Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Callan Wink’s “Beartooth” is a masterful exploration of survival, brotherhood, and the rugged beauty of the American West. This novel, set against the majestic yet unforgiving backdrop of Yellowstone National Park, weaves a tale that is both thrilling and deeply poignant.

The story follows two brothers, Jack and Sam, who are struggling to make ends meet in their remote home in the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains. Desperation drives them to agree to a dangerous heist, setting off a chain of events that tests their bond and their will to survive. Wink’s depiction of the setting is breathtaking, capturing the grandeur and peril of the wilderness.

Jack and Sam are compelling protagonists whose relationship forms the heart of the novel. Jack, the older brother, is pragmatic and protective, while Sam is more impulsive and idealistic. Their dynamic is both touching and fraught with tension, reflecting the complexities of sibling relationships. 

 “Beartooth” delves into themes of survival, loyalty, and the moral ambiguities of desperate actions. The novel examines the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved ones and the sacrifices they are willing to make. 

Wink’s writing is lyrical and precise, with a keen eye for detail that brings the landscape and characters to life. His prose is evocative, capturing the raw beauty of the wilderness and the emotional intensity of the brothers’ journey. 

“Beartooth” is a powerful and evocative novel that combines the thrill of a heist gone wrong with a profound exploration of brotherhood and survival. Callan Wink has crafted a story that is both gripping and deeply moving, with characters that resonate long after the final page. This novel is a must-read for fans of literary thrillers and anyone captivated by the rugged beauty of the American West

Callan Wink’s Beartooth is a captivating, immersive novel that pulls readers into a rugged wilderness setting. Though I’m an urban person with little connection to survivalist experiences, I found myself completely absorbed in the story's world. Set in Yellowstone country, the novel follows two brothers, Thad and Hazen, who are left to fend for themselves after their mother, Sacajawea, abandoned them, and their father recently passed away.

These brothers, though deeply connected, are opposites in temperament. Thad is pragmatic, organized, and carries their father’s disciplined work ethic. Hazen, by contrast, is more laid-back, living in the moment and rarely considering the consequences of his actions. Their dynamic, as they navigate dangerous circumstances, is at the heart of the book. The plot kicks into motion when a shady Scotsman offers them an illegal job smuggling elk antlers from Yellowstone. It’s risky—if caught, they could face heavy fines and jail time—but with their situation growing desperate, they agree.

Wink’s writing powerfully conveys the vastness and danger of the natural world, both externally and in the brothers’ internal struggles. The novel’s raw and visceral quality makes it hard to put down, keeping readers hooked as they follow Thad and Hazen’s perilous journey.

In short, Beartooth is a compelling, unforgettable story of survival and brotherhood. Wink skillfully blends adventure with emotional depth, making this a five-star read.

I’d never heard of Callan Wink before reading Beartooth and was drawn to this purely because of its description. I’m so happy I decided to give it a shot, because wow. As a lifelong hiker and camper, I love reading books that largely take place in nature, and bonus if it involves isolation and survival (see - Lauren Groff’s The Vaster Wilds, one of my favorites). Add in a thrilling heist, beautiful prose, and a complex sibling relationship, and I was hooked!

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced e-copy for review.

Thad and Hazen are two brothers living in remote Montana, somewhere near Yellowstone National Park. Their father has recently died and, unlike his careful and meticulous care of their home, the brothers have let things go. The roof is leaking, the outside needs painting, and they are very behind in their real estate taxes. They make a meager living selling firewood to residents and wealthy second home owners in their area.

Thad almost always takes the lead and is the initiator and planner. Hazen follows along and the reader is left to wonder if he is somewhat cognitively impaired or on the autism spectrum. Their father was a man of conscience and hard work, attitudes he attempted to instill in his sons. However, they both grapple with ethical and moral issues, especially Thad. His endeavors become shady and he often asks himself what his father would have thought about what he is doing.

Into the picture comes Sacajawea, their absent mother, who one day appears in their yard hanging her wash on a clothesline and parking her RV near their home. Sacajawea is somewhat like a hippie with wanderlust. She left the brothers when they were very young and only very occasionally reappeared for short periods. It appears now that she plans to stay. Thad won't acknowledge her but Hazen seems intrigued by her arrival.

There is also the mysterious Scot, a large and tall man, with a mystery about him. The brothers often sell him wood and are intrigued by his silent adult daughter who sits in the front of the car and occasionally plays the bagpipes for them. The Scot may not really be Scottish, and there is something about him that worries Thad. Thad likes to have his 22 pistol on him when he deals with the Scot who is said to have killed a young man who was robbing him.

