REVIEW: Our Animal Hearts by Dania Tomlinson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Anchor Canada

ISBN: 0385689853

Format: Paperback, E-Book

Release Date: 29th May 2018


Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo,

Website,



Rating: 7/10


Synopsis:

Deep in British Columbia, at the turn of the 20th century, lies Winteridge: a small village perched on an enormous lake made famous by the monster said to haunt its depths.

Twelve-year-old Iris Sparks lives in Winteridge with her brother; her working-class Welsh mother, Llewelyna; and her blue-blooded father from England, a progressive bohemian who has brought his family to Canada for an adventure.


But amid the idyllic, Edwardian setting, there are dangers lurking. A blend of Welsh and Indigenous stories of a predatory lake monster take real shape for young Iris as she begins to unravel the truth behind her mother's dark fairy tales, and watches in horror as her mother increasingly succumbs to seizures.

As the First World War reaches its height, Iris must contend with the demands of a deteriorating mother and the harsh realities of a toxic love triangle. All the while, Iris's mind continues to exert its strange and awesome power, and she and her entire community must find a way to survive at the mercy of otherworldly beasts and a hungry darkness.

Review:

**Thanks to PenguinRandom House for sending me a free copy in return for my honest review**

Our Animal Hearts is a wonderful read that is very atmospheric and a very well written/gripping debut novel.

The story takes place in British Columbia at the turn of the century. Iris is a preteen of British descent living in Winteridge. The World War is reaching its height and Iris is facing many conflicts. She has the demands of her deteriorating Mother, as well as the harsh realities of the real-world and her own mind to deal with alongside the worry of the on-going war. 

The setting is tangible, rich, and Dania Tomlinson does a wonderful job at creating a vivid image. The attention to detail was so wonderfully written you really felt like you were there beside all the characters and in the small town.

I really enjoyed the portrayal of diverse communities, both their existence and the various challenges they faced. 

All the characters are wonderfully written, full of faults like every human which make them more relatable. They face selfishness, jealousy, cruelty as well as a lack of taking responsibility for one's actions wrapped up in a story about coming of age as your world falls to the violence and loss of wartime.

The way Donia Tomlinson writes really makes you feel and connect with the characters. I worried when they worried and laughed when they laughed. I hated some of the decisions they make but at the same time I understand why they made them.

I would have enjoyed more elements of the supernatural. The book really delves into the hardships of war and conflict. Dania Tomlinson writes it skillfully and pays great attention to detail.

This is a beautiful debut novel and I look forward to seeing what Donia Tomlinson comes up with for her next book.