Many thanks to my partners @grandcentralpub @hachetteaudio and @librofm for the #gifted copies.  

 

Stunningly beautiful.  Deeply affecting.  This is a powerhouse of a book.

 

 

This is the story of Wanda.  A girl born in the fiercest part of the fiercest hurricane.  Not just any hurricane, her namesake.  And like the elements that heralded her birth, Wanda was a mixture of power and adaptability.  Her life was tinged with grief and loneliness, but her story is one of resilience. 

 

It’s also the story of a changing world.  Brooks-Dalton creates a luminous picture of nature reclaiming control that resonates with potential for a not-so-far-off future.  The details painted a vivid, cinematic scene of otherness that I became lost in, sometimes wondering if the world she created wasn’t superior to the one we now inhabit.  

 

A story full of loss…  The complete collapse of life as we know it.  

 

And yet, this is a commanding tale that resonates joy and hope.  This look at a girl who grew into a new kind of life in a new kind of place… it filled me and uplifted me. 

 

From the lyrical prose to the vivid scenescapes to the poignant messaging.  The intimate portrayal of Wanda.  The symbiotic connection to creation when it’s properly respected.  I was wholly devoted to this story.  

 

It is a masterfully executed piece of art that sits deeply in my soul.  

 

🎧 For my reread, I listened to the audiobook.  Rosemary Benson’s narration was engaging and perfectly captured the essence of Wanda’s voice and situation.  

 

Of note: Lily joined @bookmarked and I for a book club author chat last month, and not only was it a thrill to connect with her, it accentuated the deep love and appreciation I already had for this story. Author chats are one of my favorite parts of bookstagram!