Wild Dark Shore is atmospheric, brooding, and thought provoking. It is set on a remote island south of Tasmania and just north of Antartica. It is the location of a major seed vault that is underground; but the walls are melting and the water level is precipitously rising.

There are just a handful of people left on the island, who are tasked with deciding which seeds to save and which to leave, since the UN has said they cannot all be moved. They are told they must prioritize the ones good for food, but that means no more Scottish heather or French lavender. The stress of choosing the tragic end to biodiversity is taking a toll on mental health.

Then a body–still impossibly alive– washes ashore and it all gets even more complicated. Who is telling the truth? Who to trust?

Meanwhile, the nature descriptions of walruses and seals, whales and albatrosses are evocative and wonderful. They are seamlessly woven in with interesting facts. For example, “The heart of a whale is the heaviest on the planet. It is big enough for a human to swim through. And it is very slow.” We are made to cherish the island and its creatures, while also seeing the need to escape it.

But where to go? How can one be safe and have hope in a world where most will die by drowning, fire, or starvation?

And while this novel is very serious, and can be tense at times, the writing never gets in the way. It is easy to get into and never a chore to read. The environmental crisis described is very real, but so is love.

I give this compelling read 5 stars.