A review by spinstah
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I read a couple of reviews of this that said it was repetitive and that not enough happens. But I think that's the point. A teenager has left the Jamestown colony to try and get to Canada, of course her days are going to be repetitive. Run, hide, build a fire, find some food, repeat. I didn't find it repetitive, I think because I enjoyed being with the character, and the descriptions of the forest she's going through are lovely and evocative. I also saw this described as a horror story, and while I can see that, it didn't feel like one to me. Being alone in the winter in the 1600s would be brutal, and Groff doesn't spare us that. But it's not gory and even the tense moments aren't drawn out for that long. You know she'll either get past whatever is happening, or she won't. I really enjoyed this, and I think if you go into it understanding that you're going to be spending your time with someone going through a profoundly difficult and exhasuting experience, you'll be able to enjoy this novel.