Ambelin Kwaymullina

Outstanding book - beautifully written, exquisitely plotted, fabulous and completely believable characters that grab hold of the heart and don't let go, plus amazingly detailed post-apocalyptic world building that is sketched in, piece by piece, as one reads through. Absolutely adored it, read it through as fast as possible, with every spare minute of the day.

As well as plot, world-building, characters, and writing, I also appreciate that the story contrasts two belief systems, the dogmatic show more 'Balance' of which you are either of or a threat to, and the spirituality of the title character, Ashala Wolf. The details of that are spoilery, and I leave you to discover yourself, if you haven't already read it. show less

Very clever, beautifully written. I love the dramatically different ways the sections with the different viewpoints are written, although when I came to the first change I was a bit taken aback, because it is so very different. I suspect that it would be very interesting to hear someone with an understanding of the relevant storytelling traditions talk in depth about the ways that this story has been crafted, because I can tell that there are things happening, but I don't have the context to show more appreciate the nuances.

There are some pretty dark goings on sitting just under the surface of the story, which are sadly not a surprise when one is at all familiar with the (historical and ongoing) treatment of Indigenous children and teens. And although the perspective is very much from the policing side of the story, it isn't particularly kind to the police. show less

I bought this book years ago for kept misplacing it. I'm really sorry that was the case as this was a really good read. In the bio I saw that this was the author's first book (and I really couldn't tell).

The setting is a post-apocalyptic low tech future (although there's some really cool stuff like a material that absorbs psychic abilities that's made from some kind of ore and there's mindspeaking carnivorous lizards. Those with psychic powers are called Illegals are deemed a threat to 'the show more Balance'

At the beginning of the book, Ashala Wolf, the leader of a tribe of Illegals who live in a forest has been captured. This is the tale of her interrogation over the course of 4 days. There was tension, betrayal, then a twist, then another twist. This was fun.

I'm now going to be looking out for the next books in the trilogy (ahh if only I'd read this closer to their release date, still better late than never) show less

This is not a typical ghost story.

Beth Teller is dead, but she’s sticking around to help her detective dad solve the case of a suspicious fire at a children’s home (he can see and hear her, btw). Then comes Isobel Catching, whose strange, poetic stories seem totally disconnected at first. Until they aren’t.

The book blends Aboriginal Australian storytelling with a murder mystery. It explores deep, painful themes like colonial violence, intergenerational trauma, and the lasting impact of show more the Stolen Generations. It talks about being heard in a world that often silences certain voices. And I feel like the supernatural parts deepen the emotional impact.

It’s a short book, but it stays in your heart. Highly recommend if you’re after something thought-provoking, beautifully written, and quietly devastating. show less