel on secret expeditions to save those hurting and in harm's way, hear the voices and cries of animals as well as the haunted histories behind each character.
Written with Brown's remarkable descriptive prose and gift for storytelling, PRIDE OF EDEN held me captive and didn't let go. And oh the ending.......
As other readers, I too researched the fact that there are said to be more lions in captivity in Texas than in the wild. I was shocked to find that just ANYONE can cage and own a wild animal legally, that baby cubs can be purchased with just a credit card ON LINE. The more I read, the more disheartened I became. How can lawmakers allow this cruel practice?
My thanks to St. Martin's Press for reaching out with the offer to read Taylor Brown's new work via NetGalley and in book form. Expected publication March 17, 2020. I won't soon forget this one!
November 29, 2019
I was offered an ARC of this book by a friend, and jumped at the chance to read it. I jumped on the Taylor Brown bandwagon early with "The Fallen Land" and have read each new novel in turn. I haven't been disappointed in any of them, and that was the case with this one as well.
Say what you will about Taylor Brown, he certainly doesn't write to a formula or write the same story twice, unless you consider beautiful descriptive prose about nature, misfit characters trying to make their world a little better, and a perfect sense of place to be formulaic.
When he drives a vehicle down a country road or major highway, you see what he sees, and I know that because I've been down some of those roads myself. You pass the vegetable stands and honky-tonks and boarded up houses and know their reality, which means that when he describes a Savannah on the plains of Africa, you can trust that as well. His research is infallible.
In this one, the characters are almost mythical in their determination to rescue wild animals from poachers who kill or capture for money or fame, or just a mounted head on the wall. The animals we get to know are that way as well, and we actually get inside the head of one lion, Mosi, not in an anthropomorphic way at all, but feeling the blood-lust of a wild animal whose instinct is to kill for food.
The ending of this book was perfect for me, and left us with a warning about the way humans are destroying this world. "The shrimpers say, on the loneliest of nights, a roar of thunder can be heard along the shore, loud enough to rattle bones, even though the horizon is clear of cloud. They say that roar will stand your hairs on end, like a promise of the storm yet to come".
Like I said, this man can write.
Say what you will about Taylor Brown, he certainly doesn't write to a formula or write the same story twice, unless you consider beautiful descriptive prose about nature, misfit characters trying to make their world a little better, and a perfect sense of place to be formulaic.
When he drives a vehicle down a country road or major highway, you see what he sees, and I know that because I've been down some of those roads myself. You pass the vegetable stands and honky-tonks and boarded up houses and know their reality, which means that when he describes a Savannah on the plains of Africa, you can trust that as well. His research is infallible.
In this one, the characters are almost mythical in their determination to rescue wild animals from poachers who kill or capture for money or fame, or just a mounted head on the wall. The animals we get to know are that way as well, and we actually get inside the head of one lion, Mosi, not in an anthropomorphic way at all, but feeling the blood-lust of a wild animal whose instinct is to kill for food.
The ending of this book was perfect for me, and left us with a warning about the way humans are destroying this world. "The shrimpers say, on the loneliest of nights, a roar of thunder can be heard along the shore, loud enough to rattle bones, even though the horizon is clear of cloud. They say that roar will stand your hairs on end, like a promise of the storm yet to come".
Like I said, this man can write.
May 1, 2020
"Pride of Eden", by Taylor Brown, follows Anse, a Vietnam veteran who runs "Little Eden" an animal sanctuary on the Georgia coast. He rescues exotic animals - lions, elephants, etc. He is assisted by Tyler a veternarian and his girlfriend, Lope a falcon-trainer who hunts surveillance drones and Malaya a discharged soldier who used to hunt poachers in Africa.
The relationships between the characters and the animals is beautifully written. It creates an appreciation for what they are and their wildness. It confirms that wild animals are only truly beautiful and powerful when living in their natural habitat.
The extreme animal abuse was necessary for the story but difficult to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
The relationships between the characters and the animals is beautifully written. It creates an appreciation for what they are and their wildness. It confirms that wild animals are only truly beautiful and powerful when living in their natural habitat.
The extreme animal abuse was necessary for the story but difficult to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 28, 2019
You had me at big cats, Taylor Brown. But you outdid yourself with this, your third novel. I loved all the others, but this book resonated with me most: wildlife sanctuaries, Vietnam vet (my dad is a Vietnam vet), characters who are beyond-committed to the welfare of wildlife.
