I feel very privileged to have travelled in Alaska and seen brown bears on Kodiak Island and I really loved this haunting and unsettling book with its themes of all types of love and survival in a harsh Alaskan environment. The author's beautiful writing managed to entwine fairy tale with human feelings and failings and I have to admit I was surprised to be quite so moved by the ending.
Thank you to netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of this book.

This was a haunting book and beautifully written. It is loosely based on the Fairy Story, Beauty and the Beast. I found it a slow burn but one in which the premise was enough to draw me back to find out what was going to happen next.

Free-spirited Birdie and her daughter Emaleen move to a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness with a man Birdie knows little about ignoring local rumours and clues to his identity.

The tale unravels and it is Emaleen who learns first what's really going on but who trusts her mother and who has known mostly kindness from Arthur. We get to see all sides of the story and the relationship that is formed between not only Birdie and Arthur, but also between Emaleen and Arthur, which results in her returning to the Alaskan wilderness to seek him out again later in life.

The descriptions of Alaska are wonderful and you feel like you are transported there by the author's writing.

It is a moving story and the end had me in tears.

Black Woods, Blue Sky is a loosely based retelling of Beauty and the Beast brought to you by the author of my favourite book, The Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey.

As well as The Snow Child I adored To The Bright Edge of the World. Both books captured my imagination and sucked me into the plot. Unfortunately, this book didn’t hit the mark for me.

I couldn’t gel with Birdie who came across as a self-centred, egotistical woman who, although being the single parent to her six-year-old daughter, Emaleen, gave her little consideration in the way she lived her life. I’m not saying she didn’t love her daughter but she came across as being second in Birdie’s life to Birdie herself.

When Birdie meets recuse and private Arthur she can’t help herself but be drawn to him as she needed to know what he was hiding even though everyone who knew her told her to stay away from him.

In Eowyn Ivey’s previous books we meet characters who have a big heart and whose thoughts are more for those around them than themselves, but not this time and that is a shame. Plus, the Alaskan landscape has come across strong in previous books but lacked somewhat in this one.

Overall, I was really hoping to adore this book but instead found it an okay read which took me far longer than usual to get through I’m sorry to say. 3.5 stars

Oh this book! Stunning writing, an Alaskan setting, with a gorgeous mix of contemporary social commentary and folklore. Finding your true self, parent/child relationships and exploring how nature can be both beautiful and brutal.
I loved every moment of this story.

An interesting, modern fairy tale set in beautiful Alaska. The descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness are stunning and you can easily be transported right there thanks to the evocative descriptions. I was lucky to visit Alaska and this book really makes me want to return. It is not my usual genre but I loved the story. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Black Woods, Blue Sky is both magical and also strongly rooted in the reality of the natural world. Eowyn Ivey writes beautifully about the landscape, flora and fauna of Alaska and conveys the real wildness of the mountains. The story of Birdie’s attempt to create a more authentic, freer life for her and her daughter with Arthur is a powerful story of love and hope, even as it is not what she could ever have imagined.

‘Black Woods Blue Sky’ is one of the most immersive books I’ve read in a long time. It took me deep into the Alaskan wilderness , in a story that read almost like a fairytale. Birdie and her 6 year old daughter Emaleen have moved into a very remote cabin belonging to a man they don’t really know called Arthur. This man is odd, but Birdie believes he has their best interests at heart, and she is desperate for a new life. At first, they embrace the natural world and learn to live in harmony with their environment. But the woods harbour creatures that threaten their existence, and one of those creatures is closer to home than Bridie could ever have imagined.

I’ve always admired Ivey’s work. Her writing is unfailingly beautiful and at the same time so powerful:

“she might not have understood the gruesome particulars, but her subconscious had caught here and there - the calf bones under the bed, the days he disappeared into the woods without a pack or tent, the smell of his skin and the taste of his mouth.”

This novel is page-turningly good!

Black Woods, Blue Sky is a truly original fairy tale inspired novel set in the Alaskan wilderness. I say inspired rather than retelling because the novel is original enough to stand on its own merits: someone could read it without realising it was based on Beauty and the Beast and still have everything make sense. Young mother, Birdie, is struggling to make ends meet as a waitress in rural Alaska. When she falls for the mysterious recluse, Arthur, she takes herself and her six year old daughter, Emaleen, to live in a remote cabin in the wilderness.