Callan Wink writes beautifully and his descriptions of the land's beauty, brutality, and mysteries are carefully employed in the narrative. His characterizations are detailed and descriptive. I felt like I was in Thad's head as he grappled with his angst and conscience. This book was so good that, upon finishing, I ordered a copy of Mr. Wink's book of short stories.

I thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for granting me the privilege of reading and reviewing this early review copy.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC, but sadly this book didn't clique with me.
I couldn't care for the brother's relationship (the good and the bad) and the horror aspect of it fell flat to me.
I was never truly engaged with anything, really. And that's a bummer, because I really liked the plot. :(
I'm sure other horror readers will enjoy this book much more than I did.

An exhilarating, myth-making blend of adventure, family dynamics, introspection, and heist action. Packed with fascinating characters and deeply resonant generational glimpses both backward and forward in time.

After their father’s passing, two brothers resort to dire methods in order to simply get by. Living in a fatigued cabin located on the outskirts of Yellowstone, neither Thad nor his brother, Haven, hold steady employment; earning money the best way they know how: providing other local residence with firewood for their winter stockpile, and the illegal hunting of animals that provide goods that go for a high price on the black market. However, when they receive a notice that they are behind on property taxes and may lose the property that has been in their family for multiple generations, they result to desperate and dangerous measures to keep their home and the memories they have there.

This is a fast-paced story that will hook readers who enjoy the outdoors…or who like the idea of the outdoors. It is a tale of survival that feels so real that it will have you planning your next trip to Montana in hopes of bumping into one of these brothers. NetGalley and Spiegel and Grau for the advanced digital copy, but I will definitely need a physical copy to annotate and keep close at hand. It will make an especially wonderful companion on future camping trips.

Such a quick and gripping read that I plan on rereading whenever I feel stuck in a societal rut and need a mental escape to the great outdoors of the west. I have already added Wink’s backlist titles to my TBR in hopes that they can provide that same sort of escapism.

Hmmm

I’m going to settle on a 3.5, I just don’t feel like I was the right audience for this book but can very much appreciate it.

If you love nature and the elements this book really excels at awakening all the senses. The writing is very vivid sometimes even stomach turning, but it felt honest.

While the two brothers were juxtaposed against one another I really got into the dichotomy this offered.

A book for those looking for something gritty and authentic with a good dose of cinematic plot.

This book will pull in the reluctant reader and keep them on the edge of their seat. The strong bond of brothers was evident throughout the story. A few swear words and drinking were included but made the story more realistic.

This review is based on an ARC of Beartooth which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Spiegel & Grau).

This is a novel that will stick with me, with prose as unsuspecting, beautiful, rugged as the land in which it's set. Beautiful and rough-hewn too are the brothers Beartooth centers on: man-children adrift after the loss of their father, sinking in debt, holding dear to their meager belongings and morals as debt-collectors and deadlines close in.

I really enjoyed this story. The pacing, the wording, the atmosphere; the working parts of this novel are well-tuned and play well together. What I enjoyed most is the believability of it all. This could be a memoir just as readily as fiction (albeit with a touch fancier prose).

Why I do not grant Beartooth a full five stars is because of its' anticlimactic ramp-ups. In every case where the tension builds, the lead-up grows intense, the drama is about to peak-- suddenly circumstances change and the tension drops like a broken thread. The anxiety is broken by contrived and rather ideal outcomes. As a reader, I (however unintentionally) expect stories to follow a certain pattern, and Wink does not abide by this pattern. I cannot fault the author too harshly though--his style certainly kept me curious and kept the storyline rolling.

For lovers of sibling stories, edge-of-civilization settings, slice-of-life dramas, or the atmosphere of the melancholy ghost towns of the modern American West, Beartooth is for you.

The teasers for this book sold it was Cormac McCarthy-esque and I can definitely see it. This was BEAUTIFUL imagery of Montana and the Yellowstone area. This book follows That and Hazen, brothers who live on the edge of the wilderness, grieving the recent loss of their father who was the glue that allowed them to make ends meet. That spends most of his time managing Hazen, who has a bit of a failure to launch vibe. When the brothers, desperate for money, end up in an illegal poaching scheme with a threatening local, they are forced to reckon with what kind of people they want to be and the trajectory of That's life starts to change after he's gravely injured.

This book was a super interesting commentary on familial relationships and the intersection of man and nature. What can we claim, and what belongs to the land? An absolutely gorgeous book that was a tense, slow burn.

Thank you NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for allowing me to read and review this eARC!