Did I mention that I place camera traps in the desert and go absolutely nuts when I capture a bobcat or mountain lion? Yes. Big cats. (I also go crazy for badgers and gray foxes and coachwhip snakes and roadrunners and blue grosbeaks and javelina and long-nosed leopard lizards and…). But beyond my adoration of all things nature, I related to these characters who wonder about man’s impact on the natural world.
So, yes, I was in from the start. But for those very reasons, this was a difficult read for me. When I learned (not a part of this book), the barbaric way humans “harvest” shark fins for shark fin soup, and when I learned of bile bears penned up in tiny cages so their digestive fluids can be harvested for Chinese medicine, or that beagles are used for laboratory testing of chemicals /household products/pharmaceuticals, I was haunted for months from the images. I still am. These things bother me. They should bother us all.
Brown draws to light even more of these inhumane actions of man vs. the animal kingdom – a dark world of illegal exotic animal trading, animal exploitation, and mistreatment. There is no sugar coating in this novel, and at some points, the book is downright painful to read. But that is precisely the reason we should ALL read this novel and push through our discomfort. I felt I owed wildlife this one thing … at least ... to sit in my own unease and sadness. To hear the stories of animals through this fictional tale that mirrors reality.
To be clear, this novel is not a sanctimonious soap-box rant. And while you can tell this author (like me) cares about the planet and struggles with the things he witnesses, he shares facts in an unbiased fashion, and does so through deeply flawed characters with their own problems – bad guys that you have empathy for; good guys that you root for. I was particularly affected by the chapters in the point-of-view of a lion. Yes, Brown was able to pull that literary feat off with amazing emotional depth. To say I was moved is an understatement. Breathtaking….
Which is the same way I describe the writing … it’s trademark Taylor Brown: evocative, literary, and just plain gorgeous. Examples:
The night was alive, choral. The cicada roared, a mania of tiny engines, and over them the sustained churr of the night.
He could hear Onyx the loudest, as if the black wolf’s heart had been ripped silver from his chest and hung among the stars.
He listened for their rustle and chuff, straining his ears, as if he could hear the flicker of their very stripes through the bush, the heavy pump of their hearts. He feared their kind would be gone too soon, glimpsed only in the corners of man’s vision. Myths passing through the woods, more alive than the black beasts of ash scrawled on cave walls.
I have felt each of this author’s books warranted him ‘breakout’ novel status. And I feel even more strongly about this one. Brown was brave to tackle such a tough topic and with such unflinching honesty; I only hope readers will be willing to read, share, and talk. This book is character-driven fiction, historical fiction, a bit of mystery, and contemporary fiction wrapped into one. Interwoven are Biblical themes of fire and flood, themes of war, environmentalism, love, and familial loss. It’s literary fiction at its best – a book that will have you thinking about the role humans should play as stewards of the earth and of the creatures inhabiting it.
I was SO lucky to win an advance copy of this book through the First Reads program. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press.
Did I mention that I place camera traps in the desert and go absolutely nuts when I capture a bobcat or mountain lion? Yes. Big cats. (I also go crazy for badgers and gray foxes and coachwhip snakes and roadrunners and blue grosbeaks and javelina and long-nosed leopard lizards and…). But beyond my adoration of all things nature, I related to these characters who wonder about man’s impact on the natural world.
So, yes, I was in from the start. But for those very reasons, this was a difficult read for me. When I learned (not a part of this book), the barbaric way humans “harvest” shark fins for shark fin soup, and when I learned of bile bears penned up in tiny cages so their digestive fluids can be harvested for Chinese medicine, or that beagles are used for laboratory testing of chemicals /household products/pharmaceuticals, I was haunted for months from the images. I still am. These things bother me. They should bother us all.
Brown draws to light even more of these inhumane actions of man vs. the animal kingdom – a dark world of illegal exotic animal trading, animal exploitation, and mistreatment. There is no sugar coating in this novel, and at some points, the book is downright painful to read. But that is precisely the reason we should ALL read this novel and push through our discomfort. I felt I owed wildlife this one thing … at least ... to sit in my own unease and sadness. To hear the stories of animals through this fictional tale that mirrors reality.