I enjoyed The Snow Child by the same author and this new novel absolutely lived up to my expectations. It read as part love letter to the Alaskan tundra, part tragedy, part story of survival and resilience. It's difficult to review without giving away a major early revelation: since the blurb chose not to reveal it, I won't either. But suffice to say, the plot went in a very different direction than I expected and result was a strange, sad, beautiful story.

All of the characters felt complex, vivid and real but especially Emaleen. It's difficult to write from a child's point of view while being both realistic and compelling, because children perceive the world in a way that's often difficult for adult writers to pull off. Eowyn Ivey absolutely nails it with Emaleen: she felt not just like a convincing six year old but a brave, smart, imaginative and supremely likeable one.

Black Woods, Blue Sky was probably my favourite read of 2024. While I've read a lot of great books this year, BWBS is the one that's stayed with me the longest.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, in return for my honest review.

Single mother Birdie decides she has had enough of living in the small town she calls home and takes her young daughter to live in the mountains with Arthur, a man who generally avoids being around people but falls in love with Birdie, a man with a secret that while known to some of the locals it is unknown to Birdie.
While the story is very slow and somewhat predictable it is beautifully written and it definitely draws you in.

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey is a haunting reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, set against the stark, rugged backdrop of Alaska. The novel asks a profound question: can love truly save us from the darkness within ourselves?

Birdie, a single mother working at a roadside lodge, is doing her best to hold her life together. Between her unpredictable shifts, a daughter named Emaleen who tags along, and the emotional weight of a tough town, Birdie’s life is far from easy. But she finds solace in the quiet, enigmatic figure of Arthur Neilsen, a scarred recluse who lives alone in a cabin far from civilization. When Arthur saves Emaleen from getting lost in the woods, his presence enters their lives in a way that changes everything. His odd, measured way of speaking and his isolated life in the wilds of Alaska intrigue Birdie in ways she doesn’t fully understand.

Despite the warnings from those who care about her, Birdie moves with Emaleen to Arthur’s remote cabin, nestled in the vast wilderness beyond the Wolverine River. Life in this isolated setting is a far cry from what she is accustomed to—there are no roads, no electricity, and no contact with the outside world. Birdie brings her survival skills, a rifle, and a fishing rod, confident she can manage. But she quickly realises that surviving in the wilderness is far more complicated than she had imagined.

Ivey’s portrayal of Alaska is nothing short of breathtaking. The author’s descriptions of the landscape—the brilliant magenta of fireweed, the deep green of spruce forests, and the snow-capped peaks—are vivid and intimate. Even for readers who have never been to Alaska, there is a palpable sense of the land’s raw beauty and its overwhelming power. Ivey embraces the spirit of Alaska, making it a character in its own right, as essential to the story as Birdie, Arthur, and Emaleen.

At its core, Black Woods, Blue Sky is a story of love, transformation, and the human condition. Birdie’s journey, both physical and emotional, reveals the complexities of love and survival in an unforgiving world. The novel explores themes of loneliness, sacrifice, and the pursuit of something more meaningful—questions that resonate deeply, long after the final page.

This is a must-read for those who enjoy stories that combine a fierce love for the natural world with poignant, introspective narratives. Eowyn Ivey has crafted a deeply atmospheric and emotional novel, one that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Because I loved The Snow Child, I thought I would love this book as much - unfortunately, it wasn't for me. The main characters didn't really grab me, and it felt less whimsical. Might be a me-thing, though!

Wow, what a story! Another stunning book by Eowyn Ivey. The descriptions really take you to the wilderness of Alaska and you could feel the remoteness and danger and also the beauty of the place. It maybe lagged a little in the middle and the story certainly was a lot more brutal than what I was expecting, but it was beautifully written and had a lovely ending.

I really enjoyed reading the story of Birdie and Emmaleen, set in Alaska. A dark, somewhat magical story based on mythological ideas that explore the idea that humans and bears were once one.

The only criticism I have, without giving much away, is that there is a gap in time, that felt like quite a leap.

Beautiful, vivid imagery to get lost in.

I haven't read The Snow Child, but the writing of Black Woods, Blue Sky was so beautiful, I have now ordered it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Headline Books for an early copy of Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey.

What a book! I may have to reread it, or maybe listen to the audiobook when it is available as while I did appreciate the detail, prose, and descriptions of the Alaskan countryside I perhaps didn't absorb it fully due to being so caught up in the story, the love and foreboding of it all. I suspect it will be an excellent audiobook.

