Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney – Book Review

Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney is a novella set in the wetlands of South Carolina. The story follows a young boy and his dog, Teach. Wild Spaces has a Southern Gothic / Lovecraftian vibe, and I must say, the setting is engulfing. I could feel the ocean breeze on my face and taste the salt on my tongue!

The plot? A boy on the verge of adulthood is doing all right. He’s got a decent home, two loving parents and a dog. A good dog. A dog who does not like the boy’s estranged grandfather, who shows up uninvited one day and starts integrating himself into the family’s life. You will side with the dog when he tries to bite the man, for this old man is clearly a menace, though nobody will confirm WHY. And the grandfather’s presence creates a palpable tension in the home that turns the boy’s mother into a nervous wreck who is visibly wasting away. Even still, the mother won’t send her father away (although you’ll definitely keep wishing she would).

This book is the perfect example of foreshadowing done right. It wraps you in soft, delicate prose like a velvet blanket, all while dropping ominous clues about impending doom that will keep you squirming in that blanket! You will especially squirm as the boy begins acknowledging changes in his own body that resemble the grandfather he has come to distrust so deeply.

I enjoyed the unexpected surprises. Sure, there will tentacles and ancient evil… We know that from the cover and from the Lovecraftian slant… But there’s so much more to this story.

Most importantly, Coney can write! They handle a simile as a surgeon does a blade. Expertly. I found so many quotable tidbits in these pages. But I don’t want to ruin the book by posting them here! I urge you to discover them yourself! Trust me, this book is like Moose Tracks ice cream with little treats sprinkled throughout for your enjoyment.

My overall impression? This is quiet horror at its finest. I highly recommend this novella to anyone who loves horror but isn’t looking for the guts and gore. It sufficiently creeped me out without making me cringe. I love that in a book. I look forward to more from this author.

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