To be clear, this novel is not a sanctimonious soap-box rant. And while you can tell this author (like me) cares about the planet and struggles with the things he witnesses, he shares facts in an unbiased fashion, and does so through deeply flawed characters with their own problems – bad guys that you have empathy for; good guys that you root for. I was particularly affected by the chapters in the point-of-view of a lion. Yes, Brown was able to pull that literary feat off with amazing emotional depth. To say I was moved is an understatement. Breathtaking….
Which is the same way I describe the writing … it’s trademark Taylor Brown: evocative, literary, and just plain gorgeous. Examples:
The night was alive, choral. The cicada roared, a mania of tiny engines, and over them the sustained churr of the night.
He could hear Onyx the loudest, as if the black wolf’s heart had been ripped silver from his chest and hung among the stars.
He listened for their rustle and chuff, straining his ears, as if he could hear the flicker of their very stripes through the bush, the heavy pump of their hearts. He feared their kind would be gone too soon, glimpsed only in the corners of man’s vision. Myths passing through the woods, more alive than the black beasts of ash scrawled on cave walls.
I have felt each of this author’s books warranted him ‘breakout’ novel status. And I feel even more strongly about this one. Brown was brave to tackle such a tough topic and with such unflinching honesty; I only hope readers will be willing to read, share, and talk. This book is character-driven fiction, historical fiction, a bit of mystery, and contemporary fiction wrapped into one. Interwoven are Biblical themes of fire and flood, themes of war, environmentalism, love, and familial loss. It’s literary fiction at its best – a book that will have you thinking about the role humans should play as stewards of the earth and of the creatures inhabiting it.
I was SO lucky to win an advance copy of this book through the First Reads program. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press.
January 18, 2020
4.5 animal protection stars
I read this author’s book -- “Gods of Howl Mountain” – and rated it 5 stars so I was excited to see he was out with a new one. That book was a southern masterpiece with memorable characters. This one was completely different plot-wise. The consistencies are excellent writing, interesting and memorable characters, and mostly a southern setting.
There are a few storylines going on – one features Anse – a very complicated character, he’s a Vietnam vet, former jockey, and now runs a wildlife sanctuary for rescued animals. There’s also Malaya, who is a former soldier and also spent time as a contractor fighting poachers in Africa. She’s complicated too! They have strong passions about protecting animals.
The other story is a man who runs a wolf sanctuary and we learn about his tortured past as well. As you can see this book has a LOT of animals in it. In fact, some of the chapters are from an animal’s point of view. There are definitely a few instances of animal abuse, but they weren’t so horrific that I had to put the book down.
I think this one is worth your time, but very different than my expectations going in!
Thank you to NetGalley, Taylor Brown, and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this one to read and review. This one releases 3.17.2020
I read this author’s book -- “Gods of Howl Mountain” – and rated it 5 stars so I was excited to see he was out with a new one. That book was a southern masterpiece with memorable characters. This one was completely different plot-wise. The consistencies are excellent writing, interesting and memorable characters, and mostly a southern setting.
There are a few storylines going on – one features Anse – a very complicated character, he’s a Vietnam vet, former jockey, and now runs a wildlife sanctuary for rescued animals. There’s also Malaya, who is a former soldier and also spent time as a contractor fighting poachers in Africa. She’s complicated too! They have strong passions about protecting animals.
The other story is a man who runs a wolf sanctuary and we learn about his tortured past as well. As you can see this book has a LOT of animals in it. In fact, some of the chapters are from an animal’s point of view. There are definitely a few instances of animal abuse, but they weren’t so horrific that I had to put the book down.
I think this one is worth your time, but very different than my expectations going in!
Thank you to NetGalley, Taylor Brown, and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this one to read and review. This one releases 3.17.2020
March 4, 2020
Poaching is simply not reserved for the animal kingdom.
Pride of Eden showcases the heinous act at the core of its format. We can easily conjure up the nightmares of Man preying upon Beast in a cloak of imbalanced disadvantage......the aching clench of our jaws at the mere thought of it. No conscious, no empathy, no emotion of any kind except for the thrill of the hunt.
But Pride of Eden offers another layer in another direction throwing light upon Man preying upon Man. There's always a big game hunt. But Man entraps Man with ill-fated and ill-planned cleverness and design. Sometimes, though, animal instinct is not enough for the hunter when the greatest trophy is survival itself.