There was only a small cast of characters but each one was well-executed and I will miss them all, in different ways.

It is difficult to do a review for this novel, without giving anything away as it is a story that slowly releases its secrets to the reader and that is how it should be but if you loved The Snow Child then I feel I can promise that you will not be disappointed, I think it might actually be better!

I absolutely loved this book, I was immersed in the Atlanta wilderness which was described beautifully. This is the story of Birdie and her daughter Emaleen., she is a single mother , a little wild who falls in love with Arthur a recluse and loner. She goes to live in the wilderness with them . . We have some brilliant descriptions of the flowers and wildlife and the dangers of living in such a remote place, constantly watching for bears. We have an arrange of characters, Warren who is Arthur’s father with a story to tell , Della who looks out for Birdie , and a close community who look out for each other. This is like a fairytale and is described as a modern re telling of Beauty and the Beast , which I agree has similarities. What happens in the wilderness is fascinating, magical , frightening and emotional. Part of me was furious with Birdie for taking a six year old to such a remote place with so much danger , but she was besotted with Arthur and obviously loved her daughter. It’s a great read as is the The Snow Child which I read some years ago.

I liked the snow child, and this follow up is not a disappointment. There is something quite ethereal about the setting in the Alaskan wilds, where you may need a gun to step outside your cabin, but can also feel a closeness to nature spotting and naming the flora which abounds there. Birdie has had a rough start in life, and she is determined to live it more meaningfully away from the trailer park where she works and lives with her six year old daughter.
She falls for the strange man whose appearance and behaviour attract negative comments, when he starts to spend time in the bar where she works. Despite the misgivings of others she and her daughter follow him to his cabin in the wilds, where they must live a different life, it is back to nature, which she loves and adapts to, but there are other worrying developments which threaten their lives.
There is a certain amount of suspension of belief, as in the previous book, where we are led to believe in a kind of metamorphosis, but it is beautifully dealt with, and I was gripped by the possibilities unfolding dramatically on the page.

This is a beautifully written story with some wonderful characters and the settings come vividly to life, whether it is the bar or the wild and dramatic landscape. Della and Warren are wonderful creations and both truly have Birdie's wellbeing at heart.

I had to suspend disbelief to accept that Birdie would try to make a life with Arthur. Magical stories really do not appeal to me. I thought maybe there was to be a logical explanation when it was suggested that he arose from Emaleen's vivid imagination, but it was not to be.

This is a haunting emotional read.

Birdie, a single mum of a young daughter, Emaleen, wants to change her life to join Arthur who lives in the Alaskan wilderness. She is prepared to risk everything for love.

Emaleen soon realises all is not normal and that Arthur is not all he seems but it takes Birdie some time to accept his nature.

Then tragedy intervenes.

Emaleen returns to Alaska after graduation to investigate what actually happened in the childhood year and to come to terms with her loss.

The wildness and beauty of Alaska echo through the book. The characters shine through.

A real treat.

Eowyn Ivey is one of the greatest story tellers of this generation, her books and style of writing has me transfixed and almost feeling like a child.

The world building, the characters, the feelings that came with every turned page, Black Woods Blue Sky held my entire attention throughout. Emaleen is such a strong character, and being able to see her grow from a child to a young adult through Ivey’s detailed prose, creates a great connection for the reader, as we end up only wanting the best for her.

I do wish, we had found out more about Arthur, and how he came to exist - but there is definitely some magic in the unknown, allowing the reader to really use their imagination.

Thank you Headline, Tinder Press, and of course the author, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will be recommending this to everyone when it is published 🖤💙

Eowyn Ivey has such a wonderful way with words: the characters, the plot, and the descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness that draw you in and make you feel like you're right there in the Alaskan tundra too. There's a haunting quality to Ivey's writing, and her books are guaranteed to stay with you (I read The Snow Child ten years ago, and it still creeps into my thoughts regularly).

It's difficult to review Black Woods Blue Sky without spoilers, and I've had to wait a few days to full digest what I read. At the time, I wasn't sure of the ending, but now I can see it was the right ending to the story Ivey wanted to tell. I thought I'd sussed the plot at least three times, only to be completely wrong - this book will definitely keep you on your toes.

The perfect book to read by candlelight whilst snuggled under a blanket on a cold winter evening.