Reviews
If I could give this book 10 stars I would.
Seriously, my friends and reading club are going to be sick of hearing me talk about how stunning this book is.
I haven’t read a book like this in all my 31 years. Extremely well researched, detailed and poignant.
The characters and context around this story are so unique, yet relatable that I have a hard time picking out a favorite.
Throughout this story, you follow Mallory as she is thrust into a quest she was never prepared for. Along with her sidekick, her dog Kemo, she is introduced to some of the world’s most profound scientists and experts along the way.
The themes within are so elegantly woven into the story and characters that you find yourself immersed in their thoughts and perspectives as you go about your day after putting the book down.
This is a longer book (around 600ish pages) but I am devastated that it’s over. As a debut novel, I am blown away by the craft and talent of Langstaff. His ability to create the perfect blend of mystery and science, myth and reality makes this book hard to put down and inevitably will be a book that I won’t forget any time soon.
If you love climate fiction, sci-fi, folklore or cryptozoology, this book will fill your cup immensely. Even if you don’t know about any of those things, this book will grab you by the heart and mind with ease.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this early read. I can’t say enough good things about it.
Erin Maxson – The Little Wild Library
“Maxim Langstaff’s brilliant novel SASQ’ET is an astounding piece of work. It is a love story between two people and their quest for answers about the origin of humans. Its poetic prose stirred my soul and caused me to weep for the ignorance and egotistical arrogance of mankind that believes we are superior to nature and all other creatures—a way of thinking that will ultimately lead to our own demise. It is a profound piece of work that
required tremendous research. It informs, inspires, and imparts so much wisdom, laying out the beauty and precious interconnectedness of all life. It is 600 pages, and yet I was speechless and sad when it ended. I had to sit quietly and ponder and digest the effect it had on me. It is perhaps the most intelligent book I have ever read, while still being highly entertaining. The book mixes fact with fiction, takes place in locations around the world,
and has lots of danger and adventure that would make for a gripping television series. Bravo Maxim. I am in awe
of your writing.
Marsala Rypka
The conclusion was unexpected. The science, the history, this author is a gifted storyteller. His ability to captivate with his imaginative telling is impressive. Woven inside a modern love story, this sweeping historical saga challenges the reader with big ideas- and does so without interrupting the narrative. This is an eloquent unraveling of a most intriguing tale.
Kathryn Keegan
This author’s ability to write, to tell a story, to describe a place, to make the characters come alive is wonderful. There were places in the book that were simply lyrical in their telling.
Jennifer Fisher
This slow undoing feels both contemporary and old-fashion. Set in exotic places I may never see, the writing gave me the feeling I had. The book’s heroine called to my hopes and fears; and her dog, Kemo! I loved the unusually rich detail and intimate telling. Faith and loss haunt these pages, offering an unexpected truth.
Kimberly St. Croix
In the classic tradition of Melville or Steinbeck comes a contemporary hero’s journey- a woman’s triumph into the unknown. The unexpected adventure, crossing continents and generations envelops the landscape of a great love story, challenging the domain of our tightly held myths.
Scott Courts