Taylor Brown introduces us to Anse Caulfield, a Vietnam veteran, a former racehorse jockey, and the owner of a rescue sanctuary on the Georgia coast. Anse is feeling age creeping in and with it the aches and pains of maintaining such an expansive area filled with big cats, elephants, and a menagerie of exotics in this place called Little Eden. He's fortunate to have a mutual benefitting relationship with the local female veterinarian. But Anse is a complicated soul and a sharp-ended product of his backstory. Brown will slowly part the waves of a deeply hidden life.
The first few chapters will set the stage as Anse must come to accept the loss of his lioness, Henrietta, who dies in his arms. The circumstances will offer up a conflicting premise for both Anse and for the readers.
And then Taylor Brown sets the stage for Malaya, a deeply complicated woman who served as a soldier in Africa while protecting endangered animals on a refuge. And like Anse, she comes face to face with the underpinings of moral decisions and their eventual impact on both Man and Beast. She will follow the footsteps of Fate and find her way to Anse's Little Eden. And that's where this story finds its bones.
If you've never had the pleasure of experiencing a novel by Taylor Brown, I'd suggest his previous books like Fallen Land, The River of Kings, and Gods of Howl Mountain. He is a gifted writer who has the finite talent of picking at the threads of life that somehow keep humanity intact. Note: Pride of Eden contains some very raw, very real incidents of Man's cruelty. Be prepared for that. But also be prepared for an exceptional read by an exceptional author.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Pride of Eden. You always make my day.
Pride of Eden showcases the heinous act at the core of its format. We can easily conjure up the nightmares of Man preying upon Beast in a cloak of imbalanced disadvantage......the aching clench of our jaws at the mere thought of it. No conscious, no empathy, no emotion of any kind except for the thrill of the hunt.
But Pride of Eden offers another layer in another direction throwing light upon Man preying upon Man. There's always a big game hunt. But Man entraps Man with ill-fated and ill-planned cleverness and design. Sometimes, though, animal instinct is not enough for the hunter when the greatest trophy is survival itself.
Taylor Brown introduces us to Anse Caulfield, a Vietnam veteran, a former racehorse jockey, and the owner of a rescue sanctuary on the Georgia coast. Anse is feeling age creeping in and with it the aches and pains of maintaining such an expansive area filled with big cats, elephants, and a menagerie of exotics in this place called Little Eden. He's fortunate to have a mutual benefitting relationship with the local female veterinarian. But Anse is a complicated soul and a sharp-ended product of his backstory. Brown will slowly part the waves of a deeply hidden life.
The first few chapters will set the stage as Anse must come to accept the loss of his lioness, Henrietta, who dies in his arms. The circumstances will offer up a conflicting premise for both Anse and for the readers.
And then Taylor Brown sets the stage for Malaya, a deeply complicated woman who served as a soldier in Africa while protecting endangered animals on a refuge. And like Anse, she comes face to face with the underpinings of moral decisions and their eventual impact on both Man and Beast. She will follow the footsteps of Fate and find her way to Anse's Little Eden. And that's where this story finds its bones.
If you've never had the pleasure of experiencing a novel by Taylor Brown, I'd suggest his previous books like Fallen Land, The River of Kings, and Gods of Howl Mountain. He is a gifted writer who has the finite talent of picking at the threads of life that somehow keep humanity intact. Note: Pride of Eden contains some very raw, very real incidents of Man's cruelty. Be prepared for that. But also be prepared for an exceptional read by an exceptional author.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Pride of Eden. You always make my day.
October 30, 2019
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: March 17, 2020
Taylor Brown’s new novel, “Pride of Eden”, is beautifully written and intensely creative. I can honestly say I have never read anything even remotely close to it before. For one thing, outside of children’s stories, I don’t think I have read a novel that is, in parts at least, narrated by an animal.
Anse Caulfield is a retired jockey and Vietnam vet, now the owner and operator of “Little Eden”, a sanctuary for exotic pets. When his prized lion disappears and is shot dead in a misunderstanding, Anse becomes desperate to not only replace his beloved animal, but to widen his search for other exotics. Malaya, a seasoned “poacher hunter”, joins Anse in his search and soon the two are traveling throughout the Southern U.S, finding exotic animals and rehoming them with Little Eden, while forming both human and animal bonds with each other and those they seek to protect.
