This was an interesting read. Not one to dive into and bury myself in, but I enjoyed it still. The pace is contemplative and bounces around between Allen (a 19th-century Alaskan explorer), Sophie (his wife and budding bird photographer), Walt (Allen's descendant who is donating Allen's effects to a museum), and Josh (the museum currator), interspersed with clippings, museum notes, and the increasingly unhinged journal of the exploration team's naturalist. There are other characters, including several Indigenous folks, but the narrative is from these points of view. At times it is downright creepy, but nothing is done with these moments other than to note and move on. Sophie provides a lovely journey of self discovery and joy of the natural world. Josh and Walt's correspondence is stilted and a bit 2 dimensional at times, but serves to insert the reader as accomplice in their own assumptions and investigations. 

I wish there was more from the Indigenous points of view, especially Nat'aggi. But overall a nice, thoughtful read. 

This was AMAZING!! I am mourning the fact that I finished this story.
Ivey's writing is incredibly beautiful from the descriptions of the wilderness to the professions of love. It's slow paced in the best way, with just the right amount of adventures perils. Do check the content warnings as there is a specific happening that may be triggering to some, but that topic was handled with love and care.

For those who read the Snow Child and didn't appreciate the sudden random romance but loved the meditations of love and wilderness, I think you would like this one much better. There is still romance, but it's written so beautifully and intertwined so seamlessly. It's written in a way that makes me want to be a better partner as well as raise my standards of how I should be loved.

This is such a beautiful book, lyrical, mysterious, just gorgeous. It’s a story told in letters, diaries, military orders, articles, and advertisements, and includes drawings and photographs. The format brings an immediacy to the telling, drawing the reader into the tale. 

I was emotionally invested in all of these characters and it was hard to say goodbye when the book ended. I can’t recommend it highly enough. This is the second time I’ve read it and I look forward to reading it a third time.