First and foremost, I think Callan Wink is a ridiculously talented writer. His flair for creating intense imagery with his words and setting descriptions is a huge asset and I think will keep him on the path to success as an author. Beartooth was not a book I think I would typically gravitate towards but the cover and synopsis intrigued me so greatly that I had to try it. The positives of this book to me were, as previously stated, the amazing writing and imagery as well as the well-done character development. Thad in particular changed so much from the start of the book to the end especially regarding his motivations and his outlook on life. He slowly became my favourite character and I ended the book hoping so much for him and his success. I was also happy to learn more about Sacajawea as the book went on, I believe her back story was vital for us to understand her motivations and to heal her relationship with Thad. Hazen to me was fully fledged from the beginning, he was just not fully understood by Thad.

My criticisms of Beartooth are mostly about the flow of the plot and overall story. I felt at some times that the plot was jumping from moment to moment far too quickly. I did not understand how we had moved to another part of the story so quickly without any guiding. This possibly may have been due to the layout of the eBook version, but I believe more concise chapter separations or just some more concise wording about the passage of time/change of scenery would have helped me in reading this novel. I also felt like the story of the Scot and Naomi was not fully fleshed out at all. I truly believe we needed to understand more about what was going on with them, especially once Naomi came to live with Thad and Sacajawea, it was all just wrapped up far too quickly for me.

Overall, I would rate this book a 3.5/5 and I would certainly pick up more from Callan Wink!

A huge thanks to Mr. Wink and Netgalley for the ARC. This was my first experience with this author’s work, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The official description held high praise, and was compared to two of my favorite writers, so I was compelled to pick it up.

“Two brothers in dire straits, living on the edge of Yellowstone, agree to a desperate act of survival in this taut, propulsive novel reminiscent of the works of Peter Heller and Donald Ray Pollock.”

While I agree that there are certainly elements of Peter Heller, I’d disagree with the inclusion of Pollack. Not to say that’s a bad thing. I adore Pollack, but Beartooth more resembled Cormac McCarthy’s early work, with a sprinkling of Michael Farris Smith. McCarthy is, of course, the GOAT, so that alone should encourage you to grab a copy.

The pacing was near perfect, and the dialogue was spot on. Wink did an amazing job of fleshing out the characters while maintaining critical plot points. The conflict/ tension was held tight, allowing the story to move forward through the main story, as well as the subplot.

The description was, well, quite perfect. It’s clear that Wink has the American West running through his veins. This book was expertly crafted, and I’m excited to see what this author does next.

Not my usual type of book, but I enjoyed the ride just the same. This reminded me of books I enjoyed as a kid - Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain - but with real adult fears thrown in: debt, injury, the existential dread of an older sibling watching their younger sibling be an adult.

The writing is spare but evocative, I really felt like I was breathing in that fresh Montana air, and I felt every challenge and setback the brothers faced deeply. I wanted a little more from the ending, but I do think it fit the novel overall. Life goes on, Thad and Hazen endure.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Okay so I am in a major phase right now with reading books about survival in the wilderness and I requested this so fast! This book follows two brothers, Hazen and Thad, and their life in the remote Montana wilderness near Yellowstone National Park, where they camp, hike, and live partly off the land while trying to make a living chopping wood and end up engaging in illegal poaching.

I expected this book to be more adventurous than it actually was, and while we do still follow Thad and Hazen's wilderness poaching adventures, this story was much more about the bonds between family members and the effects of poverty and living in remote areas.

Hazen and Thad are very close, each having essentially nobody else in the world aside from each other. They were relatively close to their father, but have strained and limited contact with their mother, who was away during most of their childhood. This book takes place after their father has died and their mother has showed up in their lives again, while they struggle to find a way to make ends meet in order to keep their house, leading to the whole poaching situation and unplanned contact with some shady people.

The ending of this book surprised me, as I was expecting a more thriller-type story that would also make me want to go take a walk outside. However, I came away from this book with a sad, lonely feeling and rather than wanting to take a walk outside, it made me want to call up my sister or go into town and be among people. A strange and haunting book!