“Pride of Eden” speaks to the deepest connection between humans and animals, our co-dependent relationships with animals and our deep biological connectivity. The mistreatment of exotic animals in this novel will make any animal lover (myself being one), develop a deep-seated inner rage and will definitely help cement the relationship the reader forms with the characters as they seek revenge on the scum of society (poachers and animal abusers alike).
That being said, although the novel had a lot of positives about it, I found it to be a middle-of-the-road read. It did not seem to have a climax, and the entertaining bits of the novel (in my opinion, the rescuing of the animals) took a backseat to trying to ingratiate the reader with the animal-human connection plotline.
The characters were likable, but the back and forth of the storytelling (the before and after story of each characters’ past) broke up the flow, and I was not a fan of the parts of the story that were (indirectly of course) narrated by any of the exotic animals.
"Ghosts of Howl Mountain” is the novel that introduced me to Taylor Brown, and it also fell just middle-of-the-road for me. However, I am not completely turned off, as I love Brown’s descriptive writing and unique subject matter, and will definitely check out his past and future works, with realistic expectations.
Pub Date: March 17, 2020
Taylor Brown’s new novel, “Pride of Eden”, is beautifully written and intensely creative. I can honestly say I have never read anything even remotely close to it before. For one thing, outside of children’s stories, I don’t think I have read a novel that is, in parts at least, narrated by an animal.
Anse Caulfield is a retired jockey and Vietnam vet, now the owner and operator of “Little Eden”, a sanctuary for exotic pets. When his prized lion disappears and is shot dead in a misunderstanding, Anse becomes desperate to not only replace his beloved animal, but to widen his search for other exotics. Malaya, a seasoned “poacher hunter”, joins Anse in his search and soon the two are traveling throughout the Southern U.S, finding exotic animals and rehoming them with Little Eden, while forming both human and animal bonds with each other and those they seek to protect.
“Pride of Eden” speaks to the deepest connection between humans and animals, our co-dependent relationships with animals and our deep biological connectivity. The mistreatment of exotic animals in this novel will make any animal lover (myself being one), develop a deep-seated inner rage and will definitely help cement the relationship the reader forms with the characters as they seek revenge on the scum of society (poachers and animal abusers alike).
That being said, although the novel had a lot of positives about it, I found it to be a middle-of-the-road read. It did not seem to have a climax, and the entertaining bits of the novel (in my opinion, the rescuing of the animals) took a backseat to trying to ingratiate the reader with the animal-human connection plotline.
The characters were likable, but the back and forth of the storytelling (the before and after story of each characters’ past) broke up the flow, and I was not a fan of the parts of the story that were (indirectly of course) narrated by any of the exotic animals.
"Ghosts of Howl Mountain” is the novel that introduced me to Taylor Brown, and it also fell just middle-of-the-road for me. However, I am not completely turned off, as I love Brown’s descriptive writing and unique subject matter, and will definitely check out his past and future works, with realistic expectations.
March 23, 2020
An engaging, unique and beautifully descriptive story involving powerful human/animal connection balanced with some uncomfortable reading related to animal cruelty and clashes between hunter/prey.
September 9, 2019
Taylor Brown is an author that I happily anticipate reading, and this particular book I won in the giveaway. Thank you! He's a writer's writer- huge word skill.
Of course the language is dripping. Elaborate and also dazzles in descriptive variety of scrumptious phrasings and forms. And for a subject matter that rips power and often eloquence at the same time. And yet, it wasn't a book that I had overflowing enjoyment reading. I did some of his others. This reflects upon my rating immensely. This took me twice as long to read for its length as the average fiction. It wasn't a book that I wanted to rush back to continue with at all. In fact, the opposite.
For my taste and reading experience the under characters were not core "known". And the animals far, far more central identity encapsulated. Especially this was true for the humans Tyler and Lope. Who were they? What back stories to have them be so fixated rigid?
And the prime human duo identities that were fully developed to "known"- although being superbly framed in their work and methods, they were so outlier in both physical and cognitive narration! Well, they were extremely difficult to connect to embedding as well. In either disdain, understanding, affection etc. They seemed nearly cartoon like- being so over the top toward their purposes, emotions, thoughts.
