The Wild Before by Piers Torbay

The Wild Before is such an amazing read. It is one of those books that you get so engrossed in that you forget that the characters aren’t real. Having read The Last Wild series by Piers Torday, it was interesting to read about the events that lead up to where The Last Wild starts.

The Wild Before follows the quest of Little Hare, who must protect his home when danger is on his doorstep. The past threatens to uproot his life as he journeys to warn the other animals of a mysterious prophecy that foretells the coming of The Terribleness. Will he succeed in helping the animals of Dandelion Hill or will he be lost in the chaos?

From the very first page I was hooked. The Wild Before has the same hallmarks of the excellent writing of Piers Torday. Witty characters, beautifully describe landscapes and of course, the voices that the animals are given all add to the magical story telling. Bringing the animals to life gives them a humanistic qualities but lets you empathise with how the characters develop, drawing into the dynamics between them and how they adapt under the differing circumstances they face.

One thing I really loved about The Wild Before was the character of the robin. It was such an interest take on a bird that is a staple of many winter gardens. I really liked how it showed that what you see on the outside isn’t always reflected on the inside. Ill certainly be watching the robins in my garden more closely to see if they are ready for a show down.

All in all, The Wild Before is a moving tale that shows us the damage that we are doing to our planet and the other creatures we share our spaces with. After reading it, I know I have been more conscious of how I am impacting the spaces around me and how I can make them better for everyone, human or animal alike.