"beartooth" by callan wink is unlike any book i have ever read before, in the best way.
thad and hazen are compelling each in their own right. the brothers talk quite a bit, but they never really communicate much at all. thad is the stronger of the two. his responsibility and hard work keep them afloat in the wake of the death of their father. hazen, on the other hand, is kept mostly in the dark about the state of their finances and the precariousness of their ownership of the house. when their absent mother shows up, hazen welcomes her with open arms, while thad holds tight to his lingering resentment. thad and hazen disagree on other things as well. the brothers are loggers, which thad is proud of and hazen despises. occasionally, they take on illegal poaching jobs for a man called the Scot, who begins pressuring them to take on an almost impossible job. hazen jumps at the opportunity, but thad objects on both moral and practical grounds. but when thad's truck breaks down, and he has no way to log without the truck but no way to pay for the truck's repair, he decides to take the scot on for the job.
the themes, character struggles and development, and depth of thought that you usually have to dig for in books are directly stated in this one. but i honestly love beartooth more for its directness, its brutal honesty, its power in direct statements. there is also something dark lingering beneath the base text. it's giving Appalachian horror story but with nothing actually happening on that front. wink threads beautiful descriptions throughout the book that hooked me almost instantly.
while this book was so far out of my comfort zone, i ultimately rated it five stars. it was truly incredible. thank you net galley and spiegel&graul for this arc! i highly recommend it.

Beartooth takes place in the mountains of the same name. The story tracks Thad and Hazen, two brothers living in their inherited home and largely doing as they please in the wilds. Callan Wink focuses the narrative lens on Thad. The brothers are a good foil for each other and their interactions lead the story for much of the book.

The book opens with the brothers on a multi-day hunting excursion into the backwoods, where these two characters feel most comfortable. Later, they drift further into the wilds and we see Wink’s prose shine. He pulls us into the wooded areas and gives us clear but not flowery prose that lifts the story and sets it into this world of bears, rocky inclines, and so much wildlife. We can feel and smell the outdoors through his writing. Often with books that focus on the landscape, it can become a character. That certainly happens in Beartooth, with the landscape becoming this secretive friend to the brothers.

At roughly the halfway point, I thought the novel was leading me one way and then it took an unexpected turn. The novel misdirected and rounded back on itself. At first, I thought this was a mistake, but it was a good ruse that led me back into the story, like walking on a trail, losing it for a bit, and then finding that well-worn path.

Thad and Hazen go through a transformation in the novel’s pages. I won’t go into that in the review, but these brothers go through inner battles and we see the results of these fights on the pages. I have issues with the ending, but those are minor.

I’ll be checking out other work by Callan Wink in the future. I highly recommend this one for the masterful descriptions of the outdoors and the ease with which Wink captures the essence of these two characters.

4.5 stars.

This book took me FOREVER to read, but not because it was a hard read or even a bad one. Beartooth by Callan Wink instead demands a very particular part of your attention, undivided and immersed fully in the story. Wink's writing brings so much of the setting and the characters to life without being flowery or forcefully vivid; it relied on the reader wanting to be a part of the story and putting in the work to understand and digest the book.

This isn't necessarily a criticism, but I do think it's important to be said: there aren't ups and downs in this story. It follows a quite linear plotline that is always moving forward, always changing. There is no one central conflict or event - every moment in the plot is equally as important as the last. This isn't me saying that nothing happens. In fact, a lot happens, some very exciting & integral parts of the story. But it happens all on the same plane of necessity, and everything that is shown, done, or said, contributes in a significant way. It's all so deliberate that it's honestly admirable how much of the continuing plot I didn't connect, yet how little it surprised me. As such, it paints a gritty and realistic portrait of life. Nothing is simple, nothing has one cure or one solution, and other problems aren't put on hold just because one larger issue crops up.

Beartooth relied very heavily on the characters. It wasn't primarily a character study, but the characters formed the majority of the plot and the world that Wink was writing about. Thad and Hazen were such interesting and in depth people. While we never saw into Hazen's head as the book was written from Thad's perspective, we got to see Thad's thoughts and his understanding of his little brother, which was a really great way to explore these characters. They're alike, bonded by blood, but possibly as far apart as they could get. I do feel like a lot of the benefit and reward of this story is watching them mature and grow, but also just getting to learn who they are.

Thad and Hazen are two grown men, but Beartooth had all the undertones of a coming of age story, and it was a really rewarding and engaging read. I'm really lucky to have gotten a copy of this ARC, and can't wait for it to come out in February of 2025 for more people to get to enjoy it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

A wonderfully written book about two brothers dealing with hardships of life. After being stricken with grief and dealing with dynamic family issues, these two brothers have to make a living with little to no modern day skills. This book pulls at all the senses as the author does a beautiful job of bringing us the sights, sounds, and smells of living in the rugged mountains. The book has a great storyline and very well developed characters. Hopefully there will be a follow up to this book.

I really enjoyed Beartooth! It was full of humor, messy family drama, and suspense. It felt like I was reading a TV show. Great characters, believable and relatable family dynamics, and layered into a suspenseful story. Will definitely read the next book by this author!