The animals were the stars of literate expression in this book. Regardless, the mood of the book is dismal, suffering and often pure despair. Even within the feral wildness of the most exquisite moments of optimum ranging, the outlooks of dire suffering seem to never leave the page.
This is a hard and tragic subject matter. Well justified for humongous rectitude. And Eden in the book reflects reality of the present straits for most of these species! There is a wolf farm, and also one bear reserve very near to me that is quite similar to Eden.
Somehow as supreme as the animal natures are revealed, the book just didn't seem to "hold together" enough for me to rate its overall form over 3 stars. And the constant blood, meat gore, and killing drive propensities never made me want to return to further embedding. Violence of such overwhelming nature and habit not being a favorite pondering exercise.
Connecting far more to the animals than to the people in this one- I admire the writing skills of word craft displayed but thought almost all continuity was scattered to a nub in this book.
3.5 stars, but not rounded up. I much prefer fiction reads that have more definitive beginning, middle, end and those for which I can fully encapsulate the characters as "known". In this one, that only happened for about 1/2 of the people and about 1/2 of the animals.
And to be warned- I'd guess males might like this more than average women readers. Gore, violence, gratuitous sex scenes (I thought they were), firearms tech etc. - feral is stating it mildly.
Of course the language is dripping. Elaborate and also dazzles in descriptive variety of scrumptious phrasings and forms. And for a subject matter that rips power and often eloquence at the same time. And yet, it wasn't a book that I had overflowing enjoyment reading. I did some of his others. This reflects upon my rating immensely. This took me twice as long to read for its length as the average fiction. It wasn't a book that I wanted to rush back to continue with at all. In fact, the opposite.
For my taste and reading experience the under characters were not core "known". And the animals far, far more central identity encapsulated. Especially this was true for the humans Tyler and Lope. Who were they? What back stories to have them be so fixated rigid?
And the prime human duo identities that were fully developed to "known"- although being superbly framed in their work and methods, they were so outlier in both physical and cognitive narration! Well, they were extremely difficult to connect to embedding as well. In either disdain, understanding, affection etc. They seemed nearly cartoon like- being so over the top toward their purposes, emotions, thoughts.
The animals were the stars of literate expression in this book. Regardless, the mood of the book is dismal, suffering and often pure despair. Even within the feral wildness of the most exquisite moments of optimum ranging, the outlooks of dire suffering seem to never leave the page.
This is a hard and tragic subject matter. Well justified for humongous rectitude. And Eden in the book reflects reality of the present straits for most of these species! There is a wolf farm, and also one bear reserve very near to me that is quite similar to Eden.
Somehow as supreme as the animal natures are revealed, the book just didn't seem to "hold together" enough for me to rate its overall form over 3 stars. And the constant blood, meat gore, and killing drive propensities never made me want to return to further embedding. Violence of such overwhelming nature and habit not being a favorite pondering exercise.
Connecting far more to the animals than to the people in this one- I admire the writing skills of word craft displayed but thought almost all continuity was scattered to a nub in this book.
3.5 stars, but not rounded up. I much prefer fiction reads that have more definitive beginning, middle, end and those for which I can fully encapsulate the characters as "known". In this one, that only happened for about 1/2 of the people and about 1/2 of the animals.
And to be warned- I'd guess males might like this more than average women readers. Gore, violence, gratuitous sex scenes (I thought they were), firearms tech etc. - feral is stating it mildly.
January 19, 2020
Vietnam vet Anse Caulfield has created a wildlife sanctuary along the Georgia coast called Little Eden. When his favorite lion escapes and has to be put down, Anse begins the search for a new rescue.
Malaya, a former soldier who spent time at an animal refuge in Africa after her discharge, joins Anse in his mission to save these beautiful animals from exploitation by smugglers, breeders, and trophy hunters.
Anse and Malaya operate in a gray area: their rescues aren't always legal but they wholeheartedly believe in their mission.
Tyler, the veternarian at Little Eden, isn't privy to the details but understands Anse's dedication.
Lope, a trained falconer, joins Little Eden and offers his help by operating surveillance drones on rescue missions.
After the successful rescue of Mosi, a lion who survived a trophy hunt only to become a gas station attraction, the group finds the lion has been stolen from them.
On a remote private island off the Georgia coast, Anse and his team search for Mosi and face the danger of doing so.
