The Wild Beneath

I did love this book.But, there is always a but, the ending left me somewhat deflated.What? Who?I don’t want to give it away. After you read the story you will understand. Maybe it’s just me, otherwise, it’s a beautiful story..Thanks Reese, I would have passed it by. Hope it’s a movie. I gave the cast in my head already.

I love, love, love this story told in the novel. I am in Kelly's writing circle, and I read (and listened to) several early drafts of this novel. To read the finished story now, all these years later...WOW. The voices of Annie, Walker, and Evan are amazingly strong and pure and clear. This is a story about listening...to that inner voice, to the desires of the heart, and to love. The women in this book are strong and skilled. I cannot say enough good things about this novel...you won't be able to put it down, you will learn something about yourself, and you will be touched to your core. Well worth reading and it also makes a great gift. And if you love the natural world...you are in for a delectable treat. Kelly's descriptions of the earth and the creatures that inhabit it are vivid and teach powerful lessons.

I hear the way this could sound hyperbolic, but The Wild Beneath changed my life.It changed the I way hear the voice in my head that I'm reading to myself with.It changed the way I view my connection with nature.It changed the way I acknowledge my inner being, my inner... self. My TRUE self.My intuition.It REIGNITED my intuition.It reintroduced me to my inner compass.It showed me the importance of acknowledging that my inner compass exists and is always nudging me towards where I'm meant to go.And it did all of that through a fictional story that never quite felt like fiction.It felt like I'd never heard the story before and it also felt like it was my story.I loved this book.

I really wanted to love this story because there were parts of it that I genuinely enjoyed.The writing was beautiful, and you can tell the sea is almost a character all on its own. Unfortunately, the pacing was just too slow for me, and I found myself struggling to stay connected to the story.I actually ended up more interested in some of the side characters than the main ones. By the end, I still wasn't sure I really knew the FMC, and I wanted a little more from her journey.This one just wasn't the right book for me, but I know there are readers who love slower, atmospheric fantasy, and I think they may enjoy it much more than I did.

The Wild Beneath is an atmospheric, lyrically written mystery that blends magical realism with a haunting coastal setting. From the opening natural disaster to the sea serving as its own point of view, I was completely hooked and couldn't put this book down.Kelly Anderson creates an immersive world filled with richly drawn characters, evocative prose, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the way the writing mirrored the rhythm of the sea, ebbing between moments of quiet reflection and mounting tension. The atmosphere was easily my favorite part of the novel, and I found myself fully invested in uncovering the truth alongside the characters.My only disappointment was the ending. While I understood the intention behind its ambiguity, it was more open-ended than I typically enjoy, and I would have preferred a bit more resolution.Overall, this is a beautifully written, compelling mystery with touches of magical realism that will appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven stories.Thank you to BookTrovert and Park Row for the eARC and the opportunity to give my honest opinion.