Taylor Brown is an incredible writer. After reading Gods of Howl Mountain, he has become an auto-buy author for me. Pride of Eden is a lyrically written story about nature and humanity and where they intersect. Brown creates a captivating atmosphere that is almost palpable and brings readers on the journey to understand the characters and their motivations in an intensely emotional way.
I recommend Pride of Eden to readers who appreciate stories of nature and man's connection to it.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Pride of Eden is scheduled for release on March 17, 2020.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Malaya, a former soldier who spent time at an animal refuge in Africa after her discharge, joins Anse in his mission to save these beautiful animals from exploitation by smugglers, breeders, and trophy hunters.
Anse and Malaya operate in a gray area: their rescues aren't always legal but they wholeheartedly believe in their mission.
Tyler, the veternarian at Little Eden, isn't privy to the details but understands Anse's dedication.
Lope, a trained falconer, joins Little Eden and offers his help by operating surveillance drones on rescue missions.
After the successful rescue of Mosi, a lion who survived a trophy hunt only to become a gas station attraction, the group finds the lion has been stolen from them.
On a remote private island off the Georgia coast, Anse and his team search for Mosi and face the danger of doing so.
Taylor Brown is an incredible writer. After reading Gods of Howl Mountain, he has become an auto-buy author for me. Pride of Eden is a lyrically written story about nature and humanity and where they intersect. Brown creates a captivating atmosphere that is almost palpable and brings readers on the journey to understand the characters and their motivations in an intensely emotional way.
I recommend Pride of Eden to readers who appreciate stories of nature and man's connection to it.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Pride of Eden is scheduled for release on March 17, 2020.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
March 14, 2020
A gripping, atmospheric read with four broken people seeking redemption through animal rescue. Chapter 1 begins with a thunderclap: "The first squeal split the air like a fault line, a fracture in the world." Boom! This book is not for the faint of heart. Within its pages there are people plundering animals for artifacts, abusing them for sport, pitting them against one another, stockpiling them on an "ark" in preparation for the next flood--they are all in opposition to the mission of our flawed team of rescuers. Two strong women play prominent roles--a vetrinarian (Tyler) and Malaya who served in Iraq before hunting poachers in Africa. Alongside are Anse (owner of Little Eden, a former jockey, and Vietnam vet and Lope (fireman, falconer, and drone operator). This gritty read will transport you to the surreal world of the crumbling South and inside the mind of the King of the Savannah. You will never look at animals in the same way after finishing this book.
In honor of the recently celebrated International Women's Day (March 8):
"I've got enough sad stories crusted under my nails. I want claws." (Tyler)
"She felt the leopard spots throbbing on her calf, the talons on her foot. She thought of her father and her grandfather. These men who lived inside her, roaming the tangled jungle of memory. She closed her eyes, imagining them swinging peacefully overhead, watching her." (Malaya)
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
In honor of the recently celebrated International Women's Day (March 8):
"I've got enough sad stories crusted under my nails. I want claws." (Tyler)
"She felt the leopard spots throbbing on her calf, the talons on her foot. She thought of her father and her grandfather. These men who lived inside her, roaming the tangled jungle of memory. She closed her eyes, imagining them swinging peacefully overhead, watching her." (Malaya)
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2020
After reading Taylor Brown's Gods of Howl Mountain I rushed to request this book. His descriptions were so lush that the scenery came alive for me.
Here in Pride of Eden Brown's descriptions have transported me again. Back in time to the age where large mammals like the Wooly Mammoth and the Sabered Tooth Cat roamed. To the jungles of Vietnam. Amidst a confrontation with poachers in Africa. At times his writing is surreal, a dreamscape that you can get lost in. At other times the brutality that he captures is visceral. Descriptive language is Brown's sword. And cut your heart into little pieces he does with Pride of Eden.
In Pride of Eden our protagonist is a Vietnam War veteran with just as many emotional scars as physical. Anse Caulfield is worn, especially after the death of his prized lion Henrietta. His slice of paradise, Little Eden, just does not feel the same. He feels old and that his time to be useful may have passed.
In a world where men are destructive, callous and brutal Anse finds a kindred spirit in Malaya.
His sense of purpose is renewed. He is invigorated for the battle - Free the animals. Restore them to a place of dignity.
Here in Pride of Eden Brown's descriptions have transported me again. Back in time to the age where large mammals like the Wooly Mammoth and the Sabered Tooth Cat roamed. To the jungles of Vietnam. Amidst a confrontation with poachers in Africa. At times his writing is surreal, a dreamscape that you can get lost in. At other times the brutality that he captures is visceral. Descriptive language is Brown's sword. And cut your heart into little pieces he does with Pride of Eden.
In Pride of Eden our protagonist is a Vietnam War veteran with just as many emotional scars as physical. Anse Caulfield is worn, especially after the death of his prized lion Henrietta. His slice of paradise, Little Eden, just does not feel the same. He feels old and that his time to be useful may have passed.
In a world where men are destructive, callous and brutal Anse finds a kindred spirit in Malaya.
His sense of purpose is renewed. He is invigorated for the battle - Free the animals. Restore them to a place of dignity.
September 8, 2019
I wasn't a big fan of this story. I love animals but found reading about the extremism of those in this book to be a little much. It was also quite gory in a few places. I never did feel the connection between the characters - they seemed to have a common purpose, but at the same didn't really include one another in what they each were doing and why. I would find it hard to spend my time with a group of people who I didn't have a connection with.
I will say that the author is great with figurative language. I was envious of how easily it seems to flow without ever feeling phony or flowery.
I will say that the author is great with figurative language. I was envious of how easily it seems to flow without ever feeling phony or flowery.
August 5, 2019
“Pride of Eden” is, for me, one of those rare books that I put down only with extreme reluctance. The characters are engaging, and there’s a lion’s share (pun intended) of adventure in both domestic and exotic locales. It’s a novel that, as has been said before, you can’t wait to finish but don’t want to end. Definitely recommended.
March 14, 2024
Taylor Brown has become a favorite. His characters, true originals, flaws and all. Here we have a band of brothers and sisters dedicated to rescuing traumatized big game from the yahoos who prey on such animals, participate in canned hunts, set up gas station curiosities, and the like. He even goes inside the psyches of the victims. I love his turn of phrase, sense of scenery, passion for his subjects.
March 24, 2020
There are a few things that really make my blood boil and poaching is one of them. It's so wrong to kill an animal for their fur, tusks, head, of just plain ego of the hunter. There's big money to be made, but it's also illegal. It's good to know there are people like one of the characters, Malaya, out there in the real world to find them.
This book is so well written, I was sucked in by the beauty of what I was reading that I had to read every single word. I didn't want miss anything about the setting or the characters. One of the main characters is Malaya and she's really a bad ass. Having served in the military and then lived in Africa to track down big game poachers. One wrong decision and she was sent back to the U.S. Anse is a retired jockey and a Vietnam veteran who runs a sanctuary for big game and any animal that is mistreated or gained unlawfully. He is especially attached to one of his lions, Henrietta. Tyler is Anse's lady friend and veterinarian for his animals. Last is Lope. A good friend to Anse and helps out in the sanctuary and an experienced bird handler.
Each of their pasts is told throughout alternating with the present. These characters eventually come together for one cause. It's exciting and thrilling every step of the way waiting to see if the bad guys get what's coming to them or do they slip through the cracks.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.
As a side note, I came across The Tiger King an original Netflix documentary. It reminded me of Pride of Eden when it started, but it eventually veered off to something entirely different, but really good. So if you have some time to kill while you're quarantined to your house, check it out!
This book is so well written, I was sucked in by the beauty of what I was reading that I had to read every single word. I didn't want miss anything about the setting or the characters. One of the main characters is Malaya and she's really a bad ass. Having served in the military and then lived in Africa to track down big game poachers. One wrong decision and she was sent back to the U.S. Anse is a retired jockey and a Vietnam veteran who runs a sanctuary for big game and any animal that is mistreated or gained unlawfully. He is especially attached to one of his lions, Henrietta. Tyler is Anse's lady friend and veterinarian for his animals. Last is Lope. A good friend to Anse and helps out in the sanctuary and an experienced bird handler.
Each of their pasts is told throughout alternating with the present. These characters eventually come together for one cause. It's exciting and thrilling every step of the way waiting to see if the bad guys get what's coming to them or do they slip through the cracks.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.
As a side note, I came across The Tiger King an original Netflix documentary. It reminded me of Pride of Eden when it started, but it eventually veered off to something entirely different, but really good. So if you have some time to kill while you're quarantined to your house, check it out!
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